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Those of us here at Hostelz.com have done a lot of travelling and we have a lot of opinions about the best stuff to bring on a hostelling trip. There are a lot of books and websites with packing advice that all pretty much tell you the same things (wear comfortable shoes, don't forget your toothbrush, etc.). So we'll skip the most obvious stuff and tell you about a few things you maybe haven't thought of. Keep scrolling for more info!
With eight people sleeping in your hostel dorm room, there's a pretty good chance one of them snores. So unless that one is you, you'll want earplugs, and preferably the kind with the little string attached so you don't lose them as easily (unfortunately we didn't have the extra $0.50 in our budget to get the string ones for the photo...). Although they don't have a string attached, many people swear by Hearos earplugs as the best earplugs to get because they're especially comfortable and do a great job of blocking out sound.
Update: Even better, bring earbud headphones and get a "white noise" app for your phone. I personally prefer an app that makes a "waterfall" sound. This miracle combination can drown out almost any snorer. If earbuds are too uncomfortable for you to sleep with, sleep headphones are comfortable even if you sleep on your side, and work almost as well to block out sound with white noise.
LED Flashlight
Once you get one of these for your keychain you'll wonder how you ever lived without it, whether your travelling or not. But they're especially handy for reading a map at night or digging through your backpack in a dark hostel room late at night (don't be ones of those people who turn the room lights on while people are sleeping to find a toothbrush). Get a keychain flashlight with a "white LED" bulb. They're tiny, bright, never burn out, and they're super efficient so the one tiny battery will last you almost forever. They're available in many stores, or you can also get one of these online. Update: You may not need a flashlight if you have a phone that already has one.
Hand Towel
It's a good idea to bring a towel because some hostels don't offer towels (and the ones that do often charge a fee). But here's the thing, there's no need to carry a full size towel with you. All you need is a small hand towel. Just remember to shake off a little before you start towel drying and it'll work just fine. Or, if you prefer you can get an actual travel towel.
Small Garbage Bag
If you wear your socks a couple days while you museum hop, then put them in your backpack after you change, pretty soon everything in your bag will smell like feet. So bring a small plastic garbage bag for your dirty laundry, or maybe even some large ziplock bags to be extra safe.
Hostels don't always offer lockers, but when they do, usually you have to provide your own lock, so bring one with you. But just as importantly, you need a lock that can fit through the holes in your backpack's zipper pulls so that you can lock your backpack. Why? Well it may not keep someone out of your pack for long, but it will discourage pickpockets from taking stuff out of the back of your pack while you're wearing it... which does happen (particularly frequently in Barcelona)! So if your big lock doesn't fit through your zipper pulls, then also get a smaller one that will. Combination locks are probably best since there's no key to lose. This one is one of our favorite locks.
Hostelling International Membership Card
Not all hostels belong to Hostelling International (HI), but a whole lot of them do, so you'll probably be staying in HI hostels during your trip. And a valid HI membership card is required to stay at HI hostels. Some HI hostels allow non-members, but an extra fee will apply. You can get a membership card before your trip here.
Years ago people staying in hostels were expected to bring their own bedsheet to sleep in. Today all hostels provide sheets, but a few hostels may still charge an extra fee for sheets. So even though it isn't necessary, some people still like to have their own nice sleepsheet to sleep in every night. (Sleeping bags are usually not allowed by the way.) So what's a sleepsheet? It's basically a regular bedsheet folded in half, and it's usually sewn part way up the side. You can make your own, or buy a nice silk one online.
ATM Card / VISA Checkcard
ATM machines are everywhere and they're a good way to get local currency without paying high exchange rates. Get a card that's also a VISA Checkcard so you can use it like a credit card (which is probably a better idea than using a regular credit card because most credit cards charge an extra fee for purchases in a foreign currency, but a checkcard usually doesn't). And if the magnetic strip is nearing the end of its life, get a new card before your trip. And one more thing, before your trip, memorize the credit card number and expiration date of one of your credit cards (preferably one that you're not taking with you). Even if everything you own is lost or stolen, there's a lot you can do with a memorized credit card number in your head, including making phone calls.
Sandals (flip-flops)
Some hostel showers have floors that are even dirtier than your feet. And even if they look clean, you still might end up getting athlete's foot. Get a cheap pair of light-weight flip-flop sandals and shower without worry.
Travel Tissue Packs
A valuable multi-use item that works well not just as facial tissue, but also comes in handy as a substitute for toilet paper, which can be a rare item in some areas, especially when you need it most.
Travel Pillow
Ok, this is something you could live without, but a small inflatable pillow takes up only a little room once it's deflated, and it's so nice on those long train and plane trips. And it's probably more comfortable than the lumps that pass for pillows in most hostels.
Wet Wipes
Convenient for sticky hands after eating, not to mention useful for before eating if you like to avoid getting sick. You can get generic wet wipes, or the original classic "Wet Ones".
Fanny Pack / Hip Pack (no, seriously)
These belt packs have become so "uncool" that few young travels would dare wear them in public, but they can be very useful for a different purpose while travelling. Use it to hold your toiletries (toothbrush, hairbrush, etc.) They're just the right size for storing that stuff, but the best advantage is that if the hostel bathroom sink has no counter space or is dirty, you can clip the pack around your waist and still have easy access to everything you need when getting ready in the morning or at night.
Other suggestions from Hostelz.com readers: sleep mask, money belt, hand sanitizer, 2 photo copies of your passport and plane ticket (leave one copy with someone at home), "mole skin" or blister patches for your feet, important phone numbers (embassy, consulate, relatives at home and in the country visited, credit card companies, etc.), sun block, a sarong (multiple uses including a towel, blanket, bag, or clothing), sink stopper plug for washing clothes in a sink, string for hang drying clothes.
Wheeled Luggage
Wheeled luggage might seem like a good idea, until you find that you can't go more than 10 feet in most countries without hitting steps or some kind of bump that you have to lift it over. Not to mention that the people behind you are always tripping over it. You'll soon find it's more trouble than it's worth and you'd be better off with a backpack. The only possible exception might be for travel within the US, since the country's strict laws to help the disabled have made much of the country wheeled-luggage-accessible. See our backpack recommendations below.
The Goldfish
Umm... bad idea.
The most important thing: DON'T OVER PACK. Almost every inexperienced traveler takes way too much stuff on their first big overseas trip. But almost no traveler complains later than they wish they had brought more stuff. You can buy almost anything you need in almost any country in the world if you realize later you needed something.
I've traveled overseas for 3 months with only a small backpack. I felt as free as a bird as I easily moved from place to place. I could even spend some time exploring a city without even needing to drop off my luggage at the hostel first. I've seen plenty of travellers in airports and train stations almost in tears because they're exhausted and stressed out over lugging a huge backpack or suitcase everywhere they go. Overpacking be the difference between a carefree vacation and a stressful nightmare.
Ideally, your backpack should just barely fit within the size limits for carry-on baggage on your flight (and it's great not to have to worry about your check-in luggage showing up!). And if you're travelling by train and your bag is small enough, you can stow it on the floor or above your seat rather than the luggage racks at the back of the train car where it can easily be stolen.
How is this possible to do? The might sound crazy to some of you, but for clothing this is all you need for even the longest overseas trip: three shirts, one pair of long pants ("slacks") or jeans, one pair of comfortable shoes, one pair of shorts (guys can use them as swimtrunks too, girls should also bring a bathing suit if needed), a few pairs of socks, a few pairs of underwear (and for the girls, one bra if needed), and a light sweatshirt or jacket (depending on the climate). That's it! Seriously! Everything should be dark colored everything should go with everything else. You can wear each thing at least a couple days (everyone does while backpacking, it's ok), and then you wash your clothes about once a week (wear the shorts while doing the laundry, or try the popular technique of washing your clothes while you're wearing them in the shower... it works!). Lots of backpackers have done it this way, and you can too. If you decide later you can't live without some extra clothing, you can always buy something during your trip.
These are the key things we look for in a good travelling backpack:
That's really all there is to it. Here are some of our current favorite backpacks...
By the way, if you aren't using Hostelz.com to book your hostels, you're probably paying too much and you're probably missing out on the best hostels. Other websites only include the hostels they happen to work with and each booking website only has availability information for some of each hostel's beds. But Hostelz.com is the only website that lists all hostels worldwide. And it searches all of the major hostel booking websites for you to find even the very last available bed, and tells you where to book it to get the lowest price.
Hostelz.com also shows you how each hostel is rated on all the booking sites, plus it has exclusive reviewer photos and detailed reviews so you can find out exactly what the hostel is really like. There a reason why we say it's the only hostel website you'll ever need. Give it a try.


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Morris County SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY Morris County Chancery
Details for Morris County SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY Morris County Chancery
Morris County SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY Morris County Chancery Division DOCKET NO. F-012057-19 SHERIFF'S SALE NO. 19002357 Between THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONALASSOCIATION F/K/A JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, AS SUCCESSOR TO BANKONE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,AS TRUSTEE FOR CREDIT SUISSE FIRSTBOSTON MORTGAGE SECURITIES CORP, CSFB MORTGAGE-BACKEDPASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2003-23 PLAINTIFF vs. JOSEPH LUBRANO AND CLAUDIA LUBRANO, HUSBAND AND WIFE; METROPOLITAN FOODS INC, D/B/A DRISCOLL FOODS; STATE OF NEW JERSEY; ANESTHESIA ASSOC OF MORRISTOWN N; ROMERO BOLVITO; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEFENDANTS Writ of Execution for sale of mortgaged premises. By virtue of the above stated Writ of Execution to me directed and delivered I will expose for sale at public venue on Thursday THE 5th DAY OF December 2019 between the hours of two and five o'clock in the afternoon of said day, that is to say at 2:00 P.M. prevailing time at the Freeholders Meeting Room, Administration and Records Building, Court Street, Morristown, New Jersey to wit: All that tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Township of Randolph, County of Morris and State of New Jersey: Being known as: LOT: 10.07 BLOCK: 51 APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS: 397 X 210 X 403 X 210 NEAREST CROSS STREET: Roslyn Way PREMISES COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 11 Ursula Court Mendham, NJ 07945 A more complete metes and bounds description can be found in the Office of the Morris County Sheriff. Lien(s)/Taxes: NO PRIOR MORTGAGES OR LIENS ARE OUTSTANDING. Note: The street address is merely given as a convenience to the bidders and is not a representation of fact on the part of the sheriff. The diagram or concise description does not constitute a full legal description of the premises, but it can be found in the Morris County Sheriff office. Subject to any unpaid taxes, municipal liens or other charges, and any such taxes, charges, liens, insurance premiums or other advances made by plaintiff prior to this sale. All interested parties are to conduct and rely upon their own independent investigation to ascertain whether or not any outstanding interest remain of record and/or have priority over the lien being foreclosed and, if so the current amount due thereon. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee and the Mortgagee's attorney. Surplus Money: If after the sale and satisfaction of the mortgage debt, including costs and expenses, there remains any surplus money, the money will be deposited into the Superior Court Trust Fund and any person claiming the surplus, or any part thereof, may file a motion pursuant to Court Rules 4:64-3 and 4:57-2 stating the nature and extent of that person's claim and asking for an order directing payment of the surplus money. The Sheriff or other person conducting the sale will have information regarding the surplus, if any. The approximate amount due on this execution is $493,656.25 plus interest, cost, printers' fees, Sheriff's fees and commission. The prior liens, as per affidavit of consideration are not a representation of fact on the part of the Sheriff. Conditions: 1) The third party purchaser shall pay 20% of purchase price at end of sale in cash, certified check, cashier's check or treasurer's check and sign an acknowledgment of purchase. 2) If the purchaser fails to comply with any of the conditions of sale, the property will be sold a second time, the former purchaser being held responsible for all losses and expenses. The deposit is to be retained by the Sheriff to be disbursed by court order. The Sheriff reserves the right to adjourn this sale for any length of time without further advertisement as provided for by law. JAMES M. GANNON SHERIFF DATED: October 25, 2019 Shapiro & Denardo, LLC 14000 Commerce Parkway, Suite B Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 (856) 793-3080 P.F.$252.96 11/07/T4

subset: commoncrawl


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A few times each week, the students in Gayle Dyer's fifth-grade class at Bubb Elementary put down their books, worksheets, pens and pencils and switch on a school set of iPads to watch instructional YouTube clips and take interactive quizzes.
They are participating in a pilot program created by Khan Academy -- a Mountain View-based education company behind an extremely popular series of streaming educational videos.
Dyer, who jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the pilot, says that the program has worked to get her students jazzed about doing math exercises, while simultaneously giving her new, high-tech tools for tracking and analyzing individual student progress in real time.
"The kids are highly engaged in it," Dyer said. "When they do it on the iPad, it's fun. So they're practicing more."
Engagement and analysis
The Khan Academy videos and computer game exercises are effective for a number of reasons, Dyer said.
Since students each have their own iPad to use, they can go at their own pace. This means students who get it can skip ahead, and, perhaps more importantly, those who have been struggling can go back and watch a lesson again -- without broadcasting their lack of comprehension to the entire class. "It's a safe place for them to practice skills that they may not have mastered that they probably should have mastered already," Dyer said.
On the other hand, sometimes showing off their progress to their peers is the whole point. Students compete for high scores and badges, just as they might do when playing a social media game like FarmVille or Mafia Wars.
It is common for students to gather in clusters and watch a classmate who is close to breaking a record -- either by completing a quiz in record time, or getting enough correct answers in a row.
While Dyer's students are learning about math, she is learning about them. When she logs in to her Khan Academy account, Dyer can see who is doing well and who is struggling; and drilling down, she can see exactly which problems the struggling students missed as well as the mistakes they made along the way.
"It gives me a lot of info on what the students are doing," she said. "I can use that to figure out what I need to do with those individual students."
Dyer said she has only really begun to scratch the surface of what Khan's analytics apps can do for her as a teacher. "It's still new to me; I'm still learning," she said.
"We're giving teachers the tools to be able to do individualized and mastery-based learning," said Matt Whal, a Kahn representative who has been helping Dyer learn to use the new tools. Whal's goal is to help Dyer create a "flipped" classroom -- a place "where students move at their own pace and master subjects before moving on."
Whal said that gaming mechanics are also a big part of the Khan Academy's learning "cocktail." There are awards given out for a wide variety of different tasks -- from simply watching a video for the first time to completing a number of tasks quickly, all the way up to the "black hole badge" -- "which is this mysterious badge that kids get really excited for."
"We really view badges as a way to incentivize students," he said.
Humble beginnings
The Khan Academy, which currently has more than 2,800 video tutorial clips online and has delivered an estimated nearly 121 million lessons, began very humbly back in late 2004, when the company's founder, Sal Khan, began remotely tutoring his cousin, Nadia.
Khan tutored his cousin over the telephone, using a product called Yahoo! Doodle, which allowed them to share a virtual notepad. When his tutoring sessions produced results, he began helping Nadia's brothers. Pretty soon, in order to save time, he started recording the sessions and uploading them to YouTube, instead of performing them in real time.
Word eventually spread about his easy-to-understand lessons. Khan kept making the lessons, and people kept watching them. Now, eight years later, the company has grown tremendously, and Khan has given TED talks and been profiled by the New York Times.
"We're excited about the future," Whal said of the company, which now occupies office space on Castro Street.
He said Khan Academy is currently working to create an iPad app so students like Dyer's kids will be able to work out problems using the device's touch screen (right now, they have to access the Khan Academy lessons through a web browser app and do their calculations on scratch paper).
In response to concerns and critiques that the Khan Academy is seeking to replace live teachers with rote repetitive exercises, Whal said the goal has never been to marginalize the role of the instructor.
They want "great teachers to maximize their time," Whal said. "We just think that there's a lot of potential for teachers to use tools to grow what's possible in the classroom."


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Board Certified (Physician)
From ConsumerWiki
Board certification is a voluntary private program that a licensed medical doctor may obtain. Physicians who wish to have specific recognition of their accomplishments and efforts to meet the criteria of competency and maintain their skills may choose to become "Board Certified". These physicians must complete their academic program, residency training, and then take an oral and written exam administered by a medical specialty board.
Contact the American Board of Medical Specialty to verify whether a physician is board certified.
American Board of Medical Specialty
353 N. Clark Street Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 436-2600
(866) 275-2267 Certification and Verification Service
Directory of State Agencies Directory of Federal Agencies Return to DCA Home Page


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The original sound was a recording of a musical artwork - a kinetic sculpture in the form of a merrygoround that makes noises in the form of boing and clanks and fragments of music box tunes. I then processed that sound using Buffre, a beat repeater program in Reason software. It is roughly 120bpm and can be chopped up into loops etc.
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How to Compare Paired Data with R
When testing differences between two data groups in R, you can have either paired or unpaired data. Paired data comes from experiments where two different treatments were given to the same subjects.
For example, researchers gave ten people two variants of a sleep medicine. Each time the researchers recorded the difference in hours of sleep with and without the drugs. Because each person received both variants, the data is paired. You find the data of this experiment in the dataset sleep, which has three variables:
A numeric variable extra, which give the extra hours of sleep after the medication is taken
A factor variable group that tells which variant the person took
A factor variable id that indicates the ten different test persons
Now they want to know whether both variants have a different effect on the length of the sleep. Both the t.test() and the wilcox.test() functions have an argument paired that you can set to TRUE in order to carry out a test on paired data. You can test differences between both variances using the following code:
> t.test(extra ~ group, data=sleep, paired=TRUE)
This gives you the following output:
Paired t-test data: extra by group t = -4.0621, df = 9, p-value = 0.002833 alternative hypothesis: true difference in means is not equal to 0 95 percent confidence interval: -2.4598858 -0.7001142 sample estimates: mean of the differences -1.58
Unlike the unpaired test, you don't get the means of both groups; instead, you get a single mean of the differences.


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Chamomile Cleansing Creme | 5oz/ 150ml
- Size: 0.80lb
We created this product due to popular demand! We had a group of health conscious customers who loved using waterless cleansers, but who wanted to replace their toxic mainstream waterless cleansing product, which was full of SLS's, Butylene Glycol, EDTA and Parabens etc, with a natural alternative. Well, here is DeVita's answer to that request - Chamomile Cleansing Creme with Calendula! Our soothing, extra gentle, fragrance free cleansing crème clears away daily impurities and makeup with ease. DeVita's proprietary blend of pure plant extracts, including Certified Organic Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Calendula, helps maintain the skins natural pH moisture balance for ideal support and natural glow. It leaves skin feeling dewy-soft, supple, and comfortably clean, without any greasy or oily residue left behind. And no waterworks are required! So, toss out that old toxic standby and get a water-free clean that truly is clean!
INGREDIENTS: Aloe barbadensis * (aloe vera gel), Aqua (purified water), Allantoin* extract, Anthemis nobilis* (chamomile) flower extract, Calendula officinalis (calendula) flower extract, Humulus lupulus (hops) flower extract, Glycerin (vegetable), Camellia sinensis (Japanese green tea) leaf extract, Capric/caprylic triglycerides (derived from coconut), Hydrolyzed wheat protein amino acids †, Lecithin phospholipid, Spirulina maxima (spirulina) extract, Fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack) extract, Usnea barbata (oak moss) extract, Vitis vinifera* (grape) seed extract. Ingredient labeling adheres to international INCI standards.
ACTION: Gently removes daily grime and residue without using water or suds. Removes most makeup - may require two applications to remove heavier eye makeup. For use without water morning and evening.
DIRECTIONS: Apply a liberal amount of DeVita's Chamomile Cleansing Crème into palms. Begin by warming in palms of hands first, then gently placing flat of palms over the face to distribute. Gently massage in without pulling. Remove excess with cotton pads, water-dampened cotton pads, or with dry or dampened clean soft cloth, or rinse with water, which ever is desired. Repeat if needed. Removes most makeup; may require two applications to remove heavier eye makeup. Follow with DeVita toner and regular regime.
Disclaimer: When trying any new products (DeVita or others), a patch test is always recommended. Choose a small area (inside of wrist, side of face back by lower jaw etc) for 2-3 days prior to fully using, especially if you have a history of sensitive skin or allergic reactions. Your skin is unique to only you - DeVita cannot guarantee that customers will not experience skin reactions to our products and cannot be held responsible should any occur. Best suited for normal to dry or sensitive skin. Skin remains hydrated, soft, and dewy, without any greasy or oily residue left behind. Non-comedogenic, Fragrance Free.


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BP: Disaster Was Inevitable
BP took many shortcuts over the course of years that could have only led to the eventuality of one of the worst environmental disasters of all time and still counting.
Remember what President Obama was doing before the April 20 explosion onboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and before the June 23 resignation of General Stanley McChrystal?
He was busy selling a kinder-gentler United States to the rest of the world and focusing on domestic issues such as financial industry reform. In typical fashion the US turned on itself after the BP disaster.
Earlier, British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward and Goldman Sachs' Peter Sutherland, himself a former BP head, were among those company officials dumping their stocks shortly before the explosion. BP took many shortcuts over the course of years that could have only led to the eventuality of one of the worst environmental disasters of all time and still counting.
According to the Daily Record "engineers cut corners in the wall design, cementing and drilling mud efforts and the installation of drilling devices known as 'lockdown sleeves' and 'centralizers' according to congressional investigators... the decision saved BP $7 million to $10 million; the original cost estimate for the well was about $96 million."
BP is not new to taking cheap shortcuts and ignoring common-sense safety measure it seems. Back during the summer of 2006 they had an oil spill in Alaska that was blamed on a lapse in inspections some of you may remember. This followed the 2005 Texas refinary fire and explosion. Back then I wrote a 2-part op-ed where I noted that retired oil worker Chuck Hamel was reported to have said that workers approached him as far back as 1999 claiming that BP was skimping on a chemical used to prevent corrosion in order to hold down costs.
This was one of their ways to cash-in during the drop in oil prices. One of BP's problems is that even though they don't drill Saudi oil, they yearn to profit like the other big boys.
A lot of the attention and blame being targeted on President Obama for his reaction to the spill, is to prevent you from taking a look into BP's shady history.
In truth there is little the President can do beyond what he's already done with a company that has been deceptive and cunning towards it's consumers much longer than he has been in office. Are these corporate giants too evil and fast moving for President Obama to keep up with? No; but this ordeal does take him offguard in that it catches him during a time when he was doing something considered pretty sickening by the right; repairing U.S. relations with the rest of the world.
A few months ago, on March 13 three people with US government ties were murdered in Mexico City by members of a drug-cartel. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pointed out at the beginning of the Obama administration the US role --in terms of being major consumers-- in illegal drug importation and it's by-product of violent Mexican drug-gangs.
The Right went nuclear, mocking and insulting the president, led by the typical mock-outrage of Glenn Beck and venomous utterances of Michael Savage, and Sean Hannity.
These men stop short of nothing in their quest to turn the country against President Obama. Beck in fact had to apologize for repeatedly mocking Obama's daughter during some of his broadcasts. Vile as their malicious attacks are, the presidents low ratings proves that gutter tactics work. You would think President Obama planned the BP explosion himself going by Hannity's and Beck's pronouncements.
Chris Stevenson is a syndicated columnist, his articles also appear on his blog; the Buffalo Bullet, www.buffalobullet.blogspot.com Follow him on Twitter http://twitter.com/pointblank009 and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pointblank009
"Speaking Truth To Empower."
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- Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...
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Botero or Bust at WAG's Family Sunday
¡Hola! Grab a passport and enter the fascinating world of Columbian artist Fernando Botero at the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Family Sunday from 1:30 to 4pm, on Sunday, January 30. The reduced, all-day admission (which includes admission to The Baroque World of Fernando Botero exhibition) is $20 per family (up to 2 adults and 4 children under 18). Admission for WAG family members is $10 and $5 for individual members.
Shout ole! and click your castanets to the lively Colombian music of dance troupe Folklore de Mi Tierra, featured at Folklorama's Colombian Pavilion. Take your young ones on special child-friendly tours of the exhibition. You're in the tropics, so fuel yourself with bowls of luscious, fresh fruit. Visit the displays of Columbian costumes and history.
And be sure to take advantage of the art workshops where the kids (and you) can create your own art inspired by what you see in the galleries.
"We always theme our Family Sundays to current exhibitions and they are always great fun," says Youth Programs Co-ordinator Aline Frechette. "We feel particularly lucky when we have an exhibition like this one that allows us to create a lively Family Sunday that is just full of colour and music and South American vibes."
The Baroque World of Fernando Botero is on at the WAG until February 27. Exhibition curated by Dr. John Sillevis, Curator of the Gemeentemuseum, The Hague. Organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia. Sponsored by Pattison Outdoor Advertising.
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Hospital for Greenbacks (Aug, 1949)
Hospital for Greenbacks
Millions of mutilated dollars are pieced together by money-menders at the Treasury's Currency Redemption Division. By James Nevin Miller
TREASURY Department officials were puzzled recently when a huge, evil-smelling package arrived in the mail. In it was the ash box of a wood-burning cook stove. A letter which followed explained the whole thing, though.
It was from an old lady in Baltimore who told how her drunkard son stole the entire family fortune and hid it inside her stove. When she cooked supper that night, the currency was scorched almost beyond recognition. Hysterical with grief, she was sending the charred remnants to Washington. Could they help her?
The box was forwarded to the Currency Redemption Division and three weeks later, thanks to a unique little army of Treasury Department workers, every one of the banknotes was identified. The woman received full value for her lifetime savings.
Twenty special examiners, all of them women, are employed at the laborious job of piecing together hundreds of bits of paper currency damaged by fire, water, decay, wear and tear. Within a recent twelve-month period, these money magicians identified and redeemed almost four million dollars' worth of paper money.
In general, the amount paid the owners in exchange for the damaged banknotes depends on the completeness with which they can be identified as to denomination and genuineness. If three-fifths or more of the original greenback is recognizable, the bill is redeemed at full value. When there is less than three-fifths and more than two-fifths, only one-half of the face value is given.
Fire destroys more currency than all other causes together. The Division even receives charred banknotes from banks. A few years ago, a bank in Oregon was wiped out in a blaze which leveled half the city of Astoria. Bank officials dug around in the safe deposit vaults and finally accumulated a large batch of debris which they forwarded to the Treasury with the information that there should have been $100,000. Result? Of the $100,000 claimed, $120,000 was identified! The mystery was solved when a checkup revealed that a certain gambler had put $20,000 in his safe deposit box without recording it.
Burying bills in the ground is the second cause of money deterioration. During World War II, the Redemption Division received at least $300,000 in buried currency. Most of it was redeemed for full value.
Quite a few batches of banknotes found after plane crashes during the war also were forwarded to the treasury for identification, in order to help settle the estates of dead crew members.
Two of the commonest hiding places for paper money are beds and stoves. One lady in the deep South hid a large roll of bills inside a bed caster. Her house burned down and the bed was destroyed, reducing the caster to a molten mass and the money to charred bits. She forwarded it, caster and all, to Washington and full payment was eventually authorized.
Many a fanner has dropped a bit of cash out of his pocket while plowing his fields. But few are as lucky as the one in Ohio who plowed under his pocketbook one spring. He searched frantically for the wallet but couldn't find it. About a year later, he was plowing the same area and unearthed the lost wallet, torn to shreds and completely decayed. The money was practically unrecognizable but he forwarded the whole thing to the Treasury. Within a month, the money experts there sent him a check for the whole amount.
Many a murder has reached the attention of the greenback magicians. Some time ago, an elderly couple in West Virginia who didn't trust hanks hid $6000 in tin cans and buried them' under the kitchen floor. One night, thieves broke in and searched the house unsuccessfully for the treasure. Infuriated at failing to find it, they murdered the old couple after trying to force them to reveal the hiding place. Then, to cover their crime, the robbers set fire to the house. Several years later, relatives located the money cans and inside was the money in terrible condition. But, it was forwarded on to Washington and the old faithful Redemption Division came through with a complete identification.
But one of the oddest cases in the Division's history came to light just the other day. In fact it's still in the process of being investigated. A few months ago, an elderly man dashed excitedly into the headquarters of the Federal Reserve Bank at Salt Lake City. He told this story:
Back in 1943 he had saved $2500 in cash. But he didn't want to put it into a bank so he placed the banknotes in a copper can and carefully buried the can in the cellar of a building in town. The money represented his entire fortune and he decided to leave it in its hiding place until he urgently needed it. And the need came a year later. But he forgot exactly where he'd hidden the money. He searched frantically, digging holes and messing up cellars. Five years passed and his memory continued to act up. Finally, last fall the hiding place came back to him in a flash. He visited the cellar and dug up the can. But he was shocked and grieved to find that the money had rotted.
Some of it could be redeemed at a local bank but the rest was sent to Washington where it is still being pieced together. The man, though, has regained his respect for banks.
When you're handling money be sure you don't have any farm animals or pets around. A midwestern farmer was petting his favorite calf recently when the animal snatched a roll of bills from his hand and swallowed $70 worth of the precious green stuff. Caught without any ready cash, the farmer decided to kill the creature in the hope of retrieving the money. Unfortunately, the currency recovered from the animal's stomach was chewed into tiny pieces. As a last resort, the farmer put the bits into an envelope and forwarded them to the Redemption Division. Luckily for him, the calf's digestive juices were slow-working enough to allow for complete identification.
But you might not be so lucky. So take this friendly tip from Uncle Sam's currency experts: take care of your money and whatever you do with it, don't hide your banknotes in a place where they're likely to deteriorate. Rotted currency will not separate easily like burned greenbacks.
Your best bet for keeping your hard-earned folding money out of the Redemption Division is to deposit it in a reputable bank. Then you'll never have to make a desperate dash to the "Hospital for Greenbacks." Unless, of course, the bank burns down.


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Acknowledge Your Accomplishments: You'll be Happier
I love lists. I'm not embarrassed to admit it. Without a to-do list to keep me focused, I would likely wander around aimlessly, unsure where to start. After all, life can be daunting.
But with each item I scratch from my list, I find I become a little happier. I feel empowered. In fact, when I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed, I sometimes add simple things like "clean kitchen counters" or "make beds" to my list. The sense of accomplishment I feel from taking my pen and crossing off those mundane tasks breeds confidence, and it makes me feel like life is not insurmountable -- like I can chip away at the mountain of minutia, one tiny piece at a time.
Apparently, my behavior is not as bizarre as I thought. As a matter of fact, some therapists and life coaches say recording that you've succeeded at something -- regardless of how small that success may appear to the outside observer -- can make us happy.
"You should celebrate when you reach each goal," says Shelton resident Monica Leggett, who calls herself a "goal accelerator for business and life." "With my coaching, we always start each call with `What was a win for the week?' When I lost 40 pounds, every Monday morning I wrote down my measurements. I could see the progress, and that was exciting. A lot of people like to make a list. If there are steps to a certain project, they like to write them down and be able to cross them off once they've gotten there."
She continues, "I think we're all guilty of writing in an extra item on our list that we did but wasn't on the original list. You're like, `Oh yeah, I did that, too,' and then you write it down and cross it off. We want to be able to celebrate, and that's important. ... I wish more people would take the time to enjoy their successes, get connected to what's energizing them, and find goals that are important to them."
Leggett suggests mapping out real, actionable steps that will take you toward your goal, so you can easily chart your progress. "If you want to be in a new job by next year, break it down. What are the things you're going to need to do? I need to talk to so-and-so. I need to take this class. I need to re-do my resume. And you'll need to put it in order and set up a deadline." Then as you complete each task, cross it off your list. Completion of each task can make us feel better about ourselves because it proves to us that we're in control of our own destiny and competent enough to achieve our goals.
Some coaches agree that definitive timeframes are important. "Get a cup of tea and a blank notebook, and write down your goals for one year, five, and for the rest of your life," suggests Connie Cusick of Fairfield, a life and business coach who is CEO of the consulting firm, Connie Cusick International. "What do you want your life to look like?"
Cusick says she keeps a vision board at her home, and suggests many of her clients do the same. She tries to tailor each program to what will best inspire that individual. "I always keep a vision board with things that I love, and things that motivate and inspire me, because I want to see it every day," she says. You want to see why you're working, or why you're making a change. It's got to be right in front of you. My vision board is full of photographs, inspirational quotes, places I want to go, really cool looks and the home I want. I'm really more of a visual person. ... If you're more of a creative person, you may want a vision board."
But regardless of how your goals are documented, it's easier to chart your progress if they're very specific. A goal of "lose 10 pounds by Nov. 1" is much easier to track than the broader goal of "lose weight." How can you tell if you achieved the latter? How can you be happy about getting there if you never established a destination?
Some say the act of writing down a goal solidifies and hones the idea, and ingrains it in your mind. "Just as breathing exercises help integrate body and mind, writing is a kind of psycho-neural muscular activity which helps bridge and integrate the conscious and subconscious minds. Writing distills, crystallizes, and clarifies thought and helps break the whole into parts," writes Steven Covey, in his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."
Opinions may vary on how a goal should be recorded, and sometimes what works for one person is not appropriate for another. But whether it's written in sparkle glue on a fluorescent poster on your wall; depicted in a photo stuck on a vision board; entered in a journal or penned on a Post-it note stuck to your computer, regularly checking your progress is key. With each success you record, it can heighten your sense of satisfaction - it can make you happier. "Seeing the progress is important," says Cusick. "If you don't see progress, then you can think [your efforts] don't matter. But people create the lives they want."


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Your eyes are the window to your soul and your soulmates! When Laureli reads the energy shining through your eyes, you'll feel immediately, deeply and fully seen like never before.
An Intuitive Eye Reading with ThriveTypes archetypes (www.ThriveTypes.com) will empower you in leadership, life and love. It will clarify what you are meant to do in this life – your purpose – and provide insight on finding your soulmate, dating online consciously, tuning your career path, synergizing relationships, releasing stuckness and roadblocks, opening spiritually, and mapping your growth journey to ease, fulfillment and success.
In business, ThriveTypes can help you experience personal fulfillment and professional success, better understand and leverage the strengths of your colleagues, navigate team dynamics, motivate your employees, promote yourself, and hire great new people for the job, team and culture.
Come to learn about yourself and others you know. Bring photos (showing their eyes) of colleagues, partners, dates, exes, kids – whomever is relevant to your questions.
Laureli Shimayo will be offering Intuitive Eye Readings at East West Books at 6407 12th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
Stop by to receive a FREE 2-minute glimpse of your ThriveTypes with an Intuitive Eye Reading as available between Laureli's sessions. Optionally purchase a full Eye Reading on the spot for $125/hr, $65/30 min or $35/15 min. Laureli is also available for Intuitive Eye Readings privately by video and at other public events.
Learn more at www.ThriveTypes.com.
Buy ThriveTypes products and video/photo readings at www.etsy.com/shop/IntuitiveEyeReadings


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Back to All Events
Earlier Event: November 20Escot House (NB Change of venue)
Later Event: November 27Langport
Wellington Wheelers Cycling Club. A social cycling club based in Wellington Somerset for riders of all ages and abilities. We run rides throughout the week as well as Time Trials in the summer and trips to the Newport Velodrome. The social side of the club is also taken very seriously with each ride having a cafe stop, and several events planned through the year including a summer BBQ, an Easter Egg Hunt and the Christmas lunch. For more information please contact us.


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My Menu Decoder for Healthier Restaurant Food Swaps
Since I got such a great response to my blog about decoding culinary lingo in recipes, I thought I would...
These words are tasty green lights when you see them on the menu:
A la minute: This phrase simply means "cooked to order." This is great because it lets you know that you can make special requests and that your order will be freshly prepared.
Al Forno: This is the Italian term describing a dish cooked in the oven. While cooking something in the oven doesn't necessarily ensure that it is healthy, at least it lets you know what method was used to cook your dish. For example, choosing something that is made al forno is usually a better choice than something fritta, which means fried.
Gazpacho: A cold vegetable soup originally from Spain. The most common version is one made with a coarse puree of fresh tomatoes flavored with vinegar and olive oil, embellished with raw veggies like onions, cucumbers, and peppers. Roasted almonds, avocados, and croutons are common garnishes. Since this dish is a vegetable-based dish, it's almost always a winner.
Grecque: Foods that are prepared in the style of Greek cooking and that usually contain lemon, garlic, and olive oil. The addition of tomatoes, peppers, and fennel allows the dish to be called a la grecque. As you can tell from the ingredients listed here, this style of cooking is plant based and uses healthy fats.
Limousin Beef: A breed of cattle that is naturally lower in fat and cholesterol. These cattle were brought to the United States from France around 1930. This clues you in that the meat is lean, making it a good choice.
This next set of words below let you know that these menu items should be saved only for special occasions. Especially of note are the different types of sauces. Simply requesting your dish without one of these sauces or replacing it with a simple marinara sauce can make a huge difference on the nutritional content.
Beurre Blanc: An emulsified sauce made of a wine or vinegar reduction blended with softened butter. This may be flavored in many ways and is often served with fish, vegetables, and poultry dishes. Due to the high content of butter in this sauce, it's best to not indulge in it too often.
Brioche: A very rich bread made with butter and eggs. The dough can be flavored with herbs and spices or filled with nuts or candied fruit. It may also be used as a pie crust. Since this bread is made with butter and eggs, it is much higher in calories than traditional bread. Simply switching to a traditional sliced bread can save you lots of calories.
Carbonara: An ultra-rich pasta sauce consisting of Italian bacon, eggs, and parmesan cheese. Actually, it's less of a sauce and more a preparation-hot pasta is tossed with the rendered pancetta fat, the eggs, and then the cheese. Crisp pancetta and black pepper are tossed into the pasta just before serving. As I am sure you can tell from the words "ultra-rich," in this description, this dish is high in fat and should be saved for a special-occasion splurge.
Cardinal: Fish dishes that have sauces made with a rich, buttery stock. A healthy swap: choose grilled fish instead.
Milanese: This is used to describe foods that are dipped in egg and bread crumbs and sometimes parmesan cheese, and then fried in butter. I probably don't need to explain why this may not be the healthiest choice on the menu.
Now you have the lingo to dine out with confidence that you will end up with a smart and tasty choice.
Related Links:
Nutrition Information You Can Trust
For daily nutrition tips follow SELF on Facebook and Twitter.
Get SELF on your iPad!


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House votes to rein in credit-card fees, interest rates
WASHINGTON — Over the objection of the White House, the House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed legislation to curb what its sponsors regard as abuses and unfair practices in the credit-card industry.
By a vote of 312-112, The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights Act sailed through the House amid a new political climate of increased regulation and oversight of the credit and finance industry.
However, the legislation faces an unclear future in the Senate, where members are focused on crafting and passing the financial bailout. The White House is seeking quick passage of the Wall Street rescue measure before Congress adjourns on Friday, which would make action on the credit-card legislation unlikely in the near future.
Travis Plunkett, legislative director of the Consumer Federation of America, said he hasn't given up hope, however.
"We urge the Senate to include credit-card reform as part of legislation it passes to rescue banking firms," Plunkett said. "Cash-strapped consumers shouldn't continue to be gouged by excessive credit-card rates and fees by many of the same financial institutions that will benefit from the bailout."
The Credit Card Bill of Rights, sponsored by Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York and Barney Frank of Massachusetts, would curtail certain practices such as upfront fees on subprime credit cards; interest-rate increases on existing card balances; steering payments to card balances with lower interest rates and charging late fees on payments mailed at least a week before the due date.
Maloney hailed the bill's passage as a much-needed response to consumer suffering in the troubled economy.
"Amidst the financial turmoil on Wall Street, today the House took steps to help those on Main Street. This historic legislation will help working families who face their own credit crunch as a result of what the Federal Reserve itself calls 'unfair,' 'deceptive' and 'anti-competitive' credit-card practices," Maloney said.
The legislation is similar to many of the recommendations that the Federal Reserve has suggested to clean up abusive practices in the credit-card industry. Those proposals, which have sparked a record number of public comments, are expected to be finalized in December.
House Republicans have cited the pending regulatory actions as a main reason for opposing the legislation.
In a statement, the White House said the bill would also make credit more expensive for some borrowers and harder to get for others because it would hamper card issuers' ability to set prices based on borrower risk.
Some of the nation's largest credit-card companies expressed similar concerns.
"We are very concerned that this bill would significantly hinder our ability to price the risks of lending and would result in less credit being made available to creditworthy borrowers at the worst possible time, with generally higher prices for those who do receive credit," said Betty Reiss, a spokeswoman for Bank of America.
Stephanie Jacobson, first vice president for public affairs at Chase Card Services, said she too was disappointed in the vote.
"In today's turbulent economic times, consumers deserve a careful and balanced approach when considering potential changes to consumer credit and the credit-card industry. Consumers have benefited from a competitive marketplace that allows for pricing based upon risk," Jacobson said.
Congress losing zest for fast approval of Wall Street bailout
Retailers foresee miserable Christmas shopping season
Economy in turmoil: America copes
McClatchy's expanded politics coverage


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Nicki Minaj vs. Elle Varner — The Boombox Battle
Leave it to Nicki Minaj to rain on RiFF RAFF's winning streak. After three consecutive wins, the head Barbz's 'No Flex Zone' freestyle beats the self-proclaimed "white Gucci Mane with a spray tan" and his raunchy '2 Girls 1 Pipe Remix' in this week's Boombox Battle.
With 65.9 percent, Nicki's Barbz came in masses to vote for her while RiFF RAFF's HiGHROLLERS only managed to get him 34.1 percent of the vote.
Spitting on the instrumental for Rae Sremmurd's 'No Flex Zone,' the MC details why she's the best plus warns that no one should try to mess with her — especially any guy drooling over her photos on Instagram.
"Ass still fat it's on Rick Ross / You bitches make a n—-'s d— soft / Running this game for five years / Guess that's why my feet hurt / Wonder when they bite me / Do these bitches teeth hurt / Yes, I'm an icon," she delivers.
Since Nicki's track is so fierce, this week we have another strong female as her contender, Elle Varner. Her track, 'Don't Wanna Dance,' finds the songstress regretting that she hit the club. She'd rather chill on the couch with her boo.
"Though it's a lot of a fine boys in here I'm still thinking about you / I should try and pretend to be happy for a minute or two / They are playing Weezy / Is this a party?" she coos.
With a soulful beat perfect for summer, the effort is made for those tired of the party scene. A$AP Ferg is featured on the track as her love interest. He just wants her to come home and watch 'Martin' with him.
Will Nicki's aggressive joint about being the best in the rap game win? Or will Elle's chilled out track about dancing at home take the crown? The choice is yours. Vote for your favorite artist's song once per hour until the polls shut down on Tues., Aug. 5, at 10AM ET. So get to it!
Listen to Nicki Minaj's 'No Flex Zone' Freestyle
Listen to Elle Varner's 'Don't Wanna Dance' Feat. A$AP Ferg
Rules of The Boombox Battle
Two artists and their respective songs compete against each other each week. The triumphant artist goes on to compete in the next The Boombox Battle. If an artist wins The Boombox Battle four times consecutively, their song will be honored in The Boombox Battle Hall of Fame.


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How to Play Music and Movies on Your iPhone 5
If you bought movies or music from the iTunes Store, you can watch or play them on your iPhone 5. Your iPhone can sync with the music you've added to your iTunes music library on your Mac or PC. Your iPhone is also the gateway to all sorts of movies, TV shows, and music videos — both those you sync from your computer and those you buy from the iTunes Store.
Enjoy music on your iPhone 5
Any music that you buy on your iPhone (using the iTunes Store app) is automatically synced with your computer as well. Syncing means updating your iPhone with information (or music or movies) you have on your computer (or vice versa).
To listen to some rockin' beats — using either headphones or your iPhone's internal speaker — follow these steps:
Tap the Music app.
If you hold your iPhone vertically, it displays the Music screen shown. While you're following these steps, hold your iPhone vertically so you can see the Playlists view.
If you hold your iPhone horizontally, your music is arranged by album (Cover Flow view).
Tap any button at the bottom of the Music screen to browse through your music.
You can group music by
Playlist: Playing a song in a playlist will automatically play the remainder of the songs in that playlist.
Artist: All the songs by a singer, group, or band.
Songs: Songs alphabetized by title.
Album: If it's available, you'll see the cover art. No liner notes, though.
Tap a song to play it.
The Music screen changes to what you see here.
Watch video on your iPhone 5
Follow these steps to watch a movie, TV show, or video:
From the Home screen, tap the Videos icon.
A screen opens like the one shown. Your videos are arranged as a list, separated into Movies, TV Shows, and Music Videos.
Tap the Search box.
Type the name of the video you want.
Tap Go.
Tap the video you want to watch.
The Video screen switches to a horizontal display, with the controls you see here.
If the buttons disappear, tap anywhere on the screen to make them reappear.
Tap Done to end the video.
You're returned to the Video list.
While you're watching a video, you can use these options:
Pause. Tap the Pause button. Tap the Pause button again to continue playing the song.
Raise or lower the volume. Drag the volume slider right or left. Or use the volume up and volume down buttons on the side of your iPhone.
Quickly move through the video. Tap and drag the Playhead slider.
Skip to the next chapter. Tap the Next/Fast-Forward button. If your video doesn't have chapters (which are usually split by scenes), tap and hold the Next button to fast-forward.
Return to the previous chapter. Tap the Previous/Rewind button. If your video doesn't have chapters, tap and hold the Previous button to rewind through the current video.


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Let me tackle this one from a different point of view though.
About a week ago I read an article about a groundbreaking find: Mildly Depressed People More Perceptive Than Others.
Surprisingly, people with mild depression are actually more tuned into the feelings of others than those who aren't depressed, a team of Queen's psychologists has discovered.
At first the researchers were so stunned with the results that they performed the study again with a different group only to produce the same results:
People with mild symptoms of depression pay more attention to details of their social environment than those who are not depressed.
Previous similar studies were done with clinically depressed persons and I guess that now they have reached the conclusion that mild depression and clinical depression may be two different things, which is a controversial idea.
You may have the same reaction to this article/research as I had.
To be honest I don't know much about clinical depression but I think most people have experienced mild depression at some point in their lives, either due to objective reasons or simply because they are more prone to it.
From our experience then, haven't we all noticed that when depression hits us, we become more sensitive, that we can notice every little thing in the people around us, a lingering look, a sigh, raising of the eyebrows?
So why were the researchers surprised?
Also, if I return to what I started with, the argument that depression helps the artist be more creative, then again I'm at a loss with the researchers' surprise at their findings.
Aren't creative people usually 'accused' of being artiste types, prone to depression and forms of madness? And don't we all know how sensitive creative people are? They must be. Artists' social and environmental sensitivity is almost a requirement to their artistic expression. If artists wish to express other people's feelings in their art, to show the world's beauty, people's goodness, or even plush fields, they must know what that is like.
How would otherwise writers describe people's feelings and behavior if they weren't sensitive to it? How would a painter show emotions in their drawings if they weren't sensitive to those very emotions they're trying to paint?
I'm not saying that all artists are, by definition, mildly depressed. Far from it. But we've all encountered those little depression spells that somehow cause the sensitivity to become acute and the creative juices to flow.
If they had asked me, those researchers, I could have told them what to expect. It seems rather obvious to me.
Categories: writing, general, science


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This document pertains to HP Desktop and All-in-One computers to be upgraded from Windows 7 using a digital copy of Windows 8.. You perform either an In-place Installation that retains your data and settings from Windows 7, or a Clean Installation (custom) that deletes all data from the hard drive before installing Windows 8.
Please read the following important information before beginning your upgrade:
Not all Windows 8 features are available on all Windows 7 computers. Your computer might require additional hardware, software, firmware, and/or a BIOS upgrade to install and run Windows 8.
Secure boot is not available on any HP Consumer Desktop or All-in-One computers.
HP provides upgrade instructions and drivers for most computers sold after October 1st, 2011.
For information about the Microsoft Windows 8 Upgrade Offer go to the Microsoft Web page Update to Windows 8.1 FAQ (in English).
If you purchased your computer prior to October 1st, 2011, HP has not tested or developed drivers for your model computer. Therefore an upgrade of your computer might be difficult or impossible.
HP recommends installing the 64-bit version of Windows 8 for desktop computers.
Not all Windows 8 features will be available on all computers, and your particular experience with Windows 8 is determined by the capabilities of your computer.
An In-place Upgrade is easier and faster than a Clean install and is the better option for most people. See below for help determining the best method for your particular computer.
Software designed for Windows 7 or earlier operating systems might not work after installing Windows 8.
HP provides Windows 8 compatible software and updated drivers to support only specific computer models.
If you want to restore the original operating system after upgrading, you must create HP recovery media before you upgrade. To learn how to create recovery media, see Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a USB Flash Drive (Windows 7).
If you seek support assistance from HP after you upgrade, HP technical support may request that the original Windows 7 operating system be restored to verify product functionality. If your computer is sent to service or repairs after upgrading to Windows 8, your computer may be re-imaged with the original Windows operating system and the upgraded Windows 8 operating system will be removed. After repairs are made, you can reinstall Windows 8.
You should always back up all important data (personal files, photos, videos, documents, applications, etc.) before beginning any upgrade to avoid any possibility of losing your important data.
You might not be able to view DVD movies after upgrading. If you currently use a DVD codec to play DVD movies, such as the encoder that comes with Windows 7 Professional, this encoder might not be available after upgrading to Windows 8. To continue to play DVDs after you upgrade, go to the Microsoft Web page Add features (in English) to download Windows Media Center or purchase DVD playback software.If you currently use DVD playback software from HP, the Windows 8 installation process helps you determine if your playback software is compatible with Windows 8 or if an update is required. If the software is compatible and you perform an In-place Upgrade, you have the option to keep this software during the upgrade. If you perform a Clean Install you must reinstall the software after the upgrade.


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I am interested in ultra high frequency trading and Java is the language I know best.
I was always under the impression I would have to perfect my C++ skills in order to work within the ultra high frequency domain (no pun intended) because a lot of job specs seemed to ask for this.
Elsewhere on the internet i have seen people comment that Java is actually preferred because you can find Java developers much easier. However, I thought this a bad argument because in terms of ultra high frequency, you need to grab an order as soon as possible and designing your system based upon the ease of finding programmers isn't going to achieve what you need in terms of latency.
So, would you say I would be best off concentrating on Java, or is it unavoidable to specialise in C++ in order to get into this career?


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War and Foreign PolicyMoney and Banking
The lack of spending during a shutdown wouldn't be a problem if the government hadn't already extracted so much wealth from the private sector to begin with.
World HistoryOther Schools of Thought
BiographiesHistory of the Austrian School of Economics
Big GovernmentWorld HistoryOther Schools of Thought
Free MarketsFrom the ArchivesSocialism
All this could and should be done in one day.
BiographiesWorld HistoryInterventionism
Media and CultureU.S. History


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All the table 'twas indeed a stage,
and 'tis true many a player
strutted and fretted its hour upon it,
but at curtain's culinary closing,
'twas a deuce of thespianic éclat
that in truth reigned supreme …
Meaning, of course, that it weren't one but TWO wines I was most especially diggin' on T-Day!
And in this corner, a new release, the 2008 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Syrah/Grenache!
Still showing youngish, most certainly, but so beguiling in its dark mysteriosity, and the perfect pairing for the various and sundry savories on said T-Day table; most particularly calibrated to all seasonings of the autumnal sort, and most certainly ever-so-slightly charred sage leaves …
And in THIS corner, a veteran, the 2004 Ridge Vineyards Buchignani Ranch Zinfandel!
A designation that, in truth, has come in and out of focus for me across the vintages, but one that is capable of greatness when the viticultural stars align. The 2004 was just such a vintage, and I have long considered it the absolute and utter ace of the decades. This wine was, in fact, and if I am not mistaken, one of the first Ridge wines I ever purchased for my dad, and he and I have long retained a certain affection for it, so it was with no subtle degree of both anticipation and curiosity that we approached said specific offering this very most recently past and holidarily-notable Thursday. Approached, contemplated, and subsequently revered! It was extraordinary! Supple, streamlined, and savory; rustic, earthy, and complex; controlled, elegant, and enticing; dangerously subversive, dirtily sensual, and broodingly beguiling. In short, nothing short of perfection. A small perfection, mind you; this is not a wine that strains for demonstrative greatness and expansivity; meaning, it does not set its heights at the stars. Rather, it is a small, quiet, intense, and excellently combinated concoction of concatenated concentrativeness that coalesces around a core of compendiumed complexicatedness. Meaning, it was perfect with mashed potatoes and peas!
And for those who, in an oeno-equivalent enactment of the boxers-or-briefs paradigm, will ask, "Russets, or Yukons?", 'twas Russets.
And p.s. what was YOUR Thanksgiving Wine Rock Star?
and double p.s. can you guess how many words in the above post got the red-line when I ran spell-check???
Categories: Events, Food & Wine Pairing, Grenache, Lytton, Syrah, Tasting Notes, Varietals & Blends, Wine & Food Pairing, Zinfandel


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Slim Randles' Home Country
Windy Wilson plays Santa
Send a link to a friend
15, 2012]
It was Herb who discovered it. He went into the Read Me
Now bookstore to ask Sarah if she had the latest Farmer's Almanac
(he always plants vegetables in the bowels of something) and found
she had hired a Santa's helper to talk to the children.
"But Doc," Herb said, "she hired
Windy Wilson!"
The Mule Barn truck stop right then and there lost at least 15
bucks' worth of breakfast, because we paid for our initial
infestation of coffee and left, en masse, for the bookstore.
Windy had several children lined up waiting to tell him what they
wanted for Christmas. He was in his element -- fake whiskers, red
suit and all.
Sarah came over and smiled. "You won't believe this, fellas, but
Alphonse told me he'd do it for free."
"Did you just meet him?" Doc asked. She nodded.
We had to walk up closer to Santa to hear what pearls of yuletide
wisdom were being dropped.
"Hello there, young lady," he said. "Do you wish to convey an
appurtenance of Christmastime wishes to all of us at this
"Tell Santa what you want for Christmas," said her mother.
"Oh ... I want a doggie!"
[to top of second
"I see! You desire to bask in the unabrashed afflictions of our
four-legged companions."
"No ... I want a doggie."
"Yes, of course you do." Windy glanced toward the girl's mother,
who nodded. "Now you realize, of course, that having a dog means
providing it with ampulatory nourishment and care. And there may be
some ... excretatory surprises to be remedliated."
The girl looked up at her mother.
"You'll have to feed it and clean up after it, Honey," Mom said.
"I will, Santa!"
"Good!" said Santa's helper. "And a felicitous celebration of the
sanctified parturitional occurrence to you, my dear."
She looked up into the white beard and the twinkling eyes. "Merry
Sarah should charge admission.
[Text from file received from Slim Randles]
Brought to you by "Home Country," the best
of the first six years. Read a sample at
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text:
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Still know all the words
Yesterday's mail brought the official registration form for Pasadena High School, Class of 1962 Reunion a year from now. Among the many questions - will we be refused admittance if we fail to answer? - is a line that asks, Songs, Groups? May I have a second sheet, please?
Today's stamp illustration called one favorite, certainly one favorite singer, to mind: Sam Cooke. If I start on the list now, I may be done in time for my early registration in November. Will you find something today to call wonderful? I promise to do the same.
14 comments:
- JeannetteLS said...
My song circle. Called the "leader" and told her that I could not walk well enough today and at 7:35, the phone rang. The group put me on speakerphone to share the healing ritual portion with me and I sang with them for those fifteen minutes. Wonderful came to me, jumping up and down, calling my name--I did not have to look for it. How lucky am I?
- September 15, 2011 at 6:34 PM
- Radish King said...
Slicing the heads off of blueberry muffins and slathering them with cream cheese is pretty wonderful.
So is being so far away and gone that my class reunion (this summer would have been 40)can never ever find me. Pure wonderful.
- September 15, 2011 at 7:43 PM
- Marylinn Kelly said...
Jeanette - Wonderful is always best, and most true, when it comes and finds us as it did you this morning. It is its nature, that stealth feature. How lucky indeed? Thanks for sharing this. xo
- September 15, 2011 at 8:18 PM
- Marylinn Kelly said...
Rebecca - I swear cream cheese on cardboard would make me happy. Mmmm, blueberry muffin tops, even better.
A solid 3/4 if not more of our class has vanished without a trace...some I would love to see. But when we don't want to be found...
Glad wonderful sidled up to you today. xo
- September 15, 2011 at 8:21 PM
- T. Clear said...
I was just listening to Sam Cooke on Pandoral....pretty damn wonderful!
- September 15, 2011 at 8:45 PM
- RachelVB said...
Fridays are wonderful. Especially with a date lined up and Oktoberfest on the horizon. Yesterday, it was a free muffin from the deli - the guy at the counter knows me and sometimes slips goodies in with my soup.
- September 16, 2011 at 7:35 AM
- Marylinn Kelly said...
T. - Agreed..."You Send Me," a fantasy (these days) choice for slow dancing. xo
- September 16, 2011 at 8:58 AM
- Marylinn Kelly said...
Rachel - Yay for all forms of wonderful, this moment and just around the corner. Have a great anniversary weekend. xo
- September 16, 2011 at 8:59 AM
- Jayne said...
Cupid draw back your bow
And let your arrow go... Love, love Sam Cooke.
Oh, Marylinn, you just made my day brighter. Wonderful. :)
- September 16, 2011 at 9:32 AM
- Marylinn Kelly said...
Jayne - He SO had IT. Thank you for another wonderful to add to the collective list. xo
- September 16, 2011 at 9:59 AM
- Claire Beynon said...
Wonderful is the new, slower pace and the welcome (and different) traction I feel because of it. Oh, and the sight of my cherry tree in full, exuberant bloom.
L, C xo
- September 16, 2011 at 7:08 PM
- Marylinn Kelly said...
Claire - The slower pace does allow greater traction, doesn't it? Less likelihood of skidding in one's socks across the kitchen floor. And your cherry tree...we can all picture the wonderfulness, the welcomeness (word?not a word?) of that. xo
- September 17, 2011 at 12:56 PM
- Isabel Doyle said...
sunrise, floaty bits of cloud, dropping humidity
being able to walk!
- September 19, 2011 at 9:32 PM
- Marylinn Kelly said...
Isabel - All wonderful (especially the being able to walk...hooray, with the elipse(s) for good measure).
- September 20, 2011 at 9:38 AM


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25 Years of Beautiful Bathrooms
Take a through-the-years tour of 25 of our favorite baths
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- 1 of 28
It's safe to say bathrooms have come a long way since 1989—we certainly enjoyed a few chuckles at some of the over-styled bathrooms of 25 years ago. But luxurious materials coupled with a "less-is-more" design approach have turned this part of the home into an important living space. Bathrooms have evolved into stylish, serene retreats with their custom vanities and spacious closets, soaking tubs and rainhead showers. Here's a look through some of our favorites from the past 25 years.
Romantic Nantucket Bathroom
August 1989
Nestled among wildflowers and sand dunes, this Nantucket hideaway seems to sigh with quiet romance and stylish beauty. The two-person bathtub, trimmed in wood recycled from an old church pew, sits below an antique window frame filled with mirrors to open the room. To feel part of the outside, the homeowners installed a full-length window in the shower and steam bath (not pictured) that looks out on a gazebo, gardens, and the ocean. "We wanted a true indoor-outdoor bathroom," the homeowner said. Here, "you can bathe and feel like you're in the garden. Fortunately, there are no neighbors."
Written by Nancy A. Fandel
Field editor: Estelle Bond Guralnick
Charming Charleston Bathroom
April 1990
In this waterside home in the Charleston, South Carolina, area, charm and elegance are surpassed only by comfort. The homeowner's love of white lace is evident in this bath, which accommodates guests and serves as the family's powder room. Refined touches such as lace curtains, an old chandelier, and beadboard paneling reflect the home's interior design.
Written by Nancy A. Fandel and Carla Breer Howard
Produced by Ruth L. Reiter
Design: Joan Brown
Airy Seaside Bathroom
August 1991
In this Cape Cod Victorian home, which is perched on a 60-foot cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, interior colors were chosen to reflect the seaside surroundings.
The delightful second-floor bathroom connects to two bedrooms. Airily adorned with crisp seersucker curtains, white floor and wall tiles, violet-strewn wallpaper, and a wonderfully whimsical swan table, the room is every inch a charmer.
Written by Pamela J. Wilson
Produced by Estelle Bond Guralnick
Design: Lynda Agger Levy
Pretty Pink Bathroom
March 1992
What started as a tiny gardener's cottage with a grand view turned into this couple's dream home on picturesque Marblehead Harbor north of Boston. The harbor helped dictate both the construction and interior design of the home as the owners converted the cottage into a more livable space. "We wanted to bring some of the beautiful elements of the harbor inside—its freshness, bright colors, and eclecticism," says homeowner and designer Peg Dobroth.
Bright colors pervade the home, even in the master bath, where a sunset pink adorns the walls. Dressing-room details sum up Peg's gift for giving has-been pieces new reasons for being. Renewed with white linen and lace, a junk-store table became a pretty vanity. A decorative paint job and a Corian sink and top put and old oak chest back to work (far right). The oval tub was dropped into another custom Corian rig: an encasement fabricated on-site.
Written by Sandra S. Soria
Produced by Estelle Bond Guralnick
Architect: Dick Dobroth
Design: Peg Dobroth
Bathroom with Cape Cod Charisma
May 1993
What was once just their summer house on Cape Cod became this family's year-round home. Heirlooms and other furnishings brought from their Boston home debut in casual context in the master suite. The chair and table in the bathroom, for instance, are both Boston transplants.
The master bath, with its paneled tub surround, green-and-white marble floor, hand-colored engravings, and wags and jabots fringed with pom-poms, exudes Cape Cod charisma.
Written by Sharon L. Novotne
Regional editor: Estelle Bond Guralnick
Design: Gary McBournie
Bathroom with Soaring Ceilings
March 1994
Blending design elements inspired by country cottages in France, England, and Italy, this Seattle-area home brings a love of things old to its Puget Sound lot. The home features a muted palette splashed with rich reds, subtle pinks, and sunset golds.
Soaring ceilings form a light-filled aeire for the master bedroom and bath. The big institutional tub was stripped of its stand and placed directly on the marble-and-terra-cotta floor to set a tone of relaxed informality. The homeowner loves to open the French doors at night and let the sound of the sea wash over the room.
Written by John Riha
Regional editor: Trish Maharam
Design: Cynthia Lute
Gorgeous Copper Tub
March 1995
In 1995, Traditional Home partnered with Kohler to build a romantic home that would be more than a collection of surfaces and finishes—a home that would be a joyful self-expression of the people who lived there. In the master bath, a sensuous copper tub nestled into a bumpout gets a regal and romantic presence from sheer fabric hung from an antique French canopy. The curvaceous tub is echoed by a custom bow-front vanity. Over the vanity, a neoclassical mirror hangs on a mirrored wall. Small, inexpensive antique sconces lend mood and personality. An antique marble fireplace mantel surrounds a gas fireplace. Behind a terry-cloth-covered tufted chair is a tiled shower area that uses lined fabric curtains rather than glass doors.
Written by John Riha
Interior design: Doug Rasar
Blue-and-White Bathroom
November 1996
On the Maine coast, interior designer Mary Douglas Drysdale made a definitive style statement with a tantalizing play of shapes, patterns, and colors in this family beach home designed for fun. The master bedroom's all-American color scheme continues in the master bath. Clad in cottagey beadboard, the octagonal, two-sink custom vanity with a two-sided mirror anchors the space. Simple window shades roll up behind deep fabric valances.
Written by Estelle Bond Guralnick
Produced by Pamela J. Wilson
Design: Mary Douglas Drysdale
Serene Master Bathroom
July 1997
Not far from Seattle, a bland 1960s suburban Colonial with uninspired additions and little natural light was transformed into a color-drenched home with lovely, livable spaces for a family of six. For the parents of four young children, the master suite suite provides a sweet escape—although the homeowners admit that their children have claimed the elegant, oversized tub in their bathroom for use as a pool. Unglazed ceramic tiles suit interior designer Doug Rasar's plan for a neutral backdrop.
Written by Ann Omvig Maine
Regional editor: Trish Maharam
Architect: Brandt Hollinger
Interior design: Doug Rasar
Sunny Bathroom
March 1998
This homeowner called upon Charles Spada to help design her Essex, Connecitcut, home after she saw the sophisticated simplicity of his designs in a local decorator's showcase. The upstairs of her circa-1840 Federal farmhouse was once a warren of small rooms with low ceilings and narrow hallways, but was converted into the three-room master suite. It took three small rooms and a hall to make the master bath. Gutted to the rafters, the space gradually emerged as an aerie softened by new moldings and French windows overlooking formal gardens at the back of the house. The bathroom features sleek marble counters contrasted with a natural-colored tumbled-marble floor laid in 16-inch squares without grout.
Written by Estelle Bond Guralnick
Interior design: Charles Spada
Small Cottage Bathroom
May 1999
When a lot adjoining their Hamptons home came up for sale, a New York couple saw an opportunity to build a tennis court. They also ended up building a 32x32-foot cottage to serve as a guesthouse.
The cottage is furnished with a mix of new and antique items, all finished in casual, easy-care materials. Colors are a mix of cool blues, creamy whites, and the warm brown tones of wood. In the guesthouse's only bathroom, a fanciful old tramp-art mirror, a console sink, and sconces set the perfect tone.
Written by Eliot Nusbaum
Regional editor: Bonnie Maharam
Architect: Anthony di Sunno
Interior design: Ellen Sosnow
Colorful Showhouse Bathroom
May 2000
At the Alexandria Showhouse, interior designer Beverly Broun McClinton was assigned not one, not two, but three bathrooms. Her main challenge: making the three bathrooms look as if they were created by three different designers while still respecting the overall style of the home—an 1890s farmhouse that was renovated in the 1950s by modernist architect Charles Goodman.
In the narrow children's bathroom, the goal was to do the most possible on a tight budget. Since bright graphic colors seemed a natural for a child's room, the basic design element—paint—was simple to choose and economical to use.
The bright colors are complemented by a countertop that boasts the only real pattern in the room and was thoughtfully placed only 23 inches off the floor—lower than the standard but perfect for children. Its delightful creamy white background is speckled with faint flecks of blue, red, green, and yellow.
Written by Krissa Rossbund
Regional editor: Heather Lobdell
Design: Beverley Broun McClinton
Sophisticated Showhouse Bathroom
March 2001
Our March 2001 issue featured 11 spaces from our Built for Women Showhouse, each crafted by an illustrious designer for one of our celebrity honorees. Kitty Hawks designed this lounge-like bathroom on the top floor of the showhouse for honoree Candace Bergen.
Hawks delights in imperfections—and will even create them if there aren't enough. So the mirrors in the "shower room" portion of the space were intentionally roughed up to look old. The untiled portions of the walls are outlined with a light, lyrical stencil, inspired by a detail in a Victorian painting and made to look hand-done.
Written by Lucie Young
Design: Kitty Hawks
Sunny Bathing Spot
July 2002
Gorgeous natural surroundings inspired a California couple to build a 2,800-square-foot home on a narrow parcel of land in Montecito. Although new, the home, built just for the couple now that their children are grown, features worn shutters, rustic interiors, and antique finds. The zinc bathtub in the master bath is a French antique, circa 1860.
Written by Eliot Nusbaum
Architect: David Serrurier
Interior design: Penny Bianchi
Elegant Bathroom
October 2003
After 21 years in New York City's Greenwich Village, these East Coast natives relocated to Los Angeles for a job. "It was very hard to leave," homeowner Carol says, "so we tried to bring some New York style with us." Case in point: the old-fashioned look in the master bathroom.
To give the bathroom the kind of style the couple had grown to love while living in the city, they covered the floor in tiny black and white porcelain tiles and dressed the room with old-fashioned fixtures and antique furniture instead of built-in cabinets.
Written by Candace Ord Manroe
Produced by Laura Hull
Architect: Clive Bridgwater
Interior design: Sue Balmforth
Rustic Ranch Bathroom
July 2004
A river literally runs through this 75-acre ranch about 25 miles from Jackson, Wyoming. With unfettered mountain views, gold-medal trout fishing, and a million and a half acres of Bridger-Teton National Forest next door, the attraction was obvious for an outdoorsman who wanted to build a log home that looked like an old ranch.
Interior designer Debra Martinson wanted the interiors of the home to reflect the same peacefulness and rugged beauty as the surroundings. The master bathroom is a study in contrasts. A warm copper sink and fixtures, a sweeping romantic tub with a view, and "petticoat" curtains, as the designer describes them, offset the slate floors and hand-hewn logs.
Written by Mindy Pantiel
Produced by Eliot Nusbaum
Architect: Alpine Log Homes
Interior design: Debra Martinson
Open-Air Bathroom
July 2005
American designer Thomas Bartlett's hacienda on Mexico's Pacific coast is dressed in indigenous style. "I wanted to evoke ocean and sky, so I did the house in blues accented with pale yellows and whites," he explains. "I wanted to use furnishings indigenous to Mexico, mixed with a European feeling inspired by Portuguese style, with a little Italian—as though Andrea Palladio [the Italian architect of Palladian window fame] had visited Portugal and somehow ended up here."
Artist (and friend) Carole Lansdown painted the vanity, inspired by antique Portuguese tiles. Because he believes outdoor living is as important as indoor, Bartlett carries the outdoor themes seamlessly indoors.
Written by Candace Ord Manroe
Produced by Carla Breer Howard
Design: Thomas Bartlett
Light-filled Bathroom
September 2006
The white-painted Georgian-style facade of this Pennsylvania home belied an outdated interior full of knickknacks, flowered chintz, and dark mahogany curved with shell motifs and cabriole legs. To update their home, the homeowners called on designer Jeffrey Bilhuber to let the light in, room by room. Where traditional English chintz once reigned, warm neutrals and must-touch texture now hold court.
Stonelike walls in the master bath are made of marine-grade plywood painted a linen white. An antique Klismos chair dutifully holds towels near the shower.
Written by Mitchell Owens
Interior design: Jeffrey Bilhuber
Black-and-White Showhouse Bathroom
March 2007
Designer Larry Laslo dazzled at the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Showhouse with his master bathroom in black and white. The high-style space started with a blanket of Italian marble laid out in a random pattern over the walls and floor, giving the room a shot of lightning-bolt energy.
"I fall in love with different things, and I'm not mad about bright colors that shake up a space," Laslo says. "But black and white make an elegant combination that doesn't need that punch of vivid color. The punch is in the contrast."
The minimally framed dressing table and bench add just enough weight without interfering with the sunlight and airiness pouring through the window. The tub, faced with the room's hallmark marble, melts into the background but is given its own twinkle with chrome faucets. A hatbox-shaped toilet sits beside the tub. Black-and-white images punctuate the wall, which is topped by a mosaic tile border.
Written by Krissa Rossbund
Produced by Bonnie Maharam
Design: Larry Laslo
Eco-Friendly Bathroom
May 2008
With a new baby on the way, an expectant couple decided to give their 1950s Santa Monica house a redo—both aesthetic and environmental. Homeowner and eco-conscious designer Laura Forbes Carlin worked with her sister Alison Forbes Houlian on the necessary changes.
Questionable existing materials were either cleaned up or replaced with safe, Earth-friendly alternatives. For tile and stone floors like those in the master bath, natural grout sealer was applied. To enhance flow between rooms, mineral-based lime paint was used on most walls in the house.
Written and produced by Krissa Rossbund
Design: Alison Forbes Houlihan and Laura Forbes Carlin
Bathroom with Drama
November 2009
A Los Angeles homeowner searching for a bold way to display an impressive art collection found her match in interior designer Windsor Smith. Smith started by staining all the wood floors a very dark walnut. The idea was to give each space a sense of drama that could hold its own against the dramatic proportions and palettes of the art collection.
The dark walnut floors continue into the master bath, where their rich stain is repeated on elegant marble-topped vanity cabinets that run parallel to each other. A soaking tub holds court in front of the windows.
Written by Candace Ord Manroe
Produced by Jenny Bradley
Architect: William Hefner
Interior design: Windsor Smith
Seeing Double
September 2010
Atlanta designer Amy Morris designed this home for a couple she knows well—her parents. About 1,500 square feet were added to the home, including a bumpout in the master bath. In the master suite, the existing master bath and closet were reconfigured into a large walk in closet. Architect Bradley Heppner designed the double sink vanity with faucets by Lefroy Brooks. The chandelier and sconces are from Circa Lighting.
Written by Amy Elbert
Produced by Lisa Mowry
Architect: Bradley E. Heppner
Interior design: Amy D. Morris
Blissful Bathroom
April 2011
Furniture designer Bob Williams added cool blues and even cooler collections to his updated Georgian Colonial in North Carolina. Upstairs renovations revolved around creating the more grown-up, sophisticated house he'd long dreamed of. "Having a spacious master bath with storage and a great big bathtub was more important than having a big bedroom," Bob says, "so we turned the old master bedroom into the bath." The result is a clean-lined closet and blissful bath that are equal parts practicality and luxury.
Floor-to-ceiling cabinets with glass panels lined in shirred linen offer a plentitude of storage in the bath. A jaw-dropping, supersized tub enveloped in marble enigmatically "floats" atop the matching marble floor.
The white cabinets and tub surround are set off by walls painted Benjamin Moore "Palladian Blue." The black chest and the chandelier are from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.
Written by Jenny Bradley
Produced by Andrea Caughey
Design: Bob Williams
Serene Retreat
September 2012
Designer Gail Plechary bathed the interiors of this Chicago-area home in a mostly white palette that is clean, calming, and sophisticated. In the master suite, a vaulted ceiling soars overhead. The bathroom is painted soft gray, with silk window panels, a crystal chandelier, and a framed charcoal drawing giving the space subtle opulence.
Written by Krissa Rossbund
Produced by Hilary Rose
Interior design: Gail Plechaty
Stunning Showhouse Bathroom
July/August 2013
In 2013, Traditional Home, many local and national business, and 17 alumni of O'More College of Design created a remarkable showhouse. The 4,500-square-foot Shingle-style cottage was built just a short walking distance form the college's administration offices in Franklin, Tennessee.
Dialing down the volume of the day was the aim for Kathleen Evers when she designed the master suite. "I wanted restful colors to emphasize that this is a place to relax," she says. "Soothing aqua and cream, together with warm charcoal accents, appeal to both the masculine and the feminine." French doors link the bedroom and bathroom, where a stunning presentation of the focal-point nickel tub on glimmering hexagonal floor tiles turns the glam factor full on.
The bathroom floor plan divides the room in half, with dual vanities and dressing areas separated by a walk-in shower that can be entered from either side.
Click here to tour the whole showhouse.
Written by Amy Elbert
Design: Kathleen Evers


text:
Letter to the Presidents and Heads of State: Latin America and the Caribbean
Dear Presidents and Heads of State,
We are writing to you in regard to the upcoming celebration in New York, on June 1 to 3, of the United Nations' Conference on the Economic and Financial Crisis and its Impact on Develoment. We urge you to give this Conference the priority it deserves and to participate, in your capacity as Heads of State, leading a delegation from your country of the highest level including the participation of relevant ministries and civil society organizations and movements involved in addressing the impacts and building alternatives in the face of this crisis.
Your presence and the active participation of the governments that you head in this Conference, which will bring together all of the United Nations members states – the "G192" – are necessary in order to achieve urgent and concrete responses that are in keeping with the seriousness of the global systemic crisis now confronting humanity. A crisis unleashed in the center of the system of economic and political power whose unsustainable and irresponsible model of consumption and production continues to asphixiate the entire planet, deepening day after day the social, climate, food, and energy crises with untold consecuences for billions of people, nature, and indeed life itself.
The responses thus far emerging from exclusive groups such as the G7 and the G20, and the very private, public, and multilateral financial institutions whose still impune responsibility for the generation of this crisis is flagrant, are responses aimed at saving the system on the backs of the same people and countries who have been paying the costs of its expansion for a long time.
In order to achieve global solutions, the strength and legitimacy are needed that can only be secured through global participation and respect for the voice of all countries in equal conditions. Therein lies the importance of this Conference at this moment, so that through the United Nations the entire international community – governments and "we the peoples" – might occupy our rightful place and reach agreement on immediate responses that can protect human and enviromental rights against any further deterioration and lead, over the medium term, to the building of a new paradigm of socio-economic, financial, and environmental relations at the global level.
The leadership of the current president of the UN General Assembly, together with the support of the majority of member countries, has made it possible for this Conference to be held. They have generated valuable inputs, including the recommendations of the Commission of Experts on the Reform of the International Monetary and Financial System, and a Draft Outcome Declaration that includes concrete proposals for consideration and adoption by participating States. Among other matters, they recognize the responsibility of the centers of power in the North for this crisis and pose immedate steps to establish a global stimulus fund that would not imply a new burden of illegitimate debt for those countries most in need. They recommend stopping, and reversing, the nefarious conditionalities imposed by the International Financial Institutions and in free trade agreements and investment protection treaties. Agreement on these and many other proposals can and should be reached at this Conference.
This Conference is where we want the governments of the countries of our region to participate, at the highest level, committing your leadership as part of the international community in defense of our needs and rights and those of Mother Earth. The existence of initiatives towards an integration in solidarity that are now advancing in Latin America and the Caribbean, such as ALBA, the Peoples' Trade Agreements (TCP), the South Bank, the Union of South American Nations, the creation of a common reserve currency (SUCRE), comprehensive debt audits, among others, demonstrates that it possible to build alternatives for a development that is endogenous, sovereign, democratic, and sustainable.
At the same time, we reiterate our conviction with regard to the importance of calling on and including social movements and organizations, in order to debate and build together the ways out of this crisis – a crisis understood by many to be a truly grave crisis of civilization that is placing at risk the survival of all peoples and that of life itself on earth.
(Initial signatures)
Latin America and Caribbean movements, networks and organizations
Alianza de Pueblos del Sur Acreedores de la Deuda Ecológica–América latina/Caribe
Amigos de la Tierra - América Latina Y Caribe (ATALC)
Asamblea de los Pueblos de Caribe
Confederación Sindical de las Américas
Consejo Latinoamericano de Iglesias – Secretaría regional Rio de la Plata
Federación Luterana Mundial-Programa sobre Deuda Ilegítima
Grito de los/las Excluidos Continental
Jubileo Sur/Américas
Observatorio Internacional de la Deuda – América Latina
Red Latinoamericana sobre la Deuda y el Desarrollo (Latindadd)
Servicio Paz y Justicia en América Latina
National movements, networks, and organizations from throughout the region
Diálogo 2000 – Argentina
Ecoportal.Net - Argentina
Espacio Ecuménico - Argentina
Fundación Servicio Paz y Justicia – Argentina
Futuro Transgenerico – Argentina
Grito de los excluidos (as) Bolivia
Movimiento antiracista Boliviano
Jóvenes por la Constituyente Bolivia
CEADL Bolivia
Movimiento de Objetores de conciencia Bolivia
Observatorio Boliviano dfe los Recursos naturales Bolivia
Rede Social de Justiça e Direitos Humanos, Brasil
Corporación Mujeres y Economía - Jubileo Sur Colombia
Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. - Cuba
Centro de Derechos Economicos y Sociales – Ecuador
Jubileo 2000 Red Guayaquil - Ecuador
Movimiento Mexicano de Afectados por las Presas y en Defensa de los Rios –México
Red Jubileo Sur México
Colectivo Marea Creciente – México
Red Jubileo Perú – Perú
Grito de las/os Excluidas/os de Puerto Rico
Comité Pro Niñez Dominico-Haitiana-Puerto Rico
Proyecto Caribeño de Justicia y Paz – Puerto Rico
Piedras 730
(1070) Buenos Aires, Argentina
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