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01/01/2012, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
Well, another year has passed. 2011 is now history and we start in on 2012. A year ago, we had just left Isla Isabella off the west coast of Mexico heading South to eventually arrive in Puerto Vallarta to prepare for our crossing. At that time, we were not sure where we were going. Perhaps down to Costa Rica or Peru. Perhaps across the Pacific which is exactly what we ended up doing. What made the decision easy was the relaxing of the bond required by all cruisers when they make it to French Polynesia. Latitude 38(a sailing magazine out of San Francisco) found an agent for all of us that were doing the "Puddle Jump" that would exempt us from the bond and get us a certificate for duty free fuel as well. A "no brainer" as far as we were concerned. So plans were set in motion and lots more equipment was purchased, much of it mailed to our son(Xander) in Oakland since he was coming to visit us in mid January. Lists were made of jobs, each checked off upon completion. It was a very LONG list but each had it's need. Tighten up this, inspect that. Replace this and fix that. All with the goal of having us as safe and prepared as we could be for the long--2900 mile crossing to Nuka Hiva in the Marquesas.
During our stay, we eventually moved to the La Cruz Marina where more of the "Puddle Jumpers" were located. If one of us had a problem that was beyond our scope of knowledge, well, there were plenty more of us sitting in the marina. During one trip out from the marina(a tsunami was on its way in), our engine died. We limped back to the marina and headed into the engine room. Well, we worked on it till we figured we had it all fixed. We ran the engine at all different speeds while sitting at the marina. No problem. Worked fine. So, once we felt we were ready to leave, out we went to get our clearance documents from the Federales. A mile from the marina, the engine up and dies again. Back we go with an assist from a fellow cruiser that hitched his dingy to our side and pushed us right into a slip at the marina. After more work in the engine room and some help from a "professional", we found that the seal on the back up fuel pump had failed and was allowing air into our system screwing up our engine. With that fixed(third times the charm) we headed out for the south Pacific.
Well, 27 days and 3200 miles later, we pulled into Nuka Hiva harbor in the Marquesas. As we prepared to drop the anchor, it jammed up in the pipe that leads from the locker. Tracy went round and round in the harbor till I could get it all straightened out. The chain didn't like the long voyage.
Now, all the prep work we did certainly paid off. We got off easy compared to many of the other boats that made the crossing. We lost the top bushing from our Genoa(couldn't use it any more). Lost a nut off the bracket that attaches to the top of the mast that our spinnaker block goes on. If we put up the spinnaker, well, let's just say, it wouldn't have been pretty. A bit of chafe on some lines and an iffy battery for starting the engine and we did all right all in all. Some boats lost lots more equipment than that. Preparation is everything when you make a big(or even a small) crossing.
We rested in the Marquesas for a while(about 30 days) and then headed for the next island chain. The Tuomotus and their reef enclosed bays. A beautiful place for snorkeling and diving.
On to Tahiti and all it's wonders. It also cost a frikking fortune to be there. God help our bank account. We were only allowed 90 days in total to stay in the Marquesas, Tuomotus and Tahiti so we were off for parts west.
Next stop--Suwarrow Atoll. A beautiful nature preserve with amazing reefs and fish like we had never seen before. We stayed several weeks. Partially because it was so beautiful, partially because Tracy had come down with a bug of some sort and partially because the weather turned bad and high winds surrounded the island.
Once the weather had calmed down(and Tracy was well) we headed for Tonga where we had planned on spending the cyclone season. This season of rotten weather(winds over 150 mph and big waves) can last from early December to the end of April. We also wanted to attend the third annual Tonga sailing festival! What a blast it was with games and dinners and sailing races(sorry, not us. I can break equipment just sailing let alone racing). It was a week of great fun and seeing lots of our friends again. Unfortunately, we found that while we loved Tonga, there was just no reason to stay there as supplies were limited to non existent and there were really very little as far as workmen to help out with getting jobs done that we couldn't handle. Since we couldn't go to New Zealand(lacked one test for our two cats) we changed our plans and decided to head for Fiji(curry capital of the south Pacific).
After another journey of 6 days, we pulled into the city of Lautoka and checked in through Customs and Immigration, not to forget "BioSecurity". All was painless though expensive as our two cats require a bond on them in the amount of $1,500fijian per cat. About $1600US. It took a trip to the bank to get the necessary funds to make everyone happy. We were lucky enough to get a slot(not slip) at the Vuda(pronounced Vunda) Point Marina for the entire season. This is not your average marina. It's a big circle of boats all hooked to a mooring buoy in the center and then with lines led to railroad rails that have been pounded into the ground with holes for the line(or chain in our case) to be hooked up to. An interesting concept that has worked fine in many past cyclones. Now many of the boats that come here get "buried" in the ditches or trenches. It's literally a graveyard for boats except that the owners do it to take care of their boats and not abandon them.
So here we sit waiting. Being in the water allows us to take the occasional trip out to the islands to do some scuba diving and see the many faces of Fiji. We even have a pass all written in Fijian(not a lot of english spoken out there) so tribe members will know who we are. We have to take bundles of Kava Root as a present for the chief of the tribe that gets made into a liquid that we all get to drink. From what we understand, it's nothing like a Coke or Pepsi but will deaden the mouth.
Our new anchor is due in port as of this afternoon so I fired up our AIS receiver to see when the ship comes up the channel off the marina on it's way to Lautoka so we can go in and get it. We may need an import agent or we may not. I guess we will see once it arrives. Once it's here and on board, we plan on taking off for the islands again. More diving and fun out in the wind.
Any of you Puddle Jumpers that might read this blog, if you have any questions, feel free to send us a comment. We'll get back with you.
12/27/2011, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
We're both verging on becoming blog junkies. Everyday, we will view dozens of blogs looking to see what others are doing where ever they are around the world. Yes, we're viewing boating blogs from around the world. We view many blogs from boats that sailed with us as we crossed the Pacific and we like to keep track of where they are and what they are up to where ever they finally landed. We will routinely scan other posts on Sailblogs to see what others are doing. You never know what you will see from their pictures or what information you will pick up about a place you plan on going to or about a piece of equipment.
Yesterday, Tracy was reading a post for some old friends(Tom & Amy) that used to live on a sailboat called Sandpiper. We first "met" them over three years ago before we had even started this journey. We were still attending boat shows. Since that time, they stopped sailing when they reached St. John in the USVI(started their journey in San Francisco, CA) and bought a business(boat related of course) and sold their boat. Yesterday, while Tracy was reading me one of their old posts, she happened upon a piece of information that we could really use. Ever since we got to Fiji, when ever we try and listen to our FM radio, it seems that it just gets rotten reception. Sometimes a great signal with great reception and a moment later, all garbled in what we hear. Well, yesterday, when Tracy read the post we had an answer to our problem. While the US broadcasts FM in odd numbers--100.5, the rest of the world(or at least out here in Fiji) broadcast in even numbers--100.4. Our radio wasn't set up to receive the frequencies that every one out here was broadcasting! Well, I got right up and started playing with the buttons on the radio till I figured out how to set it for "European" stations and voila, problem solved!! We now have nice clear reception on our radio. It can get real frustrating listening to a station that is just off in what it's playing or what the announcer is talking about. Now we get nice clear music.
From what I have seen, it appears to me that what ever the US does, the rest of the world seems to do it another way. We drive on the right--most out here drive on the left. We use Fahrenheit, the rest use Celsius. Our power is at 120 volts. Everyone else uses 240 volts. What's with us? Do we have to be different or is everyone else just feel that what ever way the US does it, we have to be independent and do it another way? We alway have to watch out as we walk around that we don't walk out in front of a car coming down the street on the wrong side(at least for us). I've come close to being hit because I'm still in US mode for where cars are supposed to be driving. When ever I mention what the temp is back home, 75(ok, that was last Fall) means nothing to them unless I can recalibrate it into Celsius. And now we needed to buy a step down transformer so we can run everything on our boat since we are wired the American way of 120 volts. What's with us? Is it us or is it them? Heck, I don't know. Anyone have any idea why we are so different from the rest of the world? I'd love to know.
It's still cloudy with more rain last evening and more set for today. Yeah, I don't have to shovel the water that comes from the sky(unlike Denver) but it sure gets old and we both know it's going to get worse as the average rainfall in the coming months climbs to 10 inches and more. Get out the buckets, it about to pour!!
With yesterday being a hold over holiday, Christmas was on a Sunday so it got pushed to Monday as the day off. Monday was "Boxing Day" but since Mondays day off was taken up by the Christmas hold over, the official day off for Boxing day was moved to yesterday(Tuesday out here). This will be the first day since Christmas that businesses will be open and the buses start running again. I need to head over to the local butane filling station to get one of our tanks filled that ran dry on Monday. Like most of us out here, we carry two tanks(had four at one time) so running out was just an inconvenience. We'll be back to two shortly. We need the extra one for the barbecue grill. What would a boat be(at least by US standards) without a barbecue grill. Food tastes great off the grill and when it's 90 in the boat, the last thing you want to do is cook something.
More coming.
12/26/2011, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
Well, Christmas is now past and we look forward to the New Year coming with all it's surprises.
Here's our Christmas day. As Tracy needed to make a pecan pie(mandatory), I took off for the laundromat here at the marina. Both of us were running out of clothes as it has been several weeks since we(Tracy) did laundry. It was my turn as she was busy in the galley. It took just over 3 hours for it to be done--4 loads of wash and three loads(cost of $22.65US) of dry(1.5 per every two loads work out just fine). I was back just after noon. Tracy had finished the pie so we had a light lunch and waited for 1800 when we were to go to another boat for Christmas dinner. Tracy also made one of her marina famous salads and a bowl of rice to have with our dinner. Paul and Star(off Starstruck) had brought in a loin of pork(precooked) from Fiji Meats on the previous Friday so all it needed to have done was reheat. Along with potatoes(cut in small pieces and cooked in a french onion soup mixture)artisan bread and Jalapeno jelly for the pork, we were set. Dessert was an ice cream pie followed by the pecan pie. Heaven help my waist line.
On the 26th, I figured it was time for more bread as what I had baked a week or so ago was just about gone. I changed the recipe a bit and added a bit more sugar and a bit more yeast(let it ferment a bit longer too). I took a spoon and stirred up the flour to get it unsettled from the lump it had become in the bag. The last flour I had used was truly a brick after many month of sitting vacuum packed down in the cabinet. With the yeast, sugar and water properly fermented, I added the fluffed flour and went to work. Once every thing was mixed, it had to rise(or proof). I set the bowl in the engine room(the perfect place for dough to rise) and we took off for a quick lunch at the marina cafe. An hour later, it had more than doubled in size and was unlike any dough I had made before. Big and pouffy. I pounded it down and kneaded it a couple of times and put it in two loaf pans(one silicone and one metal) and let it rise again in the engine room. Again, it rose like never before. I preheated the oven to the 350 the recipe called for and put them in turning 180 degrees at 20 minutes. The heat didn't seem quite right--not hot enough. Surprise, surprise, we had run out of propane half way through the baking. Heaven only knows how long it they had sat in an oven not at the right temp. They looked fine. Bigger than any loaf I had ever made before. Out I went to the propane locker and switched out the tanks(always carry at least two) and fired up the oven again. Ten minutes of preheating and back in they went. Fifteen minutes later, out they came as beautiful as any two loaves I've ever made. Light brown all around and far lighter(in weight) than what I had done previous. New flour, plus having it "fluffed" I think made all the difference. We had two great loaves of bread. Slices of it ended up being our dinner that night. Yeah, I know, not the most health of things to eat for a meal but it sure tasted great.
We planned on heading out to the islands to do some more scuba diving so I grabbed our cart and two gasoline tanks and headed for the fuel dock here at the marina. It's still a holiday here even though it's the 27th so it is only open for half a day. I bought 40 liters or just over 10 gallons of gas. The total was $100 fijian or about $54US. That makes the price at $5.40 per gallon of gas. Let's not hear any more complaints about what you are paying for gas back home. The picture above is of Zephyrs fuel truck. It get stared at every where we take it. It folds up to a relatively flat piece that stores nicely on one of the front bunks. Hauling 10 gallons of gas or a big tank for Propane(tomorrows task) is made a bunch easier with it. We used to have one from West Marine but it rusted to death long ago after only a couple of years of use.
It is continually overcast with showers every day. Some heavy and some light but after 1600, all bets are off as to wether it will ran or not as normally it pours. We even had a small squall come through just after 1100 this morning and it's totally overcast now. Rain is coming. And every day for the for seeable future in the weather forecast is for rain. Each day--88 degrees, 70 percent humidity and 60 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Sure glad we put tarps all over the boat. It has kept several of our more major leaks down to next to nothing. Always looks bad having buckets scattered around the boat. Sure glad we have those micro fiber cloths around. Sure do absorb lots of water.
Peanut(local dog) loved his new squeaky toy we gave her for Christmas. She's afraid of loosing it so instead of playing a nice game of fetch, every time I throw it, she picks it up, plays with it for a bit and then rushes back to her sleeping space under the concrete wharf. I have to get under it(not all that hard) grab it and we start all over again. If I take it far enough away from the wharf, she will play a bit better sometimes bringing it back to me. We got her some tennis balls and it's the same thing. Run after it and take it back to the wharf. Afraid of loosing it I guess. We're still working on it. All in good time I guess. I'm doing a better job of fetching than she is.
And that about it for us for the last few days. The ship bringing our new anchor is supposed to be leaving Aukland, NZ today. We're tracking it on a program we found that shows every AIS signal in the world. Go figure. Amazing what you can find on the internet.
12/23/2011, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
Well, Happy Anniversary(December 23rd) to us. Yes, that's right, it's our 40th anniversary. And here we are in Fiji celebrating it. Not bad for an old married couple. It was a quiet day with not much happening(other than lots of heat and humidity). We planned dinner for a steak and potatoes with a nice bottle of wine to top it off. If I don't have curry, a steak is a great replacement. Christine off Teka Nova brought us some chocolate cup cakes for a celebratory dessert. We got notified(at 1400 the same day of the party) that the marina was putting on a "thank you" party that night to thank everyone for a great season(and too encourage everyone to eat at their restaurant rather than the resort next door(First Landing). The previous evening, a group of ten of us gathered at the restaurant for a pizza dinner. Normally, we have gathered at First Landing but they stopped having "Pizza Thursday" with specials on some pizzas so we decided to move it over here. Heck, the pizza(even when not on special) is $4.00 cheaper and the beer and coke is about half of the price of over there. The gathering, both "Pizza Night" and the "Thank you" party were great. Lots of conversation between all types of locals and cruisers. There were at least 18 people at the "Thank You" party as all the food and drinks(alcohol included) was free. Wave free booze at a cruiser and they will follow you anywhere. Our steak dinner just got moved up a bit and with the barbecue running, the steaks came out great. Nice to have a solid piece of meat again, especially if it's beef.
We have become part time caretakers of one of the local dogs--"Peanut". He belongs to one of the locals that lives on a two story house boat here in the marina. Well, he left Peanut in the hands of Star off Star Struck and she asked us if we would help. No problem. Here was a sorely neglected dog that was down to skin and bones when we came into the marina. Dogs out here are rarely "pets". More likely, they are for protection. I don't know if they teach "barking 101" but most dogs around here are good at it. If you see a dog with a collar, he is normally treated a bit better but not much. There are no pet stores in Fiji so the huge selection of pet products is not available out here. It's hit and miss in the grocery stores. We went down to Namaka to pick up some lettuce(with the roots attached) from one of the local vegetable peddlers we had met a few days ago. While there, we found a grocery store that had some pet products(toys and chew bones). We bought some and brought them back as Christmas presents for Peanut. When I gave them to him, he had no idea what they were for. He has never had a toy or a chew stick. He has no idea of the concept of "fetch". We throw a stick and he just looks up at us with a bit of bewilderment on her face. We will try with a ball tomorrow but I fear that we will have the same result. I've never heard of a dog that can't fetch!! Being under the care of Star and us, she has put on some weight and is looking much better. With me spraying insecticide, the ticks are getting fewer. We're down to two or three a day on her(yuck). Let's hope her real owners don't come back anytime soon.
We got notification that our Christmas present should be arriving here on January 2nd instead of the 18th. We've ordered a Rocna anchor for Zephyr. It's a big step up for us weight wise as this baby comes in at 88 pounds. Our current one(a CQR) is only 65 pounds. This baby is highly regarded by every cruiser we have talked to about their anchors. Not one has had anything bad to say about theirs. Now our CQR has been great in just about every situation we have dropped her in. We just wanted a bigger anchor that sets quickly and digs in deeper. Having seen our same anchor(on a different boat) brake while we were at Suwarrow Island gave us a good bit to think about during the last part of our cruise to Fiji. Having talked to so many cruisers about their anchors, when we got to the marina, I got on line and sent emails to several dealers in New Zealand as no one carries these types of anchors here. I got all kinds of prices. One wanted $1699.00NZ plus $578.00 to ship it here. YEOW!!! That's $2277NZ($1763US). Another could get us the anchor and have it shipped here for $1440NZ or just $1115US. A great price. If I had purchased it at West Marine in the US, it would have cost me $1299!!! I got it from a place called "All Marine" and worked with the owner--Bob Broome. They are located in Whangarei,NZ with two stores. I called him(God bless Skype) and placed the order. He has arranged to ship it right into Lautoka so it will be an easy taxi ride getting it back to the marina. I just hope it fits on the bow. Guess we will see when it gets here.
Here's picture of our restaurant today. Tracy had the chicken pie. Similar to a chicken pot pie with no pot, just crust and lots of chicken and veggies. I of course had the chicken curry. Lots of chicken but sure gave my tongue a serious work out finding all the bones that it comes with. Don't just put it in your mouth and chew. You will get an ugly surprise.
Here's the Namaka vegetable market. Lots of veggies I've never seen before and it doesn't get much fresher that right off the farm. One stall gives out their business card so you can phone in special orders(lettuce with the root still attached). Great stuff at great prices.
12/21/2011, Vuda Point Marina, Fiji
The project is done--sort of. I grabbed the bus into Lautoka yesterday in search of a fitting to either cap off the pressure relief valve on the water heater or find a replacement valve to really fix the situation.
I stopped in at Hydrolink, probably the best place in town to find any kind of good fittings for any kind of work that has to be done, either for water, diesel or gasoline. It's where I found the fittings I'll be using for the new diesel filtration system I'll be installing shortly. Before I left Zephyr, I'd taken off the floor boards that cover the valve trying to put on the end cap I'd bought when we were in Namaka the day before. In my typical fashion, I'd bought not only the wrong size fitting but also one made of the wrong type of metal. I needed brass and got galvanized steel instead but of course that didn't matter since it didn't fit any way. On first glance, I thought it was a 3/4 inch fitting(sure looked like it). The end cap(had the bleed nipple on the end was actually just a 3/8 inch fitting. I took a wrench to it early in the morning to dismantle the valve. What I got was just the end cap. OK, I could still screw a cap onto it. All I needed was a cap. The actually pressure relief valve as farther in in the assembly. If I could avoid tampering with it, there was less chance of be trashing the entire water heater. After 30 years of operation, it's on borrowed time. Heck, even one in houses far away from what this poor thing has been exposed to only last normally about 20 years. This poor heater has more rust on it than my knees and they feel like they have plenty in them many mornings(age sucks). I took in the end cap just to make sure I got a cap with the right treads. Hydrolink came in like the champs they are and had the right fitting. I talked to them about a valve to replace the bad one and they talked it over and came up with where they felt I could find it---Digital Valve. With directions in hand, I took off to further check out the town. Tracy had stayed on Zephyr awaiting a delivery from Cost U Less. They tell you the day they will be coming but no estimation of time(worse than the cable guys back home).
As I rounded the corner, there in front of me stood the Madras Curry House. A sign out front told the specials of the day--curry, curry curry. All types of curry lay in front of me. I looked to the left--chicken curry. I lode to the right--lamb curry with the goat curry right in front of me. My pulse quickened and my knees got weak. Which should I choose? Decisions, decisions. In I went, chicken curry won. I added a bottle of Coke and then took a seat. The entire restaurant is maybe 15 feet by 20 feet with a half dozen tables crammed into the space along with the serving counter and a refrigerator for the drinks. One of the tables had 5 Fijian girls having lunch(I got stared at). I was the only other person there. As time passed, other men came in, got their lunches and either took it with them or sat down and ate quickly. This place is off the beaten path so I wasn't surprised at me being the only non Fijian(Pa'longe is what they call us white folks out here) in the place. I'm sure they don't get many off islanders during the day. Now for those of you new to my postings, I LOVE curry! It's one of the reasons I love Fiji so much as just about every where you go, you can find a restaurant that serves curry in one form or another. When my plate came, it was loaded with a nice bowl of the curry(bones included), rice, a small side salad, a bowl of soup, and some type of bean dish that I had no idea what it was. If you want curry with no bones, it cost lots more but as they say, "when in Rome". OK, so you eat a lot slower having to search out each mouthful to see what surprises await your tongue. I just piled up the bones along the side of my plate. After your first few times in restaurants like this, you get used to searching for bones no matter if it's chicken, lamb, or goat curry. It's a cheap way to feed the masses. The curry flavor was excellent. I just dumped the entire bowl of curry(bones included) onto the heaping pile of rice and dug in(slowly). With the bottle of Coke(no ice), my entire meal came to $7.00 Fijian($3.78US) and I left stuffed.
On to Carpenters Hardware looking for more things. I needed to find a small hand held garden sprayer to spray the Diazanon we had bought a few days earlier. It's a great bug killer and still available out here. Not so much in the US. I found a small 3 liter sprayer. Perfect for the small spraying job I had in mind. All of the boats in the marina have a problem with ants crawling out your dock lines and taking up residency looking for a meal. Add in what appears to be small flying cock roaches(still not sure they are cock roaches) and the boat can come alive some nights. As no rain was forecast for the night, I started spraying after dinner. A few slips down from us is a houseboat(two story no less). They have a dog(Peanut) that has had a problem for several years with fleas and ticks. The owners have gone away for a few weeks and left her in the care of Paul and Star off Star Struck and we volunteered to help take care of her also. When I came back from the US, I brought Peanut a flea and tick collar. They are very hard to find out here. So far, while she may have fewer fleas, the ticks are on her in full force. Every day, we are picking a couple off her. With the sprayer and Diazanon, once Peanut was on her chain for the night, I took off for the docks. I sprayed behind our boat as well as the dock lines and then over to Star Struck and did theirs. Over to Peanuts boat and I sprayed everywhere I could behind her boat. Extra heavy where she normally sleeps during the day. I'll spray again in a few days just in case more hatch out. Star came by this morning to ask if I had sprayed as they had no ants this morning for the first time in a long time. This stuff works great!
I continued my trek around Lautoka and finally found the valve company that I had directions for. I described what I needed and he came forth with a new pressure relief valve. Cost---$300 fijian($162US). YEOW!!! I could buy an entire heater for that amount. I had the brass cap in my pocket that should solve the problem so I passed on the new valve. I can order one on the internet and have it forwarded at a later date.
On I went buying this and that till 1500 came up and it was time to grab the bus back to the marina. The next one was at 1620. A short 40 minutes later(lots of stops), I was back at the marina. Once in the boat, I removed the floor boards, wrapped the threads of the cap with teflon tape and screwed it on. Perfect fit. With a bit of tension on the wrench, no a drip came when I turned the water pump back on. We were in business again. Hot and cold running water with the turn of the handle on the faucet. Problem solved at least for the time being.
Off for my late afternoon shower and back for one of Tracy's great salads for dinner. As I grew up, I hated salads and would never eat one which upset my mother as she felt everyone should have a salad from time to time. Tracy makes a great salad that's a joy to eat. Lettuce(not Iceberg), carrots, radishes, bell peppers, onion, pecans and avocado if available, then a bit of home made dressing. I tend to add a bucket load of pepper on mine just to spice it up. If it's not spicy, it's just not right. I figure I burned out many of my taste buds long ago eating jalapenos and fire hot red and green chilies when we lived in New Mexico. Now avocados are new to me. I never ate them when we were back home. Guacamole had never touched my lips. I had no idea what it tasted like but it sure looked like what my son used to produce after eating when he was a small baby and that was just not appealing to my eyes. Once we took off on this voyage, I vowed to try just about anything that was presented as if others eat it, it must be good(or at least passable). Since we left the US(even in the US), I've tried many new dishes and am still alive to write about it.
OK, this rant has gone on long enough. I'll end it here. Oh, it started raining and looks like it will either rain or sprinkle through out the rest of the day. BUT, I don't have to shovel rain!!!!!
12/20/2011, Vuda Point Marina
Not much has happened in the last few days. One was Sunday when every place is closed on Fiji. Monday was another nothing day as it rained and rained and rained. Sunday was over cast from Sun up to Sun down with no rain till close to 1900 and then it poured. Normally, here in Fiji, it's sunny with a few clouds during the day and then it clouds up late in the afternoon and looks like it will rain and normally it does. Sunday was the exception in that it was cloudy all day but still decided to rain in the late afternoon. It continued on and off through the night and through most of Monday stopping strangely(about 1900) when it normally begins to rain. Today started out sunny and has remained so though most of the day. It's now 1800 and it looks quite block east of us so maybe there is more rain coming. Time will tell.
For the last day or so, the fresh water pump has been cycling on and off every hour or so. Just a few seconds of running and then off for a while and then running again. I'd checked the lines as well as the water heater and storage tank all showing no signs of water. I checked below the water heater where when it has leaked before, it puddled up with water. Every place I looked, no water nor signs that there had been any recently. Strangely, during the afternoon, the emergency bilge pump started up and pumped the water that had built up in the bilge overboard. As I had said earlier, it had been raining and we have enough leaks in the deck that the bilge is never dry so no surprise that the pump ran. I pulled up the floor board that covers the manual bilge pump and started pumping away. At 27 pumps(the norm for us with a full bilge)it ran dry. I turned the pressure pump off and let it sit for a while. When I opened one of the faucets a while later, no water poured out. There was a leak but I had no clue as to where. With the switch on, it began to cycle on and off all over again. I decided to just turn it off as well as the water heater and let them both sit for a while. A few hours later(about 2000)I turned on the pressure pump again and there was a loud wail from under the floor boards beside the galley sink. OK, what went bad now. Off went the switch and up came the floor boards. There was water everywhere! It was spraying out of the pressure relief valve on the side of the water heater. LOTS of VERY HOT WATER was spraying all over the place. With the switch off, it quickly slowed to a trickle. We had found the problem.
Now there are basically only two things that can make a pressure relief valve go off. One--the pressure is too high for the pipes and heater. Two--it is so old that it finally failed. The water pump only puts out about 40 pounds of pressure so "high" pressure didn't seem to be the case. The water heater is approaching 30 years which is amazing for any water heater(especially on a boat) to last that long. We normally don't discuss the water heater even in polite company. It's one of those things that we don't talk about as it has lived so long and is in such a bad place in the boat(right under the galley sink cabinet)that we live in fear of it ever failing completely. If we don't talk about it, it will never fail. Isn't that how it works? It's true that we had problems a few years ago when we found that some crazy plumber had joined together brass with copper with stainless steel with galvanized steel fitting to make a connection. Normally, doing that creates a problem as these metals don't like to play well together and with connections like that, corrosion starts almost immediately which is exactly what had happened to those fittings. Here was something new. A fitting that had apparently just failed. The picture at the top shows the pressure valve with a black hose and hose clamp attached. When I lifted the floor boards, I found the valve spewing water out of a fitting that was designed to have a hose attached and run down into the bilge. Mine had no hose. Now I carry a multitude of spare parts on Zephyr but a spare pressure relief valve is not one of them. I scrounged up a chunk of hose that I thought would fit on the end of the valve. I grabbed one of my large collection of hose clamps and a flash light and headed down for the valve. I fit the hose over the end of the fitting and tightened the hose clamp. I pulled a bar clamp out of my tool box, folded the hose in half and attached the clamp. That should stop the water coming out of the fitting. On went the switch and just a bit of water came out around the end of the hose where the hose clamp was attached. I tightened the clamp just a bit more and the water stopped dripping. Problem solved, at least for now. I needed a new pressure relief valve.
This morning, we headed south for Namaka where one of the biggest hardware stores is located. We stopped in and with some help from one of their assistants, we found that not only do they not carry such a thing, they had no real idea what the heck I was talking about. They carry small water heaters so we took them over to see exactly what we needed as the one that had on display had a valve right on the top of the heater. No good. They just don't carry extra valves. I did find a galvanized metal screw on cap that should fit on the end of the pipe shutting off the flow of water till I can get a new valve. We will still have plenty of hot and cold water but at least the fitting will no longer leak. Now here is the trick, there is so much rust and corrosion around and on the water heater that I fear even touching it as I just know that my finger will penetrate the side of the heater making it useless. I'm going to have to attach a crescent wrench to one end of the pipe and another to the valve and slowly take off the valve all while not allowing the wrench that is attached to the pipe that goes into the water heater to turn or even move a fraction of an inch as I just know that all hell will break loose if that pipe moves even just a little bit. As it is now late in the day and I'll always procrastinate if I can, I think I will put off the job of removing the valve till tomorrow. Yeah, tomorrow sounds good to me though it might rain and that could delay it a bit more.
During our journey to Namaka today, we came across a store we had heard of called Yee's Cold Storage. It's located about 15 kilometers south of here. In one of their freezers they had several frozen turkeys. Care to guess the price? They wanted $140 fijian for the 4 kilo(8.8 pound) bird. That works out to just over $75.00 for a less than 9 pound bird!!! This place must love it's turkeys as I figure they will have those birds around for years to come at that price. I can't imagine anyone crazy enough to pay that much for any turkey. Yeow!!! A can of coke runs .96US for just one can in the same store. You can find it for .81 if you look around. Sometime you just need a Coke to cool down. While it's great out here, sometimes the price of things is way out of touch with other places though French Polynesia was by far the worst. I don't know how the people survive out there. It's one reason we left. We couldn't afford to stay there any longer.
Tomorrow, we have a delivery coming from Cost U Less. It's a small version of Costco but lucky for us, they deliver as the closest one in in Suva, over a 100 kilometers from here. Delivery charge--$5.00 fijian($2.75US). Cheap to bring things that far. Several of us here at the marina order stuff from them. They make deliveries out here every Wednesday though because of the up coming holidays, they won't be making another run out here till January 11th so some have ordered a bunch to get them through till the next delivery. We have found that you do have to be careful as some times their prices aren't really that good and the same item can be found elsewhere cheaper. It's like I said, they are like Costco but no where near a good a value sometimes. The really bad thing we have found is that if they don't have exactly what you want, they substituted something else they thing you might settle for. We ordered several bags of potato chips made by one company and got tubes of Pringles instead. The nice thing is that you can return unwanted items for a full credit if you don't like them. Guess we will see what we actually get tomorrow. I'll let you know.
That's it for now. More to come.


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Absolutely the best! Every time I return to Townsville I'm blown away by the wonderful DiBella coffee how well it's handled by the baristas here. Such a great atmosphere and some really friendly staff. Always an enjoyable visit!
Best coffee and service in town!
The coffee wasn't bad, wasn't great either. They use Di Bella coffee and don't appear to have a dedicated barista.
The service was quick and cheerful. Coffee came out quickly.
The atmosphere was a little lacking, the place looks very dated next to the Coffee Club next... Read more
1 Mocha
coffee was good today ... service was prompt and atmosphere is great.
I know it's a local icon but better coffee is now found else where in Townsville but its open late which is good for us shift workers
Great Position right on the water front... A much smaller more laid back shop compared to the original Juliette's Down the road... Coffee is in takeaway cups only due to council restrictions, but apart from that this place is a must...
I know I've commented on Juliette's a few times now but it is my regular... The coffee has improved even more lately, I was chatting to the manager and apparenty they've been investing a lot of time into training staff on coffee, it's paying off in my eyes!! He also said they're changing skim milk... Read more
Amazing!! My favourite spot in the ville!
Ok... Back from holidays and time to check back with the best coffee house in Townsville... This time the service is terrific ... Friendly And efficient everyone smiling and looking like the need to be here... Coffee ... Well always terrific
Amazing location, coffee is consistently spot on, service is with a smile and they have a bazillion gelato flavours. They have deck chairs overlooking the water, feels like paradise.
Coffee is Merlo. So average. The barista do a good job with the coffee. I ordered a takeaway coffee and the service was a bit slow.
So consistently good, I'm getting spoilt! :)
The 6am cyclists' haven - convivial atmosphere, the sun riding through the trees, but a weak latte, though good temperature. Friendly service, but not quick.
Consistently great coffee! Awesome location, and very friendly staff.
Nice location, service ok. Had a Piccolo, milk was burnt.
A combination of fabulous coffee and atmosphere that can't be beat in Townsville. There's a reason it's always so busy.
One of the best cafe's in Townsville. Great location, great coffee and great desert! Situated on the picturesque Strand it is the perfect location on unwind after busy day or even just somewhere to treat the family!
1 Latte
Great location for a morning coffee and as a long black drinker I must say it's a wonderful feeling when your coffee is brought out and the crema is still intact.
Fantastic coffee and gelato and exceptional service.
Absolutely the best coffee experience I've had. I love coming home to see all my friends and family, but also to head down to Juliettes enjoy the scenery and a fantastic cup of coffee. Top marks all around from me :)
1 Flat White
the coffee was disgusting. it's staffed by very young casuals that don't know a piccolo from a latte. you have to line up like cattle and the service was so bad i left without even getting my 'food'. avoid avoid avoid. they've traded off fitting in more people over being able to service customers.... Read more
1 Piccolo
Juliette's is by far Townsville's best cafe!!! For a small business it's impressive how successful Juliette's is. Every body in Townsville knows about it! I go to this cafe at least once a day. They make most of their products in the shop, and believe me you can tell! Their coffee is always very... Read more
2 Flat Whites
I love nothing more when retuning to Townsville than enjoying an amazing long Mac from Julietts!! I am never disappointed, and the beautiful staff and service never cease to amaze. Look forward to my next visit.. For the lovers of.....
Checked out this place on the strand, had great coffee each time! Great atmosphere in the morning, the place was packed!! :) cyclists galore... My double shot latte was perfect temperature, great flavour and followed up by great service... My partner loves the gelato there aswell, they make it them... Read more
I've come back to this Cade several times over the past few months and the first time (late Jan) the coffee was excellent. Since then unfortunately the coffee was been over extracted, too hot and quite bland. The other sad thing us that the service has been consistently poor, with either very slow... Read more

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Sub-par for the Waterfront. This review is based solely on the bar. We went here Friday night for a few drinks with friends. We stayed at the bar the whole night. They played fun music but there was no outside bar which is the attraction of the Georgetown Waterfront! It wasn't crowded like the outside bars can be which is a plus. The prices were typical waterfront prices, $6 for a rum and coke which is served in a small cocktail glass. The biggest complaint was the bartender. I had to wait over 5 min. to close my tab after the rest of my party had left. He blatantly looked at me when I asked for my tab and continued to walk away. The bar was not nearly packed, yet it was hard to grab his attention. Just a huge pet peeve of mine! However, I want to come back and try the food but I will probably not go back for the bar scene.
Citysearch Editorial Review. This upscale Mexican spot on the Washington Harbour in Georgetown offers standard fare--margaritas, ceviches, enchiladas and quesadillas--at higher prices than one might expect, but they match the waterfront view, white tablecloths and flowing curtains surrounding luxurious booths.
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530 S. Main St. Belle Glade, FL 33430
Drop in for stories, music, films, puppets, and a craft. Ages 3 & up. (45 min.).
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Fun stories, puppets, films, and more for kids, and moms, and dads. Ages 2-5. (30 min.).
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Nov 13 2012, 01:10 PM | #31 |
PDGA Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Is everything
Posts: 2,715
Winterizing your golf game
Ball golf has been making waterproof clothes for a very long time. They get it. Try checking out the ball golf store. They have awesome rain and wind gear that is designed for freedom of movement. Snow gear is a different animal.
Don't hate me because I'm www.TWISTEDflyer.com! |
Nov 13 2012, 02:01 PM | #32 |
PDGA Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 310
Get yourself 2 different jackets. One should be a very large, very well made Gore-Tex jacket with hood. This will handle any 'bad weather' situation (incessant rain, snow, sleet, etc.). The other should be a rather large, thin urethane-coated nylon. This washable jacket can be used (and stored right in your bag) for any spur-of-the-moment bad weather situation and won't mind the sweating you'll do in it - as it can be washed a lot. Karl Ps: Also - very important - make sure that the arms are cut on the bias so that they're either "articulated" or at least there is NO difficulty in lifting your arm over your head (the rest of the jacket doesn't "come with your arm"...and obscure your view, etc.) just in case you have to throw an overhand |
Nov 13 2012, 11:24 PM | #33 |
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Frogg Toggs.
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New Stella & Dot Handbags Featured in the Press
Stella & Dot jewelry, as we know, has been an editor fave for years, and now their new handbag line is a media darling as well. The red ikat print How Does She Do It tote bag and the red ikat Getaway Bag have been featured in several fashion magazines as the hot new bags for summer.
The versatile 'How Does She Do It' bag is offered in five different colors & prints, and you can snap down the sides for a sleeker silhouette and a totally new look. It's like two bags in one!
The Getaway Bag is the perfect vacation tote as you can carry it on the plane and then unzip it to expand to fit all your souvenirs!
Red ikat Getaway Bag from Stella & Dot as seen in May 2013 issue of OK! magazine.
Red ikat 'How Does She Do It Bag' from Stella & Dot as seen in ay 2013 issue of People Stylewatch magazine.


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Since 1947
(based on 16 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
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Reviewed by 16 customers
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(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
Small wonder
By Homemaker
from Queens, NY
Comments about EZ Zip Drain Cleaning Tool:
Unclogged the drain the first time I used the gadget. Now the drain is working fine.
Gunk Be Gone
By Trisheel
from Flower Mound, TaX
Cleaned all drains and sinks and got the gunk out!
didnt work
By headmaster
from montgomery village md
tried this in the sinks and bathtub couldnt get it to even go in the drain wasnt happy at all
It is ok
By pat
from cleveland, ohio
About Me Long-time Pet Owner
useful but not the greatest--good price
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
Its great for the price!
By Barbie
from Hialeah, Florida
The one thing I liked about this product is you can slip it into the drain without removing the stopped. It works for people who comb their hair over the sink and then wash it down the drain.
Just What I was looking for
By leemauimama
from Maui, Hi
About Me Professional Cleaner
When I clean condos I use this product to clear sink drains.
Not what I expected
By Nana in Stanly County, NC
from Albemarle, NC
About Me Meticulous Cleaner
This item would not fit in any drain in my bathroom. I could not get it to work in the sink or tub drain. I think it is too wide and needs to be more narrow to fit my drains. Since it won't fit the drains I haven't been able to use it so I have to give it one star.
Love it! Buying #2!
By Mad Mom
from Pennsylvania
Not perfect tool but great for hair and soap type clogs in showers. Three women ...long hair...danger! Buying the second for my oldest daughter 1st apartment. Saves plumbers visits!!
Does not work very well.
By Jack
from Wichita Falls, TX
it does not work without breaking down the drain pipe and cleaning the old-fashioned way.
By Babs
from San Leandro, CA
I tried it in the bathroom sink drain, the shower and the tub, and it was totally useless. I already threw it away.
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way to big
By suki
from tacoma wa
About Me Casual Cleaner
this is no good itis to big and can not muse it went in the trash
By Pack Rat
from Kentucky
I had standing water in my vanity basin. Used this tool as directed, and the hairy stuff came out immediately and the normal, swift flow was restored. Foam drain cleaner had not worked. Saved anguish and a plumber's bill!
Good idea, not the best execution
By MB
from Utah
This drain cleaner did not fit in the holes of my shower drain - where I have the most hair - and was difficult to use in the sink drains. When you can get it in and out of the drains, it works pretty well. Getting the goo and hair off the implement are a bit icky if you are bothered by that kind of thing.
Really works
By Joy the Cook
from Brockton, MA
Really works but takes a few times to unplug long hair from drain. Need gloves on because sides feel funny when pulling out of drain. I must have sensitive hands. But it really works. I don't know how many times PVC pipes will this pulling and poking.
My husband said it would not work
By NaNa
from Houston, Texas
It unstopped my drain.
Works Like a Charm!!!
By cj
from Boca Raton, Fl
Saved having to call a professional to clear the bathroom drain of accumulated hair.


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About CFMA National
CFMA is a professional and social organization that is dedicated to being the communications leader and premier source of education and information for those aspects of financial management unique to the construction industry. Our local chapter consists of approximately 150 members representing some 125 different companies in the Puget Sound Region. These companies are either directly involved in or directly support the local construction industry at large. These supporting companies encompass a wide array of industries including: surety bonding, insurance, banking, accounting, law, software sales & development, and private consulting.
Our goal is to provide a forum in which our members can learn, network with their peers, get involved in their community, socialize, and most importantly just plain have some fun. To learn how to become part of this growing and exciting organization, learn more by viewing the pages of this section, or click
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New Cell Phone Laws in Effect for Illinois Drivers
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Illinois drivers are coming under more pressure to stay off their cell phones. Governor Pat Quinn has signed four new laws aimed at making state roadways safer. Three of them confront the problem of drivers becoming distracted by talking and texting on their cell phones.
One of the measures prohibits the use of cell phones by drivers in all roadwork zones. Previously, the restriction only applied to work zones with speed limit reductions. It is also now illegal to use a mobile phone while driving within 500 feet of an emergency scene. Another measure bars commercial drivers from any hand-held cell phone use. The governor also signed a bill known as Julie's Law, which increases penalties for serious speed-limit violations.


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Location: Agroecosystems Management Research Unit
Technical Abstract: Precision agriculture, environmental applications, and land use planning needs have led to calls for more detailed soil maps. A remote sensing technique that can differentiate soils with a high degree of accuracy would be ideal for soil survey purposes. One technique that has shown promise in Iowa is electrical conductivity (ECa) measured by the Geonics® EM-38. Electrical conductivity readings obtained with this technique result from a combination of the soils' water content, clay content, soluble salt content, and temperature. One way ECa techniques have been evaluated as soil survey tools involves grid mapping a field, doing an ECa survey of that field, and comparing the maps obtained using each method. Good results have been obtained in this way for several fields in central Iowa that contain soils that are fairly variable over relatively short distances. A field with lacustrine-derived soils that exhibit only slight variations in soil properties across the field was chosen for this study. This led to highly uniform ECa readings and an inability to differentiate between soil map units using the ECa data. However, this was also valuable information as it confirmed the uniform nature of the soils in the field, a critical criterion for a precision agriculture study being conducted in that field.


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WOW! Here are loveyoudivine Alterotica, home of erotic ebooks, we've got a massive crop of sexy stories for you today, 24 May!
In Gay Lit/Classics, we have All of Me by Dirk Vanden. On his sixtieth birthday, Sacramento Real Estate Broker, Rick Vernor, receives in the mail—along with birthday cards and advertisements—a note accusing him of being "an abomination in the sight of God" who is next in line to die for his sin, of writing "Queer dirty books" forty years ago. Rick soon learns that two other Gay men have received similar threats from the same killer, but no one has any idea who the murderer might be. The mystery deepens as two handsome Sheriff's Homicide Detectives visit Rick, investigating a recent murder, where a page from one of his novels, Too Big, was attached to the dead man's genitals. As Rick and David, search for clues, romance starts to blossom between them but is frustrated by the fact that David is young enough to be Rick's son. The relationship dwindles, then rekindles, as they almost die for their love.
Just Married by Shane Allison is also in Men4Men. On the outside, Claude Bookman has a life other men would envy, a beautiful newly purchased home, a gorgeous wife, Tina, and a successful career at a bank, but Claude has a secret. He likes sleeping with men. As far as he's concerned, what his wife doesn't know, won't hurt her. Claude is selfish and doesn't care who hurts to get what he wants when it comes down to quenching his insatiable appetite for male on male sex. He calls on Shawn, his gay best friend, often to give him what he needs. Shawn loves playing hard to get with Claude, but he always gives in to Claude's desires as well as his own.
Packing Heat by Chastity Vicks is in FemErotica. Zoë and Chris enjoy toys as much as the next couple, but Zoë was never expecting her cute, pretty girlfriend to show up for their date packing a cock. The anticipation drives her wild and, as Zoë forgets all about the movie, the night sees both girls give way to a thrilling, risky adventure.
In Stroke, we bring you Corporate Slave by Alex Morgan. A mid-level manager discovers that occupational hazards really exist when he is unwittingly introduced to sexual slavery by a muscular subordinate supervisor.
Also in Stroke, here's Tagged by The Team by Barry Lowe. Artie is out and proud while his jock boyfriend, Leo, is so far in the closet the two of them are never seen together. Artie is pissed as he wants to go to Leo's football games as well as social events together and the only way he can see it ever happening is to provoke his boyfriend – by joining the team's cheer squad. When Artie turns up unexpectedly to apply for a cheerleader position and the team wants to audition his ass, Leo has to decide whether the closet is more important than his boyfriend.
Welcome to loveyoudivine Alterotica, established publishers of quality erotic ebooks. This week, Friday May 17, we've got one bumper anthology in Gay Lit from Barry Lowe, and an enticing short in BiLine from Chastity Vicks.
OMG! Not Another Gay Erotica Anthology is by Barry Lowe.
There are so many themed gay erotica anthologies these days from gay pastry cook erotica to gay Centurion erotica it's hard to squeeze another one on to the market, especially when there is little or no commonality of themes. Sure, some of the stories in this collection involve mythological beings like Santa and Satan – notice the characters names are anagrams of the other – while four stories involve dads, uncles or dads-in-law. The seventh story involves that biggest cliché in all gay erotica: the college jock. The subject matter encompasses obsessions with male strippers, gender reassignment, gay comic book heroes, fallen angels, college nerds and jocks, skateboarders, and police 'brutality.' There's even a happy ending or five. The stories also range from short and sweet to longer than a donkey's dick and sleazy as fuck, all written in Barry Lowe's inimitable style. The only thing the stories have in common, apart from the same author, is the inclusion of OMG! in each of the titles. Justification enough to call the collection OMG! Not Another Gay Erotica Anthology?
Chastity Vicks' BiLine story is called Red Wine At Bedtime. Lorna loves her boyfriend, Ant, and she's never considered herself truly attracted to women. All the same, her intense lust for another girl turns her world upside down, and forces her to question everything. As Lorna embarks on a journey of discovery and awakening, her path is paved with guilt—and plenty of desire—but will she ever come clean with those she cares about?
Welcome to loveyoudivine Alterotica this Friday, 10 May! We've two very different gay erotica ebooks for you this weekend.
First, in His and His, our Gay Lit Romance line, is an m/m novella from M. King, Foam Roller Boys. Brendan is adamant that there's never been anything between him and his friend—no matter what the rest of the student body seems to think—but when Isaac insists he celebrates the end of their college years with a hedonistic night out, an unexpected encounter with a buff, bronzed stranger leaves Brendan wondering exactly what is bubbling up between them.
And next, only a title that our unsuppressable Barry Lowe could have thought up: Uranus Needs Fags, in our PulpFriction category. Ezra is headed for the sex party of the year when he sees a strange craft on the horizon on a deserted country road. A blinding beam of lights stalls his car and he suddenly feels himself being drawn up toward…that's all he can remember when he wakes up in his apartment the next day, his ass sore and sticky. He attributes his memory loss to the copious amounts of party drugs he took before the party and his sore posterior to the great time he must have had. Then he starts to have flashbacks that involve a UFO, aliens, a space craft, and an anal probe.
Friday 3rd May at loveyoudivine Alterotica! And two exciting releases so hot they might set your ereader on fire! One's in Gay Lit/BiLine and the other's Erotic Power Xchange.
Hard On His Heels by Barry Lowe. Gay tour guide, Seth, has lost a bet and now has to face the consequences. His penalty is to conduct his next group tour in full drag. He doesn't have a problem with that except of all destinations on his itinerary this one is to the South Coast with an overnight at the famed Tree-Tops Walkway Rainforest Resort. Management and staff have let be known they don't appreciate a 'group of queers' descending on their establishment, preferring Seth take his business elsewhere, so when Seth, in full female regalia including high heels, descends on the tourist attraction with his group the sparks are gonna fly. Matters come to a head when Seth gets his high heels caught in the metal walkway and twists his ankle badly so that he has to call a ranger for help.
Ultra Violet by Chastity Vicks is our extra-hot bdsm ebook this week. When Greg gives her a violet wand kit for Valentine's Day, Emily is upset. One bad experience with electro-play has left her unsure she wants to try it again, but her Master's sensual dominance always seems to convince her to yield. Slowly, Greg works his sub up to trying the toy, and—over one long night of rope bondage, sensation play, and intolerable teasing—Emily learns just how good electricity can be.


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God's Spirit Envelopes Us and God's Spirit Fills Us
Believing in Jesus Christ and being committed to the Christian faith is a tremendous source of encouragement, calmness and courage. The center of our faith is that for all eternity there has existed an infinite being who willed our individual existence, provides us with what is necessary to become adopted children of God and surrounds us with an unending invitation to holiness and to wholeness. Among God's greatest gifts are those that we describe as special gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When you begin to talk about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, theologians soon jump into the discussion and make it more complicated than it has to be. The gifts of the Spirit are spiritual. They envelope and fulfill our souls but they are different from the virtues.
The word "virtue" simply means a habit and almost everyone has both good and bad habits. Good virtues are lived at the natural level – generosity, courage, competence. Some theologians have wanted to match virtues and the gifts but it is simply not necessary. We need to concentrate on the reality of God, his existence, his love for us and his desire that we share in his infinite joy for all eternity.
Nothing is more mysterious in our lives than our own inner being and thoughtful people endeavor always to know more about themselves and the relationships through which they are living. I have been talking about the importance of our relationship to God, about the importance of virtues and the gifts of the Spirit. In closing, let me mention that St. Paul, in the fifth chapter of Galatians, made reference to the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
"On the other hand, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, truthfulness, gentleness and self-control. No law can touch such things as these!"
Theology can be a challenge, can't it?


text:
Click here to ask me random questions.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Cori: "OH JESUS. You just made me realize that when I die they'll do my hair and makeup and I WONT HAVE ANY SAY IN IT. NONONONO. EXISTENTIAL CRISIS"
Sam: "Oh and it will be TERRIBLE."
Sam: "I'VE SEEN THINGS."
Cori: "BURN MY BODY BEFORE THEY CAN GET TO ME, SAM. BURN MY BODY ON TOP OF MY PILE OF VIBRATING DILDOS."
Cori: "The best viking funeral pyre"
Sam: "I'll make a viking boat, and your vibrating dildos will power the motor. The blades will be dildos."
Cori: "YES. YES DO THAT."


text:
Invite a friend
Kalembar Dune Trunk Show with Ring of Stones Jewelry and Creative Glassworks
Kalembar Dune, 170 Spring St, West Roxbury, MA | Get Directions »
Event Details
Where | Kalembar Dune 170 Spring St, West Roxbury, MA 02132 |
Next on | This event is over. |
Time | 6:00 pm–8:00 pm |
Website | http://www.KalembarDune.com |
Phone | 617.327.5898 |
firstname.lastname@example.com | |
Price | $0 |
More About Kalembar Dune
Kalembar Dune is a quirky addition to this portion of Spring Street right by the VFW parkway, seated amid multiple Dunkin Donuts and gas stations. Owned by longtime area antique enthusiast and freelance writer Shirley Walsh, the store specializes in vintage home decor and accessories, but there are plenty of cool, cherry-picked knickknacks to choose from that won't require a rearrangement of furniture.


text:
Angie Fujioka - October 05, 2011
Alumni - Class of 1999 | Uganda
As a college student, I was greatly inspired by a woman named Dona Anjela de Leon, a midwife in Guatemala who I met while I was studying Spanish in the Central American country. When she was a young girl, she decided to do something about the unnecessary deaths of women during childbirth in her community, and in fact, she did.
Now I work as a technical advisor for American College of Nurse-Midwives, which promotes the health of women and babies through the development and support of the profession of midwifery. I'm honored to travel around the globe and assist in the technical training of midwives. Watching a midwife perform newborn resuscitation on a baby that she previously wouldn't have attempted to resuscitate and seeing her eyes light up when that baby starts to grimace and cry is one of the many joys of my work.
— Angie Fujioka '99, technical advisor for American College of Nurse-Midwives
Story Topics: Global Development, Health Care
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SINGAPORE: The National University of Singapore (NUS) law professor who is on trial for corruption in a sex—for—grades case will defend himself in court.
Tey Tsun Hang, 41, made the request in an unexpected twist minutes into the trial on Thursday morning.
Although confusion and disagreement arose over his request, the matter was eventually sorted out after an hour.
Tey appeared to be ready to defend himself. He arrived in court dressed in a grey pin—striped suit. He later changed into a court dress after he asked to defend himself.
He is accused of obtaining gratification in the form of sex on two occasions, as well as gifts including a Montblanc pen, an iPod and tailor—made shirts between May and July 2010.
The prosecution said these were inducements to show favour in his assessment of Ms Darinne Ko Wen Hui's academic performance.
Ninety minutes into the trial, key prosecution witness Darinne Ko was called to the stand.
The 23—year—old former student of Tey said they came to know each other in January 2010.
She told the court she liked Tey as a friend and had given him the 740—dollar Montblanc pen as a belated birthday gift in May 2010.
She also bought him two custom—made shirts worth more than S$230 and an iPod Touch worth S$160 from an online forum as a romantic gesture.
Ms Ko told the court that they were dating at that time, "so it did not seem incongruous" to give Tey gifts.
The court heard that as the two interacted more frequently in April 2010, Tey would meet Ms Ko for lunch about two to three times a week. He would pick her up from her workplace and pay for the lunches.
Tey is also accused of corruptly obtaining gratification in the form of payment of a bill of S$1,280 for a dinner he hosted at Garibaldi restaurant in July 2010.
The dinner for nine was meant to thank his former students, including Ms Ko, for helping him with research work.
But Ms Koh later revealed that after their relationship ended, she asked for Tey to pay her back S$1,000 and he did so.
Some six hours into her testimony, Ms Ko recounted her very first sexual experience, which was with Tey in his NUS office in July 2010. She was clearly distressed as she teared and tried to cover her face with one hand. This was a clear contrast to the calm and collected manner in which she answered other questions.
Ms Ko told the court she had sex with Tey because she loved him.
The court was also told Tey went to the United States in September 2010 to visit her when she was there for an overseas study stint.
But they got found out by Ms Ko's then—boyfriend, who reported the matter to her parents.
Eventually, she was made to cut all ties with Tey and did so.
The prosecution said in its opening statement that Tey had revealed confidential class ranking as well as results to Ms Ko to demonstrate his power over her.
It said Tey had taken advantage of his student and the transactions were "tainted with an objectively corrupt element".
The trial continues.
— CNA/xq
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Television Broadcasting Regulations, 1987 (SOR/87-49)
Full Document:
Regulations are current to 2013-05-20 and last amended on 2012-09-01. Previous Versions
5. (1) A licensee shall not broadcast
(a) anything in contravention of the law;
(b) any abusive comment or abusive pictorial representation that, when taken in context, tends to or is likely to expose an individual or a group or class of individuals to hatred or contempt on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age or mental or physical disability;
(c) any obscene or profane language or pictorial representation; or
(d) any false or misleading news.
(1.1) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), sexual orientation does not include the orientation towards any sexual act or activity that would constitute an offence under the Criminal Code.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), material is obscene if it has as a dominant characteristic the undue exploitation of sex or the combination of sexual content with one or more of the following subjects, namely, crime, horror, cruelty and violence.
- SOR/91-587, s. 1;
- SOR/94-220, s. 3;
- SOR/2011-147, s. 3.
6. (1) A licensee may broadcast a commercial message directly or indirectly advertising an alcoholic beverage only if
(a) the sponsor is not prohibited from advertising the alcoholic beverage by the laws of the province in which the commercial message is broadcast;
(b) subject to subsection (2), the commercial message is not designed to promote the general consumption of alcoholic beverages; and
(c) the commercial message complies with the Code for Broadcast Advertising of Alcoholic Beverages, published by the Commission on August 1, 1996.
(2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply so as to prohibit industry, public service or brand preference advertising.
- SOR/93-208, s. 1;
- SOR/95-452, s. 1;
- SOR/97-100, s. 2.
7. (1) Before January 1, 1999, a licensee shall not broadcast a commercial message for, or an endorsement of, a device to which the Food and Drugs Act applies unless
(a) the script of the commercial message or endorsement has been approved by the Minister of Health to indicate, to the extent that it is possible to do so on the basis of a script, that a commercial message or an endorsement conforming to the approved script would comply with the applicable provisions, administered by that Minister, of the Food and Drugs Act, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and regulations made pursuant to those Acts or to the Department of Health Act; and
(b) the script bears the script number assigned to it by that Minister.
(2) Before January 1, 1999, when a licensee broadcasts a commercial message or an endorsement referred to in subsection (1), the licensee shall keep a record of the script for a period of one year after the date of the broadcast, which record shall contain
(a) the name of the device to which the script relates;
(b) the name of the sponsor or advertising agency that submitted the script for approval; and
(c) the script number referred to in paragraph (1)(b).
(3) A licensee shall provide the record required by subsection (2) to the Commission or to an inspector designated pursuant to the Food and Drugs Act, acting on behalf of the Commission, where the Commission or the inspector so requests for the purpose of audit or examination.
(4) The approval of the script of a commercial message or an endorsement referred to in subsection (1) does not indicate that the commercial message or endorsement complies with the applicable legislation.
- SOR/92-615, s. 1;
- SOR/93-208, s. 2;
- SOR/97-290, s. 2.
- Date modified:


text:
The aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15, 2013, showed all too clearly that totalitarianism does not need decades of incremental legislation and regimentation to come to this country. All it needs is the now-pervasive fear of "terrorism" – a fear which can give one man the power to shut down the economic life of an entire city for a day.
This video is based on Mr. Stolyarov's recent essay, "Futile Temporary Totalitarianism in Boston".
-"U.S. Cities With Bigger Economies Than Entire Countries" – Wall Street Journal – July 20, 2012
- "Adding up the financial costs of the Boston bombings" – Bill Dedman and John Schoen, NBC News – April 30, 2013
- "United Airlines Flight 93" – Wikipedia
- "Richard Reid" – Wikipedia
- "Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab" – Wikipedia
- "Homicides decrease in Boston for third straight year" – Matt Carroll, The Boston Globe – January 1, 2013
- "List of motor vehicle deaths in U.S. by year" – Wikipedia
- "How Scared of Terrorism Should You Be?" – Ronald Bailey, Reason Magazine – September 6, 2011
- "Terrorism Risk Insurance Act" – Wikipedia
- "Business Frets at Terrorism Tag of Marathon Attack" – Associated Press – May 13, 2013
- "TIME/CNN Poll Shows Increasing Number Of Americans Won't Give Up Civil Liberties To Fight Terrorism" – Tim Cushing, TechDirt – May 6, 2013


text:
Conductor Brent Havens and the orchestra will take the audience through 40 years of music from the King of Pop
Columbus Oh -- The music of Michael Jackson and performances by soul legend The Spinners, smooth-jazz star Chris Botti and regional act the Jazz Ambassadors will be featured during this year's Picnic with the Pops summer concert series.
Picnic with the Pops features nationally known artists and a few local favorites performing outdoors with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Concerts begin at 8:15 p.m. and are held on the lawn of Chemical Abstract Service, 2540 Olentangy River Road, adjacent to the campus of The Ohio State University.
The schedule includes:
June 18 – The Jazz Ambassadors, the U.S. Army's premier touring jazz orchestra. The internationally acclaimed organization travels thousands of miles each year to perform jazz concerts and carry a message of goodwill worldwide.
June 24 – "The Music of Michael Jackson." Conductor Brent Havens and the orchestra will take the audience through 40 years of music from the King of Pop on the eve of the second the anniversary of his death. "The Music of Michael Jackson" will include hits from each era of his career, including "ABC," "I'll Be There," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Rock with You" and "The Way You Make Me Feel."
July 9 – Chris Botti. Since the release of his critically acclaimed album "When I Fall in Love," Botti has become the largest-selling instrumental jazz artist in America with four No. 1 jazz albums as well numerous Grammy Awards.
July 23 – The Spinners. The current lineup features original members Bobby Smith, Henry Fambrough and Pervis Jackson as well as lead singer Charlton Washington and high tenor Harold "Spike" Bonhart. The Spinners and their five-piece band will join the orchestra for an evening of hits spanning their 40-year career, including "Working My Way Back to You," "Rubberband Man" and "Games People Play."
July 29-30 – The Ohio State University Marching Band. Billed as "the biggest tailgate party of the year," the show will feature the band playing a variety of well-known tunes and a fireworks display.
There will also be three "Popcorn Pops" concerts for children ages 3 to 12. The themes of the concerts include: "American Salute" (June 24), "Beach Party" (July 8) and "Rock Around the World" (July 22).
For tickets and more information, call (614) 228-8600 or visit www.columbussymphony.com.


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A collection of news and information related to Bourbonnais published by this site and its partners.
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Tribune sued by former Countryside police chief
Momence police Chief Timothy Swanson, formerly the police chief in the suburb of Countryside, filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Tribune on Friday in response to articles about a police helicopter program he spearheaded. Swanson, of Bourbonnais, is...Tags: Chicago Tribune, Litigation, Justice System, Trials, Freedom of Information Act
Next Bethel president sees a lot of potential
South Bend TribuneGregg Chenoweth says he was drawn to Bethel College by its Christian focus and its location in the greater South Bend urban area. "I really like the town-gown opportunities that are there," said Chenoweth, who this week was named to be the next president...Tags: Colleges and Universities, Wayne, Education, Northern Illinois University
Police investigate if motorist found dead off I-57 is missing Kankakee-area man
Authorities are trying to determine whether a man found dead in a pickup truck that had gone into a tree is a man reported missing after leaving his South Side job to head home to Kankakee in August. Richard Roberts, 47, of St. Michael's Drive in...Tags: Cook County Forest Preserve, Missing Persons, Kankakee
Operation Christmas tree
Jan Ziegler can spot the veterans by their measuring tapes. "The first year, people pick a tree that's too tall," said Ziegler, who owns Ziegler Christmas Tree Farm in Elgin. "They look smaller in the field. So the next year, they measure." In addition...Tags: Highway Transportation, Burlington (Kane, Illinois), Downers Grove, Spring Creek, Somonauk
Medal stand
DENVER — For about 30 minutes last year, Destihl was just another of the hundreds of breweries at the Great American Beer Festival, and a particularly little guy at that, pouring beer from the where-in-the-heck-is-that town of Normal, Ill. Then word...Tags: Strawberries, Awards and Prizes, Frontera Grill, Arts and Culture, Festive Events
Week 8 schedule: Oct. 8-14
Week 8 – Oct. 8-14 All games 7:30 unless noted. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10 CHICAGO INTER-CITY 4 Urban Prep-Bronzeville vs. Crane, 6:30 at Lane Woodlawn vs. Tilden, 6:30 at Gately THURSDAY, OCT. 11 CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS Amundsen vs. Taft, 7:15 at...Tags: Tinley Park, Plainfield (Will, Illinois), Thornton, Little Village, Monee
Week 6 schedule: Sept. 24-30
Week 6 – Sept. 24-30 All games 7:30 unless noted. THURSDAY, SEPT. 27 CHICAGO BIG SHOULDERS Prosser vs. Mather, 4:15 at Winnemac CHICAGO GREAT LAKES Westinghouse vs. Payton, 7:15 at Lane CHICAGO ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN Phillips vs. King, 4:...Tags: Tinley Park, Plainfield (Will, Illinois), Little Village, Hoffman Estates, Palatine
Barbara J. Shaw, 72
Barbara J. Shaw, 72, of Kankakee, Ill., formerly of Petoskey, died Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Kindred Hospital in Hammond, Ind. Visitation will be 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home in Kankakee. The funeral service will...Tags: Limestone, Kankakee, Funeral Parlor and Crematorium
Woman dies after Kosciusko County motorcycle crash
Police say an Illinois woman died Thursday from head injuries received in a motorcycle accident in eastern Kosciusko County. Thursday's accident happened on U.S. 30 near County Road 450 East. Police say 39-year-old Paula M. Harwood of Bourbonnais,...Tags: Disasters and Accidents, Head Injuries, Injuries and Wounds, Health, Accidental Death
Sharon F. Peters, 68
The Rev. Sharon Fitch Peters, age 68, of Sharpsburg, Md., passed unexpectedly on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at her home. She was born Nov. 11, 1943, in Wellsville, N.Y., to the late Ephraim Schley and Irene May (Holaday) Fitch. The Fitch family relocated to...Tags: Wayne, Hospitals and Clinics, The Washington Post, Health, Silver Spring (Montgomery, Maryland)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
5 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Greg Jarrett 6:39 a.m. CSNChicago.com's John 'Moon' Mullin checks in from Bourbonnais with details on a rumored controversy over who should be the back-up QB. 7:09 a.m. Indiana governor Mitch Daniels discusses...Tags: Paul Green, Indiana, Mitch Daniels, Elections, Illinois
May 3, 2013
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Apr 10, 2013
|Story| South Bend Tribune
Sep 13, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Nov 18, 2011
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Oct 17, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Oct 8, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Aug 7, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 27, 2012
|Story| Petoskey News
Jul 6, 2012
|Story| WSBT-TV
Dec 19, 2011
|Story| Herald Mail
Aug 15, 2011
|Story| WGN-AM
Jul 13, 2011
|Story| AP Illinois
Original site for Bourbonnais topic gallery.


text:
Elvis Presley (Harley)
Elvis Presley (Harley)
Cat No: MPP50340
Release Date: 2010-07-26
Also available in USA
Mini Posters:
Approx. 40cm x 50cm (16 x 20 inches)
Formats Available:
Further Info:
Photography by Alfred Wertheimer.
Also available in this range...
© Copyright 2011 Pyramid International.
Pyramid International is the trading name of Pyramid Posters Limited, Unit A, Bruce Way, Whetstone, Leicester, LE8 6HP, United Kingdom, Company Registration No. 2743258. Registered in England and Wales. Registered office as above.
Web design by iWeb: Ecommerce Specialist UK
Managed Hosting by: Virtual Server


text:
Content-Type: text/html
for your review is a list of 32 recently
posted internships (plus 30
recent part time or summer job openings) that
are either on MSU's campus or within 10
miles of campus. All 62
student jobs are posted on the MySpartanCareer
website. It pays to review the attached list and apply for jobs as soon
as possible as employers sometimes close postings before the listed
can learn more about AND apply for jobs through the free online www.MySpartanCareer.com service.
at MySpartanCareer, you'll need to
set up an account with your profile and by uploading a copy of your resume.
With your profile and resume in place, you'll be able to search for job
openings and submit applications by clicking on the "Apply" button
next to the job description. Here's a MySpartanCareer video tutorial if you
need help setting up your account.
To quickly locate a specific job posting,
click on "Jobs" tab, select the "view jobs" option and
then write the job ID number in the "Keywords" box and then click on
the "search" button. This should take you straight to the job
description and "Apply" button, should you meet the hiring criteria
established by the employer. (If you can't find a job after this
search, then the job posting has likely been closed by the employer –
luck in your job search – start searching and applying today!
Career Services Network
To schedule an appointment with Jaimie Hutchison: JMC Career
Consultant (check back weekly, new times are added weekly):
For Career Services
at JMC
If the appointment time you sign up for will not work for
you, please go back into the system and remove your name from that time, that
way another student will have access to that appointment time.
Field Career Consultant
328 S. Case Hall
[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Connect with me on LinkedIn:


text:
Dear Players,
With today's update we were able to adjust the balancing of the community meals. As of now 50% fewer players are required to receive the maximum amount SP in comparison to the previous version.
We know that some restaurants suffer heavily from the change that a certain trick to receive the maximum SP artificially can't be used anymore. As a result we implemented this balancing change to support those restaurants. But of course we know this won't fix the problem in general.
As a result we are working very hard to redesign the calculation of community meals (community baths won't be affected at all). And we want to do it in a way that both large and small restaurant can be successful. With the current solution only large restaurants gain a benefit, and players who want to run a small but cosy restaurant do get punished. We want to change that.
However, this is not an easy task to accomplish from a technical perspective, but we are confident to present you a feasible solution in the near future. We hope that the current balancing adjustment will make up for it in the meantime. Have fun while eating and of course … enjoy your meal!
Your Travians Team


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IDC's Wireline Network Infrastructure service analyzes the opportunities and challenges for network infrastructure suppliers selling to communications service providers. This service focuses on the deployment of key network infrastructure products that provide enhanced IP services. This service covers access, routing and switching, and optical networking market segments in significant detail. Research includes quantitative and qualitative market assessments as well as forecasts of market trends, technology requirements, and deployment strategies.
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Connect and engage with a global network of business and IT professionals in the first-of-its-kind end-user community at http://idc-insights-community.com.


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On Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 5:42 PM, ZeeDivaRockstar said:
Check out "Right Thru Me" (Remix) Feat. Nicki Minaj #NowPlaying on Profile!! Feel free to leave feedback. Thanks to all for the love and support! ZeeDiva Rockstar (Twitter @Zee_Diva) xoxox
On Sat, Dec 11, 2010 at 5:29 PM, teelUHVjukubarb said:
ur welcome ! lol && thanks barb . ya page is pretty dope too ;]
On Fri, Dec 10, 2010 at 2:56 PM, Thahyra said:
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On Fri, Dec 10, 2010 at 12:22 PM, Thahyra said:
heyy hun!! ur Profile iss poppin :)
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Thank you so much doll! :)
On Wed, Dec 8, 2010 at 7:13 AM, Nicki0927 said:
On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 5:19 PM, BhadestChick said:
i been gud wat bout u
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On Tue, Dec 7, 2010 at 2:45 PM, EboniBarbiie said:
my name is "Ebony" tew!! (I put it in quots cause my name is spelled "Eboni") THATS TOO COOL! :)


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Raiffeisenbank a.s. is an important banking institution that provides wide range of banking services to private and corporate clientele in the Czech Republic. Raiffeisenbank is a member of Austrian Raiffeisen Group that also offers products and services in the Czech Republic in the area of building savings (Raiffeisen stavební spořitelna), insurance (UNIQA pojišťovna) and leasing (Raiffeisen-Leasing, Raiffeisen-Leasing Real Estate). Raiffeisenbank has merged with eBanka, a.s., in 1998.
In 2012, the bank increased its net profit by 22% to CZK 2.22 billion. According to total assets over CZK 200 billion, the bank is 5th largest in the market. Raiffeisenbank serves clients at more than 120 branches and business client centres throughout Czech Republic. The bank also provides services of specialized mortgage centres, personal, corporate and business advisors.
Various local and international awards proof the quality of serrvice. In 2011 eKonto was named as Best Account of the Year for the fourth time. In 2010, the bank received three Golden Crowns for direct banking SME accounts and SME loans.
The majority shareholder of Raiffeisenbank with 51 per cent of the shares is Austrian financial institution, Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI), which parent company is Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG (RZB). Additional shareholders include Raiffeisen Zentralbank AG with 24 per cent and RB Prag-Beteiligungs GmbH with 25 per cent. RBI originated from the merger of the spun-off areas of RZB with Raiffeisen International Bank-Holding AG. The transaction was legally completed in October 2010.
The RBI Group´s consistent commitment to quality is regularly reflected by a broad range of local and international awards, including by such leading finance industry publications as "The Banker", "Euromoney" and "Global Finance".
From the very beginning, Raiffeisenbank has offered its services with emphasis on the particular needs of clients in the various regions. Besides its business activities, Raiffeisenbank is also involved in a number of community service activities related to culture, education and charity, reflecting Raiffeisen's 140-year tradition.


text:
A path is made by walking on it.
— Chuang Tzu (via singingovertheboness)
I used many times to touch my own chest and feel, under its asthmatic quiver, the engine of the heart and lungs and blood and feel amazed at what I sensed was the enormity of the power I possessed. Not magical power, but real power. The power simply to go on, the power to endure, that is power enough, but I felt I had also the power to create, to add, to delight, to amaze and to transform.
— Stephen Fry (via unicornsareblue)


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Check out this video showing Adam Hills' response to Joan Rivers' disgusting jokes about Adele's weight.
I particularly love these two comments. more for the underlying principles than the hilarious assertions than his ass-kicking jokes.
1) "Adele is one of the few women in pop music that I want my daughter to look up to."
Yes. Thank you. I am so glad that a celebrity made this comment about celebrities and made it personal. Media stars are praised less for their talent and more for how they look at the Oscars, what sort of a message does this send not only to children, but people of all ages, races and sizes?
A great majority of the women that we see on the screen have thin, "perfect" bodies but the very concept that these bodies are perfect serves up everything that is wrong with he fame industry on a bright and shiny platter. The reality is that very few women look like those few who are constantly flaunted by the media. When someone like Joan Rivers calls Adele fat she also calls me fat, and every other women with a body similar to or larger than Adele's. What does this do to the self esteem of literally millions of women?
When we think of actresses we think of Cate Blanchett, Mila Kunis, Drew Barrymoore, Scarlett Johanassen, Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry.
When I think of popular female musicians we think of Miley Cyrus, Ke$ha, Delta Goodrem, Rihanna, Adele, Madonna, Taylor Swift.
I'm not saying that the other women mentioned in these lists are lesser role models because they are thin and I don't think that they are all unhealthily skinny. I do think that the ratio of 'tall and thin' to 'every other body shape' is a complete reversal to that of the real world.
We see size six, eight and ten women plastered over buildings, websites, magazines and the screen; and all of a sudden beauty has a size. According to the media, people who don't fit into that narrow size gap aren't beautiful and this absolutely affects men as well. It isn't true though, and women such as Adele, or men such as Jonah Hill, remind the public that beauty and talent come in all shapes and sizes.
Let's not take the very few celebrities with common body types and pick on them for being fat, please, Joan Rivers. Let's not even praise realistically shaped stars for being a normal size. Let's just acknowledge that the people that we see in magazines are beautiful regardless of their size, just like we should with people that we see in the street.
2) "When you spent more money on your own face than the producers of Life of Pi spent on that tiger."
Awesome, another astute observation about self confidence that not only applies to the lives of celebrities but average lives as well.
Spending ridiculous amounts of money on make-up, gym memberships, meal replacement shakes, cosmetic surgery and alternative beauty treatments is a sign of low self esteem, even if the person splurging on such things is a celebrity and even if they are already naturally beautiful in the eyes of others. The very fact that they do those things tells us that they have low self confidence. Joan Rivers jokes about Adele's weight, but she isn't even comfortable ageing naturally. I don't think Adele will give Rivers' comments a second thought; because if we stand Adele and Joan Rivers next to each other it will be easy to see which of the two has higher self esteem. And this is the reason that Adele is a wonderful role model for young women.
Thank you Adam Hills.