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Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide
Twilight Travel / Robert Pattinson / Taylor Lautner / Kristen Stewart / Honeymoon Travel / Movie Travel / Breaking Dawn / → All Tags
The First 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn' Trailer Gives Glimpses of Rio and 'Isle Esme'
Twilight fans finally got a sneak peek at the cinematic moments they've been dying to see: Edward and Bella's wedding, Honeymoon, and impending parenthood.
At last night's MTV Movie Awards, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, and Kristen Stewart finally presented the first full length trailer for the final chapter in the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, which will be split into two films.
For the first time, we get a glimpse of Edward and Bella's wedding, which, even though it looks like an exotic destination, was actually filmed just outside of Vancouver, in the rain. The entire area was covered with tarps and umbrellas to keep sneaky paparazzi at bay.
TV Travel / An Idiot Abroad / Brazil Travel / Rio Travel / Carnival / → All Tags
'An Idiot Abroad' Visits Rio During Carnival and Predictably Dislikes the Noise
This week's episode of An Idiot Abroad landed Karl Pilkington in Rio during Carnival to take in the wonder that is Christ The Redeemer, as well as a bit of the local culture.
Compared to previous episodes, Brazil was predictable, and stereotypical. Instead of stepping off the beaten path, Karl got waxed and shopped for a Speedo before being forced to spend time at gay and nude beaches. No surprises there.
Twilight Travel / Movie Set Travel / Rio de Janeiro Travel / → All Tags
The 'Twilight' Cast May Bail on Filming 'Breaking Dawn' in Rio after Hostage Situation
This week we've learned there is at least one thing that can scare off vampires and werewolves: hostage situations.
The next installment of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn, was expected to shoot a few key scenes in Rio de Janeiro. But, after last weekend's deadly shootout between cops and gang members at the InterContinental Rio de Janeiro, they may be backing out.
Airport Security / TSA / Pilots / Airline News / United Airlines / → All Tags
United Pilot Goes Pantsless to Protest Frustrating Airport Security
We complain about airport security and all the hassles it presents to those attempting to travel at least once a week. However, even the most frequent traveler probably doesn�t have to face the security gauntlet as much as pilots and flight attendants do. Last Friday, one United Airlines pilot, Michael Slynn, just couldn�t take it anymore, and instead of trying for the umpteenth time to go through the metal detector, he just removed his pants.
The pilot was briefly held up at the airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for some questioning, but was back on his way after they discovered that he was just frustrated and not nuts. He was even allowed to fly his plane off to Washington DC, but he was told that he would have to go before a judge the next time he returns to Brazil. We�re wondering if he�ll put in for a route switch so he can avoid the country for this reason.
Landmarks / Tourism / Rio de Janeiro Travel / Brazil Travel / Weather / Floods / Tourist Traps / → All Tags
Rio de Janeiro Puts Christ On Ice Until Mudslides Subside
These first few months of 2010 have welcomed everything but tourists it seems, as natural disasters like earthquakes, floods ands even volcanoes put a crimp in itineraries. And although we're hoping that the sun of summer will wipe the problems away, it looks like Mother Nature will have her last laugh...in shutting down the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
What they've got down there is a Machu Picchu-type flooding and mudslide emergency. Already the torrential rains and mudslides have killed 246 people, with almost another 200 still missing. And they're not risking more lives just so people can take a quick picture of themselves with one of the seven "new" wonders of the world.
Rio Field Trip / Rio Travel / Olympics Travel / Favelas / Poverty Tourism / Slum Tourism / → All Tags
A Controversial 'To Do' in Rio: Touring the Favelas
If you're Brazilian, or, a Cariocaphile (a Rio lover) then you've already started the countdown for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Back in October, we were down in the "Marvelous City" and right smack in the middle of Copacabana Beach with the rest of Rio for the world announcement. Don't worry, our writer Shira Levine cased the joint to check things out for those of you considering getting your Olympic Games on in, uhhh six and half years. Questions or suggestions? Let us know.
Slum Tourism has its place in travel for the voyeuristicly curious vacationing in a post "City of God" and "Slumdog Millionaire" world. While it's a controversial alternative to the crashpad, there are some safe, noteworthy and creative partnerships that bring business and business opportunities to the lovely people living in the slums while also giving tourists a chance to see another side of Rio.
Thanksgiving Alternatives / Thanksgiving Travel / New York City / Rio de Janeiro Travel / → All Tags
Skip The Macy's Parade For Four Nights In Rio This Thanksgiving
If it's good enough for Madonna and Jesus, then it's good enough for you. As we reported today, the transformative Queen of Pop recently landed in Rio de Janiero for "humanitarian" work and quite possibly to meet her boyfriend's parents. We're not sure if this contributes to Rio's international appeal or detracts from it, but we did happen to stumble across a four-night travel package, airfare included, for Thanksgiving travel to the Brazilian city.
Travelzoo recently posted a $699 (base price) all-inclusive deal which includes roundtrip travel from New York City, daily breakfast, four nights accommodations, and the option to tack tour extras onto your package. The catch is, as we mentioned, the date that you'll have to depart�either dangerously close to Thanksgiving on the 19th, or the day itself. So, you'll have to decide whether forgoing turkey, football, and that yearly screening of the MACY*S parade is worth the $700 pricetag.
Celeb Travel / Rio de Janeiro Travel / Christmas Travel / Madonna / → All Tags
Madonna Touches Down In Rio For The Poor And For Jesus
Madonna landed in Rio de Janeiro yesterday for a week long trip that may include meeting her boyfriend's mother and speaking with government officials about poverty.
Several reports are saying that the superstar is nervous about meeting Jesus Luz' family for the first time and that it may be a sign things are heating up between them. But Madge told Page Six the rumors aren't true and she is "there strictly for fundraising and humanitarian purposes.� We find it suspect that she would visit her boyfriend's hometown with him and not stop by to say hi to his moms. Maybe it's the age difference that is keeping her away, and we're not talking about the age difference between her and Jesus. Madonna also happens to be 14 years older than his mother!
Olympics / Olympics Travel / 2016 Rio Olympics / Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Travel / Video / Sports / → All Tags
Thinking of a Master Plan: Snazzy Video Nabs 2016 Olympics for Rio
As an American, I was disappointed that Chicago didn't win the 2016 Summer Olympics, but I've got to admit that Rio looks like a pretty spectacular choice. I've never been, but watching their official candidate commercial yesterday moved it to the top of my list of dream trips. Today I happened upon the city's master plan pitch, and it really looks like Brazilian officials have thought this thing through. I'm not surprised the I.O.C. believed that South America in general, and Rio in particular, would be the perfect host for the games.
Olympics / Olympics Travel / 2016 Rio Olympics / Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Travel / Travel News / → All Tags
And The 2016 Olympic City Is...Rio de Janeiro!
It's time to break out the Mardi Gras beads and barely-there bustiers and learn how to spell "Rio de Janeiro" without hesitating, because Rio is indeed the host city of the 2016 Olympic Games. All this morning and early afternoon, the world was glued to their TVs and Twitter as the Olympic Committee first heard final pleas from the delegations from Chicago (Prez Obama was there), Rio, Tokyo and Madrid and then announced their decision in favor of the first Olympics to be held in South America.
While people rush onto Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to celebrate, we can already imagine the tour operators and airlines brainstorming their deals for travel to Brazil in 2016 and even these next few years as the city strengthen its infrastructure and emerges as a true hot destination.
Bike Sharing / Rio de Janeiro / Brazil Travel / Bicycling / → All Tags
Rio de Janeiro Sambas Into Bike Sharing
If cities like Milan, Shanghai, and Mexico City can enjoy successful bike rental programs, then we've been wondering when a South American capital would climb aboard the eco-friendly trend. As it turns out, Rio de Janeiro quietly launched their own bike sharing program last November, which welcomes tourists with open arms (or handlebars).
Appropriately named Samba, which in Portuguese conveniently means "Alternative Mobility Solution though Bike Renting," Samba is using this spring and summer to build up to 42 stations with 500 total bikes by the end of the year; it's a small number compared to Paris' Velib and its 20,600+ bicycles, but nonetheless a great start.
New Year's Eve / Iemanj� / Religious Festival Travel / → All Tags
The Holy Beach Of Rio
Everyone should spend at least one New Year's Eve mingling on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Despite the massive crowds and the often underwhelming concerts, the cheers at midnight are joyous and the sights are fantastic. But if you're in town earlier in the evening, take a walk on the beach to catch the offerings to Iemanj�, a folk tradition honored at the end of every year on the beach.
In the Afro-Brazilian Umbanda religion, Iemanj� is the goddess of the sea and the protectress of women and fertility. Umbanda practicants dress in white to bring flowers, build altars and set out floating candles for Iemanj�, a rite practiced on New Year's Eve in Rio but a few weeks earlier in Salvador de Bahia and in February in Rio Vermelho, where the local Catholic church has rededicated her as Our Lady of the Seafarers. The cacha�a will wait, we promise.
Related Stories:
· Rolling Stones Hit The Great Wall [Jaunted]
· Copacabana Palace Still Rules Rio [Jaunted]
· Rio's Saucy Postcards Over [Jaunted]
[Photo: zeiger]


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Brad Cleveland
Brad Cleveland is known globally as a thought leader in customer relationships, customer services, and the fast-evolving communications economy. A highly sought consultant, speaker, and author, he has worked in 45 states and over 60 countries, and his clients have included many of today's service leaders—Apple, HP, American Express, USAA, Coca Cola, and others. He's also advised governments in the United States, Australia, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Brad is author and/or editor of eight books, and is recipient of an Amazon.com best selling award. His books and articles have been translated into over a dozen languages. He has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, CNN Money, Kiplingers, the Los Angles Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, and the New York Times, as well as on major television networks (PBS, CNBC, Fox, MSNBC, and others), NPR's All Things Considered, and the in-flight programs of several airlines. He has received numerous industry awards in the customer service field, and was nominated for the prestigious Computerworld Smithsonian 21st Century Pioneering Award. In May of 2012, Brad was recipient of ICMI's Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award.
One of the initial partners in and former President and CEO of the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), Brad grew the firm into a global industry leader that is now part of United Business Media (London: UBM.L). Along with his work as a speaker and writer, Brad serves as Senior Advisor to ICMI; alongside ICMI's global team, he can bring an unparalleled depth of resources and support to virtually any project.
Brad lives in Sun Valley, ID (located in the central Rockies) with his wife of 23 years, Kirsten, and their daughter Grace. He is a private pilot, enjoys skiing and mountain biking, and has logged an estimated five million miles in travel.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sharp ships latest Blu-ray Disc player
One for Santa's sack?
Sharp has launched a Blu-ray player that it hopes Santa will want to load onto his sleigh this Christmas.
Sharp's BD-HP21H: 24p playback
The 1080p BD-HP21H player can display video at cinema-like 24f/s - with discs that support it. Ditto Blu-ray's picture-in-picture mode, which the BD-HP21H can also display.
DVD movies can be upscaled by the BD-HP21H and, although there's no mention of a memory card slot, you'll be able to display JPEG format still images from a disc to your TV.
If you're already kitted out with one of Sharp's Aquos TVs then you can take advantage of the Blu-ray player's Aquos Link feature, which lets you operate the player and TV with a single remote. Yes, that's Sharp's name for the control relay facility that's part of the HDMI specification.
Sharp also claimed that the player's an eco-friendly one that's been designed with "low energy consumption" in mind. It uses 26W of power when running, falling to 0.5W in stand-by mode. Or you can turn it off and cut the consumption to zero.
The Sharp BD-HP21H Blu-ray player is available now for £250 ($385/€298).
Group Test: Blu-ray Disc players round-up
How Pointless...
...this review is.
It's a BR player, therefore a given that it's 24fps and 1080p, there is nothing of substance whatsoever in the above other than to say the product is out....
It's a Profile 1.1 player, therefore will not have a memory card slot, it also has no Ethernet port so cannot be upgraded to a Profile 2.0 player either.
In short buy elsewhere.


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Cass & Co's Copper Infused Anti-Aging Shapewear
Fearful of needing to tuck your boobs into your pants one day? Notice a little more sag in your swagger? Well, luxury shapewear company Cass & Co. is making claims that these worries can be gone if you wear their Copper-Infused shapewear called WearRepair. Cupron, a patent infused copper oxide (that grants polymers antimicrobial and antiviral properties) found in these "fountain of youth" fabrics, claim to not only nip, tuck and suck, but to tone and restore the look of healthy skin.
"Like a firming cream in fabric form" says Cass & Co.
Hmm. Well, as the saying goes, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Prices for these shapewear pieces range from $36-$96.


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Bedroom Refresh: New Curtain Fabric
April 25, 2012Quick note: load time has been a little slow over here at PDB. Bluehost is upgrading our server and software so you might experience a short outage – they haven't shared when but sometime this week for two hours . Have you experience lag time for the blog?
I bit the bullet and ordered 11 yards of one of my very favorite fabrics for the bedroom:
It's the Orbetello in blue from the Palladio collection over at Thibaut, and it's so pretty in person!
I had lived with a large swatch hanging over our current white curtains in the master bedroom for over a month before I finally gave in and ordered enough fabric to cover two windows. I've had a hard time with this purchase because a. I was nervous that the fabric would feel too heavy and dark in a room that doesn't get enough natural light and b. it was a bit of a splurge even with a designer discount. Well, it's arrived in the mail and the biting of nails was all worth it. It is so pretty and will look so great in the space – now I just need to finish (or start, I should say) getting these puppies sewn up!
To balance out a bigger ticket item, I picked up an 84″ curtain panel called Ogee Dot in the color Spring Melt by Martha Stewart Living from Home Depot (it was kind of like my great Waverly fabric find from Lowe's after I fell in love with the same fabric over at Ballard Designs for 3x the price. Unfortunately it's near sold out now now):
It's more of a soft aqua color and is much prettier in person as well – need to get some nice clean photos in here. I think I"ll turn this one panel into three big square shams for the back of the bed to fit over current white Ikea versions that I have.
And it all matches so nicely with the new rug!
Which was that really great One Kings Lane find from a little while back.
The room pieces are really coming together. Now I just need to decide on a style of nightstand, find one on Craigslist (fingers crossed), give it whatever makeover it might need and pull everything together. That plus art, can't forget a few good pieces of personal art for this space.
I'll see if I can't get on these sewing projects this weekend so I have some actual room progress to share next week.
Tags: Bedroom, Blue, Decorating, Fabric, Home, Turquoise
Posted in Our Master Bedroom, Renovating Adventures | 7 Comments »
Easy Envelope Pillows
February 2, 2012Back with a quick example of how easy it is to make envelope pillows (no zippers, no buttons) out of cloth napkins and remnant fabric. I made four new pillows in a couple of hours last Saturday morning and featured them here in my Spring living room update.
The truth is, I've had several of these cloth napkins lying around the house for months if not years! They were waiting for the perfect opportunity and new throw pillows fit the bill.
These raspberry red velvet guys are from a yard of fabric from my local discount fabric shop. The store is actually called Discount Fabric and it's in an old movie theater about a mile from our house – such a treasure so close by! The tan pillow was from a previous project and you can find its invisible zipper tutorial here.
My two new cloth napkin envelope pillows are over here on this side. Kev was seeing Christmas with my green and red mix (even though I tried to insist they were more kelly meets raspberry) and my horizontal floral print pillow helped to bring Spring back in. Next to that guy is a smaller brown trellis pillow made from three Target cloth napkins (still can be found in store, bought these around Thanksgiving). Yes, that raspberry red pillow needs a 20″ insert and not the current 18″– it's definitely on the to-do list.
When mixing so many pillows, I try to throw a couple over-sized ones in the mix (wish I had one BIG one), a few medium throw pillows, a horizontal size and maybe a little guy. But with pillows I really think that anything goes–mix patterns, colors and sizes and when you get bored invest in a few more cloth napkins.
But really, cloth napkins are pretty genius as pillow covers. Since napkins already have a hemmed edge and are roughly the size of a throw pillow, they make for an easy solution – especially when there are no zippers involved!
Easy Envelope Pillows
Materials: fabric, pillow insert, pins, fabric scissors (a dedicated, super sharp pair is always a plus to have around and will make fabric cutting SEW much easier. hehehe), sewing machine
I'll go through all four pillows, but let's start with the horizontal botanical print pillow. This is the cloth napkin that I've had for years – it's so pretty but it gets very little use buried in my linen basket! The back of the pillow is just a tan fabric scrap from my remnant box.
1. I began by laying out the napkin right side up to cut my fabric to size for the backing.
2. Using the cloth napkin as my template (I didn't alter the size or shape at all), I cut out a panel for the right side of the pillow that was roughy 2/3 the size of the front side of the pillow and folded over the inside edge about 2″. You could seam this edge but if it's folded over a far enough amount (and the raw edge is buried deep within the pillow) no one will be the wiser. These top pieces should be facing down (we're pinning and sewing this inside out).
3. A similar panel is cut and folded in for the left side.
4. Time to pin!
5. and over to the sewing machine we go.
The entire pillow cover gets a simple stitch all of the way around the outer edge
And while even cloth napkins don't have even edges, I tried to stay as close to this edge as possible. This is especially true if you're making a pillow cover for a specific size insert size (16″, 18″ or 20″ for example).
6. Flip your pillow cover outside in to reveal its final shape:
You can see here that hemming each of those folds isn't really necessary as mentioned above. The raw envelope edges are buried inside the pillow cover.
As mentioned on Monday, I used a standard bed pillow to stuff this guy (it was the perfect length and nearly the right height – but that extra stuffing added the right amount of soft 'pouf'). When it comes to buying and reusing pillow insets though, I highly recommend West Elm inserts. I've tried everything from buying my own fiber fill to upcycling old pillows (great solution if they have great inserts) but in the end I've found that the $12 investment in a good insert will be comfortable and cozy on the couch, will hold its form and will stand up to the abuse of constantly switching out covers.
Moving on to the square trellis pillow which is actually even easier since we're starting with three cloth napkins with hemmed edges.
Picked these guys up at Target and actually did a test run by washing the fourth napkin first. It came out significantly faded so I didn't prewash this batch and I'm secretly just hoping that this pillow won't see any spills or stains in the near future (or perhaps I'll just let it sun dry if I must wash…).
1. Following the same steps above, cut panels for the envelope backing out of two of the napkins (2/3 the size of the actual napkin should do the trick).
and now the other side…
So that I am ultimately left with one whole napkin and two 2/3 napkins that were laid on top of each other and overlapping. Because the edges are already hemmed there's no folding necessary.
2. Pin and sew around the edges!
Wait… this is not how it's supposed to look on the other side. Bah! I forgot to start with my top piece facing up and not down! Just keeping it real…
I ended up just cutting off my recently sewn edges and made a 16″ pillow instead of 18″ rather than pull out the seam ripper. It actually worked out well since the other pillows were on the larger 18″ side – a little variety is nice!
And here she is again finished:
The last set of remnant pillows I made were from a yard of raspberry colored velvet that I picked up at the fabric store.
1. No need to repeat the above photos, but what essentially made this project even easier is that I was able to cut down on two hems by cutting out one long strip of fabric (my pillow was to be 20″ so my long strip of fabric ended up being 21″ in height (to account for the hem) and ~45″ in length) and then folding in each side to create a 20″ front and an overlapped envelope in the back.
2. A simple stitch along the top and bottom and I had a cover! The above would of course need to be turned inside out before this step.
I didn't hem the envelope edges because I didn't want a stitch across the thick velvet (and I didn't want to change out the thread in my machine!), so I folded each edge and when sewing the top and bottom included the folded over piece in the hem just like the first pillow (so that it was nice and secure).
In hindsight, I should have made the envelope pocket even deeper,
because that raw edge of the envelope overlapping piece began to sneak out of the envelope every so often (see above photo on couch as an example).
3. I added a few basic cross stitches in matching thread to keep the flap in place. I didn't close the envelope up so that I wouldn't interfere with stuffing and sliding the insert in and out but just to keep a clean folded edge on that flap. (the cross stitch is barely visible but it's there!)
One of the velvet pillows was designed for the front to face outwards and one was designed with the envelope side facing outwards.
4. For the envelope out version, I sewed a big button from one of my previous pillows onto the lower overlapping piece of the envelope and created a slit on the top piece of the overlapping envelope with sharp fabric scissors.
And here she is finished:
There you have it! Four new easy pillow covers for under $20.
The entire project took me a couple of hours of cutting, pinning and sewing machine time but I love the finished pillows and they're sure to last me at least a few months (in all seriousness).
More living room posts can be found right here.
Tags: Accessories, Brown/Tan, Crafty Solutions, Decorating, DIY, Fabric, Green, Home, Living Room, Pink, Red, Sewing, Tutorial
Posted in Crafty Solutions, DIY, Home, Our Living Room, Renovating Adventures | 4 Comments »
Making Room for Spring! A Living Room Update
January 30, 2012Yes… it might be a little early to be thinking about Spring, but our living room was feeling a bit down and I've been itching at the bit to infuse a little color.
Actually, bright and cheery color might be a theme here this week now that I think about the DIY projects I've recently been working on and the awesome styleboards Maryam put together (her post soon to come).
Here's our living room with its 'Spring Infusion' in full swing. It might not look that different from our previous set up but it's four DIY pillows (+ two store bought versions), a new striped throw, a new addition to the wall collage, bookshelf revamp and mantle update away from how it used to be.
Go ahead and ignore that giant hole in the wall in our dining room (it's the old door to the new bathroom that is getting plastered up soon). But! Check out the new pillows.
Let's start with the pop of raspberry red. I found the beautiful velvet at our local discount fabric shop and made two easy pillow covers out of it for less than $12. The color is actually very similar to the coral West Elm versions I had there previously, but those guys were showing major sun wear-and-tear and were beginning to look tired and haggered (is that a word? spellcheck says no). These ones are more pink than they are coral and I love how they look with the other green accents in the room.
The brown and white trellis print is a new addition too. He's from three cloth napkins from Target (bought them as part of my stenciled Christmas present kit and ended up not using them). Love the modern print!
Next to the velvet and trellis print pillows is another cloth napkin number. I've had this solo floral napkin in my collection for some time (why just one? not sure… maybe I thought it would work for a bread basket or something ), but it's getting much more use now as a horizontal pillow on the sofa! The backing is a tan linen from my remnant pile and the stuffing is just an everyday standard bed pillow (perfect length horizontally and a bit 'stuffed' vertically, but that lends itself to a nice soft 'pouf').
On the other side of the sofa is my World Market cow hide find (but a much softer version than a hide material) and my invisible zipper tan pillow from this tutorial. The green velvet version (love that texture! and mixing textures in pillows in general) is a C&B addition from a while back.
That new striped throw was from my holiday gift guide list (the rusty pink, green and brown versions are on sale for $13 right now in store!) from West Elm – it is sooo soft and the pop of blue balances out the pinks and greens and browns.
Other new room changes include moving a floral print (recognize one of my favorite artists from this post?) from the bookshelf to the wall collage along the back wall. (Looking at this photo I'm now thinking that the wall collage is way off center–note to self that I need to bump the bookshelves over about 6 inches).
A close up of the addition–I moved a few pieces around to create a new layout, too. Love the silver frame and how it breaks up my traditional (and favorite) warm brown frames. Here's another example of how linen mattes have become my second go-to after white! This frame/matte combo is actually from West Elm (I'm beginning to sound like an advertisement for them but we have one locally here in San Diego so I stop in periodically to check out the sale racks), but I've also had linen mattes made (like this set from the office) at Michaels, too.
Speaking of bookshelves, I like to use frames in bookshelves to help break up the solid brown backing (or whatever backing color is in the bookshelf I'm working with), so I replaced the silver frame with a framed piece of bright green handmade paper from Paper-Source (you might recognize it as my 'pop' of green on the mantle at Christmas).
I also added a white ceramic bird (the one with long tail feathers on the second shelf down on the right–found him at a second hand shop in Iowa) and a white bird candle to my accessories. I find that a commonality (i.e. the white color) amongst a handful of accessories brings unity to a shelf that could otherwise be too messy. Despite a consideration towards design with these shelves, this bookshelf is still functional for us with all of the books that we actually want to access on a regular basis stored in various baskets or by color (like those on the top shelf).
Moving further down the wall from the bookshelves, our rustic leather smoking chair (he's been in the family for over 4o years) received a new silk green pillow that I found on sale.
Last but not least, the mantel received a little makeover post-Christmas. Instead of redressing it with my usual look, I took the opportunity to find new pieces to feature (plus, over the holidays I found better homes for most of the other photos that were up there originally).
My favorite new piece is the beautifully (and simply) embroidered print by Etsy artist Avery of Dear Night. It's inspired by this print from Secrets from a Stylist (my favorite HDTV show) and despite my best efforts to track down the actual artist and to purchase a similar piece of embroidered art (which included unanswered emails and lots of tracking), I worked with Avery (who is Awesome! And so talented–I'm so lucky to have found her randomly on Etsy while searching) to create our own version on a linen fabric based around one of my favorite 'home' quotes that was unique enough as not to be a replica. I LOVE it. So much.
It was sort of a Christmas present for Kevin. But mostly one for me.
On the other side of the mantel are two branches of giant green billy balls! Yes, I believe that's what they're called, though Crate & Barrel calls them 'Chestnut Branches' (which is admittedly a little more attractive). I began regretting my decision when the lady at check out referred to them as 'very Dr. Seuss-ish' but immediately retracted on that when I saw them in the house replacing the branches on the mantel. I think they look so cool!
I was ready for a change from the birch branches that originally filled this vase. I love the branches and I'm still looking for a new location for them, but they didn't always look super on the mantel (they'd slip out of their arrangement and would poke out in random directions) and these guys are a bit more mold-able without looking and feeling like fake wire flowers (because they're not really flowers). Plus, any opportunity to add a little green life to a room is one I'm happy to take.
A few more shots of the mantel:
The last update is moving our big brown ottoman from the dining room (used as extra seating as a bench) into the living room as an alternative to a coffee table. I loved the free space of not having anything in front of the fireplace and plenty of room for Liv to play, but it wasn't realistic for hosting people, eating chips and guac in front of the football game, or for holding glasses of wine after a long day. This ottoman is sort of the best of both worlds, it has soft edges for Liv to bounce around, it's light weight and can easily be pushed out of the way (under the front window behind me in the below shot) and it's sturdy enough to hold plates of food or a wooden tray for glasses. I'm thinking I might reupholster it in something more creative than the store-bought faux brown leather though… we'll see.
In every attempt to keep a somewhat normal living room set up, I try to limit Liv's toys to just a single basket in each room she plays in outside of her room. You can see my World Market basket (which I snagged for $10-ish with a coupon) in the corner next to the fireplace.
And there you have it! My infusion of Spring into our neutral living room space. I'll post more on those really simple envelope pillows I made (all four in just a couple of hours–no zippers required) later this week. Happy Monday!
More posts on our living room can be found right here.
Tags: Accessories, Before & After, Blue, Decorating, DIY, Fabric, Green, Home, Living Room, Patterns & Color, Pink, Raspberry, Red
Posted in DIY, Home, Our Living Room, Renovating Adventures | 6 Comments »


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SO now you are a good programmer.
Now you will have to go back and fix all of the stuff you did before this.
DianeS wrote:
I'm planning on taking the test later this summer. Anything you feel you can share, would be awesome.
So as not to get in trouble, I will give some advice but not talk directly about the test. Instead I will relate it to the practice exam, seeing as everyone has that available.
3 Steps for success:
1) Take the practice exam...more than once
Sounds obvious (and I may be beating a dead horse...), but I know people that haven't taken the practice exam and didn't pass. Be able to regurgitate it and take it repeatedly until you complete in the required time. Heck, justmemorize the architecture in the sample solution so you can repeat it on the test! Although I didn't exactly do this, there is nothing that says you can't. Even if it's not an architecture you'd normally use, don't try to be a hero(see step 2). If it's what the grader wants to see and you can go in there and crank out a memorized architecture that fits the problem then DO IT! A dumbed down example of this is when preparing for my CLD I did everything Icould do memorize how to make a timer with a pause. Even if I thought I could recreate it on the exam with some thought, I memorized the stupid thing so I could do it in 2 minutes instead of 8 or 9. With something like anarchitecture, this time savings could become a difference of 10 minutes or 30.
2) Don't try to be a hero
You are not taking this test to prove what an innovative programmer you are. This is not a time for "groundbreaking" architectures. You are proving you know how to develop a scalable architecture in a quick amount of time. If aqueued state machine works, just use that! I would recommend not using OOP, because I find it to be too time consuming and the benefits don't outweigh the drawback of the time lost in a situation like this. But, that's just myopinion and some may be faster than me at using it.
3) Find the functionality portion of the test and go through that FIRST!
My first two suggestions could probably be found on any "tips for CLA success" blog or the like. But here is one I found to be helpful that no one really talks about. The functionality requirements take the most time to implementand effect your overall architecure the most. Start with these, even if they are at the back of the exam packet (like they are in the practice exam). Many of the UIrequirements are asthetic and a comment will suffice so savethose for last! I'm assuming the grader will be more forgiving if you write "[covers: blah blah] turn button red" versus "[covers: blah blah blah] Do initialization rutine here, see requiremetns for guidance!"
If you are in a time crunch at the end it's much easier to throw those UI comments in then be dealing with architecture/functionality. Also I found some requirements to overlap or be listed twice, say once in the UI and once in thefunctionality section (i.e. button functionality). Try to find these overlaps ahead of time and mark them in your test booklet. This way when you implement something that is in multiple sections of the requirements, you can add your [covers:] comment for each requirement that it meets while in that specific subVI. It's a major time killer when you implement something to meet a functionality requirement then an hour later have to go find thatimplementation again because a UI requirement is similar and will go in the same spot in the code.
Anyways, hope this helps and if you have more specific questions please ask!
"...Something like anarchitecture..."
That's what i typically use: a mix of architecture and anarchy
altenbach wrote:
"...Something like anarchitecture..."
That's what i typically use: a mix of architecture and anarchy
Yup, I find it yields the best results.
Apparently my spacebar was only working intermittently!
Congratulations dude. This is a great accomplishment. I hope to meet you at the summit next year. I'm hoping I can join you at NI Week this year, but we'll see if my new company will let me.
My Profile | Privacy | Legal | Contact NI © 2011 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. | E-Mail this Page | ||


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Behind the Scenes
Hollywoodland combines true-life celebrity scandal with effective morality tale.
Thursday, September 7, 2006
On a certain level, you've got to admire the balls that goes into a major studio financing a film like >>Hollywoodland—and not for the reason you might think. Yes, it's the story of a famous showbiz scandal—the suicide of George Reeves, TV's Superman—and generally you're expected not to defecate where you masticate. But the greater display of nerve is boldly putting out a film that tears the lid off the moguls' manipulation of publicity in the 1950s. It's like Major League Baseball financing a tell-all about the cover-up of Babe Ruth's insatiable appetites, since players today clearly have no skeletons—or Human Growth Hormone—in their lockers.
If Hollywoodland had been about nothing more than the Dream Factory's calculated selling of artifice, it would have been fairly insufferable. And indeed, there's still a bit too much wallowing in the lurid business beneath glittering surfaces. Yet Hollywoodland has at least a little bit more on its mind than exposé, and enough flashes of humanity to make up for its strangely stylized storytelling.
As structured by screenwriter Paul Bernbaum, Hollywoodland tells two parallel stories. In 1959, sleazy and recently divorced private eye Lou Simo (Adrien Brody) gets a tip that Reeves' mother doesn't accept the official verdict that her son killed himself. As Simo begins his investigation into the circumstances surrounding Reeves' death, the story flashes back to Reeves (Ben Affleck) as a struggling young actor who finds an unlikely benefactor in Toni (Diane Lane), the wife of MGM executive Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins). Living as Toni's kept man in an arrangement tacitly accepted by Eddie, Reeves gets his big break as Superman—but the role proves to be a mixed blessing.
Bernbaum and frequent Sopranos director Allen Coulter do spend a fair amount of time covering familiar ground about the schism between perceptions of fame and behind-the-scenes reality. In one sly scene, Simo drops a hint that he's working for a movie star in order to wrestle information out of a jewelry store clerk; Reeves' mother seems less concerned with uncovering the truth than with removing the taint from her son's celebrity. Ultimately the script turns the studios into little more than a glamorous organized crime racket—hiring thugs to squash any possible disruption to the façade—and starts to feel stale and obvious.
On a moment-to-moment basis, it still manages to be fairly effective, if sometimes for odd reasons. There are some individually compelling scenes—Reeves trying to embrace his status as kiddie idol by posing in a restaurant window for a horde of screaming Boy Scouts; a kid with a real gun wanting to test "Superman's" powers at a publicity event—that keep things brisk beyond the name-dropping. Yet there's also the strange manner in which Affleck and Lane pitch their performances, as though they were actually in a 1950s movie instead of in a movie about 1950s movies. Their tight-jawed patter is almost perversely compelling—either it's an intriguing meta-commentary on lives lived perpetually putting on a show, or it's just plain goofy.
Where it proves even more compelling is by spinning its more obvious dichotomies into a solid little morality tale. Hollywoodland eventually becomes a case study in the need for self-respect, as both Simo and Reeves struggle to reconcile what they do for money with the way they want to think of themselves—or to have others think of them. As Simo considers possible architects of Reeves' death—Toni, Eddie, Reeves' most recent fiancée (Robin Tunney)—he includes Reeves' inability to create a career he could be proud of.
Sure, that notion ties the two ends of the story together a touch too neatly. And yes, there's weird autobiographical subtext when both the writer and the director—both television stalwarts seeing their names on a movie screen for the first time—create a story where moving from television to movies is equated with achieving artistic integrity. But that attraction/repulsion dynamic might actually be what brings Hollywoodland's many pieces together into something that works—a funky, messy look at an industry full of people who hate themselves while wanting so badly for us to love them.
HOLLYWOODLAND**1/2 Directed by Allen Coulter. • Starring Adrien Brody, Ben Affleck and Diane Lane. • R, 126 min. • At the Century Cinemas Del Monte Center, Maya Cinemas, Northridge Cinemas.
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breaking news
Cellcom Marathon Features
Sports Xtra - Green Bay Marathon recap
Sunday, May 19, 2013 @11:22 PMLocal 5's Leslie Spoon has a recap of Sunday's Cellcom Green Bay Marathon.
Read More» -
Cellcom Marathon kicks off with several tributes to Boston
Sunday, May 19, 2013 @12:03 PM13,000 runs participated
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Live: Cellcom Race Director
Sunday, May 19, 2013 @ 8:17 AMThe annual Cellcom Green Bay Marathon got underway Sunday morning at 7:00.
Read More» -
Live: Cellcom Marathon Start
Sunday, May 19, 2013 @ 8:16 AM
Boston Marathon Runners at Cellcom Green Bay Marathon
Saturday, May 18, 2013 @ 9:41 PMSome of the runners taking part inthe Cellcom Green Bay Marathon include athletes whose last marathon was cut short because of a terror attack in...
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Cellcom Green Bay Marathon Race weekend begins
Friday, May 17, 2013 @ 3:19 PMRunners get ready for race
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Cellcom GB Marathon Race Info
Friday, May 17, 2013 @10:52 AMThe Cellcom Green Bay Marathon is this weekend.
Read More» -
Eating Right is Key To Finishing Your Race
Thursday, May 2, 2013 @ 9:37 AMNutrition for a marathon or half marathon is just as important as your training. Because if you don't have the right fuel, you're body may...
Read More» -
Runners Not Backing Down
Thursday, April 18, 2013 @10:05 AMThe person or people who killed and wounded innocent people in Boston have lost because their actions have only inspired the good and heroic to...
Read More» -
How To Pick The Proper Running Shoes
Thursday, April 4, 2013 @10:32 AMWhen it comes to running maybe the most important thing is your shoes. However with so many options out there, how do you know which...
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In this investigation, students will explore the question: Will there be enough fresh water for the growing human population? Students will use groundwater models to discover how water flows above, through, and beneath Earth's surface. Students will analyze how water is used to propose solutions that may preserve clean freshwater sources for the future.
WARNING: Your data will not be saved. To save data, run this activity as a registered user. You can register at the project portal. Please view the requirements below before launching this activity.
The Java Runtime Environment version 5 (sometimes referred to as 1.5) or later with Java Webstart is required to run any of the activities. You can download it at: java.com.


text:
Will the Economy Force Government to Loosen Restrictions on Liquor Sales?
Monday, February 16th, 2009Today the Associated Press reports that liquor laws, especially those which prohibit sale of spirits on Sundays, may be repealed in an effort to boost individual state economies.
AP writer Brock Vergakis writes, "In Utah, and across the country, governors and lawmakers faced with budget deficits are advocating loosening laws that restrict alcohol consumption in the hopes of boosting tax revenues." Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Minnesota and Texas all plan to end present bans on Sunday liquor sales with hopes of boosting revenue with the day's worth of sales added to weekly figures.
State governments choosing to capitalize on alcohol sales may never have picked a better time, in spite of the recession, as liquor sales are on the rise just about everywhere. Across the US during the year of 2008, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) reports that sales rose 2.8 percent from 2007 to $18.7 billion in 2008, according to revenues reported by liquor suppliers. For instance, in Perham, Minnesota, the local municipal liquor store saw an increase in sales by nearly a half million dollars during this period; nearly a 33% gain.


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Shakodo is a free service where amateur and professional photographers can openly discuss photographic service rates. We are striving for:
To learn more about Shakodo, please visit our About page.
"Shakodo" is Japanese and stands for...wait. There is no word "Shakodo" in the Japanese language, we've made it up. However, the 3 Kanji characters we selected to represent our vision are:
The literal meaning can be read as "the road to love photography", but since we've
invented this word, we have chosen Shakodo to mean "The road to profitable photography",
which is exactly what this site is aiming for.
We believe that the lack of business education is one of the biggest problems in the photography market. As amateurs increase in numbers and professionals continue to keep trade secrets, this gap has allowed the price value of photo licenses and photographic services to decrease.
No. Photographic service rates have fast been declining due to the number of amateurs charging too little or even giving their photos away for free. Even some professionals have been working in isolation. By offering a free service where amateur and professional photographers can talk openly in a public forum and make the entire photographic service process more transparent, especially in the pricing area, we envision that professionals and "people in the know" will see the value in leading and educating everyone.
No, we only provide an open discussion forum for pricing information and offer guidelines on what is accepted in the industry. Instead of price fixing, we are offering a wealth of information and support of the community to give you the knowledge to properly negotiate your photographic service rates. Therefore, it is clear that Shakodo cannot and will not dictate prices.
There is no other site that does what we do. We designed Shakodo to bring together the dynamic photography market and each individuals needs by creating an advanced Question and Answer system. Together with this we have introduced the ability of community voting and unique Price Range placement. Because of the ease of use, interactiveness and growing knowledge base of photographic business information, we believe that Shakodo will soon become a standard "tool" in the camera bag of every photographer.
It's free. All you need is to register here!
Shakodo is a product of Juergen Specht, a Berlin based photographer and
consultant to the international photo and Internet industry.
Juergen Specht truly believes that Shakodo will change the world of photography and will offset
costs initially with alliances, affiliates and advertising. Shakodo also plans to offer
commercial services, along with it's free services, in the future.
To show our commitment to a free exchange of information, we will license the member
contributed content under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivate Works License.
Like all good products, the development of Shakodo started with an original idea and the technology
to make it a reality was greatly influenced from our own knowledge of running community sites for
photographers (see D1scussion) for many years.
Along with this, we benefited from a lot of good ideas from different leading sites.
A very big influence and a special thanks goes to Stackoverflow,
a site to answer programming questions, which we consulted ourself a lot at development time.
However, as you find many shared features, Shakodo is 100% self developed and customized for
one specific task: pricing and business discussions for photographers.
This site uses the Open Source LAPP stack: Linux, Apache,
PostgreSQL, PHP and the fantastic Javascript libraries jQuery and
Raphaël. Exchange rates are
updated once a day from the nice folks at http://www.exchangerate-api.com and additionally Shakodo uses GeoLite data created by MaxMind, available from http://www.maxmind.com/.
This site was created and is maintained by the Shakodo Team.
In a nutshell, Assignments (also called "Commissions", or "Jobs") refers to the task of creating pictures on request. The biggest difference between Licensing and Assignments is that in Assignments, the photos are not yet created when the picture request is made. Photographs from an Assignment, depending on the contract, may or may not be licensed for usage (see also Licensing). Assignments can range from simple to complex, as in creating pictures of your neighbors, creating pictures at weddings, or creating pictures for fashion magazine covers.
You get what you give. This also applies to a good Assignment Questions. We recommend that you have the following qualities to all your questions:
Same as a good Assignment Question, we ask that you do the following:
As many as you want. Shakodo was built to promote open discussions. All we ask is that you keep the quality of your Questions high and focus on getting the perfect Answer. Use common sense and don't flood the site.
Once you "Accept" an Answer no other Answers can be accepted and this will become the official Answer to your Question. The person who provided the Answer will be rewarded Reputation points and so will you. We caution you to choose your Answer wisely as you cannot change it afterward.
No. Since this section is optional, you can leave the Price Range as "unspecified".
Voting allows you to award or deduct Reputation points to the Author of Questions, Answers and Comments. Please use votes to keep the quality of contributions high. For a more detailed explanation, please read the Reputation section.
In a nutshell, Licensing refers to the task of allowing an end user to use some of your photographs usually in exchange for payment. The biggest difference to Assignments is the fact that these pictures have already been taken and are owned by you. The end user paying for this License does not have the right to use your images beyond the scope of your agreement.
Recommended read: ASMP's "Licensing guide" and ASMP's "What is a License?".
You get what you give. This also applies to good License Questions. We recommend that you have the following qualities to all your Questions:
Same as a good Licensing Question, we ask that you do the following:
As many as you want. Shakodo was built to promote open discussions. All we ask is that you keep the quality of your Questions high and focus on getting the perfect Answer. Use common sense and don't flood the site.
Once you "Accept" an Answer no other Answers can be accepted and this will become the official Answer to your Question. The person who provided the Answer will be rewarded Reputation points and so will you. We caution you to choose your Answer wisely as you cannot change it afterward.
No. Since this section is optional, you can leave the Price Range as "unspecified".
Voting allows you to award or deduct Reputation points to the Author of Questions, Answers and Comments. Please use votes to keep the quality of contributions high. For a more detailed explanation, please read the Reputation section.
It is recommended that you own just one account in order to build your Reputation and Awards.
The Dashboard was built for one purpose, to keep you organized while using Shakodo. By pressing the Dashboard button, you can:
It is a very powerful tool to assist you in taking full advantage of Shakodo's services.
Shakodo provides a Public Profile for each member so that you can share a little about yourself and people can learn more about you. You are in full control on how you appear to others by editing your profile in the Dashboard.
While logged in, you can change it in the Settings in your Dashboard. You can find a direct link to these Settings in 2 places:
In your Dashboard, click the "Avatar" tab and follow the instructions.
Yes. When you delete your account, your profile information will be deleted and your Reputation and Awards will be set to zero, however all your Questions, Answers, Postings and Comments will remain with your username marked as "deleted". To delete your account, go in your Dashboard to "Settings", scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "How to delete my account". From there follow the simple instructions.
Reputation in Shakodo is completely optional. However Reputation - as the name suggests - is an
indication how much the community trusts you.
Reputation can only be earned by posting good Questions, Postings, Answers and Comments.
When members of Shakodo vote on these Questions, Postings, Answers and Comments,
these votes will cause you to gain Reputation points based on these rules:
Additionally 4 more rules apply:
A maximum of 30 Votes can be made per member per day and you can earn a maximum of 200 Reputation points
per day (Note: Reputation points for Accepted Answers will always be added even though the daily 200 point maximum has been met).
Simply take part and participate!
Participation is the key to a good Reputation!
Yes. If you violate our Terms of Service and/or members complain about your actions, your Reputation will be reset to zero.
There are four places where you can see what your current Reputation is:
Yes, of course! Since Reputation points can only be earned, you always can use them to show how much the community trusts you. Go right ahead!
An Award is a way of recognizing users who contribute to Shakodo. Since there are many ways to contribute, there are also many Awards you can receive. Though they have no effect on the site, they simply show how much you have accomplished in Shakodo.
We are offering three levels of Awards.
Each star represents how many Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards you have earned so far:
Bronze Awards are easy to get and often help teach users how to use Shakodo.
You can earn your first one by just filling in your About text in your Settings.
Silver Awards will be earned over time by participating and asking good and popular Questions
and contribute good Answers.
Gold Awards will be given by the Shakodo team, who always look for members who deserve one.
Here are all the Awards you can earn at Shakodo:
Junior Award: Has been a member for more than 1 month.
Senior Award: Has been a member for more than 6 months.
Veteran Award: Has been a member for more than 1 year.
Autobiographer Award: Entered info into the About field in the Member Profile.
Famous Question Award: Asked a Question with 5,000 views.
Good Question Award: Questions that score 10 or more votes.
Great Question Award: Questions that score 50 or more votes.
Nice Question Award: Questions that score 5 or more votes.
Useful Question Award: Questions that score 25 or more votes.
Good Answer Award: Answers that score 10 or more votes.
Great Answer Award: Answers that score 50 or more votes.
Nice Answer Award: Answers that score 5 or more votes.
Useful Answer Award: Answers that score 25 or more votes.
Supporter Award: Up voted new Question, left first comment and up voted by owner of the Question.
Commentator Award: Left at least 10 Comments to Questions.
Mentor Award: At least 10 Comments voted up at least once.
Price Counselor Award: Has had a minimum of 3 Answers Accepted.
Authority Award: Accepted Answer with a score of 15 or more votes.
Trusted Award: Somebody personally known to the Shakodo Team.
Invitee Award: Invited by Shakodo Team.
Moderator Award: Forum Moderator.
Professional Award: Validated as a Professional Photographer.
Spotlight Award: Posted a featured Question.
Audit Award: Members who have found and reported issues.
Beta Tester Award: Early adopter and tester during closed beta test.
Challenger Award: Took part in Shakodo contests.
Winner Award: Winner of a Shakodo contest.
Note: New Awards will continue to be added to this list.


text:
Details | |
Bedrooms | 3 |
Bathrooms | 3 |
Sleeps | 6 |
Apartment / Condominium |
Suitability |
No Pets |
No Smoking |
FlipKey traveler rating |
64 reviews |
Stayed here? Write a review. |
Get the real scoop!
All reviews are written by verified travelers
Rental type | Apartment / Condominium |
Minimum Stay | 2 nights |
Bedrooms | 3 Total |
Bathrooms | 3 Total |
Sleeps | 6 |
Suitability |
Pet friendlyNo Smoking allowedNo Suitable for childrenAsk Suitable for the elderlyAsk Wheelchair accessibleAsk |
Description from the manager
King in master with 2 person whirlpool, full bath with washer/dryer, King in 2nd bedroom, full bath across from bedroom, King in 3rd bedroom with 2 person whirlpool, full bath, living room with fireplace, private balcony, kitchen with all appliances and cooking utensils. All linen is provided. Unit is non smoking. Pets are not allowed! Television and DVD player is in each room. Walking distance to Parkway is approximately 5 minutes. Trolley stop is in front of our lobby. Seasonal heated pool and hot tub located on the property, on site fitness center and complimentary high speed wireless internet. We have a large selection of DVD's, a...Read more
Baskins Creek 509
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
(Property location is approximate) ?
What's Nearby:
Additional Location Information
Rates shown in $ USD (change)
Date | Weeknight | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly | Minimum Stay |
Rate Summary | $209 - $289 | $209 - $289 | $1,463 - $1,863 | $7,470 | 2 nights |
Mar. 1 2013 - May. 31 2013 | $209 - $249 | $209 - $249 | $1,623 - $1,743 | - | 2 nights |
Jun. 1 2013 - Aug. 31 2013 | $209 - $249 | $209 - $249 | $1,463 - $1,743 | $7,470 | 2 nights |
Sep. 1 2013 - Nov. 30 2013 | $209 - $249 | $209 - $249 | $1,463 - $1,743 | - | 2 nights |
Dec. 1 2013 - Feb. 28 2014 | $209 - $289 | $209 - $289 | $1,463 - $1,863 | - | 2 nights |
Can't find rates for your travel dates? Contact the manager |
Additional notes from owner
The minimum stays for certain dates may be longer than advertised.
What Past Guests Are Saying
Overall Rating
ExcellentVery Good
Below Average
Lawrence B.
Kings Mills, OH, United StatesGreat accommadations/price & we will be back for those reasons
Mike S.
Husser, LA, United StatesJust a few issues
There were no mixing bowls or very few and quite a few items tha just needed maintenance.
Louisville, Ky, United States -
Rhonda C.
Yadkinville, NC, United States -
Ashville, Nc, United StatesMost Outstanding
I stay at this property often because of the location and cleanliness. I especially appreciate the dedication and professionalism of the staff. They always go above and beyond to accommodate.
Randy F.
Albertville, Al, United StatesWonderful Getaway
it was wonderful, everything was so nice, we will definitely be staying here again.
Freddie G.
Santa Fe, Tn, United StatesWonderful Experience
This was one of the best experiences we have had at Gatlinburg. We have stayed at other locations but this was the best. Wonderful Rxperience... We will be back next year..
Barbara H.
United StatesGreat place in a great location
First stay at Mountain Vista, but it won't be out last. The condo was a perfect layout for an extended family group, spotlessly clean, and located a short walk from all the great shopping in Gatlinburg. We're delighted to have found this property so we don't have to search anymore when we plan our trips.
Jean N.
Dillon, Sc, United StatesAbsolutely the Best!
This is my 4th stay at Baskins Creek and I have yet to find anything negative about my experience! I don't want to stay anywhere else in Gatlinburg!
Arcanum, OH, United StatesWonderful Vacation Experience
We were extremely satisfied with the entire experience. The condo is beautifully decorated and also very spacious. We had our adult daughters with us and also our teenage grandaughters. They were very pleased with the size of both the bedrooms and the bathrooms. We all agreed that this was a wonderful vacation and loved the condo and all its' amenities. We woould certainly return here and also recommend these condos to others. Thank you for making our vacation enjoyable!
Dolford L.
Grayson, Ga, United StatesMINOR COMMENTS
Lisa H.
Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, United StatesA home away from home
This stay is my fourth stay in room 509. This is the best room in The Smokies. The ladies at the desk are always helpful and very nice. I come to Gatlinburg several times during the year and Mountain Vista is the best. I have recommended you to several of my friends and they have stayed with you and loved it also.
Sarah F.
Madison, Al, United StatesJan 14-15, 2011 stay
This was our second year to stay here and it was wonderful both times. I have told several couples about the lodge. I am already registered for next January.
Beverly E.
O'fallon, MoFamily Time
This my second stay and several of the family have stayed here more than 5 times. It is perfect for the 8 of us to get together.. It is within walking of all the activities of the strip and easy access to venture to other great fun spots.
Mitzi H.
Hager hill, KYGREAT Place to STAY
Mountain Vista Luxury Rentals is a great place to stay! My family and friends are alway taking spur of the moment vacations. Even though you have a little walk (Block or So)it is well worth it. The place is beautiful and VERY CLEAN. This last visit, we stayed in RM# 509 (3 bedrooms and baths) it was gorgeous! Loved coming back to the condo after a day on the feet and relaxing in the glamorous bathroom jacuzzi! Beautiful views from the balcony! Jewels and Marcie are great! Thank you girls!
Dyersburg, Tnwonderful place
we have stayed here many times and it never is a let down. the staff and the facility are a+ it is always pleasure to stay here. we look forward to our next visit.
Sharon B.
Asheville, NCVery nice place. Location great.. Everything was A1.
I have the site bookmarked on my computer. On my future visits, I will definitely stay here.
Rhonda C.
Yadkinville, NCPizza delivery
I had one concern. Twice when we were getting on the elevator, a pizza delivery person got on with us. I did not feel that this was safe. The pizza delivery person should have to go to the lobby and the people that ordered pizza should have to come to
the lobby to get their pizza order. -
Wesley Chapel, FlMVLR for Wells Family Reunion
The staff at the front desk were extremely helpful and courteous to my extended and blended family. There were over 40 of us staying in Gatlinburg and those that stayed at MVLR were all thrilled.
Nikki D.
Houstonville, KYNikki D.'s review of Baskins Creek 509
great stay and place. will come again.
Nashville, tnWe'll be back!
What a great condo! Everyone had a big bed and their own bathroom. It was wonderful to be able to walk into town and not pay for parking, as we've had to do in previous years. We will be staying here again.
Amy A.
prattville, alExtremely pleased with everything.
This was a very clean and up to date room. We will stay again if we ever need to. The staff was very friendly. Highly recommend the property to anyone.
Becky G.
Talladega, ALThe Gibsons from Talladega, AL
This was the third time we stayed at Mountain Vista. The location to walk into town is very convenient. The property is beautiful and the staff accommodating. Call early to reserve a 3 bedroom. We plan to be back during 2011.
Memphis, TNThis was our 4th year to stay at Baskin Creek Condos and the 3rd
Convenient, roomy and just like home!
Ronald P.
Fairhope, ALGreat Place to Stay
We have stayed at Baskins Creek each year on our fall vacation since it opened four years ago. Great place to stay!
Sandi B.
Cincinnati, OHCondo very spacious; great location
The dining room pedestal table is extremely small for a 3 bedroom condo
Goodlettsville, TNFriends enjoying a long weekend...
Very accomadating for a group of six adults to move around and still have their own private space.
Rhonda C.
Yadkinville, NCCalloway's vacation
we love staying at Baskin Creek Condo - we come to Gatlinburg every August and would not stay anywhere else, the condo has all that we are looking for in a place to stay - see you next year!
Response from Mountain Vista Luxury Rentals - 08/17/2010
Always a pleasure to see you all.
Ron E.
Greencastle, IN#1 For Us
We can not express how we feel about this place. We have been to this area for 25 years, and have stayed in a variety of places. This is by far the cleanest, nicest and most friendliest place we have stayed at. This summer we spend 4 nights at this place, then went to Pigeon Forge to stay at another place for 3 nights. There is just no comparison of the two places. We were homesick for Mountain Vista (Baskin Creek). This is the only place for us !!!
Jean N.
Dillon, ScWonderful Accommodations!
I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Baskin Creek Condo! Great in every aspect. The staff was very good, the maintenance was quick & efficient (bathtub stopped up), everything was spotless, and the whole condo was spacious and the decor very tasteful. Already reserved it again!
Ted D.
Kenshaw, GAQuattro de Mayo: Audis come to Gatlinburg!
Marcie, Dave, and the entire staff worked hard to make our stay memorable and fun! Everything was perfect, and all commented on the quality of the rooms, location, and amenities! Spouses enjoyed the central location and ease of access to shoppping and trolleys, too.
We are definitely coming back next year! -
Angela W.
Harrisburg, KYBeautiful condo, great for kids!!
This place was so nice and the best that I have ever stayed at in gatlinburg!! It is in a great location, wonderful ammentities, great parking, and perfect if u have small children. Very convenient and very clean. Just like being home while on vacation!! Definitly return!!
Hank J.
Gulfport, MsGreat location, great condo, only problem I was sent $20/night d
Due to email discount honor refusal I will be forced to look at other properties next time. Still would recommend property.
Response from Mountain Vista Luxury Rentals - 03/23/2010
Thank you for your response Mr. Johnson. As far as honoring your discount, we did. The regular winter rate is $209.00 per night and the discount is for $20 off of the winter rates for returning guest as it states on the discount. Your rate was $189 per night. We are sorry you feel you have to look at other properties for your future stay in Gatlinburg. Thank you again. Marcie Acor, Manger
Catherine O.
China Grove, NCThe condominium was very clean,nicely decorated and layed out pe
We have stayed there the past 3 years and have had a wonderful time.The front desk staff are always very helpful and friendly.We do not have anything but positive thoughts about Baskins Creek and have already booked reservations to stay there next year.Wonderful place!!!!
Chris E.
Pickens, SCBad experience could happen to anyone
During our first night in we discovered the heat was not working correctly. With snow on the ground and temps well below freezing it was a very cool night. No heat was traveling through the duct work. Maintence came the next morning and could not fix the problem, and since it was Sunday no one was available to fix it. They did not have another room large enough for us to move to, so they brought us 3 space heaters. As this did work in the room you were in, it did not really help say the bathrooms in the middle of the night. Now that we did not have heat for 2 nights, the repair man came and could not fix it until we left because of the amount of time and work it would take to repair. So our entire vacation was without heat. The staff and manager were polite and helpful until we started talking about not paying full price for a room without heat the entire vacation. They said all they could refund was $20.00 a night. After much explaining from our part we finally received what we considered fair (a complete refund of one of the three nights). Overall, this is a very nice place to stay, and we would probably return and stay again. Something like this seldom happens but did to us and in the end the staff made it right.
Peggie H.
Goodlettsville, TNNew Year's Getaway
This was our second stay at this location, and we have already booked unit 511 for New Year's 2011.
Carlton, Gavery nice!
great place, good views, very clean, comfortable beds....almost like being at home. This one is a keeper.
Memphis, TNOutstanding Place to Hang Out
This was our third year to spend the last week of October at BC and we hope to come back again next year.
Hermitage, TNgreat place!!!
We have stayed here many times and unless things change, this will be our "place of choice" everytime we come to Gatlinburg
Ted R.
Saxe, VirginiaNICE
We have been staying Gatlinburg for the past 15 years and this is the nicest place we have stayed. We will be back next year.
Linda H.
Lilburn, GaGreat family visit
This was a great place to stay. It was very easy to walk down town. Front desk was helpful and well informed. Rooms were well kept and comfortable. It was nice to have a common area to gather and talk but equally nice to be able to go to your own room for some down time.
Ft. Thomas, KYThe condo was beautiful...
The condo was beautiful and I would recommend it to anyone.
Rhonda C.
Yadkinville, NCRhonda C.'s review of Baskins Creek 509
light bulbs need to be checked after each rental, the kitchen floor needed mopping, the vacuum cleaner needed to be replaced, it would be nice to have a broom, dust pan and mop in the unit.
Kevin T.
Ft Jennings, OhioGreat place to stay!
Great place to stay.
Michael M.
Alpena, MIMichael M.'s review of Baskins Creek 509
#509 was very clean. Only wish the 3rd bedroom had 2 beds instead of 1 king. The view from the balcony was very nice and relaxing. We would definetly stay there again.
Kevin T.
Ft Jennings, OhioGreat place to stay!
Property, building and units are clean, nicely decorated and well maintained. Location is a plus with an easy walk to center of town. Staff is friendly and helpful. Covered parking. Building has keyed entry for security. This is a great place to stay.
Mary Ann D.
Chattanooga, TNRelaxing and Gorgeous condo
We will definitely stay here again.
Quiet, relaxing, breathtaking view.
Very clean. Loved it. -
Carolyn S.
Bush, LAOne of the best vacation sthat i have had.
You are in a great location and the walking was great. Watched the fire works from the balancy. Hope to visit soon.
Linda B.
Kimberly, AlGreat condo
We really enjoyed our stay at Baskin Creek Condos. The unit was beautiful, spacious and had a great view.
Memphis, TNBeautiful mountain escape!
The internet stopped working on our 5th day in the condo which was very problematic for work related issues. Could also use more bath towels and some dish towels.
Clark A.
Covington, KYCondo 509
The condo was beautiful and offered every comfort that we needed. Our experience was 100% positive.
Mason, OHA Wonderful Place to Stay
Baskin Creek Condos was a great place for our family to stay while vacationing in Gatlinburg. It is a convenient 5 minute walk from downtown but gives a feel of being in the mountains. The accomodations were lovely and gave of family plenty of space to enjoy our week in the Smokey Mountains.
Alison H.
Bowling Green, KYAlison H.'s review of Baskins Creek 509
Beautifully decorated. View okay, but having a 3 bedroom poolside view would've been really nice. Balcony railing seemed a little shaky. No extra pillow cases in our condo for the extra pillows... had to ask front desk 3 times(saturday night after checking in, sunday morning, and then again sunday evening) before we got the pillow cases. Just an inconvience. Also there wasn't a front desk number located anywhere inside the property. Anytime we needed something or had a question we had to walk down to the front desk. The girl at the desk said the number should be posted in our room, but it wasn't anywhere to be found. Six adults were in the property and none of us saw it. Even with just a few inconviences, we enjoyed our stay at Baskins Creek.
Alison M.
Knoxville, TNAlison M.'s review of Baskins Creek 509
(1) Wish dining table had been larger.
(2) Needed a large frying pan. -
Shanna W.
jhonson city, tnShanna W.'s review of Baskins Creek 509
The best part to me about the accomidations here was the beds were very soft. not like normal hotel beds!!!!
Prenston, KYWe were very happy...
We were very happy with our accomadations. The only suggestion I will make is I think you really need a key drop box for those of us that like to get an early start for home. Thanks. Princeton, Ky.
Maria H.
Louisville, KYBaskins Creek 509
My weekend stay at Baskins Creek Condo 509 was Great!!! The condo was very clean and well kept. There were two master bathrooms with whirlpool tubs and a stand-up shower! The location was in walking distance to evertyhing in Gatlinburg. I recommend staying at Baskins Creek to anyone planning a vacation to Gatlinburg! We will be visiting again very soon!
Randy F.
Meridian, MSBaskin's Creek Offers a winter getaway with a "Home for the Hol
When searching for the perfect Christmas gift for our grown children and their spouses, we decided on a nontraditional(for us) Christmas getaway in the Smokies. What we didn't figure on is what a wonderful gift just our being all together would be! Our lives are all so busy that even a holiday at home means lots of extra stress, extra work, and even extra expense. But here, we were able to relax, enjoy each other, and enjoy the beauty and excitement of a winter wonderland Christmas. We had visited the Smokies at every other season except Christmas, and were thrilled with the exotic feel of a ski resort without having to travel thousands of miles. Our huge unit was quiet, private, warm, inviting and oh, so comfy! It felt like coming home without all the fuss. Truly, it was a Christmas to remember for us all, and it's a certainty that we'll be doing it again.
Judy C.
New Market, ALJudy C.'s review of Baskins Creek 509
The only thing we were unhappy about, was that the trolley did not come by. One evening we stood out there and waited for a very long time for the trolley to come and it never did.
Ronald P.
Daphne, ALGreat Place - Great Vacation
Super place to stay! Our condo was beautifully decorated. The complex is new and very nice. It's location is convenient for walking to downtown Gatlinburg. We will be back!
Columbia, TNFall Getaway
Our only complaint/concern was the strong smell of potpourri, too much for person w/allergies or breathing problems. Overall this was a great location and condo - very comfortable and nicely decorated. We would come back. Thank you.
lexington, kyWonderful Stay at Baskin Creek Condos
Our stay was wonderful and we plan on coming back to stay again. I have already recommended Baskin Creek to other friends and they have had the same wonderful experience. Short walk to downtown to shop, aquarium and to eat. No hassle trying to drive thru town and paying for a parking place
SWANNANOA, NCWonderful Weekend Get-away
My family and I enjoyed our stay at Baskins Creek. The condo was much more than we expected. It was so spacious and well decorated. The front desk staff was very helpful and friendly. We look forward to going back soon.
Ricky D.
Lexington, TNALL FIVES
Here 3 more rentals located nearby.
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Gillian Anderson: I ride the Tube because people think I wouldn't
Gillian Anderson has revealed she travels around on the London Underground.
The X-Files star moved back to London after the series ended in 2002 after spending part of her early childhood in the city - but she explained recently that she thought like most celebrities, she'd have to steer clear of public transport to avoid being spotted.
She said: "To be honest it was when I was afraid that people would recognise me that I was recognised much more.
"When I first arrived in London I was much more afraid of that, so I stayed in. But after a while I began to feel claustrophobic and thought, 'We have to get out'.
"So I went out very confidently, wore a hat, sat with my back to people, and the funny thing is that people would look at me and think 'Is that…? Impossible. She wouldn't ride the Tube.'"
Gillian is currently around five months pregnant with her third child.


text:
- What's Hot on Games.com
- Candy Crush
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All cheats, tips and news tagged: KingdomsOfCamelot
Top 25 Facebook games - Feb. 2011
Dragons of Atlantis for Facebook unleashes the Dragons' Attack
Hardcore social games developer Kabam raises $30M to combat Zynga
Three Facebook games to look out for this week
cheat sheet
Injustice: Gods among us cheats and tips
Get tips from the developer!
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(Updated 4/24) We've got new cheats for Level 8!
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We've rounded up the best sources for BioShock Infinite cheats and tips.
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(Updated 2/27) Check out our up-to-date guide of solutions and share with the community!
FarmVille 2 Cheats and Tips Guide
Freshly updated with content for beginners and veterans of FarmVille alike.


text:
166 Days in Sanctuary
Many Canadians, and most Newfoundlanders, are already familar with the plight of the Portnoy Family. Having been in Canada for ten years, well-known and liked in the communities in which they have lived (and even started a business), they have sought citizenship several times and have been denied. This, despite the fact that they are political dissidents in Moldava and Israel, facing severe issues if and when they are forced to return. Today the four young children and their pregnant mother Angela Portnoy continue to seek sanctuary in the basement of a local church, but their father Alexi was taken from them in December 2005 after briefly leaving the building and being arrested during a routine traffic check. Despite the fervent pleas of the people of Marystown and Newfoundland, he was deported to Israel during the Christmas season.
Official requests to allow Angela safe passage to receive medical treatment have been repeatedly denied, creating great concern for the family and all involved, including medical professionals.
As a pregnant mother, this strikes all too close to home. If, like me, your heart was broken this past Christmas by the Portnoy's story, please take a moment to visit this website to learn more, and consider signing the online petition. Public support will strengthen a new application, and copies are being sent to various politicians with the power to intervene.


text:
Attractive white mailing tubes are great for storing or shipping posters, blueprints etc. 3-ply spiral wound construction for strength.White end caps (included) snap into place to hold contents secure. Caps will not pop off during shipment.Tubes are reusable and recyclable. Sizes listed are usable space. Actual tube lengths are longer. Additional white end caps available.
Return to Omega Storage


text:
Information on "Human Security" and "Euro-Atlantic Region"
June 2007
11 Jun 2007
SIPRI Yearbook 2007
Publisher: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
This publication provides a summary of the facts and data to be found in SIPRI's 752-page "Yearbook 2007: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. More on «SIPRI Yearbook 2007»
October 2005
Oct 2005
Homeland/Societal Vulnerability and Security
Author: Peter Faber, Bengt Sundelius, Christian Lanz, Lionel Ponsard, Valeri Ratchev, Velizar Shalamanov, Stefan Hadjitodorov, Todor Tagarev, Stoyan Avramov, Valentin Stoyanov, Pencho Geneshky, Nikolay Pavlov, Eugene Nickolov, Klaus Niemeyer, Bozhidar Patinov
Publisher: ProCon Ltd. / International Relations and Security Network (ISN)
This volume analyzes vulnerabilities and protection strategies of modern societies in the changed security environment since the end of the Cold War. More on «Homeland/Societal Vulnerability and Security»
September 2004
Sep 2004
Switzerland and the Partnership for Peace
Publisher: Partnership for Peace (PfP) Switzerland / Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) / Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS)
This brochure contains information on Switzerland's participation in the Partnership for Peace (PfP). More on «Switzerland and the Partnership for Peace»
January 2003
Setting the 21st Century Security Agenda
Author: Peter Batchelor, Shahram Chubin, Jean F. Freymond, Victor-Yves Ghebali, Ulrich Gysel, Michel Hess, Andrzej Karkoszka, Gianluca Maspoli, Jeronim Perovic, Nicole Perret, Kurt R. Spillmann, René Schwok, Timo Staub, Fred Tanner, Thierry Tardy, Daniel Warner, Andreas Wenger
Publisher: Center for Security Studies (CSS)
This volume synthesizes the work accomplished at the 5th International Security Forum (ISF) in Zurich from 14 to 16 October 2002. More on «Setting the 21st Century Security Agenda»
November 2002
Nov 2002
Risk and Reward: US-EU Regulatory Cooperation on Food Safety and the Environment
Author: David L Aaron, C Boyden Gray, Frances G Burwell
Publisher: Atlantic Council
This policy paper addresses difference in US-EU regulatory policy in connection with food safety and the environment. More on «Risk and Reward: US-EU Regulatory Cooperation on Food Safety and the Environment»


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For Julius Caesar, it was the Ides of March. For a more modern Caesar, it was the Ides of August.
Tomorrow, August 15, will mark the 170th anniversary of the passing of Ezra Weston II (1772-1842) who was known locally as "King Caesar." Ezra Weston is not a household name, I know, but nonetheless the man had a huge impact on Massachusetts maritime history and, reaching across the span of almost two centuries, has been tremendously significant in my life.
Weston was a merchant fleet owner with a prodigious and truly uncanny talent for administration and finance. He reigned as the dominant magnate of Duxbury, Massachusetts in the early 19th century–a wealthy and powerful man. His father, who started the family business, had earned the nickname "King Caesar" due to, I think, his ambition and heavy-handed business practices. The title passed to the son, Ezra II, who lived up to the sobriquet, but not through heavy-handedness. Instead, Ezra Weston II brought the family business to international prominence through sheer talent and unrelenting effort. And we are not talking about Boston Brahmins here. Duxbury was not that kind of place. Ezra Weston II was a country-schooled, back-water Yankee who instinctively knew how to make lots and lots of money.
Senator Daniel Webster gave an off-the-cuff remark in 1841 during a speech in Saratoga, New York calling Weston the "largest ship owner, probably, in the United States." This quote has been repeated in numerous maritime histories, leaving out the "probably," without every really questioning its veracity. After years of comparative research, the best I can say is that Weston probably had the largest merchant fleet in Massachusetts in the early 1840s. He certainly had the largest merchant fleet on the South Shore of Massachusetts at the time.
Ezra Weston II's house is now maintained as a museum known as the King Caesar House by the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society where I work. I've devoted many years of research on this fellow. And now a bit of shameless self-promotion. (I have pointedly avoided such behavior in my two years of writing this blog, so I guess I don't mind doing so now). Some years ago, I wrote a book on King Caesar. If at all interested, you can check it out on Amazon. In the unlikely event that anyone should be compelled to order it, I would humbly suggest you do so through the historical society directly (that way the full funds go to the organization).
Now, back to our subject. King Caesar's death. In the course of working on this book, there were many things that fascinated me about Ezra Weston and his business. His seemingly innate talent for finance. The storied histories of the fine ships he built. The biographies of the many sea captains and ships carpenters who worked for him. But one subject which I find strangely fascinating are the circumstances of his death. I am not obsessed by the macabre or any such thing. But I find his cause of death profoundly ironic. And there are many questions in my mind as to how it all played out.
There are virtually no extant personal papers written by King Caesar. The historical society has many business records on the Weston firm and so the book I wrote is primarily a business history. I could not really crack his personal life. The true man behind the autocrat of local legend remains a mystery. His death is a perfect example of this.
I will never forget when I looked up his death record at the Massachusetts Archives. Such things were not really available online at the time. The concept of microfilm reels seems almost silly now. But there I was a number of years ago in the reading room eagerly spinning the reel to the appropriate record. And there it was…cause of death, "marasmus."
What on earth that meant, I did not know, and I had to copy down several different versions of what I thought the spelling was given the cryptic 19th century handwriting. No wifi then to look it up. No smartphones. It was a long drive home until I could hop online and look it up. Marasmus was the period medical term for starvation.
Duxbury's wealthiest man, one of the great tycoon's of 19th century Massachusetts, died of starvation. Oh, the irony. And how could that be?
Well, it stands to reason that he must have been severely ill. Who knows. Cancer? Infection? Some debilitating illness that weakened him to the point where he could not eat. A little further research proved that King Caesar had been declining for quite some time.
His brief obituary in the Old Colony Memorial, published in nearby Plymouth: "In Duxbury, the 15 inst., Ezra Weston, Esqr. 70. Mr. Weston was long known as one of the largest ship owners in Massachusetts. He was an active and successful merchant, indeed he was industrious, and so devoted to business as to probably impair his health, which for two years has been very feeble. But he was not grasping nor avaricious, and no one could accuse him of dishonesty or oppression, or over-reaching his business. He usually employed a great number of mechanics, who always bore witness to his integrity and kindness."
Another of the scant shreds of evidence regarding his decline…in the archives of the historical society is a scrap of paper on which a Duxbury woman wrote, around the turn of the 20th century, that her mother, as a girl, had remembered seeing old King Caesar running about Powder Point in Duxbury in a red cloak during thunderstorms. Dramatic gossip stretched and inflated over the span of generations? Perhaps. But if there is anything to it, we might infer that Weston's mind was declining along with his body.
Weston was responsible for the launch of dozens of vessels from Duxbury's shores. The very last he saw launched just a few months before his death was a brig of 140 tons. The name that he gave her is laced with morose irony and we are left to wonder if he did so with his own mortality in mind. He called her the Vulture.
I spend a good deal of my time promoting King Caesar's accomplishments and the legacy of achievement that is preserved within his house. But every August 15, I can't help but wonder over the perplexing and sad circumstances of his death. And, although it may just be my overactive imagination, I tend to think the house takes on a somewhat darker atmosphere on the Ides of August.


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Location: Poultry Processing and Swine Physiology Research
Technical Abstract: The incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat products has become a major concern for the meat processing industry. The objective of this study was to determine the anti-Listeria and general antimicrobial properties of nisin at four concentrations (0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5%) on ready-to-eat vacuum packaged diced turkey ham inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes. All samples were stored at 4 ± 1°C for up to 63 d and analyzed at one week intervals for pH, lactic acid organisms and Listeria monocytogenes. Anti-Listeria effects of nisin at 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4% and 0.5% were similar (P > 0.05) for weeks 0, 1, 2 and 7 when compared to the positive control. The data demonstrated an extended lag phase for the 0.5% nisin treatment through 63 d storage. Diced ham treated with 0.5% nisin had Listeria monocytogenes counts of less than 1.95 log cfu/g through 63 d, and lactic acid bacteria counts were lower (P < 0.05) than the positive and negative controls from 28 through 63 d storage. An increase in pH (P < 0.05) was observed for the 0.5% nisin treated hams at days 56 and 63 when compared to the positive and negative controls. Although none of the treatments completely eliminated L. monocytogenes, the overall results suggested that the antimicrobial effectiveness of nisin increased as its concentration increased from 0.2% to 0.5%. This study revealed that nisin could be used as a post processing intervention to control L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat poultry products.


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Skiyomi, your graphics are amazing! And you really are an inspiration!
When you say thank you to me,
For some reason it hurts,
Like a magic spell that doesn't
Get undone even after the good bye.
A hint of bitterness.
The flavor of life
I love your stuff! ^.^ I'm so glad that I see some G Gundam stuff
Would you mind if I used this banner?
It's just so epically awesome because Watanuki is epically awesome. <3
(image beautifully drawn by pixiv user id #45323)
Lelouch is watching over all of us.
Thanks I love G Gundam.
By the way, anyone is more than welcome to use the graphics in this thread as long as they're not requests (I don't think I've posted any requests here, but I'll double check after I post this) without having to ask me for permission just as long as credit is given.
Not quite as much this week, but nevertheless more stuff...
Wallpapers (click thumbnail for full view):
Oh my god....I looked through this pages that you have putted many banners and avatars. I'm about to say about you. You have a talent ^^
BTW I have a question. Can you give me code for (click thumbnail for full view)? I have a big wallpaper.
Basically what you do for that is, you copy the link to the thumbnail (most image-hosting sites will include a thumbnail, if not, you'll have to make one seperately) and insert that as the image. Then you copy link to the full-version and link it to the image. So it's like...
[*URL="Full-View URL"][*IMG]Thumbnail URL[/*IMG][/*URL]
But without the *'s.
i love ur work u should like make an awsome Kabutops banner
I have to say, I always love your graphics and I see you have improved a lot. ^^
Also, I love you so much for putting those The Great Mouse Detective banners (my favorite Disney movie of all time) and the Deidara/Hidan wallpaper (my two favorite Akatsuki villians). :3
FFnet | Author's Profile| Archive of Our Own | Banner: Umi Mizuno
I'm still writing, but probably not much Pokemon stuff at the moment. HAM!
Your stuff are nice, there's some are good, some are not so good but it's something unique and different because of your style. :'D
Can you make a banner of ichigo kurosaki from bleach fighting grimmjow also from the bleach anime for me?
Last edited by WolvesareFunny; 1st September 2009 at 7:02 AM.
lucario banner was okayed in signature rules and was deleted cuz some admin was mean and it's by DarkPrince.
my freind code for pokemon black is 1635 3473 3428
artist is sarahdee im not going to link to artists profile from here if mods want the link pm me
btw i own the doberman character


text:
Establish the specific rules and scope for the training and exchanges to be funded by the SOWAEUMED budget which will be approved or rejected by the Executive Committee. Applications should be sent through the intranet, including candidate CV, summary of activities and estimated budget. Each application must be endorsed by their home institution and as far as possible by the intended host institution.
Hosting experts and scientific visits (1 to 2 weeks) of senior research staff to prepare and supervise the exchange of students and post-doc researchers and for sharing experience on implementation of the European norms and future tendencies, as well future possible collaborations for joint research an project proposals for FP7 or FP 8. Increase interaction among researchers and students of SOWAEUMED partners.
Improve human potential by organizing individual training short stages in advanced methods for waste treatment technologies. Presentation and discussion of EU norms and directives concerning the implementation and monitorization of waste treatment technologies.
Development, improvement and implementation of an e-learning platform focused on waste treatment technologies and case studies using the existing platform in the UCAM successfully employed during TRAINMONHER INCO project.