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Egypt Opposition Alleges Vote Fraud In Referendum
Egypt's opposition said Sunday it will keep fighting the Islamist-backed constitution after the Muslim Brotherhood, the main group backing the charter, claimed it passed with a 64 percent "yes" vote in a referendum.
The opposition alleged vote fraud and demanded an investigation - a sign that the referendum will not end the turmoil that has roiled this country for nearly two years since the uprising that ousted authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak. Many Egyptians, especially the tens of millions who live in extreme poverty, had hoped the new constitution might usher in a period of more stability.
A heated political debate over the past month leading up to the referendum at times erupted into deadly street battles. There were no mass opposition demonstrations on Sunday after the unofficial results came out.
Renewed violence and political tensions have further imperiled Egypt's already precarious economy, reeling from dwindling resources and a cash-strapped government whose plans to borrow from the International Monetary Fund had to be pushed back because of the turmoil.
The finance ministry said Sunday the budget deficit reached $13 billion in the five months from July-November, about 4.5 percent higher compared to the same period last year.
Official results of the referendum are not expected until Monday. If the unofficial numbers are confirmed, it will be a victory Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, who is from the Brotherhood.
But the opposition allegations look likely to prolong the fight. Beyond allegations of fraud, the opposition will likely challenge new laws issued on the basis of the constitution as well as Morsi's economic policies.
"The referendum is not the end game. It is only a battle in this long struggle for the future of Egypt," said the National Salvation Front, the main opposition group. "We will not allow a change to the identity of Egypt or the return of the age of tyranny."
The opposition claims the new constitution seeks to enshrine Islamic rule in Egypt and accuses the Islamists of trying to monopolize power.
Critics say it does not sufficiently protect the rights of women and minority groups and empowers Muslim clerics by giving them a say over legislation. Some articles were also seen as tailored to get rid of Islamists' enemies and undermine the freedom of labor unions.
The latest political battle began with Morsi's Nov. 22 decrees that gave him powers to protect the Islamist-dominated panel writing the constitution and dismiss the country's top prosecutor, a holdover from the Mubarak era.
Although Morsi subsequently rescinded the powers that gave him immunity from judicial oversight, his decision to replace the prosecutor general was viewed by many in the judiciary as trampling over their powers. Hundreds of prosecutors held a rally Sunday demanding the new, Morsi-appointed prosecutor general quit, days after he retracted his resignation claiming it was rendered under pressure.
The prosecutors said in a news conference that they will be on strike until he quits.
Scores of lawyers who support Morsi's decision held an earlier rally, demanding that the top prosecutor stay, and accusing the opposition of being "thugs."
One major concern in the aftermath of the constitutional turmoil is Egypt's deteriorating economy, which has been battered by the two years of turmoil and taken an added hit from renewed violence recently.
Adding to the anxiety, state television reported on Saturday amidst voting on the referendum that the central bank governor had resigned, then retracted the report. The governor turned up at a meeting of the government's economic team Sunday in an apparent attempt to quell nervousness over the state of the economy.
The government stressed the urgency of stability.
"The financial and economic situations are dire," government spokesman Alaa el-Hadidi said, according to comments published by the state news agency MENA. With the referendum behind, el-Hadidi said economic policies must be at the center of attention, adding that the government will work to improve the investment environment to attract foreign investors.
The government had to postpone a request for $4.8 billion of IMF loans, putting off unpopular tax increases and reforms to after the referendum for fear they would only stoke political tensions.
A day before the official results of the constitution are expected, the opposition front said it filed complaints to the country's top prosecutor and the election commission asking for an investigation.
"The results of the referendum are for sure because of the rigging, violations and mismanagement that characterized it," the National Salvation Front said.
It alleged the vote was marred by lack of complete judicial supervision, which led to overcrowding that pushed down the voting rate. It also charged there was interference by those who were supposed to be supervising the vote, with some instructing people to vote "yes." Many judges who traditionally supervise elections boycotted supervising the vote.
"We don't think the results reflect the true desires of the Egyptian people," Khaled Dawoud, the front's spokesman, told The Associated Press.
However, the Brotherhood insisted violations were limited and should not affect the referendum's integrity.
The Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood's political arm, said it hoped the passage of the constitution would be a "historic opportunity" to heal Egypt's divisions and launch a dialogue to restore stability and build state institutions.
If the violations are considered serious enough, there could be new votes in some areas that alter the results slightly.
The referendum was conducted in two stages with the first vote on Dec. 15 and the second on Saturday. The Muslim Brotherhood and some media outlets have accurately tallied the outcome of past elections by compiling numbers released by electoral officials at thousands of individual polling stations shortly after voting closes.
Turnout for the vote was 32 percent of Egypt's more than 51 million eligible voters, according to the Muslim Brotherhood. That was significantly lower than other elections since the uprising ended in February 2011. The opposition has pointed to the low turnout as well as allegations of violations in the voting to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the referendum.
The Brotherhood said 64 percent voted "yes" to the constitution in a tally of both stages of voting. For Saturday's second stage only, the Brotherhood said 71 percent of those who voted said "yes" with 99 percent of polling stations accounted for.
As expected, it was a jump from the first round of voting when about 56 percent said "yes." The provinces that voted in the second round were known for being a base for Brotherhood supporters.
Only about eight million of the 25 million Egyptians eligible to vote in the second stage - a turnout of about 30 percent - cast their ballots. Some 32 percent of eligible voters participated in the first round.
The Front said that regardless of the results, it welcomed the participation of many who rejected the constitution and refused to consider it a vote on Islamic law. The group vowed to continue to "democratically" work to change the constitution and praised the high turnout of women.
The Islamists say Islam is core to Egypt's identity and they view the constitution as a foundation to move forward, elect a parliament and build state institutions.
The new constitution will come into effect once official results are announced.
Once that happens, Morsi is expected to call for the election of parliament's lower chamber, the more powerful of the legislature's two houses, within two months.
The opposition said that even though it is challenging the results of the referendum, it will continue to prepare for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Until the lower chamber is elected, the normally toothless upper house, or Shura Council, will have legislative powers.
On Sunday, Morsi appointed 90 new members to the Islamist-controlled Shura Council as part of his efforts to make the council more representative. The new appointments included at least 30 Islamists and a dozen Christians. They also include eight women, four of them Christians.
The opposition front said it did not want its members nominated to the Shura Council, now made up of 270 members.
This program aired on December 23, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.


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Turning the everyday into gourmet!
My combined knowledge and experience from a life spent in domestic and professional kitchens led me to create a range of kitchenware designed specifically for home cooks. As a chef, I've always had the luxury of working in professional kitchens, where I have everything at my fingertips - huge cutting boards, razor sharp knives, mise en place containers, large garbage bins at every station, the list goes on and on. I've also worked in hundreds of domestic kicthens and I know first-hand the issues that home cooks go up against - anything from blunt knives and unstable chopping boards to limited space. My products create order in the kitchen to save you time while looking pretty, bloody beautiful while they're at it. You'll be so proud of the dishes you'll effortlessly whip up! Bon Appetit!

subset: commoncrawl


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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Globalization has brought dramatic changes to the marketplace. A proliferation of global brands brings diverse cultures to a consumer population that is also growing culturally diverse. This course enables students to understand how globalization changes consumers at a psychological level, and provides tools for imbuing brands with cultural meanings—creating iconic brands—that can resonate with global consumers. The focus is on understanding that culture exists in the mind (e.g., values and beliefs) as well as in the environment (e.g., objects, brands, and institutions), and that globalization creates multi-cultural spaces in contemporary societies. Consumers can use the cultural meaning of a brand to build their identities (i.e., assimilate the brand cultural symbolism) or reject the brand's cultural meaning(s) (i.e., exclusionary reactions).
The course will help students identify when assimilation vs. exclusionary reactions are more likely to occur, as well as devise strategies for imbuing brands with cultural meanings that can elevate them to the status of cultural icons.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
• Understand how globalization impacts the psychological responses of consumers in global markets
• Understand what culture is and how it manifests itself
• Understand how brands acquire cultural meanings
• Predict consumers' responses to the cultural meanings in brands
• Identify strategies to win-over multi-cultural consumers in globalized markets
• Learn how to build an iconic brand
This course is part of the iMBA offered by the University of Illinois, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.
Specific details
Category of Education
Business and Economics


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We have hundred's of the world's most adorable grandchdren right here on GRAND Magazine.com, but something is missing! YOUR grandchildren! Please submit your grandkid's pictures, and show off your little angels!
See below for some simple rules and details for submitting your grandchildren's photos to Grandma's Brag Book.
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A fiscal deadline all but blown, President Barack Obama says he once again wants to seek a big fiscal deal that would raise taxes and trim billions from expensive and ever growing entitlement programs. But with automatic federal spending cuts ready to start taking their toll, the path toward that grand bargain Obama campaigned on last year has significantly narrowed.
The president has summoned the top bipartisan congressional leadership to the White House, a meeting designed to give all sides a chance to stake out their fiscal positions with a new threat of a government shutdown less than four weeks away. There were no expectations of a breakthrough.
But for Obama, Friday's session would be his first opportunity to spell out his 10-year, $1.5 trillion deficit reduction plan in a face-to-face meeting with congressional allies and adversaries.
His chances are squeezed by anti-tax conservatives, by liberals unwilling to cut into Medicare and Social Security, and by a Republican leadership that has dug in against any new revenue after ceding to Obama's demands two months ago for a higher tax rate for top income earners.
On Thursday, two ill-fated proposals aimed at blunting the blame over the cuts — one Democratic and the other Republican — failed to overcome procedural hurdles in the Senate. Obama placed the responsibility on Republicans.
"They voted to let the entire burden of deficit reduction fall squarely on the middle class," he said.
The White House is still betting that once the public begins to experience the effects of the $85 billion in across-the-board cuts the pain will be unbearable enough to force lawmakers to reconsider and negotiate. But the consequences of the cuts —the so called sequester — will likely be a slow boil. Obama this week said the effect "is not a cliff, but it is a tumble downward."
Indeed, much of the impact won't be felt for weeks or more than a month; others, like possible teacher layoffs, wouldn't take place until the new school year in the fall.
And yet, the next likely showdown — the expiration of a six-month spending bill on March 27, with its built-in threat of a government shutdown — will loom before that, meaning that the leverage the White House would hope to have won't materialize until late.
Polls also show that the public is not as engaged in this showdown as it has been in past fiscal confrontations and an NBC-Wall Street Journal Post survey indicates that Obama has lost some ground with the public in his handling of the economy.
Still, White House officials also say they believe Republicans will once again give way to additional tax revenue in part to avoid drastic cuts and in part to win reductions in Medicare and Social Security spending from Obama that they have been unable to get from Democrats before.
"I am prepared to make some tough decisions, some of which will garner some significant frustration on the part of members of my party, but I think it's the right thing to do," Obama told top business executives this week.
Given Washington's entrenched partisanship, Obama's effort could be dismissed as either another failed attempt at negotiations or as simply an effort to lay blame on Republicans for blocking compromise.
The odds aren't with the president.
Many conservatives are willing to accept the automatic cuts as the only way to reduce government spending, even though the budget knife cuts into cherished defense programs. Likewise, many liberals are beginning to embrace the cuts as a way to protect revered big benefit programs that have long been identified with the Democratic Party.
Moreover, many programs for low-income Americans are protected from the immediate cuts while the Pentagon — whose budget has long been a target of the left — faces across the board cuts of 8 percent and up to 13 percent in some of its accounts.
More than 20 Democrats in Congress, including veteran Rep. Ed Markey, a candidates for the Senate from Massachusetts, have signed a letter pledging not to cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits in efforts to reduce the deficit.
Obama's plan calls for $580 billion in new revenue over 10 years by limiting the value of itemized deductions and certain tax exclusions to no more than 28 percent. That means taxpayers with a tax rate greater than 28 percent would face a tax increase.
While Obama also regularly talks about closing loopholes to gain more revenue, his tax plan would close many corporate loopholes to lower corporate tax rates, not to generate more revenue. He aims to drop corporate tax rates from 35 percent to 28 percent for most corporations and down to 25 percent for manufacturers.
In exchange for new tax revenue and a tax overhaul, Obama has offered to reduce spending in health care programs such as Medicare by $400 billion over 10 years, change an inflation formula for government benefits that would result in lower cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security and other programs, and reduce other spending for total reductions of $900 billion over 10 years.
Those cuts, together with about $2.5 trillion in deficit reduction already achieved over the last two years through spending cuts and a year-end tax increase on taxpayers making more than $400,000 would achieve a $4 trillion deficit reduction target.
Republicans though are unimpressed, and House Speaker John Boehner rejected it when Obama first offered it in December.
"Last year we proposed generating new revenue through tax reform," Boehner said Thursday. "We did that as an alternative to the president's demand for higher tax rates. Ultimately, the president got his revenues and he got it his way through higher rates. Given those facts, the revenue issue is now closed."
At the other end of the spectrum, liberals are seeking to silence White House talk about cutting entitlements.
"They're almost on a daily basis talking about (reducing) Social Security benefits," said Adam Green, founder of the liberal Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "There's no rational or political reason to do so, except some ill-conceived idea that Americans would value a grand bargain, even one that robs their grandparents of thousands of dollars."
Follow Jim Kuhnhenn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkuhnhenn
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2013 Capitol Hill Blue


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Today's Names to Know: Sean Taylor, Johan Santana, 3-0, Ricky Williams, Houston Nutt, Mike Sherman, Bobby Petrino, Caron Butler, Beno Udrih, Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2008 and More!
UPDATE: RIP Sean Taylor, Cont'd: If one detail about Sean Taylor's death has stuck with me -- and, no question, this is simply my personal filtering of the story -- it is that Taylor's daughter is the same age as my son, 18 months. I presume Taylor was as devoted to her as I am to mine. I can only imagine his horror at the thought of an intruder in his house, of his daughter (and his fiancee) in mortal danger. I cannot possibly imagine -- nor, frankly, do I want to -- her life without her father. If death is ultimately about the survivors, my thoughts and prayers for the future are -- more than anyone -- with his little girl.
Sean Taylor is Dead: Thoughts, prayers and condolences for his family, friends and fans in one of the more swift and stunning tragedies the sports world has experienced in recent memory.
We think of NFL players as being larger-than-life... real-life Supermen. When they are victims in something as violent and ultimately fatal as a shooting, it really rattles fans in a way that few other incidents involving (or against) athletes can.
Anyway: There is very little consolation to offer at a moment of such tragedy. If you are a Redskins fan or a
UPDATE: Gatorade inventor Robert Cade is dead at 80. More on this tomorrow. Here's one of my favorite TV ads from the past year, as a tribute.
Johan Santana to... the Yankees? You KNEW the Yankees had to be players, just as you knew that all that talk about Hughes, Kennedy and Chamberlain being "untouchable" was bunk, if the right player came along -- say, the greatest pitcher in baseball in the prime of his career. If the Yankees got Santana, to go along with A-Rod, that gives them a 1-2 punch of the best pitcher and best hitter, both on one team.
MNF: Worst. Game. Ever? It is arguable that a 0-0 tie through 59 minutes and 43 seconds would have some ring of novelty, particularly when one of the participating teams is on pace for the worst season in history -- with a chance to either win (or even tie)... or continue the streak of futility. After all, the NFL hadn't seen a scoreless game go that long in more than six decades.
But, no: This game must have been absolutely brutal to watch. (I certainly didn't.) It does beg the question whether any game could be that bad when the outcome isn't decided until the game's final seconds.
It depends: In a highlight-driven culture, do you value games you are only tangentially following more for their dramatic endings or their end-to-end ebbs and flows?
(I will say this: For Dolphins fans, apparently, it can get worse. This result was a new low in a season where rock bottom has become a moving target. It's almost fun: How will the Fins find a way to lose next?)
Ricky Williams Watch: 6 rushes, 15 yards, 1 shoulder injury.
National Anthem Scandal: Because of the bad weather, they did not play the National Anthem before the Steelers-Dolphins game. Reportedly, there was no negative reaction from fans, which is curious, if only because playing the Anthem before sports events is such an ingrained part of our culture. I guess "get the game going already, in this nasty effing weather" trumps nationalism.
CFB Coaching Carousel:
I could see Nutt getting a gig quickly, perhaps even in the SEC at Ole Miss? He's a bit of a freak, and the Rebels are already coming off of four freaky years of Ed Orgeron.
Meanwhile, is
Now, I'm all for increasing minority hiring among head coaches in college football – long overdue and desperately needed – but if you're putting a guy like Gill in a position where he's near-guaranteed to fail, that doesn't help anyone.
However: The appropriate response to the above statement would be to note that Sylvester Croom was also seemingly put in a position to fail, without any head-coaching experience, and he turned Mississippi State into a 7-win, bowl-eligible team that is one of the great success stories of the season -- and one of the great college football turnaround jobs of the decade.
There's another analogue that might pop up: Northwestern promoted then-32-year-old Pat Fitzgerald (like Gill, arguably his program's most beloved player ever) to head coach despite essentially zero experience. The big difference: That was Northwestern, which could afford to take a flier on a young coach; this is Nebraska, where -- despite recent problems -- fans still expect 9-plus wins a year and being competitive for the Big 12 title...right NOW and perpetually.
Viewed through those lenses, why not Gill? Hey, after
Mike Sherman unveiled as Texas A&M head coach: I said this yesterday. Even with his college experience as an assistant, he is totally unprepared for the unique rigors of college football, in a way that many/most NFL head coaches are unprepared, if they haven't ever been a college head coach (particularly in the last 10 years, as recruiting has become WAY more of a sport than the games themselves).
(Tying the above two items together: TAMU is under fire for only interviewing
Does Bobby Petrino want out? Speaking of the transition from college to the NFL (or vice versa), Bobby Petrino's name came up, as it will for every major college coaching job between now and the day he actually leaves the Falcons for a major college coaching job (which he absolutely will, inevitably). Coaching the Falcons has sucked; his
More: Georgia Tech fires Chan Gailey... Duke fires Ted Roof... Southern Miss' Jeff Bower resigns... In a nice change of pace,
Coach of the Year: Today is your last day to vote in the first stage of the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. After today, the Top 25 list goes to an expert panel (not me, btw) that will use a set of criteria (on and off the field) to pick the Top 10 finalists, which fans and experts will then vote on throughout December. Check out the voting at coachoftheyear.com, and while you're there, check out the blog I have been filing for them all season long in a special partnership between DS.com and the LMCOY Award.
New Deadspin CFB column, out yesterday: Two corrections. (1) Add Virginia Tech to the list of teams worth considering if both Mizzou and
NBA: I will lift my ban on talking about the Mavs long enough to point out that the Arenas-free Wizards hung the first home loss on Dallas of the season (and 3rd straight overall), behind 35 from Caron Butler, who has turned into a front-line (if still highly underrated) NBA star in the absence of Gilbert.
Last night's NBA Stud (Player): Beno Udrih, formerly of the Spurs, who scored 27 and locked down Tony Parker in leading his new team, the Kings, to a decisive upset win in Sacto. (You would have thought that one of the Spurs' main rivals in the West would have been interested in having a guy like Udrih around for the playoffs in the spring.)
NBA Stud (Team): The Magic, who became the first team to 13 wins, with a win over the Blazers in
MLB Hot Stove: Kerry Wood is back with the Cubs. Doesn't that $4.2 million feel a little bit like pity?
Raines is the only one on the list with even an outside shot at making it (most notable record: highest career SB percentage), but all are notable for at least one thing, that thing not necessarily being Hall of Fame worthiness:
Tim Raines began his career involved in MLB's cocaine scandal of the early 80s and ended it wanting to be called "Rock." In between, he was power + speed before that was cool.
David Justice divorced
Brady Anderson had that memorable 50-HR year, back when baseball reporters negligently avoided MLB's growing steroid epidemic.
Shawon Dunston threw, like, 98 MPH from SS to 1B, but had a bit of a target problem. (He's on my 1986 Do-Over team, so I love ya, Shawon!)
Jose Rijo had that sick World Series in 1990 against the goliath A's, going 2-0 with a .59 ERA (against the best-hitting team of the era)
Chuck Finley joins David Justice in the "Hot Ex-Wives Hall of Fame," having been married to Tawny Kitaen.
Chuck Knoblauch won a 1991 World Series ring for the Twins by convincing Lonnie Smith he had a ball in his hands when he didn't.
See: Isn't that so much more fun than yet another argument for/against Goose Gossage or Jim Rice?


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Stephen Fife (0-1, 2.49) vs. Mat Latos (12-4, 3.76).
Biggest game of the year? Maybe, if you still think the Dodgers can still make the PLAYOFFS! And that means it would be the biggest start of young Fife's career. Facing him is old nemesis Latos, who is 1-6 lifetime against the Dodgers with a 2.91 ERA, 1.122 WHIP and a 2.82 K/BB rate. But this is Latos' first time pitching against the Dodgers with the vaunted Reds' offense behind him, so anything could happen.
Unfortunately, the Cards are currently not cooperating, leading the Cubs 3-1 in the top of the fifth. The Brewers are losing to the Nats 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Put on your seatbelts!
UPDATE: Brewers lose, Cards win.


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Many members of this talented ensemble went on to star in programs of their own - always with Jack's support. This collection includes some of the gang's best work - both on and off of Benny's program.
This 10-hour digitally remastered collection includes episodes of classic comedies (including The Phil Harris - Alice Faye Show) and rare treats (including The Private Life of Rochester Van Jones). Also included is a Program Guide by Ivan G. Shreve, Jr. with photos and background information about the featured performers.
EPISODES INCLUDE: Lucky Strike Program Starring Jack Benny: The Cast Doesn't Like Their New Contracts 05-02-48, Don Won't Sign His Contract 01-23-49, Jack is Upset With the Cast 05-08-49, How Jack Met His Cast 05-28-50, My Career as a Hospital Nurse 03-09-52, Jack's Scrapbook 01-16-49, Cast Introduced 05-29-49; Halls of Ivy: The Fighting Med Student 05-24-50; The Private Life of Rochester Van Jones: Girl Friend Problems 05-12-50, The Big Date 05-13-50; The Rochester Show: Willie Johnson's Big Deal 02-18-50, Clooney Watson, Starlet 02-19-50, Cast Auditions for The Rochester Show 02-15-50; Here Comes Mr. Kitzel: Audition 12-27-50; Abbott & Costello Show: Lou's Race Horse, Peanut Butter 11-09-44; Are You a Genius?: Bugs Bunny AFRS 1940's; The Whistler: Brief Pause for Murder 09-11-49; Jeff Regan, Investigator: There's Nothing Like a Pork Chop When Supper Rolls Around 08-06-50; Are You a Genius?: Porky Pig AFRS 1940's; A Day in the Life of Dennis Day: Keeping the Radio Station on the Air 04-07-48, Neither Rain Nor Snow 01-21-48, Dennis Does a Radio Show 01-28-48; Fitch Bandwagon: Will Benny Renew Phil's Contract 03-09-47; The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show: Hiring Santa Claus 12-19-48, New York Trip 01-29-50
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Déco 87
External part for wall-mounted built-in one-way shower mixer.
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The most popular traditional finishing, characterised by an elegant mirror effect.
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Matt golden finishings, in various shades of yellow gold and English gold.
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Installation manual pdf 5.30 MBDownload
File 2d dwg dwg 116.00 KBDownload
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Useful information
Never use detergents, abrasives, solvents, chemicals, products containing muriatic acid, ammonia, acetone, bleach, household acids, various disinfectants, rough and/or metal scouring pads and/or sponges that may irremediably spoil the product surface. We recommend cleaning the product surface every day by wiping it using exclusively a soft cloth and water. Take care to dry immediately any drops or water build-ups since they may lead to the formation of lime scale deposits that could be difficult to remove at a later time.
We recommend their frequent use (at least once every 5 days), to prevent the formation of limestone. A very sporadic use, in fact, favors limestone sedimentation, and the subsequent occurrence of malfunctions and abnormal water spurts.
We recommend that you check the hardness of the water, as well as the condition of the hydraulic systems: if the percentage of limestone presence were to be particularly high, we recommend the installation of a sand filter and/or poly-phosphate filter (water softening system). In the same manner, in case of iron pipes or extremely dated ones and in bad conditions, we recommend, where possible, the replacement of the very system: the pipes, in fact, could release iron slag, which would corrode and jeopardize operation of the internal components of the articles. In such cases, as illustrated in the specific section, the warranty expires.
Trademarks, images, technical drawings, texts and further contents of this document are of Fir Italia S.p.A. exclusive property and are protected by copyright and by trademark right. Fraudulent reproduction, further elaboration or further uses with electronic media, for private or commercial utilization are, without preventive Fir Italia S.p.A. authorization, expressly forbidden.
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Along with the word that U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will be formally charged with murder today for the deaths of unarmed Afghan men, women and children on March 11, was the news that the death toll had grown to 17. Until Thursday afternoon, U.S. military officials had consistently said that 16 people were killed.
As The Associated Press has reported, officials made the change without offering a public explanation for it.
So, why did the number grow?
The AP writes that "it's possible some of the dead were buried before U.S. military officials arrived at the scene of the carnage" and that investigators have only recently become aware of the additional fatality.
MSNBC says it's been told different things by different unnamed sources: "One senior U.S. defense official said one of the injured has died in the past few days, but the other senior U.S. defense official believed the U.S. military has evidence there was a 17th body at the scene."
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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The Super Bowl: an annualized marketing event-cum-gambling extravaganza. That they have to play a football game to justify the ads, gambling and Ines Sainz's career is still in the official rule book somewhere, but that rule book is now sponsored by the Gatorade G2 series. Why does Gatorade have more series than Telemundo?
Anyway, a casual survey of fans, experts and Ines Sainz indicates that on the real question — Who will win the GAME? — there is a building consensus. The Giants are the pick of not only the vast majority of people I casually survey on the streets of Indianapolis, but also 39 out of 71 ESPN personnel, 5 out of 5 CBS experts, and 60 out of 110 celebrities.
How much credence should one give Mamie Van Doren, whose qualifications are starring roles in Sex Kittens Go to College and Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women? Well, she also had an affair with Joe Namath, so her pick of the Giants should carry at least as much weight as Placido Domingo's.
Actually, I don't put any more stock in the "expert" predictions than those of the stars (or has-been quasi-stars), because all are being governed by some interesting psychological tendencies.
The Patriots are a 2.5-point favorite in this game. When the matchup was first set, they were a 3.5-point favorite, which might seem like an insignificant difference, but actually indicates that huge amounts of money were bet on the Giants, forcing oddsmakers to revise the point spread. The layman loves the Giants. The question is, why?
From a game perspective, you will hear that the Patriots have a terrible secondary, which is true; that their record-setting tight end is hurt, which is true; and that the Giants have a terrific pass rush, which is also true. But beyond those facts, there is more psychology at play than solid analysis.
Some No-Good Reasons To Favor The Giants
One point being made by celebrity and football experts alike is that the Giants are a "hot" team. "They're the hotter team," says ESPN's Mike Greenberg.
"Giants are on such a good roll right now," says Holly Madison, who is described by Scripps Howard as an "entertainer" (she was one of Hugh Hefner's Girls Next Door).
Artist LeRoy Neiman, who perhaps sees life in impressionistic dapples, predicts: "Positively the Giants, because they're on a winning streak."
True, the Giants have won five straight. But the Patriots have won 10. Focusing on the features of only one team while ignoring the fact that they face an opponent is a classic predictive fallacy when it comes to team sport.
One version of this is thinking that a certain team will be very motivated. "Coach X has really gotten his boys up for the game," you'll hear. And what, Coach Y is playing Enya music in the locker room and telling his players not to overexert?
History Repeats Itself — Or It Should, Anyway
Another logical fallacy is the similarity heuristic. Heuristics are mental shortcuts, and this one posits that people, when attempting to envision future results, like to have a model to hold onto.
Of course, if you were asked to imagine what will happen in a Super Bowl between the Giants and Patriots, wherein the Giants have the much worse regular season record, and in fact barely made the playoffs, you would think back to Super Bowl XLII. Because the Giants won that game, it's easy to imagine the same script playing out in Super Bowl XLVI, even if your imagining isn't conscious.
Also, once a team or politician, or an American Idol contestant, wins, that win is seen as inevitable. The Giants got very lucky, what with catches off players' helmets and so forth. If Eli Manning had been sacked on that particular third-down play four years ago, would so many people be picking the Giants today?
What Have They Done For Fans Lately?
Then there is the recency effect, which is sort of self-explanatory: that we tend to value the things we see more recently. The Patriots' greatest strength is their offense, but the offense didn't look great against the Ravens. So we say, "Ah, the Patriots' offense is over-rated."
Perhaps a better explanation is that against the conference's best defense, any offense will do less well than they do normally. The Patriots looked awesome the week before, but that result is dismissed by noting it was achieved against a weak Broncos team. Yes, the Broncos were weak, but most of their weakness was on offense. Denver had a pretty good defense for the second half of the year, a fact that is totally brushed aside.
Overall, I do think the Giants' pass rush will bother Brady. But I also think the Patriots' pass rush will hound the Giants, who have the second-worst pass protection in football. I do think the Patriots' secondary is weak, but the Giants aren't exactly top-notch.
I don't have an easy counterpoint to the fact that Rob Gronkowski's injury is a setback for the Patriots, except to note that New England is the most creative team around. This is why my Super Bowl prediction is LeRoy Neiman's career over Mamie Van Doren's by a point.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
Monday, December 8, 2008
"Cleuless" is Right
Monday, December 8, 2008
(It's supposed to be a Blue's Clues cake.)
75 comments | Post a Comment
- Michelle said...
Bules Cleuless...NIIIIICE!
- December 8, 2008 at 9:44 AM
- Craig said...
Bules Cleuless? Come on, somebody at that bakery is just dying to get on Cake Wrecks.
- December 8, 2008 at 10:09 AM
*dances* "We are looking for Bules Cleuless we are looking for..." oh heck it just doesn't work.
I don't know which one makes me sadder...this one or the Ghost Busters cake. What's wrong with these people? - December 8, 2008 at 10:09 AM
- Boozy Tooth said...
OM-freaking-G. These kinds of things make me weep.
Word verification: "nonogyp," as in you get the two-for-one special: a no no and gypped! - December 8, 2008 at 10:11 AM
- Hippie Mama Kelly said...
Sweet! I bet Steve would have told that decorator off!!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Bules Cleuless sounds like an Eastern European winter Olympian.
Poor cake dyslexic cake decorator - wasn't there anyone else you could have asked to check the cake? And was there supposed to be a drawing instead of just the stupid words?
Also, I see it's an oldie - the date stamp on the photo says 1999. - December 8, 2008 at 10:19 AM
WOW. Unbelieveable.
- December 8, 2008 at 10:23 AM
- Unknown said...
How do they get jobs in the bakeries???
- December 8, 2008 at 10:26 AM
- Alison said...
I love the smell of obliviously ironic self-referential wreckitude in the morning!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:28 AM
- April said...
- December 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM
- Hi Kooky said...
Wow - that misspelling is atrocious. Were they trying?
- December 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM
- The Courteous Chihuahua said...
I'm guessing Kylie is a little kid...what a bummer of a birthday cake!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM
- Katy said...
How sad! Blue probably could have done a better job on the spelling.
- December 8, 2008 at 10:32 AM
- JAMIE'S CREW said...
Where do these cake decorators come from???? Under rocks?
- December 8, 2008 at 10:37 AM
- Jessica said...
Oh My!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Hey Alix, I'm sure you -- like the rest of the planet -- have no idea about this, but "gypped" is actually a racial slur against Roma people (more commonly known as "gypsies"). It's my personal pet peeve so I like to call people on it when they use it, precisely BECAUSE most people don't know what it means.
That said: yeah, I'd ask for my money back on this too. - December 8, 2008 at 10:47 AM
- Jade said...
Well, it DOES have the blue paw prints...
- December 8, 2008 at 10:51 AM
- Jeanne said...
$28.99 for a cake that cost all of $1.75 of ingredients and $4.50 in labor. Unbelievable.
- December 8, 2008 at 11:03 AM
- The Mom said...
awwww come on...they spelled happy birthday correctly. Give them a break...that's a lot of letters to write.
Bev - December 8, 2008 at 11:05 AM
- Unknown said...
Bules Clueless..sounds like a dumb bull. Hahaha
Amy B - December 8, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Wow Alix,
You get picked on A LOT!
Ya know, I'm not sure I should publish comments from "Anonymous" anymore, especially if they are critical of one of our faithful readers. It seems to me that if you believe in something enough to comment on it, you should be able to stand behind it by putting your name on it. Something for us to consider.
Oh and Alix? I didn't know either. - December 8, 2008 at 11:22 AM
- The Courteous Chihuahua said...
Good idea, John...
Notice Anon. didn't say he/she felt compelled to educate folks on the word's origin, but that he/she "likes to call people on it." Big difference. - December 8, 2008 at 11:43 AM
- AndyC said...
I did know the gypped thing and it bugs me, too. Why not just not use it if people have problems with it? It's not a biggie to you to use a different word, and it's not insulting anybody.
- December 8, 2008 at 11:44 AM
I had a long post about anonymous posters who like to "call people on" things they are obviously unaware of rather than "educate" them. Then I decided this site was about cakes and didn't want to belabor the issue.
Then I realized my word verification was "iming" . IMing. Way too good to pass up. So I will just ask which 3rd grader on the field trip they asked to do the decoration on this poor, sad cake. I hope the mom didn't pay for it! - December 8, 2008 at 11:47 AM
- TexPatriate said...
Wow. Maybe decorators should attend a quick pop culture class before being allowed to touch the shiny tips and colored icings. That might stave off some of these kinds of wrecks.
Wait ! What am I saying ? Then, I wouldn't get my morning crack-up.
Your Honor, I withdraw the suggestion. =D
Ninereil -- when the third rail just isn't quite enough. - December 8, 2008 at 11:51 AM
- Mallory said...
Why would you pay for this cake and take it home? I would at least demand some plastic toys to stick on.
- December 8, 2008 at 11:52 AM
*sigh* And these people are allowed to reproduce...
- December 8, 2008 at 11:52 AM
- Nakia said...
Someday, no one will be able to speak any words at all just in case a word has some unknown origin that is offensive to someone else. We will all just smile and nod at each other and live in a perfect PC world. Blogs like this will no longer exist because humor is too dangerous and offensive :(.
Orrrr we could just consider what is being said in the spirit of its expression rather than technicalities and obscurities, searching out a reason to find offense.
I better enjoy the wrecks while I can! ;)
Word verification: buquo. Umm I have no idea, but I bet it's offensive! - December 8, 2008 at 12:13 PM
- Unknown said...
Poor kid! Expecting Blues Clues and getting a wreck instead...
- December 8, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I wonder from what part of the country these wrecks come. That scares me...
What, we can't teach/learn proper English anymore? I understand using the lingo in texting and such but c'mon...that's why other countries laugh at us.
But then again, where would Cake Wrecks be without stupidity? - December 8, 2008 at 12:15 PM
- Boozy Tooth said...
Anonymous at 10:47
Thanks for the cultural history lesson, but actually I am familiar with the word origin. I learned it a year ago in Rome where we were warned about gypsies! Regardless, what's the big deal? You a gypsie with a chip on your shoulder? - December 8, 2008 at 12:27 PM
- Chrissy said...
Why on earth would they walk out of the store with that? Its clearly at the party, I can't imagine paying for that!
- December 8, 2008 at 12:27 PM
sort of makes me sad to think that to be able to get a job, I need to be not only illiterate, but also not follow directions...hmmmm... - December 8, 2008 at 12:55 PM
And the paw prints look like... well, I don't know what they look like. Not paw prints.
- December 8, 2008 at 1:31 PM
this is great.
maybe the decorator got the spelling by Blue herself?
lol. =] - December 8, 2008 at 1:50 PM
- Gayle Carline said...
Bules Cleuless - wasn't he the guy who was convicted of trying to kill his heiress wife, Sunny?
The upside to the cake is that, with any luck, the birthday kiddo is too young to read cursive. - December 8, 2008 at 2:04 PM
- joyce said...
wow---I am a grannie, and I know about Blues Clues.
word verification was just too tempting: nutlyst: when you are not up on the current little kid shows, you are the nutlyst of them all. - December 8, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Okay, first of all, I don't use blogger (for a variety of reasons), and I wasn't sure what the whole name deal was about. I don't have anything to link to so I just clicked "anonymous." I'm not afraid to back things up with my name -- especially when they're not offensive, which this totally wasn't. I phrased my "history lesson," if you need to call it that, nicely and respectfully.
Neither is it reasonable to reply with "ZOMG everything is offensive PC OMG!" Some words *are* racial slurs. "Gyp" is. Why would you use it when you know it's a racial slur with its only basis in being awful to a group of people?
I'm sorry, I just assume that people *don't* know, because most people don't. It wouldn't have occurred to me that someone would *know* it was an offensive term and use it anyway. So I respectfully, nicely pointed it out, and I won't do so again, trust me.
Kthxbai. - December 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM
To Anonymous 10:47 - you said you were sure Alix, like the rest of the planet... -- so you aren't of this planet?? And if you are the only "person" that knows the "real" meaning of gypped - then is that really the real meaning?
About the cake..seriously? That's just pure laziness. - December 8, 2008 at 2:24 PM
And ALSO also, I didn't understand what Alix meant by "word verification." I thought nonogypped what what s/he was saying about the cake. So it *wasn't* just unconstructive random complaining, in my mind. I heartily apologize for that and I promise I will not post again.
- December 8, 2008 at 2:25 PM
- Melissa said...
Wow..that's some serious fail. I mean from beginning to end there. Even the paw prints..just wow!
- December 8, 2008 at 3:12 PM
To Craig,
Your comment was awesome and I accidentally deleted it. I am actually really bummed. Could you please rewrite it so I can post it.
You're the best!
john - December 8, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Well now I feel bad. You weren't out of line but I do get weary of the many anonymous comments we get that are critical. Please feel free to post again because, oddly enough, the controversies make it fun.
One final note, however. This is one of my pet peeves. Here we go...
Racist= Loving ones race above all others, kind of like the Nazis.
Bigoted= Hating someone because of their color, religion, sexual orientation etc. Example: the KKK
Prejudiced= Assuming something about a person based on color, religion, sexual orientation etc.
Your pet peeve is most like this one in that it is based on the presupposition that all Gypsies are thieves or ripoff artist which is untrue. It is, I believe, described as a hasty generalization and it isn't fair.
That said, comment away.
john - December 8, 2008 at 3:29 PM
- The Tildy Spot said...
That is just so wrong!
- December 8, 2008 at 3:30 PM
- Unknown said...
To Anonymous:
FYI:Gypsies are not a "race". - December 8, 2008 at 3:38 PM
- Ro said...
The Cake Decoration Community need to send scouts to Spelling Bees ... do a little head-hunting.
- December 8, 2008 at 3:46 PM
- Brianna T said...
Hopefully Kaylie (or Kayleigh or Kaylee or Kreeatif, who knows what the original name was supposed to be!) had a happy Kirthday anyway.
- December 8, 2008 at 4:33 PM
- andrewxc said...
Chances are, a kid who's into Blues Clues won't be able to read cursive, anyway... As long as the parents don't say anything about the fact that it's wrong in front of the kids, it'll be fine.
- December 8, 2008 at 4:57 PM
- Boozy Tooth said...
Oh, for the love of Pete. I'll just change my name and everyone should quiet down.
Hugs and kisses all around! - December 8, 2008 at 5:15 PM
- Etiquette Bitch said...
And I love that "Blue's" was spelled wrong. Yikes!!!!
- December 8, 2008 at 7:24 PM
"We just figured out Bules Cleuless because we're really... awful at spelling and decorating cakes!"
- December 8, 2008 at 7:56 PM
- Ari said...
come on, even the little 4 year-olds that watch the show can spell!
- December 8, 2008 at 8:15 PM
Darn it, I read through just about all of the comments for once, and Shannan totally beat me to it.
and, not trying to be overly PC, but the use of "gypped" bothers me too. and it's REALLY hard to find a substitute. but just like I have had to re-educate my midwestern friends that they can't talk about "jewing someone down", I do think it's right to call each other out on word usage . . . not trying to spoil anybody's fun, but I think it's okay for us to try to be more sensitive when it's people's ethnicity/identity that's involved.
I am constantly sending my friend's teens to this site:
okay. word verification: flopyrip. um, cake wrecks wording on a cake for the funeral of your pet bunny?!
yeah, that's all I've got . . . - December 8, 2008 at 9:08 PM
- JJ and EJ said...
I just can't even . . I mean . . what??!
- December 8, 2008 at 10:37 PM
- Hyena Overlord said...
All your words offend me
Just kidding.:)
Bule Cleuless...is he Inspector Clouseau's (spelling forgiveness please) dog?
I'd pay for it just to get it on CW.
wvotd...physinme: (fizz-in-me). To scrape incorrect calligraphy work from the top of a cake. "Jane will physinme the mistake off the cake at home and re-ice it." - December 8, 2008 at 10:40 PM
- Unknown said...
Just wanted to say "Thank you!!" to Lorraine for putting the link to that website up here. Wouldn't it be great if everyone who loves Cake Wrecks would take a look? That would be, like, a million people who might join us in saying "Knock it off!"
word verification: heaccush:
Heaccush, theyaccush, everywhere a cush cush. - December 8, 2008 at 11:36 PM
- Kelly said...
Two media themed wrecks for the day—what a treat!
- December 8, 2008 at 11:45 PM
LOVE IT!!! Creative is what you are and what you are seeing
and people don't know it when they see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good job and LOVE the website!!
Ann - December 9, 2008 at 2:07 AM
On gypped: I think Allie's point was, all things being equal, why is "gypped" accaptable in our nomenclature, but one is criticized for the similar expressions; "jewed," for example.
I used to be uptight about that, too. Then I decided that I can't really get offended on the behalf of a different group of people. I just don't use it, personally, and I go on with my life.
Still a bad cake. - December 9, 2008 at 4:14 AM
In my opinion,the guilty party here is the word verification computer spitting out that horribly appalling "racial slur". Anon, shooting the messenger, is classless, go to the source! Um, but seriously, the words gyp, gypped, and gypping are in the dictionary defined this way: Main Entry: 2gyp
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): gypped ; gyp·ping
So I guess this means we should all boycott dictionaries and go picket the Merriam Webster factory in defense of Roma people?
- Beverly K. - December 9, 2008 at 7:17 AM
I just thought of what the decorator might think. Like, geez, these people what will they want next! They don't even know how to spell "clueless." Boy! If it weren't for me catching this mistake!!--That also made me giggle.
- December 9, 2008 at 8:07 AM
It looks like there's some actual curling ribbon around the edges of the cake. As in non-edible, must pull the stringy stuff which is now covered in icing off the cake before you can eat it.
For extra win in the cake wreckery department, I suppose. - December 9, 2008 at 8:44 AM
- Craig said...
Since my original post is lost in the ether and people are still talking about this. I'll try again. (Be warned that, just as a fish that gets away gets larger with time, my original comment was wittier and more eloquent than this can ever hope to be.)
I'm all for being careful with words and respecting the sensibilities of others, but there is no evidence of the term gyp actually coming from the word gypsy (it's possible, but so are multiple other origins). People have brought up the use of "jew" as a verb as a comparison, but in that case there is clear intent to negatively stereotype a group. The connection here is not an attempt to insult a group of people, but an assumption of intent based on a similar sound (compare events involving David Howard and a similar assumption). The Romani are without a doubt a people who have been persecuted throughout history, but use of this word is not necessarily one of those times. At some point, a word becomes so removed from its origin that, when used with no ill intent, it loses any connection it once had, which is why I take no offense at use of the word sinister to mean evil or gauche to mean uncultured.
I find it hard to believe there has been such an uproar on the comments about a Blues Clues cake. I'm not sure how the next controversy can top this, unless there's going to be a new category of Racks and Wrecks. Hmm...maybe I shouldn't give people any ideas. - December 9, 2008 at 10:14 AM
- Yarn Princess said...
I'd say that they need to add another question to bakery interviews... Don't just ask "Can you write legibly?" but add "Can you spell correctly???" Oh, and in orientation, suggest strongly that they have the customer spell out the words on phoned in orders!
- December 9, 2008 at 10:40 AM
- Unknown said...
This cake makes me sad. My daughter LOVES Blue's Clues. She dances to it, and calls out letters sometimes when they have spelling episodes (she's only two), and puts her hands up to her cheeks like Steve/Joe does when they're thinking on the thinking chair. It's all so sweet, and this cake gave me the idea to get her a Blue's Clues cake for her next birthday. I'm kind of afraid to now, though. I can't imagine how upset I'd be if someone tried to hand me that. She probably wouldn't notice or care, but I definitely would.
- December 9, 2008 at 10:41 AM
- Cara said...
Happy Kirthday? And the airbrushed paws (though they look more like crowns to me)? And the curling ribbon ON the cake? yep...it's a wreck.
...oh, and can you just imagine the wrecks that could be if some of these decorators actually *asked* for the correct spelling. It would be ...Ok, so...that's Happy Birthday J as in John....and that's what you'd get on the cake...you know I'm right.
word verification:avessor..hmm...I ave a sor tummy from laughing at all these awesome wrecks! - December 9, 2008 at 12:51 PM
- Mandi said...
Wow. I have to admit, I am a Cake Wreck Stalker - I read religously but can never think of anything whitty enough comment to publish.
However, I just can't beleive that a word verification, of all things, created such interesting cultural lessons.
Without trying to repeat most people's already valid comments, I'll just say that I agree with Craig, and that some words have become so commonplace and diluted over the years that they have become a part of everyday nomenclature. Unfortunately and inevitably, no matter where you go or what you say, someone is bound to be offended no matter how innocent things may have been.
That being said, what better word can describe getting "gypped"? Let me know and I will gladly replace it. In the mean time, "gypped" it is. - December 9, 2008 at 12:53 PM
- Garret said...
I'm a little torn on being politically correct. I'm a faggot, homo, queer or whatever you want to call me. I don't get offended unless it's said hatefully. Have you heard many teens say, "That's gay!" I have, and I don't correct them. It's not a big deal. I've even seen it used in comments but don't take offense.
I see no problem in pointing out the origin of a word. I sure didn't know about gypsies. I just think adding the annoyed tone of "personal pet peeve" was over the top.
http://jimandgarret.blogspot.com/ - December 9, 2008 at 1:14 PM
I wasn't annoyed. Saying that it is my personal pet peeve was to explain why I felt the need to bring it up on a blog about cakes. I had no intention of its becoming A Thing and I'm very sorry.
I also heartily, heartily disagree with people who say a word's origin doesn't matter. But opinions are opinions. I certainly know a lot of gay people who *are* offended by "That's gay!" so obviously there are a spectrum of opinions about all kinds of things.
But again, I wasn't annoyed -- or lecturing, or pissed off, or anything else. It's a text medium and you bring to it a lot of meaning yourself. JMHO. - December 9, 2008 at 5:30 PM
That's what they passed off as a Blue's Clues cake? What a gyp.
- December 9, 2008 at 10:11 PM
- Caitlin @ Clutter Cubed said...
Oh my goodness, what a terrible cake. I feel sorry for the poor kid that had to have that at their party. :(
As for a word to replace "gypped", how about it's own definition? "Cheated". Or even "ripped off" "screwed out of", etc. - December 9, 2008 at 10:38 PM
- E.A.D. said...
They REALLY need to start asking people on the applications, "Can you spell the following words correctly: Congratulations, blue, clues, clueless, graduation...?"
I was aware of the connotations of "gypped" and I don't use the word myself. Because I find that saying "F***** over" or "ripped off" to be just as emotive and indicative of what I'm feeling right then (the first in particular). I find the overuse of "gay" to mean silly or stupid to be silly and stupid itself, for some reason. I think it's because the use doesn't make sense - is the speaker saying this object or that activity is happy, or homosexual? How is a thought someone had "gay"? A fantasy, I suppose would fit, but outside of that? Yeah, OK, I'm being pedantic. I'll hush up now. - December 10, 2008 at 3:01 AM
- Suzy Manhattan said...
You've got to be kidding me. The use of the word gypped caused all this jockeying for position? When did Gypsies become a protected class and harmless comments have to be "called out" on their behalf? Looks like some people have nothing better to do than be bossy and arrogant (and defensive). Allie, make yourself useful... Go save the whales or something. Geez.
- December 10, 2008 at 7:43 AM
- heartafire said...
Actually, "gypped" is not a racial slur at all. The word came into common usage because of the fact that gypsies have a different moral code as far as stealing, or rather "borrowing" as they like to call it.
- December 11, 2008 at 2:04 AM
- Crazy Larry said...
Whelp I just discovered this blog today and it is absolutely hilarious - obviously Jen's posts are great but a lot of the comments are classic too. And I just had to say, for this particular conversation, Peach's post takes the, uh, cake.
First attempt at word verification: malnestr. Maybe like Mayzie from Horton Hatches An Egg wasn't a good mother. Kinda abstract, really. - December 23, 2008 at 12:06 PM
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- Artistic License
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- Guest Blogging at Cupcakes Take the Cake
- The Cupcakes Were Made of Irony
- The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
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- Because Every Blog Needs a Jingle


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Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) Superintendent Serena Preston and Janice Smith-Warshaw, Superintendent for the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD) were confirmed by the Illinois Senate on Tuesday, November 6.
"I have been in education over 25 years in this great state. I have worked in public schools and also at the School for the Visually Impaired," said Preston. "I've been a classroom teacher, a behavior specialist, and I've also been a principal, and I've been serving as the superintendent for the school since July of 2012. I greatly appreciate the opportunity and I thank you for putting your faith in me."
Smith-Warshaw is the first deaf woman superintendent of ISD. She also thanked the legislators that nominated her through a translator.
"As the superintendent for the Illinois School for the Deaf, I'm confident that I can put this school on the map for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in the state of Illinois and throughout the United States, as well," Smith-Warshaw said.
Preston and Warshaw's confirmation sponsor was State Senator Sam McCann. State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer was also on hand to support them.
Smith-Warshaw served at the California School for the Deaf since 2000. She also taught at the model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, D.C. and the Delaware School for the Deaf.
Preston is from Jacksonville. She has been an educator for 25 years and has worked at the ISVI in several positions for 16 years.
Photo (Left to Right): State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer, ISD Superintendent Janice Smith-Warshaw, ISVI Superintendent Serena Preston, and Senator Sam McCann.
Illinois Department of Human ServicesJB Pritzker, Governor · Dulce Quintero, Secretary
IDHS Office Locator
IDHS Help Line 1-800-843-6154 1-866-324-5553 TTY
© 2023 Illinois Department of Human Services


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Remember Team Dave and the Los Angeles Marathon? I brought this lovely dessert to the post-marathon party. It's a great summer cake for a casual dinner party or way to highlight beautiful strawberries!
I adapted the recipe from Sky-High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman. Man, you have to get this book. It is Delicious with a capital D.
This cake is light (made with cake flour) and just delicious. Get her book for the filling which includes rose water. I didn't do that for this version, just macerated some strawberries in sugar.
I've make this in a 6" triple layer before and it is quite lovely, but does NOT travel well at all. So this time I decided to make two 8" layers and assemble it at the party. Nothing like pulling out a whisk at the party...makes you look like a baker! :)
Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Adapted from Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman, page 89
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups cake flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 - 2 cups heavy cream
Fresh Strawberry Filling (See the book for this recipe that includes rosewater...I just macerated some strawberries with sugar)
Whole strawberries, for garnish
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I made mine with two 8" cake pans. The original recipes calls for three 6" pans.
2. Cream butter, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
3. Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add dry ingredients to the batter, alternating with the buttermilk in 3 additions. Divide among the prepared pans.
5. I don't remember how long I baked my 8" pans. The 6" pans bake for 20-25 minutes. I pulled them out when a toothpick came out clean. I let them cool for 10 minutes and then cooled them on a cake rack.
1. In a large chilled bowl, whip the cream with the remaining 2 tbsp of sugar until stiff.
2. Assemble the cake with cake, strawberries, whipped cream and repeat. Finish with your best strawberries on top. Enjoy!
Again, the book has a recipe for fresh strawberry filing that includes rose water.


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Welcome to our complete catalogue of reports and studies (which includes backgrounders, policy briefs, full-length research reports and books).
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Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson won 1.1 million votes on Tuesday, more than any other Libertarian presidential candidate in history. In an interview with TIME, Johnson talks about his campaign, the consequences of re-electing Obama and his plans for the future.
Was it worth it?
As I told the students every time I visited a campus, you are the director of your own movie, and if you aren't enjoying what you are doing, change it. That's the way I operate, and if this campaign hadn't been worth it every day, I wouldn't have been out there. The ideas we are promoting are important, and having the opportunity to go out and promote them every day is not only worth it but essential.
What was the high point of the campaign for you?
There were many great moments, but the most heartening experience was visiting college campuses around the country and having hundreds of young people turn out to ask the tough questions, enlist in our movement and display a level of energy that was truly encouraging for the future.
What do you think your candidacy accomplished?
I hope that people will see that we don't have to sit by the sidelines and watch as the two major parties limit their choices to slightly different flavors of the status quo. It is, in fact, possible to join the fray, stand up for principles and offer a real alternative. Of course, now that we appear to have re-elected the status quo, both in the White House and in the Congress, I hope those same people will see that there is a very real need for the process to welcome, rather than exclude, new and different ideas.
Any predictions for Obama's second term?
Regardless of who wins, an election should be a time for optimism and fresh approaches. It obviously remains to be seen if that will be the case in a second Obama term. I fear that it will not be. I am actually one of those who took President Obama at his word when he first ran — that he would get us out of ill-advised wars, that he would do something about health care costs and that he would protect civil liberties. Like many Americans, I was disappointed. If the President somehow sees his re-election as an endorsement of his first term, I fear that we could be in serious trouble. We cannot sustain another four years of growing debt, wars we cannot afford and ever expanding government. Based on the outcome of the election, I frankly see a continuation of gridlock as Washington puts politics ahead of the good of the country and refuses to truly address the challenges we face. If that is the case, I am afraid the next four years may look a lot like the last four.
What have you personally gotten out of running for President?
I have gotten thousands of new friends, a renewed sense of optimism from the energy and determination I see in our young people and the satisfaction of doing something rather than sitting on the couch and watching our country go in a direction that it cannot sustain.
What are you doing now, and what do you plan on doing in the future?
Right now, I'm taking a deep breath, recharging the batteries and giving serious consideration to how best we can deploy the grassroots organization we built and the tremendous energy of our supporters to put individual liberty and economic freedom back on America's agenda. To the extent that I can continue to give voice to those ideas, I will.


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The final round of the 2012 National Geographic Bee takes place Thursday, with students between the fourth and eighth grades testing their knowledge of countries, canals and lava lakes. Of the 54 contestants who came to the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., for the bee, only 10 remain.
Three of those finalists — Gopi Ramanathan, 14, of Minnesota; Neelam Sandhu, 13, of New Hampshire; and Anthony Stoner, 14, of Louisiana — spoke with Morning Edition on Wednesday, as they awaited the finals.
The geography bee questions "can be very easy or very tough," Ramanathan says. "Like, for instance, in the preliminary rounds — and for this one, you have to remember that I'm a Sri Lankan Tamil that's a Hindu — the question was, 'Hindus make up the majority of the Tamil minority in what island country?' And the answer was Sri Lanka."
Correct answers can also be found by deduction. For instance, one question asked what country disputes France's claim to Europa Island, which lies off the coast of Africa.
"I remember looking at a map and seeing the island of Europa, and it was pretty much right next to Madagascar," Sandu says. "So I figured if it was right next to it, they're most likely going to dispute it with that country. So I just used my best guess, and I got it right."
Asked how long he has been studying geography, Stoner says, "Since I was like 3 or 4, I guess. I'm kind of in a family of nerds, so there are a bunch of maps and atlases and stuff around the house. I kind of just looked at them in my free time."
Thursday's finals will be televised on the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The competition also airs later this month on public TV (find a station). If you'd like to get warmed up for the bee, you can see how you do on questions from earlier this week.
A list of the contestants who will compete in the final:
To learn more about the competitors — and the states that they hail from — you can check out the contest's YouTube page, where each contestant gives a video tour of his or her home state.
The winner will take away a college scholarship worth $25,000, along with a trip to the Galapagos Islands and a lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society. The second- and third-place winners will receive scholarships worth $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Left: Dresses from National Geographic, Lara Stone in Vogue US. Right: American Graffiti, Stella McCartney SS10, Christopher Kane SS10, Brigitte Bardot, Kane again, and a snippet from a Sear's catalogue from the 80's.
Mmmm, bugs. That man used to work at our local farmers' market and would hand out these postcards of him shot by Avedon.
John Lennon, lanterns from a photo from Bazaar, Rodarte Fall 2010, Iekeliene Stange, dreamcatcher, and Jil Sander shoe. I don't remember where the seafoam ring and girl in the ground photos are from, so let me know if you know!
Salvador Dali in Balenciaga Fall 2010. That astronomy photo is from a 70's issue of National Geographic, the Dali photo is from the Fall 2008 issue of T (have you seen the new issue? ISN'T IT SO GOOD?) and the pants and shoes are Balenciaga. The glitter is from a birthday party I went to at Club Libby Lu in 4th grade. You heard right. And no, I don't know why I still have it.


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Senate leaders rushed to assemble a last-ditch agreement to avoid middle-class tax increases and possibly delay steep spending cuts in an urgent attempt to find common ground after weeks of postelection gridlock.
An impatient President Barack Obama pressed top lawmakers to cut a deal, even one that falls short of the ambitions he and congressional leaders may once have harbored for a bigger deficit reduction package. Without a resolution, he warned, "every American's paycheck will get a lot smaller."
"Congress can prevent it from happening, if they act now," he said in his weekly Saturday radio and internet address.
Following a White House meeting Friday among Obama and congressional leaders, aides to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., began racing against the clock for a bipartisan bargain. The leaders could present legislation to senators as early as Sunday, with a vote possible on Sunday or Monday.
The guest list for the White House meeting included Reid, McConnell, House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. But the key players were clearly Reid and McConnell, both of whom stayed behind briefly at the White House and huddled with their staffs and Obama's top legislative aide, Rob Nabors, in the West Wing Cabinet Room just outside the Oval Office.
Neither side expected compromise to be easy. However, McConnell and Reid voiced unexpected optimism that they could work toward a deal that could win support in both their camps.
Warned Reid: "Whatever we come up with is going to be imperfect."
Looking to add pressure on negotiators, Obama said that absent a compromise he expects Reid to put legislation on the floor to prevent tax increases on the middle class and extend unemployment benefits — an implicit challenge to Republicans to dare to vote against what polls show is popular.
Speaking for Republicans in a Saturday radio address, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri sought to put the burden of a deal on Obama and Reid.
"We still can avoid going over the fiscal cliff if the president and the Democrat-controlled Senate step forward this week and work with Republicans to solve this problem and solve it now," he said.
Whatever manages to pass in the Senate, with its Democratic majority, would then face a second test in the Republican-controlled House.
Boehner, a Republican speaker who has struggled recently with anti-tax rebels inside his own party, said through an aide that he would await the results of the talks between the Senate and White House. A House vote could come as late as Wednesday, the final full day before a new Congress takes office.
Officials said there was a general understanding that any agreement would block scheduled income tax increases for middle-class earners while letting rates rise at upper-income levels.
Obama was sticking to his campaign call for increases above $250,000 in annual income, even though in recent negotiations he said he could accept $400,000.
The two sides also confronted a divide over estate taxes. Obama favors a higher tax than is currently in effect, but one senior Republican, Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, said he's "totally dead set" against it. Speaking of fellow GOP lawmakers, he said they harbor more opposition to an increase in the estate tax than to letting taxes on income and investments rise at upper levels.
But the estate tax was more likely to be used as a possible bargaining chip that Democrats could give away in exchange for higher rates for top earners and other Obama priorities.
Obama and Democrats want to prevent the expiration of unemployment benefits for about 2 million long-term jobless men and women, and there is widespread sentiment in both parties to shelter doctors from a 27 percent cut in Medicare fees.
Also likely to be included in the negotiations are taxes on dividends and capital gains, both of which are scheduled to rise with the new year. Also the alternative minimum tax, which, if left unchanged, could hit an estimated 28 million households for the first time and mean an average increase of more than $3,000.
The White House has shown increased concern about a possible doubling of milk prices if a farm bill is not passed in the next few days, although it is not clear whether that issue too might be included in the talks.
One Republican who was briefed on the White House meeting said Boehner made it clear he would leave in place spending cuts scheduled to take effect unless alternative savings were included in any compromise to offset them. In previous White House proposals, Obama has suggested finding enough cuts in government spending to put off the steeper cuts for up to six months.
Obama, speaking to reporters following his meeting with the congressional leaders, faulted a system that left crucial decisions to the last minute, a way of governing that he said the public finds "mindboggling."
"Outside of Washington nobody understands how it is that this seems to be a repeat pattern, over and over again," he said.
Still, Obama himself is part of the negotiating process, and his meeting with all four top leaders Friday was the first since Nov. 16. A phone call he placed Wednesday night to McConnell was the first the Republican leader had received from a Democrat on the fiscal talks since Thanksgiving.
Looking to add pressure on negotiators, Obama said he expects Reid to put legislation on the floor to prevent tax increases on the middle class and extend unemployment benefits — an implicit challenge to Republicans to dare to vote against what polls show is popular.
The start of negotiations in the Senate marked a new endgame for discussions that have moved in fits and starts since the November election.
Boehner refused for weeks to accept any rate increases, and simultaneously accused Obama of skimping on the spending cuts he would support as part of a balanced deal to reduce deficits, remove the threat of spending cuts and prevent the across-the-board tax cuts.
Last week, the Ohio Republican presented a Plan B measure that would have let rates rise on million-dollar earners, well above Obama's latest offer for a $400,000 threshold.
Facing defeat, Boehner scrapped plans for a vote, leaving the economy on track for the cliff that political leaders in both parties had said they could avoid.
Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press


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New York City's former mayor is spending $50 million to fight the NRA
'We've got to make them afraid of us,' Michael Bloomberg says
In his first major initiative since leaving office, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans on Wednesday to launch a new gun control organization that he hopes can rival the National Rifle Association.
The grassroots umbrella group, called Everytown, is "a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities."
"For too long, change has been thwarted by the Washington gun lobby and by leaders who refuse to take commonsense steps that will save lives," says the organization's mission statement.
"They say, 'We don't care. We're going to go after you,'" Bloomberg told the New York Times of the NRA. "'If you don't vote with us we're going to go after your kids and your grandkids and your great-grandkids. And we're never going to stop.' ... We've got to make them afraid of us."
The NRA has yet to respond publicly.
The former New York City mayor and founder of Bloomberg L.P. is investing $50 million for the launch.
"He's got the money to waste," Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, told the paper. "So I guess he's free to do so. But frankly, I think he's going to find out why his side keeps losing."
Bloomberg, though, insists he's not trying to outspend the NRA.
"This is not a battle of dollars," Bloomberg said on NBC's "Today" show. "This is a battle for the hearts and minds of America so that we can protect our children, protect innocent people. You take a look at the number of people who use illegal guns to commit suicide, the number of people that are killed every year—we're the only civilized country in the world that has this problem. We have to do something."
In the wake of deadly shootings in Tucson, Ariz., Aurora, Colo., Newtown, Conn., Fort Hood, Texas, and elsewhere, Bloomberg is hoping his new group can do what President Barack Obama has not: successfully lobby for stricter gun control laws.
"People will vote for whatever they think is in their own self-interest to get elected and re-elected," Bloomberg said on the "Today" show. "We've got to convince them that the 80 percent of gun owners, the 90 percent of Americans who are in favor of just simple background checks to make sure criminals, minors and people with psychiatric problems can't buy guns—something that's common sense—we've got to make sure they understand that's what the public wants."
Bloomberg points to the election of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe in the NRA's home state as proof his gun control lobbying can work.
"This is a battle we're going to win," Bloomberg told Yahoo News' Katie Couric last month. "This is not a partisan issue. I know people say, 'Well, one party's in more favor, one party's against.' They are individual votes and I will support individual senators and congressmen who vote to make my kids safer and your kids safer."
Bloomberg dismissed the idea that his gun control initiatives are paving the way for a presidential run.
"No is the answer," he said on "Today." "Plain and simple. I'm going to spend the rest of my life trying to make a better world for myself, for my kids, for my grandchildren."
Related video:


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Many Puritan's Pride memory support supplements are perfect for occasional mild memory problems associated with aging.**
Many adults age 65 and older are concerned about their memory.
Memory Support supplements can aid with brain health and function.**
The brain's cell membranes and overall memory performance can change as a normal part of aging.
Above Statements not applicable to all products


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VIP Table & Bottle Service
Reservation options:
How it Works:
Step 1
Find the Info. about the club you want a booking at on our site.
Step 2
Reach out to our club VIP manager via Whatsapp, Message, Call or Email. You'll see the available options in the buttons above.
Step 3
We make your reservation, plan your VIP night out, and handle everything from there. Feel free to request anything else you'd like from our luxury concierge.
Create Los Angeles Video Teaser
Create Los Angeles VIP Table Minimums, Prices & Map
Table Prices
For this club, you will need to request table prices
*All Prices are base prices and subject to demand
**Prices will spike with famous Guest Artists
Table Map
*Unfortunately we are not able to display the table map layout online. For the map and location consultation, send us a WhatsApp or give us a call!
Email Booking Form
*For a faster response, reach out to us via whatsapp, call or messenger
A VIP reservation includes:
- All Fees Included, no surprises on the night
- Pay at the club door, Cash or Card
- VIP entry (Queue Jump)
- Mixers and Water included
- Alcohol spend included in the table minimum
- Designated Hostess
- Cover included for VIP guests
- Personalised Concierge with Vipflow
- Precise Table selection only at Top Tables+
Create Los Angeles Bottle Service Prices, Bottle Menu & VIP Dress Code
Bottle Prices:
*for specfic bottle prices, enquire via whatsapp for full list
**prices are orientative and are subject to change at the clubs discretion
***All Alcohols have more premium and larger format options
CHAMPAGNE – Price On Request
VODKA – Price On Request
GIN – Price On Request
RUM – Price On Request
WHISKY – Price On Request
TEQUILA – Price On Request
Dress Code:
*Advice is general and the club reserves the right to decline admission
– No Beachwear
– No Open or Sports Footwear
– No Vulgar T-Shirts
– Recommended shirt & dress pants (long or short)
– No Beachwear
– No overly revealing outfits
– Heels appreciated, not necessary
Why Book With Vipflow?
Choice & Advice
We have the full selection of nightclubs and their respective VIP Packages. Plus we are well informed to advise you on which nightclub will suit you best on the night.
Easy Bookings
Our aim is to make the VIP booking experience as smooth as possible for you. We'll choose a nightclub, bottle package and date together and we handle things from there.
We are there for you, not the club
Our local agents are available via whatsapp or call so you are able to make enquiries anytime. Our goal is to maximse your VIP night out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the VIP Dress Code?
You must have to look pretty fly in a VIP nightclub whether you are a man or a woman. It becomes quite tough for every gender to select what to wear while going to the top VIP nightclubs. The woman are advised here to wear short dresses with heels. The men are advised to wear collar shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. Depending on the city, club, night and season the dress code is sometimes flexible. So I definitely recommend letting us brief you on what is ok for the night out you plan on having. Sometimes Shorts are acceptable with the right shoes. Sometimes there are no hats allowed. Some places don't allow T-shirts on certain nights. Etc, etc.
Feel free to send our hosts a photo of the group and we can help with advice to make sure you get in!
For some VIP nightclubs, we have a more precise dress code for the VIPs if we trust the bouncers to stick to it.
What is included with my bottle service reservation?
A bottle service reservation includes a lot of VIP amenities and protocols for the VIPs. Here are some of the things which are included in the bottle service reservation:
- A Hosted Entry
- All cover Charges (Most cities)
- All tips and taxes (Most cities)
- Cost of bottles
- Table cost for one night
- A Cocktail Waitress
- Security Guard
- VIP Customer Service
Can I get shisha with my spend?
Almost all nightclubs offer shisha services for the VIPs. You must have to ask the host contact about the availability of the shisha service at their nightclub. But almost always yes!!
What is a minimum spend and how does it work?
Every VIP table has a minimum spend. Minimum spend means the amount you would have to spend on alcohol during your stay. If the minimum spend of a table is $1000 then you have to pay that amount at the door when entering the club.
This then guarantees a certain table in the club, with bigger and better tables requiring a higher minimum spend. However, the tables and cover charges themselves are totally free. The entire minimum spend is credited to the bottles you then order.
The minimum spend of a VIP table changes on a night to night basis according to the location of the table, holidays, days of the week, nature of live performances, big-name DJs, and number of people.
What happens when we arrive at the club?
The VIP guests are picked by the security or club representatives from the gate when they arrive. They do not have to line up for entering the club. You are advised to bring your ID, fulfil dress code, and come at the right time. The club representative will take you to your table if you booked a VIP table with us. You will get the drinks on your table, a waitress will serve you the whole night, and security personnel will guard you.
Are any tips, taxes and surcharges included?
The tips, taxes, and surcharges are in your reservation fee in most cases. In some cities, notably in the USA and London they will be added in the final bill. In that case, leave another 20% margin for tips & taxes.
Can you send me the bottle menu?
Absolutely! We have bottle menus available for all nightlcubs we work with, just ask our host to send it to you so you can have and idea of what minimum spend you'd like to reserve. There are some premium offers for your reservation in which you get some bottle packages and shows on the night.
Can you send me the table map and can I choose a specific table?
Yes, you can choose a specific table for yourself or your group by watching the table map. Every table has its own minimum spending. You can choose whichever table has the right minimum spend and location for you night out. However, some clubs do not allow specific table choices for lower minimum spends. However, rest assured that our hosts will do their best to get you the best possible table for the price.


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You are here
Battery Safety for Little Kids
Battery Safety for Little Kids
While it's natural for kids to explore, it helps to learn which discoveries are safe and which pose potential hazards. Protect your kids from button batteries and other small parts they might find by following these steps.
Top Safety Tips
- Keep small electronics or devices that use button batteries out of reach of small children. These include remote controls, key fobs, watches, pocket calculators, musical greeting cards and flameless candles.
- While the best thing to do is to keep these items away from young kids, if you know your children are natural explorers, secure your battery-controlled devices and keep them up and away and out of reach.
- If you suspect your child has ingested a battery, go to the hospital immediately. Don't induce vomiting or have your child eat or drink anything until assessed by a medical professional.
- The symptoms may be tricky to recognize (they include coughing, drooling, and discomfort), so if you have even the smallest doubt, don't take any chances. Go to the emergency room right away.
- Enter the National Battery Ingestion Hotline (800-498-8666) into your phone right now. Call anytime for additional treatment information.