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10 Must-Have Essentials for a First Kitchen
I have lived with multiple roommates, in multiple cities, and have moved in and out of my mom's house several times. I acquired some things along the way, but found that sharing living spaces with others meant I could keep a low profile and move without the hassle of moving much stuff. Then this past year I finally moved into an apartment I could call my own, which meant setting up my first kitchen.
I started with some glassware, plates and utensils I bought from a local thrift store, and a box of odds and ends I had collected over the past few years. Then over the next couple months I filled in my kitchen with what was necessary to prepare and cook some basic meals. Below is what I use weekly, if not daily, and consider essentials for a first kitchen:
1. Pots & pans: a stainless steel frying pan for cooking eggs, a saucepan with a lid for cooking grains, vegetables, and sauces, and a cast-iron skillet for everything else.
2. Well sharpened chef's knife
3. Cutting board
4. Food storage containers: chances are you're making some meals in bulk for lunch or dinner the next day, especially if you're on a budget. I made the switch from plastic to glass, and use a combination of rectangular glass nesting containers and old food jars.
5. Wooden spoons
6. Mixing bowls: you don't need a complete set to start. I have 2 (small and large), and they've worked out well so far. Opt for stainless steel or glass if possible – plastic is not as sturdy.
7. Colander
8. Can opener
9. Toaster oven: it's the first appliance I bought, and it's great for cooking and reheating meals, especially when you're cooking for one.
10. French press: a morning cup of coffee is very necessary in my apartment!
Do you agree with this list? Is there something you would trade out? Share your essentials in the comments below!
And if you are looking to round out your collection of kitchen tools, and find yourself doing a fair amount of cooking and baking, you should check out: 5 Guides to Help You Set Up Your Kitchen With the Best Basics over at The Kitchn.
(Image: Leela Cyd Ross / Kitchen Tour: Leela and Dave's Tiny Bright Kitchen)
69 Comments
I would definitely add a blender to the list. It is something I use regularly. But I think you compiled a great list! (A set of silverware is important, too:) )
I've never owned a toaster oven. I would an electric hand mixer and blender to the list.
I would add one or two rimmed baking sheets-- they're great for roasting vegetables, baking cookies, even sliding a frozen pizza into the oven on a lazy night.
I don't own a blender or a toaster oven. I think I would add a cookie sheet to the list.
And if you really want a great cooking experience, those mini food processors are revolutionary!
I would switch wooden spoons for a set of kitchen utensils - fish slice, mixing spoon, ladle and a slotted spoon.
Also couldn't live without a cheese grater (with various sized sides so you can zest citrus fruit too), and a kettle!!!
I love my toaster oven. I use instead of the regular oven whenever I can. It's ridiculous to heat up the whole big oven to cook a chicken breast.
I would replace the french press with a drip cone. You need a filter, but much simpler to make coffee right into your cup and way easier to clean up.
Personally I prefer stove-top espresso makers to cafetieres (coffee presses), I think it makes better coffee and is slightly less hassle in the morning.
I'd have to add a 9x13 pan to the list too! I like my glass one the best. You can bake or roast in it!
Just a note, the best place to stock up on stuff for a new apartment's kitchen is Goodwill! A lot of times college students will throw out perfectly good items because of time constraints (or laziness), or when older folks move into a nursing home or pass away the family has to donate perfectly good items. It's all usually in great shape, but you can get most items for less than a buck!
I couldn't agree more about the toaster oven. I'm in a similar position, moving around a lot, sometimes with roomies, sometimes without, but man, that little toaster over has yet to disappoint.
It's always interesting to live by yourself for a couple weeks and then realize "I use spoons at an alarming rate. MORE SPOONS!"; sometimes it take some trial and error to figure out your own habits I guess.
Start minimalistic. The first time you can't do something because you don't have the implement, decide whether you need to own one and, if so, get it. (If not, borrow it!)
Stocking up on somebody else's necessities is a waste of money and limited storage. (I'm 62, and never used a French press in my life. But I have a Keurig for guests, while I prefer a specific flavored instant for my one cup per day... Everyone's necessities are different.)
I totally agree with the comment about buying used, but Goodwill rarely sells things for less than a buck.
About the toaster oven: Make sure it's a good quality one, and unplug between uses. Those things are total fire hazards.
Other than that, I'd add to that list of essentials:
-Salt shaker
-Eggbeaters, electric mixer, and/or wisk
-Can opener
-Bottle opener/corkscrew
-Oven mitts
-Glass graduated measuring cup
-Cutting board
I would add a wooden spatula as well as a wooden spoon. Also a microplane grater--for cheese and lemon zest. Vegetable peeler is useful as well. I have never owned either a toaster oven or a coffee maker (but then I tend to be a tea drinker). Otherwise good list.
I totally agree with the comment on buying used for kitchen supplies and dishes. It's a good place to search for high quality vintage buys. I've seen really beautiful sets of dishes, glassware, pans mixing bowls and other supplies at my local store. A lot of times people throw out things that don't suit their style anymore, but it might suit yours! Check their calendars too. I know the Goodwill by me has 50% off sales twice a month.
I second the toaster oven. But I'd also add a hand blender. God I love that thing. I also love shopping for kitchen stuff at Goodwill. I'd much rather get an old stoneware mixing bowl or pastry cutter with 'history' than a new one at Target (although I'll take any excuse to go to Target). And if it breaks, well, you only spent a few bucks on it!
This list is definitely missing any sort of oven supplies. Need a cookie sheet and a 9 x 13 glass or ceramic baking dish.
Also, a cheese grater and measuring cup and spoons.
And potholders to go with those oven supplies :)
This list is subjective depending on what type of cooking you do. I do not own a toaster oven or wooden spoons. I actually use chopsticks for most of my cooking. I find a rice cooker essential and mini food processor an bamboo steamers as items that are nice to have.
Mark Bittman wrote a great article a few years ago about shopping for kitchen essentials on a budget:
You may need to register on the times website for access... But it gives some good suggestions for what to focus on and where to source the stuff cheaply.
I agree that some 'must haves' are subjective. But it's interesting seeing what people put down. If I think about what I use while cooking most of my meals:
small and medium metal mixing bowls
wooden spoon
non-stick spatula
slotted spoon
Chef's knife
paring knife
hand peeler
cheese grater
Can opener
Omlette pan (non-stick)
Heavier larger pan
small sauce pan
larger pot for boiling water
microwave (although I could probably do without and just heat on the stove)
baking sheet
and my most recent purchase, a non-stick grill pan - which I do love
I occasionally reach for something else, but these get the most use on a daily basis.
Add a water kettle - I like my electric one but a regular one works too.
I would also add towels, pot holders, and a handheld mixer (get one with a food processor and blender attachment).
And a fire extinguisher.
Great list but as a tea drinker I might replace the cafetiere with an electric kettle. I recently broke a good quality pepper grinder and felt bereft for the week it took me to replace. A garlic crusher with the olive stoner bit, a micro-planer/grater for cheese and citrus and although far from basic I have grown rather attached to my old Braun hand-blender.
Toaster oven is a must-have for quick lunch on corn tortillas. The trick is to toast TWO at once in a stack, so they don't dry out. One side of each will toast while the other sides steam each other. Yum. However, wooden spoons are not really sanitary, and there are so many silicon utensil choices in the kitchen shops and discount stores now that there is no reason to use wood. My tiny kitchen in an elegantly decrepit apartment building in Uptown (meaning "upriver") area New Orleans is only 6 x 6, but I make room for both an immersion blender for quick chocolate and/or fruit smoothies and a serious blender for carrot and green vegetable smoothies.
Colanders take up so much space for just one use. Assuming you're of normal strength and not disabled, I would always opt for a crescent strainer instead. Something like http://i.imgur.com/WUABd.jpg is easy to store but ideal for draining everything from berries to vegetables to pasta.
I would skip wooden spoons and go right for silicone -- I'd look for a set that has a slotted spoon, a normal spoon, one or two "rubber" spatulas, and one normal spatula.
And of course a cookie sheet. For a small/starter kitchen, a good dishtowel is fine in place of oven mitts.
Not just a toaster oven but a four-in-one oven, like the Cuisinart; it's much more useful. (From May-October here in the Arizona desert, my full-sized oven is never used.)
And absolutely have a working fire extinguisher. I've needed mine only once in my lifetime, but that once was invaluable.
Definitely add potholders, a 9x13 (or 8x8) pan, pizza sheet, and cookie sheet. Homemade pizza (I make margherita) can be very good for you and yields ~4 meals.
And maybe it's just me, but I'm not the biggest fan of my cast-iron pans for everything but vegetables and eggs. About the only thing I feel comfortable using mine for is heating up quesadillas.
Personally, I LOVE my slow cooker and don't know what I'd do without it (esp during the colder months).
It's great because I can just throw some stuff in it, let it cook while I'm at work all day, and come home to a lovely hot meal. Also great when I know I'm going to have an tiring day and am not going to want to come home & cook but still want to have real food.
Any leftovers can be for lunch, re-purposed into other meals later in the week, or frozen.
This is a great list and I feel pretty pleased that I ended up all of these when I moved into my first apartment.
The toaster oven, which I may not have thought to get--mine was inherited from grandma, has been fantastic. It doesn't heat up my tiny kitchen in sweltering Houston like the oven does and makes things nice and crispy, unlike microwaves. 3.5 years on, I still don't have a microwave.
I also love my French press. Bodum's basic one (Brazil?) is very simple to use and clean out. If you're going to go that route, I'd suggest getting a coffee grinder. The beans stay fresh a lot longer if they're kept whole. Also have an electric kettle. It's so much faster and more precise than heating water on the stove. (Again, no microwave here.)
Not necessities in a first kitchen, but things I use all the time and am SO glad I bought: a small rice cooker and an immersion blender. I can make so many different things using both and they don't take up a lot of space.
Cast iron skillet
Kitchen gadgets are mostly wastes of space in my opinion. Save the cash for a blender and get something that you'll have and use for years instead, like a really nice enamel Dutch oven. You don't need tons of different items for specific types of things. All I really need to prepare a five star meal is a knife, cutting board, strainer (far more versatile than a colander), and one to two pans.
Basically, less is much much more in your first kitchen.
Tongs, spatula, one really good Chef's knife, cutting board, fire extinguisher, whatever pots and pans you use the most, bowl, colander/strainer, quality pot holders.
Measuring spoons and cups. When I moved into my first dorm two years ago it was a small surprise that, whoops, you need a measuring cup, even just to make Kraft's homestyle mac n cheese.
I personally do not drink coffee so I would replace the french press for a electric kettle, although I also have a drip-thing(?) in case my guest like to drink coffee. And I would also like to add a refrigerator. Having my first kitchen I was so happy I did not have to share food anymore.
I thing the fire extinguisher or fire blanket are a good suggestions.
For all the people who suggested wooden spoons are unsanitary, you're right. They're a dangerous new innovation that clearly harbours germs, and it's only a matter of time before everyone works out that they're poisoning people.
Why are Americans so obsessed with germs?
Tongs!! Restaurant-issue only; stay away from both cheap mass-market ones and fancy expensive ones. I can't cook a thing without mine; that's why I own two.
And get a solid, thick, cross-cut wooden cutting board at least two inches longer on diagonal than your chef's knife. It should be heavy enough not to move around your counter and should last many years.
Such a great list! When I first started out on my own a toaster oven was a luxury. I really needed a microwave and a crock pot! Love my wooden spoons! Still need a whisk, a pancake turner/spatula, and a cookie sheet. Don't ever forget the ever needed can opener! No cooking without one! Also, a few dish cloths, towels, and pot holders need to be standard equipment! I also use a small muffin pan since muffin mixes are inexpensive and versatile.
Large cast iron dutch oven with lid
Small cast iron skillet
cast iron loaf pan
small stainless steel saucepan with glass lid
1 small and one medium size stainless steel stock pots (both are Ikea 365)
good sharp chefs knife
good bread knife
good can opener
good vegetable peeler
3 glass measuring cups (one 1 cup, one 4 cup, one 8 cup) -- bigger ones do double-duty as mixing bowls
1 wide and 1 narrow silicon spatulas
1 ladle
1 whisk
1 set measuring spoons
1 cutting board for onions and garlic and one for everything else
1 colander
1 electric kettle
1 stovetop espresso maker
1 ice cream maker (not really necessary, but oh so nice)
tons of Ikeas .49 cheap white hand towels. I prefer them to real dishtowels because they are more absorbent and who cares if they get trashed.
That's basically all my kitchen equipment. I started out with a toaster oven, but realized I wasn't using it enough to keep it so gave it to my mom and dad to replace theirs.
I love cast iron because you can use it for just about any kind of cooking from frying to soups to baking and as long as the cast iron is well seasoned, clean-up should be a breeze.
I've managed to live w/o 2 and 5. Ha!
and 9 and 10!
I agree with MandaPanda- slow cooker! Put the beans in with the chopped veggies before bed. Dinner is served the next night! Can make soup & stews in it as well. Also, I love my rice cooker. But we eat a LOT of rice. It's good for making our other South American staple grain- quinoa! Wooden spoon controversy- hey, people have been using wooden spoons for centuries. Ok, so those people from a couple of centuries back are dead now. But they didn't die from wooden spoons. LOL! Problem is solved if you keep a set separate for cold items (like salad serving) and a set for cooking. Also, don't set them in a basin of water to soak. Wash immediately with warm water & stand up (with handle pointing down) to air dry. I oil mine occasionally with a bit of olive oil. Been using the same sets for years & still not dead. At least I don't think I am.
Unless you live in the desert, like one commenter above, having a toaster oven and a real oven seems like a huge waste. All that counter space... ack. The real thing isn't so scary and doesn't take that much longer to heat up. I put toaster ovens in the same category as mini doughnut makers- a waste of space. or electric kettles, or keurigs. Is coffee so difficult? Keeping my counters as clear as possible for the actual making of things seems like a better use of space. Perhaps if my kitchen was gigantic I would have room for the counter clutter of electric things that save a minute or two of my life?
I love my tongs, my potholders and my paring knife! Peelers are good too. I have a regular peeler and a soft skin peeler. Don't forget the pyrex baking dishes. I have 2 sizes and I use them a lot!
I truly love all kinds of kitchen gadgets, but one of the greatest buys I didn't know at the time is my slow cooker. It can make soup, cook protein and bake cake and I don't have to hover, be hot or get sticky (and believe me, I love to cook). Love my shiny, red slow cooker, which I think I bought from Target 5-6 years ago. Still works wonderfully.
I wish I would've had a rice cooker in my first place, too. I would totally avoid cooking rice before, because I could never get it right on the stove. Then I met my husband, who's part Thai and introduced me to the rice cooker. We eat rice several times a week. It's so nice because I really love a bowlful of brown rice with some veggies and tofu.
pizza cutter! & cookie sheet is all I took my brother out to buy.
Toaster ovens are great for . . . toast (so you don't need a toaster) and other things; but not all come with broiler capability. That feature is worth the little extra bucks.
Gosh, I love everything about this topic ..love all the answers and helpful hints..this is totally Great!..I would be lost without my 9 by 13 pan by the way...
I love my toaster oven. And my French press. I forfeited a microwave so I could fit these "appliances" on my counter.
It's interesting to see what others are including on their list of essentials! It really highlights how differently we all prepare food. I prefer stovetop cooking to baking, so pans and skillets are really important to me!
This is such a hard list to decide on because it's so personal so I'll just give general guidelines.
NEVER NEVER NEVER buy sets. Always go al la carte. This is true with knives, pots and pans bakeware etc. Sets always skimp on things. That's why (thanks to gifts) I have unused knives, odd sized skillets I never use and sheet pans that are too small to do anything of value.
Buy yourself a good Chef's knife and at least one paring knife. I love my Victorinox 8" Chef's knife but I found I like my Messermeister better.
Buy high quality or buy cheap and buy twice (or thrice) It's your money. Personally I'd rather buy a nice Tramontina or (if I had the money) All Clad tri-ply skillet instead of buying a cheap pan that will warp in a few years.
Don't buy what you don't need and get rid of what you don't want. It's such a simple concept but hard to put into practice.
@ sabrina _K - nice to see someone else loving their rice cooker, too! People don't realize this, maybe your husband knows (and Thai food is AWESOME, by the way!), but other ingredients besides rice & water can be added during the cooking process. I like to throw in the salt, saffron, chopped onions, bok choy, daikon, garlic, cilantro,,, whatever at the same time as the rice. The flavors infuse better. Try Quinoa, also! Cooks the same as rice- 1 part grain, 2 parts water. Yum!
Here's what we'd recommend:
8 inch Chef's Knife
Pots and Pans (see full list)
Cutting boards (see full list)
Tongs, Wooden and Metal Spoons (slotted and solid), Thin Spatula, Mixing Bowls (glass and metal)
Microplane Grater
Kitchen Shears
Large Grater
Serrated Bread Knife
You can see our full list here
Most frequently used in my kitchen:
Appliances: coffee maker, toaster, mini-processor (so handy for whipping up a curry paste or salad dressing), and a probably unpopular choice: the panini grill. I've never had a toaster oven.
Cooking: 3qt pot (non-stick), small frying pan, large straight-sided sauce pan with lid
Baking: cookie sheets, 9x13 and (oddly) a 10" tart pan
Utensils: tongs, microplane, juicer (the kind with handles you press together), plastic cutting boards that can go in the dishwasher, and another odd choice: A nut grinder. It's a little bin with a crank, the nuts drop into the jar below. I would never in a million years have thought I would get so much use out of this.
Serving & such: a never ending supply of large bowls, both plastic & glass. I find plastic to be very useful for popcorn, tossing salads, etc, and easy to clean, easy to lift & store on high shelves without danger :-)
Stuff I wish I'd never cluttered my kitchen with: odd, single purpose appliances like donut makers, bread makers, fryers. (The panini maker gets a pass because it can be used to grill veggies, meats, make sandwiches, etc.). Also, why go complicated when simple will do, so fancy corkscrews or unwieldy serving dishes (chip & dip set, punch bowl, large glass cake dome) are out.
A pizza pan!
There are many great suggestions here. But i'm assuming that you're talking about being on a low budget. If so I would suggest:
If you're NOT a baker: Use a wisker instead of a hand or stand mixer.
On other kitchen needs:
Use a paring knife instead of a vegetable peeler.
Use a sauce pan instead of a tea kettle to heat water.
Use the flat side of a knife to crush garlic instead of using a garlic crusher/mincer.
Use the lid of a pan to strain liquids instead of a colander.
Use kitchen towels to replace for oven mitts.
If you have extra bucks to spend, have fun with all the gadgets out there. Just keep in mind that you only what to buy things that you will actually use,
crock pot and/or rice cooker (especially a good fuzzy logic one) can cook so many things in them, and not necessarily need to be present to do so.
oh and a further thought, when i was in china i had 4 things in tiny kitchen area. Fridge (came with my apt.). Electric kettle, first purchase could boil water for drinking, making instant noodles. Rice cooker was second, made soup, rice, pasta, porridge, steamer for Baozi. 3rd was induction "burner/wok" for anything else i couldn't fix in rice cooker.
This is a good list. I use a cast iron skillet a lot, and an old cast iron Nomar casserole. I rarely use small electric appliances --but all summer I do use a small bread machine ( a zoji mini) when it's too hot to bake I can still have fresh bread and cakes. I hang pizza, & baking sheets, madeleine pan, & muffin pan on the wall.
I'd add in a liquid measuring cup and a set of measuring spoons. Even if you don't bake, those are just really useful.
Personally, instead of designated mixing bowls, I've gradually worked up to having a 1, 2, 4, and 8 cup pyrex measuring cups. For all but the largest stuff, they work great and are dual purpose!
I have my own list:
1. Can opener.
2. Utensils
3. Plate and bowl
4. Rice cooker
That solved my food problems for a week until I get what I needed to get (aka Phase 2), like an oven toaster, some pots and pans, and a stove.
I would add an immersion blender to the list. It functions as both a food processor and a blender
I've seen some good suggestions. I would add kitchen linens such as tea towels and pot holders. Also a couple of casserole dishes - small and large, a cookie sheet, and a baking dish or two. A pitcher for lemonade, iced tea, or specialty drinks may be useful for entertaining. One gadget I've come to love is my kitchen shears. I didn't realize I used them so much until they broke. Now I miss them. Thrift stores are a great place to buy dishes, cups, and glassware. (Pick up a few wineglasses if you like vino). You may find a casserole dish or a bowl that may be useful. I like Goodwill, too. I just bought a muffin tin, new, for $2.06. Can't beat that. There was a big assortment of all sorts of kitchen items, from pots and pans to gadgets and decorative things. Yard/Garage sales &flea markets are also good places to shop. No need to pay full retail if you are on a budget.
I very much agree with this list! Although I have a few short additions that I've found out that I couldn't live with out in my minamalist kitchen.
Coffee/tea mugs. I drink one cup of coffee in the am and then tea constantly all the rest of the day. These are a must.
Garlic Press. Im just obessed with using fresh garlic.
Cork screw. I love wine. Plain and simple. Plus it makes my average cooking on some nights feel like they're special. Plus if i were to have company bring any we could gladly share a glass.
Loaf pan- I can make nearly anything in this. Casseroles, meats, quick breads ( Like banana and zucchini- yum) Even little pastries if I so wanted.
I actually don't have a toaster oven, but rather use my stove top and oven to reheat my leftovers. Has worked well so far. And if you don't mind watching it, you can make toast using the broil feature on the oven. Just have to flip it.
What I actually crave and miss most is a blender! Thats what I'd exhange on the list instead of a toaster oven. Maragritas anyone? ( Well i'd probably use it more for soup and smoothies.... )
A food thermometer.
I have never owed a colander or french press. I love my santoku knife, 2 cup pyrex measuring cup, and iron skillet.I break cheap manual can openers, I upgraded to an onieda one and have had it for years. I also replaced my plastic storage with glass. It's heavier but I don't have to worry about tomato stains. I use my toaster over (with rotisserie) more than any appliance. I had to have a crock pot, drink pitcher and bread maker but don't remember the last time I used them. I plan to add pineapple peeler and vitamix to my list of wants.
I have to say that the list looks good - I would add a magic bullet (I *love* my magic bullet, and it's cheaper than a blender. Doesn't do ice well, though) and a brownie pan. You know, a 13'X9'? It functions as both a brownie pan AND a cookie sheet - when you're on a budget that can make a huge difference.
Drink mixer! for a foam in every coffee and a greek cold coffee-frape :)
Yet, well mixed ingredients.
Great list. Saw this one that I thought was really well done too. Really comprehensive and long. Who knew we needed so many essentials for our kitchens. http://goo.gl/2RJLPQ


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Travelers Forum
If you recently returned from a trip to St. Maarten/St. Martin and would like to share your memories, suggestions, and recommendations with travelers who have the same interest as you, please email us your Trip Report. Please include your first name, last name initial and city, state and/or country where you live which will be posted with your report. Your Trip Report will be posted on this page within 48 hours after receipt. Please keep in mind that we reserve the right to edit all content.
Hi Sam, we had a fabulous time!
Lynn V., Washington, DC.
The (La Samanna) hotel villa was fabulous. The breakfast buffet was excellent each morning. We like the new endless pool. We found out they take small dogs so next time we are bring our miniature dachshund. We went to La Cigale twice. Looks like the the new Radisson on that secret beach (forgot the name, near Grand Case) should be beautiful. The car guys (Summer Set Car Rental) couldn't be nicer. Thanks again.
Stayed at the Towers... 17 years and still love it!
Airport: Absolutely beautiful!!!
Lynn C., Glastonbury, CT
Phillipsburg: Great shopping a few times, very quiet. Not too many ships. Lots of construction on the roads.
Marigot: One day of shopping and walking around
Crime: Didn't see any or hear of any
DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE THE ISLAND.......but the family made me...hehehehe
La Gondola: absolutely fantastic Italian food.
RomAntica: Wonderful Italian food and a great view of Maho great service
Pineapple Petes: A fun place to go, great food and a wonderful waiter named marc. Great band. Came here twice with many friends for dinner. The teenage kids loved the Pool tables.
Jimbos: Good Mexican food
Peg Leg Pub: Can't say enough about this place, they are EXCELLENT with service and food!
Pizza pasta La Trattoria in Maho: good food, nice place.
Sugar Cane: Great service, good food, fantastic cappuccinos.
My husband and I are in our late 60s and are avid snorkelers. We carry our own equipment and lycra skins and have snorkeled all over the world!
I could go on forever.....
I don't know HOW, but St. Maarten has become an ADDICTION!
Phil E., Danbury, CT
One of the best massages I have ever had was in St. Martin by a lady named Maribel.
Stan from the USA
She came to my timeshare and did a very professional massage. Her phone number is 556.7990. I highly recommend her. I had a great time in St. Martin doing all the tourist things including Orient Beach and the Sing Along with the band at Lee's Roadside Grill and look forward to returning.
St. Maarten is my favorite place in the Caribbean to visit where I can sit back and relax and experience a little of the European culture.
Mike C., Oklahoma
My wife and I arrived in St. Maarten on Friday October 7th for a nine day visit. Our flight was over an hour late. Usually when we leave the baggage claim area, Claude (owner of (Summer Set Car Rental) or one of his drivers is waiting for us with our rental car. Understandably, no one was there from Summer Set car rentals. What followed is a perfect example of the people who live on the "Friendly Island." A taxi cab driver, who was waiting in the taxi driver room, asked whom we were waiting for. I told him we were waiting for Claude. I just assumed he knew whom I was talking about. Apparently he knew who Claude was because he looked around and said, "Claude is not here yet." We waited for a few more minutes. I then asked the cab driver, named Mick, if he had a cell phone. He replied he did and I gave him Claude's business card. Mick then called Claude and told him we had arrived. Claude sent a driver right away and picked us up. The driver then took us to the office. Claude was not there so the driver told us to come back tomorrow and take care of the paperwork and rental payment.
Friday night we stayed at The Royal Turtle. This may be the best bargain on the island. The room cost $90 a night in the off season. A breakfast at Turtle Pier Restaurant & Bar, that ran about $20 for the two of us, was included in the price. I would not call it a resort but if you need a very nice place to stay for a night or two this is the place. The rooms were immaculate and very comfortable.
The following day, Saturday, we spent on the beach. On the way back we decided to stop at Summer Set Car Rentals and take care of the paperwork. We got caught in a Boy Scout parade in Cole Bay and arrived late at Claude's. No one was there so we traveled back to our timeshare at the Wyndham Sapphire Beach Club. Later that evening, while my wife was cooking dinner, we heard a knock on the door. It was Claude with the rental paperwork. My wife asked him if he had dinner yet. He replied he had not. The three of us sat down and had a tuna steak dinner that could not be beat. Claude stayed for about two hours. We polished off two bottles of wine and discussed many subjects. Claude was very informative about the things going on in both sides of the island of St. Maarten.
The airport terminal is coming along and should be finished in the next several months. There is a lot of building going on between the golf course and the Wyndham Sapphire Beach Club. The two resorts, The Cliff at Cupecoy Beach and the Rainbow Beach Club are under construction there. Also the land between the Ocean Club and north to Cupecoy Beach along the cliffs are up for sale on both sides of the road. Construction has already started on the lagoon side of the road. I don't know if the infrastructure on St. Maarten can stand the growth.
Saturday and Sunday were pretty stormy around the island. The good thing about St. Maarten is that if it is raining on one part of the island, usually it is not raining on the other. Due to the storms, the sand has all but disappeared from Cupecoy Beach.
Monday was a rainy day all over the island. There were no cruise ships in Phillipsburg so we went shopping. We needed to replace my wife's wedding ring and were looking for a great deal. We walked into a nice, well-lit store that sparkled on a gloomy day. The jewelry store's name was Zhaveri's. Apparently they have two in Philipsburg. One is at 53A Front Street and the other is at 103 Front Street. We were at the one at 103 Front Street. Initially a nice young man named Kevin helped us. As we showed more than a
casual interest another more knowledgeable man named Vince came over to assist us. Without giving us any pressure, Vince proceeded to spend approximately one half hour educating us about diamonds. He showed us several diamonds and instructed us as how to look at them through a jeweler's loop. Once he knew what we were looking for he sent out to their other store for several more stones. We picked out a nice setting for one of the stones he showed us. We told him that this was the first place we visited today and we were going to continue down the street to see what else was available. He asked that if we found something we liked elsewhere to come back to give him another opportunity to make the sale. We went to about 10 different stores but never received the education or attention that we did at Zhaveri's. We returned to Zhaveri's to close the deal. To make the sale, Vince knocked another $150 off the price of the diamond ring. We felt very good about the quality of the ring and the price. We liked the people and the service they provided without any pressure. I would highly recommend them to all.
Tuesday we went swimming at Plum Bay. We went back on Thursday and most of the sand was gone from the north side of the beach. After leaving Plum Bay Thursday we went to Baie Rouge and did some snorkeling. We were shocked to see that much of the coral had been bleached white from something that infected the area. Places that were once full of sea urchins had only a few left. The Parrot fish had all but disappeared because of the lack of living coral to eat. It was pretty depressing. I hope the reef can make a comeback. On Tuesday night we went to La Vie En Rose for dinner. It is one of our favorite places to go on the French side. Just a little note about French Cuisine. The way your meal is presented is part of the French culture. You will not receive what we Americans consider a huge amount of food. What you will receive is a delicious, well presented meal that will drive your taste buds wild. Something that you might inform your readers about is the currency exchange. The Euro is over 20% more expensive than the dollar. A meal costing about 100 Euros on the French side will cost about $120. Add a 15% to 20% Euro tip to that and the cost jumps to around $140. We also spent two days on the Simpson Bay beach by Mary's Boon. In the two days we were there I could count on one hand all the people who were on the beach. It is a great place to get away from it all. St. Maarten is my favorite place in the Caribbean to visit where I can sit back and relax and experience a little of the European culture.
Editor's Note: Generally, on the French side, the tip is always included in the prices of the meal as it is in France and most European countries. If the service was very good or even better, you leave a little something extra usually some coins equal to 2% or 3% of the bill.
Thanks so much for your helpful tips!! I love the island and hope to be back next winter with your book at my side no doubt!

subset: commoncrawl


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A beach in Kaua'i.
View of Kauai from above!
Yes, I am Darth Vader…. a dancing one. lol
Affinity Zero will be playing here THIS SATURDAY!Date: Saturday, May 31, 2008Time: 7:30pmWhere: Home Brew Coffee Co. 661 W. Arrow Highway San Dimas, CA 91773 (map)Cost: $10Website: http://www.affinityzero.comContact Daynah for tickets! You can Tweet, FB, MySpace, email, whatever. ;) Hope to see you there!


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Kandi Kisses by Bedroom Kandi
Today wraps up SOHH's Valentine's Day Rescue Guide, and we're helping you go out with a bang. Fellas, you may think you know everything about your girl, but today we're giving you the chance to learn everything you need to know with the help of Kandi Burrus' Kandi Kisses by Bedroom Kandi. "It's the best" and most discreet way to find pleasure this lover's day. So if you're looking for that special gift to let your lady know you love her, check out Kandi's top five reasons to buy her couture self-pleasure toy!
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PAX East 2013 Parties and Events
PAX East is coming! While the event is officially March 22-24, lots of parties are happening all throughout the week. We've gone and rounded up the most info that we could find about events. This list will be added to as new information about parties hits the internet, so keep checking back for more as it gets closer to the con.
If you're part of an organization that is planning a party or event and would like to be added to the list, please let me know at email@example.com.
And if you want to come hang out during the day, make sure to swing by a panel I'll be taking part in: Blending Games & Life - Showing Your Passion.
Third Annual Pre-Pre-PAX Gaming Tuesday Night Games & Booze
When: Tuesday, March 19, 6:30 PM
Where: J.J. Foley's (21 Kingston St., Boston)
Price: Free entry, bring money for food, drink, and donations to Child's Play Charity. Please let it be known that you're coming, for headcount purposes, at the forum link below.
Details: It's the third annual pre-pre-PAX East Tuesday night gaming gathering! We will once again be getting together at J. J. Foley's (21 Kingston St. location - there are 2 locations, so make sure you go to the Kingston St. one, or you'll be a sad panda) to play games, drink booze, socialize, and nom. A back room in J.J. Foley's will be reserved. Bring games if you feel inclined, especially portable game devices. This is a 21+ event.
PAX Community Forum Page
PAX Community Calendar Event
Facebook Event
Pre-PAX East 2013 Bar Crawl with The Thread Podcast
When: Thursday, March 21, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Where:Bars TBD (
Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston)
Price: Free. Registration required. See link below.
Details: Get your Pre-PAX drink on with other PAX Easters. 4 hours, 4 bars. Bars TBD. Prizes to be given away include a Limited Edition Machinarium Plushee and a NECA Bioshock: Infinite SkyHook Replica. Sponsored by Boston's very own The Thread podcast. Only 200 tickets available. Please RSVP today.
Eventbrite Page
PAX East "Made in MA" Party 2013 (by the Mass Technology Leadership Council)
When: Thursday, March 21, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Where: Microsoft NERD (One Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA)
Price: Registration required. $50 per ticket. Free ticket registration codes are available to those who are part of MassTLC and the gaming industry. See link below for registration.
Details: This is more of an industry party and networking opportunity.
MassTLC would like to welcome all exhibitors for PAX East and game developers to our 4th annual party to celebrate the local Massachusetts gaming industry and all it has to offer.
Join us to see firsthand how Massachusetts has become a leading gaming hub and the amazing community of game developers, gamers, investors, students and enthusiasts that have made it such a success. This networking event will take place the night before PAX East starts, March 22, and we are expecting a packed house with more than 1200 guests!
Eventbrite Page
Pokecrawl Episode 4: The Power of One!
When: Thursday, March 21, 7:30 PM - Friday, March 22, 2:00 AM
Where: Various Bars in Boston
Price: Free, with the exception of buying drinks (SOLD OUT).
Registration required.
Details: A Pre-PAX Pokemon themed bar crawl! Participants join teams inspired by the colors of the various Pokemon games and take part in drinking and scavenger hunt type challenges. You're encouraged to dress in Pokemon themed attire. The event is extremely popular and is a great way to meet new friends before the convention starts. Keep an eye out on the forum for possible openings.
Eventbrite Page
PAX Community Forum Page
Rock Band Night - Presented by Harmonix and The Brattle
When: Thursday, March 21, 8:00 PM
Where: Brattle Theatre (Cambridge, MA)
Price: $20 tickets (SOLD OUT)
Details: Join us for a night of rock-and-roll fun with Harmonix, local video game designers and the creators of the fantastic Rock Band. Form your own band or fly solo and enter for a chance to compete live on stage in front of a panel of judges from GiantBomb.com. Plus get your hands on some exclusive merch that Harmonix is cooking up. This event is a prequel of sorts to the absurdly popular PAX East Convention which begins on March 22.
Event Page
Destroy Boston: The Official Structure Gaming Pre-PAX Pub Crawl
When: Thursday, March 21, 9:00 PM - Friday, March 22, 1:00 AM
Where: Papagayo (283 Summer St., Boston), Remy's, Beer Garden, and The Whiskey Priest
Price: Free admission. Bring money for drinks.
Details: Structure Gaming is often considered to be a bunch of hooligans. Well on Thursday March 21, Boston's Favorite Gamers are stepping out for a night to hang out with our fellow gamers in an attempt to forge a new PAX East tradition. Join Qwicksilv3r, Rebeccah Ash, Jaa Coops, Jared G 1992, Tj Catch Em All, Handsome Nick and the rest of the Structure Gaming crew from 10 pm-1am for a celebration of Gaming, Community and Beer.
Facebook Event Page
Mad Catz Unveiled
When: Thursday, March 21, 9:00 PM - Friday, March 22, 1:00 AM
Where: Guilt (275 Tremont St., Boston)
$50 tickets Free - Those who bought tickets were reimbursed. (SOLD OUT). Registration link below.
Details: You're invited to experience Mad Catz Unveiled, an exclusive pre-PAX East event! Get hands-on time with pre-release titles before PAX, one-on-one experience with the Mad Catz gaming team, meet industry insiders, and socialize with the pro gaming ladies of LT3. Pro players, publishes, and the latest hardware will be present at this night of fun.
Event Page
Arcade Rave @ Throwed Boston (18+)
When: Thursday, March 21, 9:00 PM - Friday, March 22, 1:00 AM
Where: Tommy Doyle's (90 Winthrop St., Cambridge, MA)
Price: Tickets range from $4.94-$60.
Details: Pre-PAX East 2013 party. Dressing up as your favorite video game character is encouraged. Electro, dubstep, bass, trap, moombathon, and more music to be played. DJ's Texas Mike, Mobsky, and Bad Magician will be present, as well as guests Crime Pays and Grimecraft. $3 PBRs and Redbulls, $5 mixed drinks. This is an 18+ event. $5 off for 21+.
Ticket Sales Page
Facebook Event Page
Indies Need Booze
When: Friday, March 22, 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Where: Asgard Irish Pub & Restaurant (350 Massachusettes Ave, Cambrige, MA)
Price: Free. Must register (SOLD OUT)
Details: Tired of going to the same old PAX East after party. Tired of pushing people aside to just get one horrible drink. Tired of people going crazy for a game that doesn't need the press. Well come on down to the indie party of the year "Indies Need a Drink". Come join the Boston local developers, indie gamers, and others as we celebrate PAX East and drink the night away. This event is a chance to meet indie developers in their natural element of drinking beer and having fun with other gamers! This event is free but space is limited! Please make sure to RSVP since we only have so much space plus we will have a set menu of awesome burgers. Don't worry there will be plenty of booze for you to buy, plus some top secret prizes that we are giving away!
Eventbrite Page
Twitter: @indiesneedbooze
2013 Boston QUILTBAG Gamer Meetup
When: Friday, March 22, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Where: Uno Chicago Grill (731 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02115)
Price: $16.05 for a ticket. See link below. Ticket sales end March 14.
Details: Are you gay, bi, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual or just a staunch ally? Do you love games? Then come one, come all to the second annual Boston GLBTQA Gamer Meetup! Though this event has been organized in connection with PAX East, you do NOT have to be a con attendee to come to this party, and the doors are open wide to everyone from game developers to casual fans! Tickets include food from a select menu of favorite Uno Chicago Grill dishes, a choice of apple pie or a brownie sundae for dessert, and unlimited soda or iced tea.
Eventbrite Page
Facebook Event Page
Turbine Party
When: Friday, March 22, 8:30 PM
Where: Jillian's (145 Ipswich St, Boston)
Price: Free, must register for tickets. Send registration requests to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Details: Meet fellow players and members of the Asheron's Call, Dungeon and Dragons Online, and Lord of the Rings dev teams. The buffet will be loaded up with great munchies, including some vegetarian offerings and of course there will be great swag and raffles for those that attend. You might be lucky enough to walk away with a lifetime subscription to the game of your choice or other great door prizes. Plus, if you're one of the first 200 people through the door, we'll buy your first drink (beer, wine, or soft drinks)! Due to venue requirements you must be 21 or older with proper ID to attend this event.
Event Info
2013 Twitch PAX East Party
When: Friday, March 22, 9:00 PM - Saturday, March 23, 2:00 AM
Where: Royale Nightclub (279 Tremont Street, Boston)
Price: Free to the first 300 people, $15 cover charge after that. Dress code enforced.
Details: Doors open at 9PM EST. Free entry for VIP, general admission available with PAX badge. First 300 people through the door gain free entry, $15 cover charge thereafter for general admission. Dress code strictly enforced: no tennis shoes, hoodies or shorts allowed.
Dirty Nerdy Revue, Presented by D20 Burlesque and Rouge Burlesque
When: Friday, March 22, 11:00 PM
Where: Davis Square Theater (255 Elm St., Somerville, MA 02114)
Price: $15 tickets. Ages 18+.
Details: A nerdy burlesque show. D20 Burlesque and Rogue Burlesque are teaming up to bring all you Boston based nerds and PAX East attendees a very special burlesque show and gaming event on Friday, March 22nd. Combining our nerdy powers from NYC and Boston, this show will include your favorite nerdy fantasies brought to life. Along with audience games, super sweet prize raffles and all this burlesque goodness, we are also super excited to have Jared Sorensen, founder of Memento Mori Theatricks, who will be running one of his parsely games (chosen by the audience)! As this is an adult show, age is restricted to 18+.
Tickets and More Information
Facebook Event Page
IGN @ PAX East: Please to Party With Us
When: Saturday, March 23, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: TBD - The IGN Party Time Strike Force is now securing a location.
Price: Free admission. Bring money for food and drinks.
Details: Come hang out with the cool IGN staff and guests. Eat, drink, talk about games, and be merry. IGN's Daemon Hatfield, Greg Miller, Casey Lynch, Mitch Dyer, and Marty Sliva, as well as Destin Legarie and Mike Aransky. Did we mention super secret special guests will be in attendance? They will be. And they're awesome. You're going to want to meet them.
PAX East Elder Scrolls Online's 347th Annual Tamriel Beer Garden Event
When: Saturday, March 23, 6:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Where: The Castle Meeting Place (100 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02116)
Price: Free admission. Bring money for food and drinks. Guardian required if under 18 years of age.
Details: Fans of The Elder School series are invited to gather for themed food and drinks, music, merchants, cool giveaways, and more. Regional brews and exotic foods will be served, gameplay sessions will take place, and traveling musicians will be present!
Pachinko for Charity by AbleGamers with ThinkGeek
When: Saturday, March 23, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: The AbleGamers booth in The Badlands
Price: Prices very with the amount of Pachinko balls purchased
Details: AbleGamers is having a Pachinko for charity event all weekend at their booth at PAX East. Stop by and play a few rounds and help out. ThinkGeek will be hanging out and playing from 7-8 PM Saturday.
Facebook Event Page
Think Geek Event Page
Sanshee Block Party
When: Saturday, March 23, 8:00 PM - Sunday, March 24 2:00 AM
Where: 72 Broad St, Boston, MA
Price: FREE - If you register early at the link below ($10), you can early access and two drink tickets.
Details: Sanshee is throwing another party this year that is sure to thrill. Gaming themed drinks, food on toothpicks, the occasional free drink, cool people, guest appearances, music, and apparently chairs are just some of the neat things that will happen. Event is 21+ and requires an invite or PAX badge. IDs will be checked.
Eventbrite Page
Facebook Event Page
Check out some of the themed drinks that will be served!
LeaguePodcast & Rock On! Concerts
When: Saturday, March 23, 8:00 PM - 11:30 PM
Where: The Cavern Club at The Hard Rock Cafe (22 Clinton St., Boston, MA 02109)
Price: $10 tickets. See link below.
Details: Post PAX Nerdcore Madness concert featuring MEGARAN, K-Murdock, Louis Logic, Active Knowledge, Shane Hall, Gage, and Weird Die Young. 21+ only, ID required.
Ticket Page
Facebook Event Page
PAX East Tweetup 2013
When: Saturday, March 23, 8:00 PM
Where: The lobby of the Westin Waterfront Hotel
Price: Free, no reservation required.
Details: Have you been getting pumped for PAX East on Twitter? Had any interesting virtual conversations about the event with strangers? Maybe you just want to meet some new people? Join fellow tweeters and Levelcapped.com for a few hours of good company, comfy seats, and drinks from the hotel bar.
CCP Player Gathering
When: Saturday, March 23, 8:00 PM - Sunday, March 24, 12:00AM
Where: Jillian's (145 Ipswich St, Boston)
Price: Free. Must RSVP, 150 tickets available (SOLD OUT).
Details: CCP will have a big booth at PAX East this year and we'd like to ask EVE pilots and DUST mercs in the Boston area to join us for drinks, snacks and war stories at Jillian's in Boston on Saturday the 23rd of March. Meet friends, make new ones and chat to the CCP devs. This is a 21+ event.
Eventbrite Page
Twitch Community Karaoke Night
When: Saturday, March 23, 9:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Where: Elephant & Castle (161 Devonshire Street, Boston)
Price: Free admission (21+ only)
Details: Join members of the Twitch staff, broadcasters and community for a night of song and dance.
BioShock Cosplay Contest at PAX East 2013 by Irrational Games
When: Saturday, March 23
Where: Secret!
Price: Free - Invitation only
Details: There's one thing that we can't get enough of and that's cosplayers. We love them so much, we even hired one to be the official face of BioShock Infinite's Elizabeth. The problem is, that's still not enough. We want to see more and that's why we're holding another cosplay contest at this year's PAX East on Saturday, March 23rd.
Here's how it works: Irrational Games staff will be walking around the show floor of PAX East all day Saturday on the lookout for BioShock- and BioShock Infinite-themed cosplayers. If you get spotted in costume—you'll receive a wristband with everything you need to know.
This is your chance to finally show off that costume you've been working on all winter long. What better way to get a little recognition for it? Keep in mind, there'll be some stiff competition, so make sure you bring your A game. How else do you expect to win?
Event Info Page
Curse's WildStar PAX East 2013 After Party
When: Saturday, March 23, 2013, 9:00 PM - Sunday, March 24, 2:00 AM
Where: Seaport Boston Hotel (1 Seaport Lane, Boston)
Price: Free, registration required. See link below.
Details: This is going to be the party to check out if you're going to be in Boston for PAX East. Plan on enjoying live music from a DJ, a premium bar (with 2 drinks on the house), a loot bag for everyone who attends and even a red carpet style photo opportunity. As if all that wasn't reason enough, we're also going to have stations set up where you can try out the WildStar beta for yourself!
This will be an amazing opportunity to check out what Carbine Studios is up to in the world of WildStar, their upcoming MMORPG, with your own eyes.
Eventbrite Page
/Dance Party at PAX East 2013, hosted by Vapok
When: Saturday, March 23, 10:30 PM
Where: The Southwest Lobby on Level 1 (next to the Sphinx Theater)
Price: Free
Details: Come dance your bootie off as we smash down the tracks! The /dance party was originally put on out of the love of spontaneous dancing and music and the enjoyment of seeing other people happy. Use hashtag #slashdance to tweet your experience as you dance the night away. Guest DJ P0LARI5 (@PolarisDb) from Los Angelest will be putting together a string of house, electronica, funky, and nerdcore music!
The Protomen MC Frontalot, Br1ght Pr1mate, and The World is Square Show at Middle East Downstairs
When: Sunday, March 24, 7:00 PM
Where: Middle East Downstairs (472 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139)
Price: $15 a ticket. See link below.
Details: Come finish your PAX East weekend by watching some of the best gamer musicians the world has ever seen! The Protomen and MC Frontalot will be headlining, with performances from Br1ght Pr1mate and The World is Square.
Ticket Sales Website
Facebook Event Page
Frag Dolls Secret Social
When: Sunday, March 24, 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Where: The Hard Rock Cafe of Boston, in the Cavern Club Room (22-24 Clinton Street, Boston, MA 02109)
Price: Free admission, open bar. First come, first serve. (21+ event only)
Details: Frag Dolls are holding a social at the tail end of the PAX East weekend. Come hang out and take advantage of the open bar.


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I really enjoy coming to the village in Walthamstow for visits. There's a feeling here that one isn't "in it alone" in this life as passersby often smile and/or say hello as they move along down the pavement. And, by this, I don't mean just the crazies who've sadly infiltrated this corner of the capital, but actual "normal people". I'm also a fan of "Tetley" the 12 yr. old cat who acts like he's the Emperor of the 'stow, and can be found, very often, on the grounds of the Vestry House Museum soaking up the sun, if there's any to be had.
Wow, I've really digressed. Let's move on to a pub called The Castle which is just around the way from the village's main drag. On Monday nights, as luck would have it, they've a pub quiz that's really quite fun, if, however, pretty challenging at times. Our group came in 3rd out of 9 teams, so no prize money or bottle of wine was to be had. It was a hoot to participate though. The food, usual pub grub with a slightly upper-level look and taste, was tasty, but a bit costly. The interior is clean, funky, and replete with both proper tables and comfy sofas alike.
Really nice pub in Walthamstow, close to the 'Village' area, which is considered to be the posher part of Walthamstow. Set in a residential area, The Castle is a few minutes' walk from Orford Road where there are several shops and restaurants. I used to hate this pub, mainly for it's lack of atmosphere and Ikea furniture, however, the most recent owners have done a great job of making this feel like a proper pub which wouldn't feel out of place in an area like Islington or Primrose Hill. the decor is cosy and art work is displayed on one side of the pub.
I've been twice in the last few weeks. Once on a Monday night and once on a Friday. The Monday was very quiet despite the quiz night that was happening, but the food (we had burgers) was delicious and I can't recommend their chips enough! The menu is small and offers gastro pub style food from what I could tell. Expect to pay around £8-10ish. will definitely try and eat here again soon. the Friday night was a lot busier and we managed to get the last seat left. Seemed to be lots of groups of friends and some couples there, catching up, having meals and generally everyone seemed to be having a good time (the age range was around early twenties - mid-forties).
All in all this is my new favourite pub in Walthamstow.
A bit disappointed with somewhere that describes itself as a gastro-pub, no starters, nothing but normal (though perfectly nice) pub fare. No table service although we didn't know and waited for an age at our table before we realised!
Food OK but kitchen tends to get overwhelmed when busy and services disappointing, have tried Sunday lunch here twice and both times after mains was told would have to wait 30 mins before we could think about ordering desserts. Would suggest maybe putting a tag on the wine bottle table markers indicating that tables are reserved rather than the cutlery on the table, we had to move table as did not realise the one we had picked and thought empty was already taken.
Sorry to say I won't be back again
Management rude to customers. You should be embracing the community not taking them for granted.
Food portions on the small side.
Walthamstow is crying out for a lovely gastropub, but this isn't it.
Lovely place!
This user has arrived from Qype, a European company acquired by Yelp in 2012. We have integrated the two sites to bring you one great local experience.


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WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - The North Carolina Department of Transportation shut down the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge for a second weekend, but most drivers said things were running smoother than they were two weeks ago.
"It's been pretty decent," said Leland resident Samantha Nobles. "It's a little backed up but that's to be expected when a bridge is shut down." Those behind the wheel say it's not perfect, but it's definitely a smoother ride.
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By piccoloprincipe
via infoq.com
Submitted: May 11 2013 / 08:51
Anypresence cofounder and CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) Richard Mendis (RM) claims that their method of MBaaS delivery and execution "is completely unique in the market." Mobile developers design their apps in the clouds with de-coupled design-time and run-time architecture. They are able to define their own data sources, object layers and user interfaces (UI's) to avoid the dreaded phenomenon known as 'vendor platform lock-in'.


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01/22/2009, Düsseldorf
Interview with Hans Van Bylen, Executive Vice President Cosmetics/Toiletries, Henkel AG & Co KGaA
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|Download: web print
|Annamaria Englebert
|Henkel Cosmetics, Brand Communications
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Schwarzkopf – Henkel's biggest brand drives growth
What, in your opinion, have been the greatest milestones in Schwarzkopf's 111-year success story?
Hans Van Bylen: In Schwarzkopf's history there have been three major stages of development: the founding years, the period after its acquisition by Henkel, and the vigorous expansion of the past few years. The basis for the business was created in the founding years through ground-breaking inventions in hair care and styling. The first powder shampoo around 1900 and the first hair spray are just two of many examples. The next stage began in 1995 when Schwarzkopf became part of Henkel. This marked the beginning of systematic brand management in both the retail and the professional hairdressing markets. The salon sector was positioned as Schwarzkopf Professional, and in the retail sector Schwarzkopf became the master brand for hair products such as Taft, Gliss, Schauma and Palette. In recent years we have further expanded Schwarzkopf's potential by pursuing a vigorous international growth strategy. Outstanding innovations and international product launches have vastly broadened the brand's scope. Over the past three years, Schwarzkopf has become the fastest-growing hair cosmetics brand in Europe. Since 1995, its sales have more than tripled, from 500 million euros to 1.6 billion euros in 2007. The brand's strength is reflected in its market share gains. Shining examples of Schwarzkopf's development are two Schwarzkopf brands, the styling expert Taft and the Palette hair coloring line, which have each achieved European market leadership in their segments.
Schwarzkopf has developed magnificently in recent years. What are the success factors?
Hans Van Bylen: Schwarzkopf's success is based on 100 years of expertise in the hair business, its consistent emphasis on understanding user needs and wishes, and its innovative strength. Consumers rightly expect top quality and innovation from Schwarzkopf – and we put our heart and soul into fulfilling these expectations everywhere. We have a strong, highly motivated and highly professional international team who are passionate about what they do. This dedication is rewarded by users and has made Schwarzkopf one of the most trusted brands in its markets.
And how has Schwarzkopf developed internationally?
Hans Van Bylen: Our concerted global expansion drive has played a major role in our success. In the retail market we hold 80 leading positions with hair cosmetics around the world. In Germany, our home market, we have been the uncontested number one for many years. We have expanded our positions in Western Europe, and our hair coloring and styling products have long dominated their markets in Eastern Europe and Russia. Through focused investments in Latin America and Asia-Pacific, we are participating in the market growth on these continents. Schwarzkopf Professional has achieved remarkable growth rates in recent years, evolving into a business with a global presence.
How important is the Schwarzkopf brand within Henkel as a whole?
Hans Van Bylen: With sales of 1.6 billion euros in 2007, Schwarzkopf is Henkel's largest brand, followed by Loctite (0.9 billion euros) and Persil (0.7 billion euros). Schwarzkopf is also the brand that has grown most strongly over the past 10 years. But the potential of this brand is by no means exhausted. In fact, Schwarzkopf continued to grow in 2008, underscoring its strategic significance to Henkel.
The brand is present in both the retail and the salon sectors. How does one manage a brand across such different distribution channels?
Hans van Bylen: Schwarzkopf stands for expertise in hair beauty and for values like
modernity, high quality and innovation. This makes it the ideal umbrella for the clearly differentiated brand portfolios serving Schwarzkopf's retail and professional businesses. In the salon sector, we offer hairdressers strong, exclusive Schwarzkopf brands such as Igora for hair coloring, Bonacure haircare products, the OSIS styling series, SEAH luxury care, and the very recently launched Essensity brand. In our retail activities, the Schwarzkopf umbrella spans the Palette and Brillance hair coloring lines, Schauma and Gliss haircare products, and styling ranges such as Taft and göt2b. Schwarzkopf also offers outstanding opportunities for synergistic brand strategies. The salon and retail businesses cross-fertilize each other through their knowledge of trends and techniques and derive mutual benefit from their shared dedication to the highest standards of professionalism, empathy with the users of their respective products, and customer focus. Customer focus is a prime example illustrating the different approaches that Schwarzkopf adopts in addressing these two very different distribution channels. With its retail claim "Professional Hair Care for you," Schwarzkopf communicates its conviction to consumers that they deserve only the best. The customer focus for professional hairdressers and stylists is expressed in the claim "Together. A passion for hair." The results of recent years confirm the success of this strategy. The Schwarzkopf brand is recording above-average growth in both the retail and the professional businesses.
Do you have plans to expand the Schwarzkopf brand into other segments?
Hans Van Bylen: Schwarzkopf is the hair expert par excellence – this is our domain and our passion. We still have a great many ideas for Schwarzkopf that we have not yet put into practice. We will be targeting these "white spots" and grasping the growth opportunities they offer.
How do you steer a megabrand like Schwarzkopf through a recession?
Hans Van Bylen: With over 100 years of successful development behind it, Schwarzkopf is such a strong brand that even a recession will not throw it off balance. In fact, the chances are that Schwarzkopf will emerge from an economic slump even stronger than before. When times get difficult, people tend to cut the big expenditures out of their budgets first and treat themselves to small luxuries like a cosmetic product instead. When they do that, they tend to chose the products they trust. We offer high quality products in all price segments and fulfill people's wishes for reliability and value for money as part of our brand promise. Schwarzkopf has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most trusted brands in the market. We have shown in the past that difficult times do not discourage us, but spur us on to greater efforts. This is why I am optimistic about Schwarzkopf's future.
What is your vision for the future of the Schwarzkopf brand?
Hans Van Bylen: For consumers and professional hairdressers who love hair or want to solve hair problems, I see Schwarzkopf as being the brand of choice for individual beauty all over the world.


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Gaga doesn't have anything to do with the confessions, she just happens to be in the picture…
Source: thestanconfessions
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Even the black guy in the suit??? What did he ever do to you!?!
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Sonn wtf .She is more talented than Perez Hilton you cock sucker
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the guy next to that giant hairball
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i f-ing hate everyone in this picture
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For those who have been following DIYPhotography for a while now, you are well aware of the awesome photographic results that can be achieved with materials NOT purchased from your local, friendly photo gear retailer. For those who are finding this to be your first visit to DIYPhotography, may I please inquire as the exact size of the rock under which you have been hiding. [Read more...]
Documenting War: Matthew Brady on the American Battlefield
While the American Civil War was not the first armed conflict to be photographed, it was by far the most bloody and gruesome up to that point. Considered by many to be the father of photojournalism, Matthew Brady was a studio photographer in New York who began cashing in at the outbreak of the war by specifically marketing portraits to families whose sons were leaving with no guarantee of returning home.
Eventually, Brady secured permission from President Lincoln himself to travel to the battlefields with the express purpose of documenting the conflict. Armed with a daguerreotype and portable darkroom, he set out to immortalize the realities of a war that not only shaped the course of American history but, de facto, the course of modern history. Brady's exhibits and galleries, often filled with graphic images of rotting corpses on the battlefield, brought the realities of war to the home front for the mostly-untouched North. [Read more...]
The Misconception of Perception – Documenting the Gap Between What We See and What Is Real
It began with living in the real world, a place that drives me to perpetual curiosity. Humans are a fascinating study, even for the layman like myself. These subservient minions of biology seem hardwired for utter chaos, and, like receiving an ambulance dispatch to a freshman sorority at 3 a.m. on a Saturday, not even God Himself can predict what you will see next.
Little-known fact: In a previous life (before a wife and kids), I was one of those people they would call out to pick up the drunken pieces after a college bash. But, it wasn't all fun and games…there were also those times of trying everything in my power to revive a loved one who just died in my hands as their family screamed in anguish around me. But that all seems so long ago…
The cynical phrase, "Nothing is as it seems," rings especially true. As humans, we naturally perceive what we want to perceive, and, no matter how much we sometimes like to convince ourselves we're being truly objective or non-judgemental, we are constantly making subconscious judgement calls throughout our daily life. [Read more...]
Capture First-Person Video of Your Shoots with a DIY Hot Shoe Adapter
I am slothful. I am impatient. And, above all else, I am cheap…a beautiful trifecta that led me to this little project.
For the longest time, I have been wanting a way to easily capture point-of-view (POV) footage of my shoots as a way to document the exact moment an image is taken. This serves a variety of functions ranging from satiating my own vanity to allowing me to show others the "big picture" that eventually became a final image.
Essentially, I wanted something like this adapter from B&H that would allow me to attach a small camera to my hot shoe for documenting a shoot. However, I never really felt like buying one, buying one would require me to wait for it to arrive (like it was going to be THAT much longer than the year I've already sat on this), and, why buy something you can make yourself, right? So, I set about pulling odds and ends I had laying around to make my dream finally come true! ::snickers with excitement:: [Read more...]
"Louisville In Motion" – An Incredibly Cinematic Time-Lapse Video
For nearly a year and a half, Kentucky, USA-based photographer Eric Stemen worked tirelessly on creating a beautiful time-lapse showcase of his hometown. The first time I watched this video I was immediately taken aback by its vibrant details and cinematic feel.
Fast & Curious: GoPro captures biker's near-death collision
Perhaps it can be said that I simply like to toy with death a little less than the average person, but you can never accuse biker Jack Sanderson of that. While out for a relaxing, spring-time ride (okay, so he's weaving across both lanes of traffic at high speeds on very winding roads, and I'm totally confused as to which vehicles are coming or going), the 21-year-old Knutsford, Cheshire resident passed two other bikers, dropped around a turn, and missed a potentially-deadly 60mph head-on collision with an oncoming car by inches, flying off the road and tumbling 40 feet down an embankment. [Read more...]
Freelensing: Un-Focus To Tell a More Dynamic Story
So often we are distracted by what we see, sucked in by that which is right in front of us. Each day can be a battle of not missing the forest for the trees, and losing track of the big picture, both metaphorically and literally, is a demon to which we frequently fall prey. But, life is as much about the unseen as it is the seen…it is more honest to say that it is what's lurking in the shadows that truly defines us rather than what the world around us seems to see.
This concept, when considered in photography, is as much philosophical as it is visual. There are thousands of tutorials on how to maintain a sharp focus or isolate a subject or achieve that perfect image. But, life, which is the literal reflection of art, is not sharp or clearly-defined or nice and perfect. It's not! What if more contemporary photography chose to focus on the imperfect, the beauty in the flaws, and creation by suggestion rather than destruction by defining? [Read more...]
Automate your creative life with IFTTT Actions
We all love automation throughout our daily lives. Like, we LOVE automation…in everything. The less we have to actually do, the happier we tell ourselves we'll be. (While I would love to digress into an ongoing monologue about human psychology, this is neither the time nor the place…) In the busy world of photographers, artists, and creative professionals, automation can, indeed, be a huge asset in allowing us to better manage our time, get more accomplished, and geek out a little along the way.
IFTTT.com (standing for "IF This, Then That") is the perfect (and FREE) solution for a variety of facets in our lives, whether it's just managing our day-to-day activities, streamlining our creative process, or super-charging our social media effectiveness. As the name suggests, IFTTT is a cause-and-effect, trigger-based platform for accomplishing more with less effort. [Read more...]
Facing the Demons of Camera Shame
He is one of the most iconic American photographers, an innovator in his time responsible for aiding in the awareness that led to the preservation of some of our most spectacular natural treasures. He has left millions awestruck by the imagery he captured and inspired millions more to aspire to follow in his steps. His skills were commissioned by government agencies, and the value of his original prints stretches well into the millions. He is Ansel Adams, and his camera was an outdated, antiquated piece of rubbish.
I am certain most, if not all, photographers have experienced it at one time or another: the feeling that you and your skills are made inferior by the equipment you are using, a condition commonly known as camera shame. We shrink back into the shadows around other photographers with "more-pro" gear than us, we avoid conversations with photographers who are knowledgeable about equipment, we miss or turn down opportunities out of embarrassment, and we find ourselves tripping over ourselves in the pursuit of "the next great thing" in hopes of being able to hold our heads high in public. [Read more...]
6 Photography Lessons From a Combat Sniper
We see them in movies, we watch History Channel specials about them, and they are the things of which legends are made. Surprisingly, no, I'm not referring to UFOs. We're talking about combat snipers, those lethal ghosts in face paint shifting in the shadows.
I began contemplating the possible parallels between photographers and these men of mystery, and, as I have rarely ever fallen into a category that the military deems as useful for more than civilian life, I sat down one evening with a friend and former U.S. Army sniper to get the lowdown on what life as a precision shooter is really like. As we sat around a crackling campfire beneath a mesh camo canopy, I was intrigued and somewhat surprised as Andy (because heroes literally care that little about protecting their identity) recounted stories of combat missions in the mountains of Afghanistan. But, as we continued to talk, I began to see more and more the applicable parallels between these elusive soldiers and those of us in the metaphorical "trenches" of photography. (There's really no comparison, I know…) [Read more...]


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Alright... Thanks everyone! (I've started my map as a WIP... if I get out of line, let me know? :P )
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Alright... Thanks everyone! (I've started my map as a WIP... if I get out of line, let me know? :P )
Unless you are trying to sell the map you make then it's even less of an issue. Sure companies can stop you using any of their property (eg. Disney suing some Daycare centers for painting Disney characters as murals on the walls... yeh...) I honestly can't see Google hunting you down and hitting you up with a cease and desist :D
We all use images as inspiration, don't worry about it.
As much as I'm sure they'd like to, Google can't copyright the Earth, only their images of the Earth.
Another thing to consider, maps produced by forum members intended for publication, that are co-opted by other cartographers here without permission for their own projects require the permission of both the original cartographer and the publisher - and often the answer is "no". Mike Schley is one of our renowned members doing lots of cartography commissions for Wizards of the Coast, often for D&D maps. Any of those maps posted here, cannot be reposted elsewhere or used in personal projects at all. There was a case where some new member here wanted to base a town on the style of Mike Schley, but literally used one of his maps to alter for his own purposes, but that member reposted his altered version on the forums. Mike Schley showed up and asked it to be removed from the boards and had the issue not been resolved a cease and desist order from WotC attorneys may have been the next recourse. So it depends on who the cartographer is, what is the intended published purpose for a given map, and who the publisher is - whether you can do derivitive work from maps produced by other cartographers.
O.O Right. Well that makes sense I suppose. There's a huge distinction between "inspired by", "derivative of", and outright plagiarism, in any medium.
I'll make sure to only use real places :P
One good test for doing a map of something in the real world is "could I have made exactly this map if I had used a different set of images from slightly different angles as my source?" If so, then you're probably fine. If something you do depends on the exact picture used, then you need to dig deeper (is the photo copyrighted? Does my work fall under fair use? etc).
Alright. :) I'm doing a slightly different angle anyway, so I should be safe, I mostly just used Google for a tracing that shows the basic layout/height info. :D ... then I'm using the tracing as a reference for that, not to actually draw on ! :) So I'm still okay, right?
Sounds okay to me, but this isn't legal advice.
I'd just like to add that a long time ago we actually had a challenge to base a map on a real-world location. If I recall correctly, the winner was a map of the Niagara region by RobA: http://www.cartographersguild.com/ma...y-niagara.html
In addition, some mappers like to use a real coastline, or a synthesis of several coastlines, as a starting point for a fictional map. You can get realistic looking heightfields and mountain ranges the same way. Those are even better because it's really unlikely that someone will recognize a heightmap, whereas they might recognize a coast.


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Biography Wikipedia
Redirect to:Hồ Ngọc HàThis is a redirect from a page that has been moved/renamed. This page was kept as a redirect to avoid breaking links that may have been made, both internally and externally, to the old article title. This template automatically tags any redirect that results from a page move. For more information follow the category link.


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Webcam Bewdley, United Kingdom: River Severn at Bewdley
(A live view of the current weather at Bewdley)
Hotels in the region of Bewdley
A small selection of hotels nearby:
This booking service via booking.com is completely free of charge and no prepayments are required - you pay your hotel bill when leaving the hotel.
The current weather conditions and weather forecast for Bewdley in in cooperation with wetter.com:
We have collected links to more than 10.000 webcams from all around the world, not only for Bewdley or United Kingdom.
So you can enjoy live-images from almost every place on earth with our webcam directory.
Here we have a list of places in United Kingdom with webcams nearby.


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We've previously written about the appification of the web, and how today's websites are becoming more like apps in their functionality and feel. Apps represent a straightforward and efficient way to complete a task, and this inherent simplicity is something many brands are trying to emulate today with their web presence.
Then and Now: How These Top 5 Websites Have Become Appified
Time in App Increases by 21% Across All Apps
Though 20% of apps are opened only once, people are becoming more attached to apps overall. According to Localytics data, the amount of time people spend in apps has increased by 21% over the last year. People are engaging with mobile so frequently that time spent with mobile apps now exceeds time spent on traditional desktop web. Certain categories are driving this increased time spent in apps. Here is a summary of the findings:
Larger iPhone 6 Screens Set to Impact the Mobile Landscape
Amid much buzz last week, Apple announced two new iPhone models. The biggest departure from the current iPhone family is the screen size, ushering Apple's entry into the "phablet" market. Whereas the current iPhone 5 offerings have a 4 inch diagonal screen measurement, the iPhone 6 clocks in at 4.7 inches, and the iPhone 6 Plus at a massive 5.5 inches. It may not sound large at first, but those measurements increase the screen size from the current generation by 17.5% and 37.5% respectively.
The Surprising Ways These 5 Apps Are Engaging Users
Here's the dilemma app owners and marketers are facing today: App downloads are stalling while app usage is growing.
Apps are growing in popularity, and globally, more and more people are turning to apps as their primary source of interacting with information. But with the growth in usage has come an overwhelming tidal wave of new apps competing for user attention. Typically, once a user finds an app he or she likes, the research and discovery period is over.
That's why it's more crucial than ever that apps concentrate on engaging the users they have just as much as they are investing in new user acquisition.
App engagement isn't a one-size-fits-all model.
How to Avoid the App Churn Risk Window [Infographic]
The speed-dating phenomenon has made its way into mobile. People love to download and try new apps; the challenge is getting them to commit and come back.
Savvy app marketers know that they must make a great first impression and then act quickly to convince users to return to their app, before they're gone for good. In fact, there is a 60% chance that users who don't come back to your app within seven days will never return.
App Monetization: 6 Bankable Business Models That Help Mobile Apps Make Money
Why are you building an app? Yes, you want to cultivate loyalty, create company awareness, gain new mobile customers, provide a benefit, and more. Often, mobile apps are another marketing channel for your brand and after everything you've put into getting it launched, you also expect it to be a solid source of revenue.
The 2014 Push Awards - Best and Worst Push Messages of the Past Year
Roll up the red carpet and put away the cameras. This year's main mobile event isn't taking place on the big stage, it's on the Internet. May we introduce to you, The 2014 Push Awards. In this first annual ceremony, we will be presenting the awards for the best, and the worst, push notifications throughout the past year. We'll try to stay away from the cheesy, canned jokes, but we can't guarantee it.
iPhone 5 and iPad 2 Still Dominate As Apple Prepares for Announcement
Tomorrow, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 6. With anticipation building for the announcement, one question looms large: will we get two new iPhones, or one? Apple's experiment to release two iPhones last year, the iPhone 5s and the cheaper iPhone 5c, was initially met with mixed reviews by critics, but resulted in record revenue the following quarter. Tomorrow the world will find out if Apple will repeat this strategy by launching multiple iPhones, or go back to releasing just one iPhone this year, the iPhone 6.
6 Reasons Not to Invest in App Analytics & Marketing [Slideshare]
We're a company whose primary purpose is to help your app grow: so, of course, we're huge proponents (and vendors) of app-specific analytics and marketing. And the subject of this post isn't a trick to gain your attention. Rather, it's a way to introduce a solution.
The Ultimate Cheat Sheet on the Do's and Don'ts of Push Messaging
Despite their name, the best push messages are not "pushy." The most successful mobile apps carefully tie content, timing, and frequency together to create a push notification strategy that is mutually beneficial for both the brand and its app users.


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Female. 19. Irish. Living the highlife as an English Literature and French student in university. Living the real life online as an internet sensation. I like nerdy things too.
Just… Perfect. And I want what Jaime's wearing.
I hope so. I don't wanna meet any more pussies.
Why can't I just be friends with them


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Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > Secrets
Chapter 32 Reviews
Third attempt at uploading this.
"How'd you know we had a party last night?" Me and Gerard asked, mouths wide open. We'd spent all morning cleaning the house, it was totally spotless.
Mom held a piece of paper. It said 'Just Enter' "I'm assuming you put this up because your music was too loud?"
"Not necassarily," Gerard said uncertainly "We just didn't want the hastle of always opening the door."
"Well I had a few complaints off the neighbours," Mom told us, looking slightly amused "And they certainly weren't impressed."
"We're sorry," I told her though I knew Gerard certainly wasn't sorry and Hayley was too busy feeling sorry for herself to say sorry to our Mother "But you know what teenagers are like..."
Mom raised her eye-brows "Was there any alcohol?"
"For like two minutes," Gerard said "But I took control of the situation."
I rolled my eyes. He did no such thing.
"Any under age you-know-what?"
"Mom," Gerard laughed "You can say the word sex you know. We're not five anymore."
"Okay, was there any under age sex?"
Gerard smirked at the word sex. I rolled my eyes again. How immature can you get? "No, of course not." I re-assured Mom.
"Well, we don't think there was..." Gerard laughed "It was a pretty amazing party!"
"There wasn't!" I said firmly "Mom I know exactly what happened last night. There was no sex. I promise."
"Okay..." Mom said "Gerard, can you come and do the dishes please?"
"No but's! And Mikey, can you go and see if your sister's okay?"
I didn't argue and I didn't complain. Why am I so good all the time? Maybe this is why girls don't like me. I always hand my homework in on time, never argued with teachers/my parents/anybody... Oh my god, I'm boring!
I tapped timidly three times on Hayley's bedroom door "Hayley, are you okay?"
"Fuck off!" Hayley yelled "It's your fault! Now Bert's going to hate me forever!"
I pushed open the door a little and poked my head round. Hayley threw a book at my face. It was a hardback with at least 300 pages. It damn hurt.
I closed the dor again but said "Hayley, why do you think he was so keen?"
"Because he liked me!"
"And if he really liked you he should still like you now."
"No, he's going to think my entire family are over protective and creepy!"
"But it's not your family he's interested in. It's you. And anyway he's too old for you."
"Leave me alone Mikey! You're just jealous that someone's interested in me because no one will ever be interested in you!"
I gave up then and went to my bedroom. I threw myself onto my bed with my head in my pillow. What Hayley said upset me but it was kind of true. I wasn't jealous obviously. But I knew no one would ever be interested in me.
I went to turn over my pillow because it was starting to irritate me when I noticed a small white envelope with [/Mikey


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'Dancing' Stars Exposed!
March 24, 2009 Dancing With The Stars
"Dancing with the Stars" pro Derek Hough -- bare-chested and buff! The 23-year-old was shirtless outside of his dressing room with competitor Gilles Marini. There really is no need for the elaborate costumes when you have bodies like theirs!
Filed Under: Dancing With The Stars, Star Sightings, Derek Hough


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Whatever the truth behind today's story about the Foreign Secretary and his special adviser, the way it has been reported is clear evidence that casual homophobia is alive and well in the British media.
As far as I can make out, the story involves only two serious questions. Hague's sexuality is relevant to neither.
Firstly, Hague, as Foreign Secretary, is accused of having appointed Christopher Myers as his special adviser unexpectedly, despite an alleged lack of experience. The evidence for this appears to be thin. But it is a serious thing to suggest that a minster abused his power to make an unfair appointment. Such an allegation should not be lightly dismissed.
Secondly, it is alleged that Hague is (or has been) in a sexual relationship with Myers. Adultery is a serious matter, although it is really a personal issue rather than one that should affect Hague's position as Foreign Secretary. But Myers' gender is irrelevant.
The two issues are abuse of power and infidelity. Sexual orientation has nothing to do with it.
Or rather, it should have nothing to do with it. But most of the media seem to think it does. The Guardian, who should know better than to put such a flimsy story on their front page, led with "William Hague denies gay rumours as aide quits". The Evening Standard declared "Hague may quit over gay smear".
The word "gay" appeared in almost every headline about the story this morning. Given that Hague has been married to a woman for thirteen years, it might be more believable to accuse him of being bisexual. I find it very frustrating that bisexuality is almost absent from the media and anyone in a same-sex relationship is described as "gay".
If the media had truly left homophobia behind, they would treat the story exactly as they would have done if Myers were a woman. They are very far from doing so, delivering a reminder that while huge progress has been made in the struggle against homophobia, there is still a very, very long way to go.
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text: Lexington, Ohio is located in Richland County. Lexington has a population of 4,782 and has shown 6.8% growth since 2000. Of the 1,892 households in Lexington, 75.1% are owned, 19.8% are rented and 5% are not currently occupied. The median age of homes in Lexington is 32 years and 45.0% of the homes have been occupied by the same residents for more than 5 years. Learn more about Lexington, Ohio real estate at coldwellbanker.com.


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yourkishore says
yourkishore said
July is Bad month for me, my script is getting old
saputrad says
Somehow it is just the best month so far
GBREAL says
July was my best month ever.
SoundFix says
July was my worst month since February Sales have insanely picked up no though, 8 sales in 2 days This month is looking good!
UBLThemes says
July was my best month, with over 200 sales.
David_Blanco says
yes indeed july was pretty good with 255 sales!
ToivoMedia says
My Audio Jungle sales were 3 times better than usual!! I got 3 sales instead of 1.