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In 'Les Miserables,' Hugh and Anne make beautiful music
Both Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman have dreamed the same dream for a while. That they would one day appear in a movie musical. Jackman started off in theater in his native Australia and in London's West End, and has sung for his supper on Broadway, winning a Tony in 2004 for The Boy From Oz. Hathaway made her New York stage debut in a 2002 concert version of Carnival! and trilled some pop tunes during her princess phase in 2004's Ella Enchanted. Now their dream has come true with the big-screen version of Les Miserables. USA TODAY's Susan Wloszczyna spoke to both about the experience.
Anne Hathaway, 30, as the tragic Fantine
Producer Cameron Mackintosh says: "It's really wonderful how Anne reinvented I Dreamed a Dream, arguably one of the most famous songs in the show. It is something that can only be done in cinema. It wouldn't be as effective of a performance in the theater because we have been taken into such an intimate world, which by nature theater doesn't do. You get the power of that song in a different way."
Q. The Oscar ceremony that aired in 2009 acted as a kind of audition for you and Hugh, who hosted when you sang and danced together during the opening.
A. I didn't know it at the time, but it was a nice kind of "Hi, glad to meet you. Do you want to do something during the show?" Two years later, I sang On My Own from Les Mis (at the Oscars). And Tom Hooper won that year. And, by the way, the year Hugh and I performed he also worked with Amanda Seyfried (who plays Cosette, her grown-up daughter) as well. I've never been a huge believer in fate but I kind of am rethinking that position.
MORE:Starry 'Les Mis' gets up close and personal
Q. You've tried to do movie musical before but they didn't work out. The Phantom of the Opera, Sweeney Todd and Nine. Why?
A. I've auditioned for plenty, but I have never been able to do one. Yeah, I didn't have any specific request for which one it ought to be. I love musical theater and I love film. And I thought, wouldn't it be great if they had a baby and I got to be in it?
Q. You did get to sing in Ella Enchanted, but performing I Dreamed a Dream in Les Miserables is a whole different challenge. Did you say "give that song to me, I have no fear, I'm going for it"?
A. I didn't say that. I did say give it to me and I'll go for it. I've been familiar with that song my whole life. But that was not the song from Les Mis that I was drawn to growing up. When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Cosette so bad. When I was a teenager, I wanted to be Eponine until I fell in love with the voice part of Cosette and wanted to be both.
Q. When did you decide you wanted to be Fantine?
A. I never really considered Fantine because my mother played that role in the national tour. And that was my first experience seeing the show, when she was in it. And I always thought of the role as hers and untouchable to me. So when this opportunity came up, I had never even thought about the character. But I knew I wanted to be in the movie so I auditioned and went for the part.
Q. How did you prepare to play her?
A. I had just six months to prep for what is about 18 minutes onscreen. Which is just about the ratio I like. I just really got inside the lyrics of the song and I wanted to know what she means when she says, "So different from this hell I'm living." I really got inside the lyrics of the song. I wanted that hell to be tangible. So I started to do research about what it is like to be a woman in a repressive society, specifically France during that time.
Q. The song has been moved from where it is performed in the stage show.
A. It changes the meaning of it. In the show, it is done after she loses her job. You now see her make the ultimate sacrifice for her daughter and what that song becomes is her relinquishing her life and her hope and replacing all the love in her heart with anger, rage and betrayal. That was the only thing that was going to get her from day to day. I did a lot of research on the lives of sex slaves.
Q. There are many great death scenes in this, including yours. How did it feel?
A. I know this sounds weird, but I was so moved by the way death is portrayed in this movie. There are a lot of deaths, but three of the four principal characters who die do so either in the arms of loved ones or surrounded by them. And one dies alone. The difference in the feeling of each of them I found profound.
Q. In screenings, people are applauding after songs. Especially I Dreamed a Dream and One Day More. How does that make you feel.
A. I am so honored to be in this film, but the person I am happiest for is Hugh. He has such a singular talent and has such a marvelous set of skills. He is a wonderful dramatic actor and a light-hearted entertainer. The fact is the role of Valjean, more than any other role in the musical theater world, is where you need to be lovable, gracious, aspirational and dramatic. I can't think of another actor who could have done what he did in this.
Q. Many of the characters in the film, especially Valjean, are given the chance to do either the right or the wrong thing. We face that, too, obviously although it is not usually a matter of life or death.
A. But in small ways we are. We were all talking about that policeman who gave the homeless man the shoes. I read the story this morning. The policeman was so indignant that people were laughing at this person. That was the place their hearts went to. And he did the right thing. He seems like such a good person, I got a little emotional this morning reading about it. There is that spirit that Victor Hugo wrote about that is alive and well in the world today. Honestly, it feels like a balm to my soul when I hear about people doing good things.
Hugh Jackman, 44, as the ex-convict Jean Valjean
Director Tom Hooper says: "Hugh has extraordinary grace and goodness in him as a human being and therefore him playing Valjean would seem like a natural fit. I've been quoted as saying I wouldn't have done the film if Hugh Jackman did not exist."
Q. Are you excited that your fans will finally see you in a movie musical?
A. I hadn't done one yet and I can't believe I got this one. They did inquire about Phantom of the Opera (the role went to Gerard Butler) but I was never available. Chicago is the one I turned down. It was probably stupid. I was 31. I had this line at the end where I say, "I've seen it all, kid" and I'm thinking, "I'm the same age as the girls." It didn't make sense. When I saw the movie, I thought maybe I could have just put on a little bit of makeup.
Q. When did you first see Les Mis?
A. In New York about 10 years after it started. It took me a while to get to it. It's so beautifully done and heartfelt. What amazed me when I saw it -- and I've been in long-running shows -- was how fresh it still felt. I have seen it three or four times since. The first audition I ever did I sang Stars, which Javert sings. I always loved that song. Cameron Mackintosh the producer asked me to do the show a number of times, but it never worked out with my film schedule. So when this one came up, I chased it. I auditioned. Everyone auditioned. No one got the part handed to him.
Q. Between the live singing and the constant close-up shots, Tom Hooper made some unusual choices in how he brought Les Mis to the screen. What did you think watching it?
A. It's so different from how anyone else has done a musical. Tom took so many risks. My main thoughts after seeing it was, "What was he thinking?" It's amazing how all things work. He took so many risks by using through-sung and not dialogue. I'm so glad he didn't listen to me. The first meeting we had, he said, "What is your instinct? Should it be dialogue or like it is onstage?" I said, "I'm pretty sure it's going to be dialogue. I can't imagine a film just holding through song."
Q. Sometimes you allowed your voice to sound rough. It worked somehow.
A. There is a fine line. It can be grating and it can be off-putting. But I think Samantha (Barks, who plays Eponine) put it very well. You had to put your vocal vanity to the side. When you are recording, it's very difficult to let that go. Because you are listening to yourself and thinking, "Oh, I want to fix that or make that clearer." Here, it was the thoughts and emotions that led the way."
Q. You act opposite the original Valjean, Colm Wilkinson, who plays the bishop whose kindness saves your character. Did he offer any advice?
A. He said, "You know, I had the Victor Hugo novel and I would read it a little bit every day. It's like dipping into the Bible. There is so much in it." I had it on the set with me, because he's given 20 times more research and back story than anyone ever could. To me, the book is very uplifting. It's about the human spirit and the ability to be the best version of ourselves no matter what the odds.
Q. Was there a friendly rivalry between you and Russell Crowe, who plays your foil Javert?
A. I've known him for years. He's been a great friend and ally to me. Russell is an incredible professional, and he knows how to seize a moment and rip it apart. When it matters, he is completely focused and can let go. The day he got there, he rang me and said, "Come on, Jackman. Let's go through our parts." I said, "No, it's 10:30 at night." He said, "Come on." He was ready to go at 11 at night. We rehearsed together. We all sang for hours a day just to get used to singing for a long period of time. When he did Stars, it had to be 22 takes. Because it was live, you couldn't pick and choose from each take. You had to do the song each time. It was a real honor to work with him.
Q. Probably the one scene you and Eddie Redmayne wished you could have done onstage instead of film is when Valjean carries the injured Marius over his shoulder through the sewers and you are both covered in this gray goo. That doesn't happen in the theater.
A. It was very cold. And Eddie is heavier than he looks. I was hoisting everything. The flag. The cart. Eddie. I am going to take a nice holiday after this one.
Q. Any other musical opportunities in the works?
A. I am in the middle of doing a new stage musical, Houdini, now. Aaron Sorkin is writing it and Stephen Schwartz is doing the music. Jack O'Brien is directing. We have been at it for a year and a half now. And I say we are about halfway through it. But new musicals take a lot of effort. Fingers crossed this one goes well.


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Trails Update – date posted Mar 21, 2014
South Rim trails are mostly snow and ice free. On the Tanner Trail there are still a couple of small icy patches in the Kaibab and Toroweap.
North Kaibab Trail: A small section of the North Kaibab Trail below Supai Tunnel was damaged in September 2013 due to heavy rain. The North Kaibab Trail is currently open to hikers but not to stock below Supai Tunnel. Hikers should use caution. The damaged section is very narrow, but passable. The trail crew has installed a handline to assist hikers when crossing the narrow section. The handline stretches across the length of the washout, and then some (about 15 to 16 feet). The Grand Canyon Trail Crew hopes to have the damaged section repaired by mid-May 2014.
Hikers without a permit can stop by the Backcountry Information Center to request a last minute permit. Last minute permits and waitlist numbers are issued by the Backcountry Information Center, located inside the park. The South Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily, year round, for walk-in visitors from 8 am to noon and 1-5 pm Mountain Standard Time. The North Rim Backcountry Information Center is open daily from mid-May to October 31 for walk-in visitors from 8 am to noon and 1-5 pm Mountain Standard Time.

subset: commoncrawl


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Oktoberfest is right around the corner. Looking for the perfect stein for your NUBO Oktoberfestbier? How about making your own Beer Stein!
Make your own Beer Stein! Create your own hand built beer stein while enjoying two pints of our craft beer. Coaching and encouragement from John Albrecht and the staff at Good Life Ceramics. When you are finished working on your project, you select a glaze choice from a test tile display. Good Life Ceramics will do all the rest. Projects are dried, bisque fired, glazed and then fired again. Steins ready within three weeks for pick up at New Bohemia and filled with your craft brew of choice. Tickets cost $60 and include all materials, 2 hours of instruction, 2 pints and third when you pick up your stein! Click for here Tickets!


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TROY -- The Rensselaer County Legislature will consider appointing Kelly Hoffman of North Greenbush to fill the seat being vacated by County Legislator Louis Desso Tuesday night during a Legislative session, announced the chairman of the Legislature, Martin Reid, Sunday afternoon. If appointed, Hoffman (R), a member of the North Greenbush Town Board since Nov. 2009, will move into the seat Desso (R, I, C - District 2) has occupied since winning election in Nov. 2009. Hoffman will be completing her term, to conclude in 2013, and is not expected to seek re-election this fall; ; if appointed, she will simultaneously serve both on the legislature and the town board until her current term is completed. Desso, also a former North Greenbush Town Board member, resigned from his elected position to fill the new position of deputy commissioner at the county Office of Mental Health. The post was created following a "reworking" of the OMH after the resignation of former commissioner Katherine Maciol, who has become executive director of the Commission on Economic Opportunity, a position created after long-time CEO director Karen E. Gordon retired. Maciol's former position was filled by Katherine Grace Alonge-Coons in early December. A South Troy native, Hoffman's mother was a homemaker and her father worked for the D&H Railroad. After graduating from Troy High School and Hudson Valley Community College, she went on to begin a public service career with an internship in the office of Assemblyman Neil. W. Kelleher, former mayor of Troy. Kelleher's son, Neil J. Kelleher, was chairman of the county legislature for 20 years until Democrats swept all six seats in the city of Troy during the 2009 elections. Hoffman was hired to work in Kelleher Sr.'s office following the internship. After that position, she worked at The Eddy and Northeast Health, both of which are now part of St. Peter's Health Partners. Before winning election to the North Greenbush Town Board, she was appointed a member of the north Greenbush Zoning Board of Appeals and elected to the Wynantskill Union Free School District Board of Education. Hoffman resides in Wynantskill with her husband, Tom, and their son and daughter.
County Legislature considering Kelly Hoffman for District 2 seat
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NAIA Division II Men?s Basketball Player of the Week - No. 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Patrick Hopkins of Indiana Wesleyan has been tabbed the NAIA National Division II Men's Basketball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Hopkins was selected based on his performances from Jan. 7 - 13 and was chosen out of a pool of conference/independent/unaffiliated group winners.
Hopkins, a 6-foot-7 forward from Kokomo, Ind., posted averages of 21 points, 13.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game, while shooting 57.1 percent from the floor in three games last week. On Jan. 8 at Grace (Ind.), Hopkins scored 22 points and pulled down a season-best 17 rebounds in a 94-76 victory. Two days later, Hopkins helped the Wildcats to a 58-54 victory over Taylor (Ind.). He recorded his second-straight double-double by scoring 24 points and collecting 13 rebounds. Hopkins capped off the week on Jan. 12 with his third double-double in a 81-65 victory over Bethel (Ind.). He scored 17 points on 8-for-13 (61.5 percent) shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Currently in Division II ranks, Hopkins is fourth in rebounds (9.95 rpg) and 22nd in field goal percentage (.562).
For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.
The next Player of the Week announcement will be on Jan. 22. For the complete Player of the Week calendar, click here.
Nominees: Aaron Ponder, Berea (Ky.); Brad Karp, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Ryan Mcintosh, Northwest (Wash.); Ryan Chippeaux, Tabor (Kan.); Nathane Simniok, College of the Ozarks (Mo.); Tim Huber, Ashford (Iowa); Tyrone Gordon, Jr., Dakota State (S.D.); Bobby Naubert, Madonna (Mich.); Nick Reed, Doane (Neb.); Chad Underwood, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Keenan Prince, William Jessup (Calif.); Jakeem Hill, Webber International (Fla.); La'Bris Adams, Montreat (N.C.).
2012-13 Division II Men's Basketball Players of the Week
Week 1 (Jan. 8): Canon Fields, Kansas Wesleyan
Week 2 (Jan. 15): Patrick Hopkins, Indiana Wesleyan


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What to know before coming to class:
Please arrive 10 minutes prior to start time as students are required to check in and classes start on time. Aprons are not mandatory, but suggested. We do not provide them, so feel free bring your own or treat yourself to one of our adorable selections. Closed toe shoes are also suggested and we ask that long hair is tied back for all classes. All cooking class students receive a 10 % discount on any purchase made on the day of the class excluding sale items, consumables, or Mrs. Meyers products.
Cancellation Policy:
Changes or cancellations made 7 days or more before the class date will receive a full refund.
Cancellations made 6 days or less before the class date will incur a 30% "cost of goods" fee.
No refunds, credits, rebookings or date exchanges can be given for cancellations or changes made on the day of the class or for no-shows.
If this policy doesn't work for you, please do not pre-enroll as walk-ins are welcome if space is available. Reservations are transferable and if you are unable to attend a class you may send someone in your place without notice. Changes and cancellations may be made in-person or by calling our store at 562-430-1217 and speaking directly to one of our store employees. In rare circumstances, we may have to cancel a class. We will provide you with 24 hours notice and refund you in full. Please note that no refunds or make-up dates can be given for missed Series classes.
Substitutions and Class Format:
Sometimes we may need to substitute ingredients, menu items, recipes or instructors. Our class size is limited and structured to allow each student the opportunity to work closely with the chef. Students are generally split into groups and prepare several dishes. All students receive a portion of every meal made in class. Any exception to our hands-on format will be labeled as "Demonstration", "Demo" or "Lecture".
We have a fabulous selection of boutique California wines available for purchase that are personally selected by our owner and chefs. Prices start at $6.00 per glass and range from $13 to $30 per bottle. Should you wish to bring your own, a $13 corkage fee will be applied.


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Credit Cards (Secured)
Consumers who have a low credit rating or no credit history can establish credit by applying for a "secured" credit card. Secured credit cards are issued by banks that hold a consumers deposit as collateral against possible default. The credit card holder cannot withdraw their money from the account for as long as they have the card. Therefore, a consumer should not apply for one unless he or she can afford to have the deposit money unavailable to them while they use the secured credit card. The line of credit available on the card is equal to a percentage (sometimes as much as 100%) of the amount on deposit. The individual card issuer dictates the terms and conditions applicable to the card, including interest rate, annual fee, and credit limits, just like unsecured credit cards.
Some banks and other companies will not issue regular credit cards to a consumer whose credit history includes delinquencies or bankruptcies. Therefore, a secured credit card may be a solution for a consumer who needs to build a favorable credit history.
A consumer can use a secured credit card as a means to open an account with a local department store. If the consumer makes regular timely payments on the department store's account, the information will be reported to credit bureaus, this establishes a new and favorable financial history for the consumer.
In every advertisement or solicitation for a secured credit card, the issuer must:
(1) expressly identify it as a "secured credit card";
(2) prominently disclose that credit extended under the card is secured; and,
(3) describe the security by item or type. (CC§1747.94; federal law P.L. 100-709).
Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, North West
Washington, DC 20580
(877) 382-4357


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The not-so-reclusive justices
Since the birth of the Supreme Court, Americans have heard from their justices almost exclusively through the opinions they wrote.
Now, they're popping up on "The Daily Show" and "Fox News Sunday," on book tours and on the lecture circuit.
Story Continued Below
Fresh off a term that brought landmark rulings on gay marriage, affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act, the justices are ready to engage with the public. Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday will make a regular appearance at a judicial conference for a televised, on-stage interview. Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan are headed to Aspen Ideas Week — Kagan will appear Saturday and Breyer Tuesday.
( PHOTOS: 21 landmark SCOTUS rulings)
While justices have long spoken in legal circles, the current nine on the high court seem increasingly comfortable in the spotlight, encouraged by widening public interest and media appetite. They're pitching their autobiographies from the couches of "The View" and not shying away from making news in front of the law school audiences they've long visited.
There's still no sign that they'll budge anytime soon on allowing cameras into the court itself. But outside those stately walls, they seem game for the attention.
"A very dramatic change in the public role of the justices occurred in my lifetime," said Walter Dellinger, a former solicitor general who has argued many times before the high court. "I was clerking for Justice [Hugo] Black when he became the first justice to be interviewed on national television, and it was considered an enormous breakthrough and a historic moment for a justice to do such a thing."
( PHOTOS: Who's who on the Supreme Court)
University of Texas Law School professor Sandy Levinson says one senior member of the high court is most responsible for the trend: Justice Antonin Scalia.
Scalia "made a very deliberate, and from his perspective quite successful, decision … that he was going to become, I suggest, the equivalent of a Barack Obama community organizer — where the community he was trying to organize was by and large lawyers, law students and other judges, to accept his own views of how to approach the law," Levinson said.
Scalia's success at influencing the broader debate on legal issues prompted other justices to follow his lead. Levinson said the conservative Scalia seems to have particularly influenced the liberal Justice Stephen Breyer to become a more public figure.
"The mold has been broken, the justices are much more visible," said David O'Brien, a politics professor at the University of Virginia who has written extensively about the court. "I mean, look at Scalia — the things that he says on the road — justices are much more outspoken."
( Also on POLITICO: The high court's chief peacemaker)
Personnel changes have made a difference, too. The tart-tongued Scalia picked up a new sparring partner when the reclusive Justice David Souter retired and was replaced by Sonia Sotomayor, who has been very comfortable speaking to the media and even posed inside the Supreme Court for the cover of Latina Magazine.
"I guess I was a little bit surprised by how far Justice Sotomayor has gone," said Steve Sanders, a former litigator who has argued before the justices and is now a law professor at Indiana University. "There's certainly nothing ethically inappropriate in what she's done, and I'm sure there are many people who feel better about the Supreme Court now having seen her wonderful generous personality on TV and knowing something about her story. I think she has maybe pushed the boundary more than any of the other justices in sort of letting it all hang out in terms of her personal story and the values she brings to the job."
Several justices have an additional reason to seek out the media: book sales.
Sotomayor released her autobiography, "My Beloved World," in January. Retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor published her memoir, "Out of Order: Stories from the History of the Supreme Court," this spring and Scalia released his book, "Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts," last summer. Justice Clarence Thomas put out a best-selling autobiography in 2007, and Breyer has written roughly half a dozen books on legal theory.
The publishing deals can be lucrative: According to financial disclosure forms, Sotomayor made more than $1.9 million in 2012 alone in advances for her book, much more than the almost $214,000 an associate justice makes a year. And they've taken the justices from C-SPAN to Comedy Central.


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OrchestrationFlute, Piccolo, 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in Bb, 2 Bassoons4 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in Bb, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion (Anvil(s), Bass drum, Triangle) Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)Chorus [either S&A,T,B or just T,B] (optional)This well-known excerpt from Verdi's Il Trovatore has not been arranged or simplified save for transposing the horn parts into F and the trumpet and clarinet parts into Bb. This piece can be performed without the chorus in which case the horns, oboes and clarinets should play the small notes cued into their parts. The chorus can be made up of mixed voices or just male voices. Additional copies of the chorus part are available or if the choir already has copies this edition should be compatible with other standard editions of this chorus.Duration: 2½ minutesA PACK comprises an A4 sized full score plus a complete set of parts including strings 4/4/3/4/2 and one chorus part.
Click the play button below to hear a performance which has been computer-generated from the score.
Five Christmas Carols Score
by David Willcocks
God Save the Queen Bass
by David Good
Five Christmas Carols Bass
by David Willcocks


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About Us | Contact Us
Cruise Holidays of Northwest Austin
(512) 338-8880
Cruising to a Destination Wedding or Honeymoon at Sea
From Caribbean fun and sun or European charm to the natural splendors of Alaska or Hawaii, a cruise provides picturesque destinations to celebrate your love and relationship, while enjoying all the amenities, entertainment venues, and pampering the ship and crew has to offer. Not to mention, a cruise is one of the more value-focused vacations around, with accommodations, food and entertainment included in one price. But there are some very important reasons why it's critical to enlist the help of a travel agent for this momentous event. Whether you want a simple wedding or an all-out bash with friends and family, each cruise line offers their own unique onboard packages, with plenty of optional add-ons to heighten the experience. That dizzying array of options is one obvious reason why a travel agent should be your first call. One benefit of being married on a cruise is that the cruise line will provide you with the services of a wedding coordinator. The coordinator will help you arrange every detail of your ceremony, from music and flowers to photography, video recording, formal wear and a wedding cake. Food can range from light refreshments to a multi-course, sit-down dinner for you and your wedding guests. However, it's important to remember the wedding coordinator works for the cruise line. While he or she wants your big event to go off without a hitch, a travel agent can help guide you in a more impartial fashion and steer you away from unnecessary expenses. A cruise-specialty agent who has organized weddings at sea can help you determine what you need and will arm you with information so that in the end, you aren't spending more money than planned. Princess Cruises pioneered weddings at sea when it launched the industry's first ocean-going wedding chapel. While many people mistakenly believe the ship's captain is always the one who conducts the ceremony, this is not actually the case. In fact it wasn't until the late 1990s that Princess Cruises introduced the industry's first policy that allowed their captains to conduct weddings while in international waters. Celebrity Cruises is an example of another cruise line that offers this service. On some cruise lines, like Disney Cruise Line, a senior officer of the ship conducts the ceremony. Because they are not permitted to conduct legal proceedings, your legal ceremony is actually conducted in port on the day of embarkation, with your special personalized ceremony then held later in the cruise. In most cases, the cruise line will arrange for a non-denominational minister, judge or other qualified official to conduct the ceremony. Or, if you have a special relationship with your own religious official, you may want to invite them to conduct the ceremony for you. While it will be an extra expense to provide their transportation and other costs, it might be worth it if you feel they can provide the best, most personal wedding ceremony – and it's a practice that some travel agents recommend. If your wedding is conducted on the ship prior to departure, the bride and groom must be paying passengers; however, wedding guests not on the voyage are usually allowed to come onboard for a few hours to participate in the wedding festivities prior to the ship's departure. If you'd rather wed shore side once the cruise is in progress, nearly all lines offer weddings in some of the world's most beautiful and unique locations. Disney offers ceremonies on their own private island, Castaway Cay; Royal Caribbean and their Explorer Weddings experience provides the opportunity to wed in such places as a European castle, in a rainforest, or on FlowRider (their onboard surf simulator); or exchange vows on an uninhabited South Pacific island with Regent Seven Seas Cruises. In most cases, if the port is on the itinerary a shore side wedding can be arranged. Be sure to check with the cruise line and other authorities about taking care of any necessary paperwork – including the wedding license – before you depart for your cruise. Another major benefit of a cruise-based wedding is that the ceremony can blend seamlessly into a memorable honeymoon. Since you're already on a vacation, combining a wedding and honeymoon into one package provides a smooth transition from the wedding event to celebrating your honeymoon the rest of the trip. Honeymoon packages, depending on cruise line and package selected, could include a combination of romantic touches such as breakfast in bed, a bottle of champagne, gourmet chocolates, a dinner for two, and a personalized memento. You'll sail to beautiful, interesting ports of call while enjoying the amenities of the ship. Every evening includes great dining, music and entertainment all right outside your stateroom door. If you're already married but want to experience the chance to feel like a newlywed all over again, many cruise lines also offer vow renewal ceremonies. They can include music, flowers, or other creative touches. While not legal ceremonies, they are a sentimental way to mark one of the most important milestones in your life. Cruise Holidays will work with you to ensure your ceremony as well as your honeymoon are suited to your taste and budget. For more information about planning a cruise ship wedding or honeymoon, talk with your Cruise Holidays personal cruise expert.


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When it comes to applying to college, there's one online application that's nearly synonymous with "college application." That is, of course, the Common Application—a digital, one-size-fits-all document that allows high school seniors to submit their application to up to 20 colleges in one fell swoop. But in the spirit of Martin Luther King Day, we are delighted to turn our attention to another application that can make the college application process a little bit simpler and a whole lot less expensive: the Common Black College Application (CBCA).
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'The city had a name, we know it, but it is being withheld to protect the secrets it holds as well as to protect the interests of the Pellucid Foundation and the associated expeditions.'
Commander Edgar Barber Burroughs
PCs often end up with curses, sometimes serious ones. Or perhaps a great noble offers a reward to the PCs if they will cure his or her illness or curse before it proves fatal. Here are thirty cures that might be needed.
In many cases, the local people will not co-operate in providing information about criminals or those who are on the run. Here are seven reasons why they either won't or can't help track a wanted person or group down.
The Spitzkoppe Excavation was the most important archeological discovery in human history
The PCs are in a graveyard, when as they are passing a noble tomb with a certain symbol embossed on the door, the magic user in the party hears a voice from being the tomb door begging to be let out. What do the PCs do?
Goblins descended on civilised land from the east nearly one thousand years ago. Now, it's time to descend upon them with all the fury they have shown us they are capable of.
The town of Silverfox Mill was a quiet place for many years, but this peaceful town has begun to unravel. The arrival of the Usury Guild drained the populace of their livelihood, forcing many into poverty, alcoholism, and prostitution. Complicating this trying time the town has recently lost its most beloved citizen, the wizard Osric Skanderbag. With his absence it seems the long-dead witch Anna has been raised to murder and poison, but this may be a front for more contemporary threats.
The Sea hides many secrets in its depths, here are 30.
The Odaneimo Mountains aren't exactly the sort the bards talk about, they dont tear at the sky or trip the gods. They are still tall enough that you just can't go hiking over them. There are just two passes through them, Oshen Pass down in the south, and Zoran pass, in the north. It would be worth a pretty penny if someone could find a middle pass through.
Diad, Teamsters Guild-boss
Atop a nearby rise the infuriated priestess stood, taking in the unfolding scene in the
valley below. How dare these metallic, roaring, foreigners loot their temples. She offered
up a silent, vengeful prayer to her gods, may their wrath befall these intruders!
A scroll of rumours, Chinese Whispers style
"Bavmor could not possibly have known that the flask was incomplete due to the magical method of its creation. Had Bavmor taken an alchemical approach, he would have known that 10 more ingredients have yet to be found."
- Fitchinger the Great
Or, 30 Ways for Mad Science to go Delightfully Awry
The hacker had breached the final firewall and was typing code into the command prompt: code/7777SOHAT. Images flashed up on screen and he gazed in terror at what he saw.
In the chosen families, the son was always more dangerous than the father.
- "This is train CIV1181, kilometer 15 right after the station. There is a person close to the track on my left side. Could you send somebody to look at it."
- "Understood. Anything suspicious?"
- "He simply lies there. And I think he was there yesterday, too…"
Buttons, how could you?
A strange group of ghosts plague the grave yard, only seen under the light of the full moon and known to drive most men mad that hear their gibbering speech.
(A simple plug in side-quest with a twist, that is left a little generalized to fit in with any fantasy campaign with minimal prep work by a gm.)
"Did ya hear that? There's riches found every night, all over the town! No way you can miss that!"
This was such a nice place to spend a good evening. Now, everyone who wins a little money is found dead the other day! I bet the owner is up to something…
Rich Romans raised fish in private pools at their villas. A favorite fish was lamprey, a parasitic fish which sucks off blood and flesh but made an excellent meal. A particuarly gruesome punishment for slaves was to be thrown into the lamprey pool, where their flesh was ripped from the bone by swarms of the jawless fish.


text: Find this wine Find this wine Termes Numanthia 2007 Recommended Very good Pin It Tweet 6 years ago by Terry Q. More posts Termes 2010 Numanthia Wine Termes toro region spicy complex. Best chilled. 5 years ago by Kevin J. Termes Numanthia Bottle @Harvest 5 years ago by Debcarlos12 Termes Numanthia 2009 Very good with spaghetti 6 years ago by Fdhansen Termes Numanthia 2008 Nice fruit Spanish wine 6 years ago by dave Termes Numanthia 2009 Shootout, many guessed shiraz or Cal. Syrah or grenache. 6 years ago by Marshall W.


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So some of you may recognize this figure from the webcomic created, written, and animated by Andrew Hussie. It was published on MS Paint Adventures, and it's become quite popular over the past years. The character that we will be getting a lesson on is a troll, and his name is Gamzee. Someone asked me if I could make a few lessons on some of the characters from the comic so I did. Drawing Gamzee will be fun, creative and super easy. After you are done with the lesson you'll be thinking to yourself that drawing trolls was a lot easier than you thought. Gamzee has black hair, yellowish orange horns, and he wears all black with purple sneakers. Don't hesitate to tackle this tut folks, I know you will have a blast.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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U.N. Affirms Human Role in Global Warming
Major Report Reasserts Link Between Rising Temperatures, Fossil Fuels; Warns of a Tipping Point With Severe Effects
STOCKHOLM—A landmark United Nations report issued Friday reaffirmed the growing belief that human activity is the dominant cause behind a rise in global temperatures and reiterated that a long-term planetary warming trend is expected to continue.
The report could have a significant impact on policy-making because it underscores that human activity is pushing atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentrations toward levels whereby the surface temperatures may increase by 2 degrees Celsius. Many governments have pledged to try to keep...


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Еlsеviеr | 2007 | ISBN: 0750679670 9780750679671 9780080488394 | 655 pages | PDF | 3 MB
Еlsеviеr | 2007 | ISBN: 0750679670 9780750679671 9780080488394 | 655 pages | PDF | 3 MB
This book will serve to identify the various security applications biometrics can play a highly secure and specific role in. It discusses the current state-of-the-art in biometric verification/authentication, identification and system design principles.
Only biometrics verification/authentication is based on the identification of an intrinsic part of a human being. Tokens, such as smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, and physical keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. Passwords can be forgotten, shared, or unintentionally observed by a third party. Forgotten passwords and lost "smart cards" are a nuisance for users and an expensive time-waster for system administrators. Biometric security solutions offer some unique advantages for identifying and verifying/ authenticating human beings over more traditional security methods.
• Contains elements such as Sidebars, Tips, Notes and URL links
• Heavily illustrated with over 150 illustrations, screen captures, and photographs
• Details the various biometric technologies and how they work while providing a discussion of the economics, privacy issues and challenges of implementing biometric security solutions
Biometric Technologies and Verification Systems is organized into nine parts composed of 30 chapters, including an extensive glossary of biometric terms and acronyms. It also provides a step-by-step discussion of how biometrics works; how biometric data in human beings can be collected and analyzed in a number of ways; how biometrics are currently being used as a method of personal identification in which people are recognized by their own unique corporal or behavioral characteristics; and how to create detailed menus for designing a biometric verification system.


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Build Your Own Controller.
The Beatsurfing App has 4 objects available: the Line, the Polygon, the Fader and the Circle. Each of them has specific features (direction detection, counter, etc.). You use those objects to create swarms, groups of objects that you can arrange in layers, duplicate, etc. enabling you to create unique MIDI controllers that would not occur if you had to prototype them physically. As you can link objects together and create interactions between them ("Behaviours", of which an example is available here: https://vimeo.com/40236917), there's also more to a controller than what meets the eye.
How does it work?
Using the Multi-Touch iPad gestures to bring the objects on the surface, position, resize, color and orient them.
– Everything can be modified seamlessly through an intuitive interface relying on iPad gestures.
– Each object can be positioned on a 3-dimensional space (through layers), further allowing you to be creative with your controller building.
Objects features
All four objects are very simple operators if you consider them separately. It is also important to highlight that each object has a concept of "behaviors" they can be assigned with.
- The Line can trigger a unique MIDI note defined as the "root note." Each time your finger collides a Line, the MIDI note message is sent. Then you have the notion of directional detection that you can enable or not. When enabled, it will detect in which direction you pass through the Line and trigger the root note if you slide your finger from right to left, or the next note relative to the root note if you slide your finger from left to right.
- The Polygon is very similar to the Line, where each segment of the polygon has the same characteristic as the Line operator.
- The Circle is more or less a sequencer. You can define from 1 to 16 steps. Each step triggers a MIDI note. Each time you collide a Circle, the current step is increased and as a result triggers the next MIDI note. Other objects in the scene can be configured to reset or set a particular step on the circle.
- The Fader sends MIDI Control Change or Pitch Wheel messages.


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Evolution: Education and Outreach
Editors-in-chief N. Eldredge, G. Eldredg, Springer Press.
The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online
by Dr. John van Wyhe, University of Cambridge.
NOVA's special Web compilation of their evolution-related programs and materials.
Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion Year History of the Human Body
Why do we look the way we do? What does the human hand have in common with the wing of a fly? Are breasts, sweat glands, and scales connected in some way? To better understand the inner workings of our bodies and to trace the origins of many of today's most common diseases, we have to turn to unexpected sources: worms, flies, and even fish. In Your Inner Fish, Neil Shubin tells the story of evolution by tracing the organs of the human body back millions of years, long before the first creatures walked the earth. The book won its category in the 2009 Keck Futures Initiative Communications Awards, which recognize excellence in reporting and communicating science, engineering, and medicine to the general public.
NEW: Your Inner Fish is now a three-part series on PBS. The series is based on the best-selling book and hosted by author and evolutionary biologist Dr. Neil Shubin. Follow the adventure now on PBS
Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges to Human Health
The Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences' Infectious Disease: Evolving Challenges to Human Health exhibit examines impacts of microbial evolution on the spread of disease over the centuries. Visitors can explore characteristics of different bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as well as the diseases that are caused by many of them both virtually and in-house. Explore the exhibit or visit the Koshland Science Museum online.
Infectious Disease Webquest
The Koshland Museum has developed a series of materials for middle and high school educators relating evolution to current science. Two of the classroom activities focus on the HIV/AIDS epidemic from both biological and public health angles. Students can also explore the potential of an avian influenza epidemic and develop a suggested public policy campaign through the Infectious Disease webquest. Teachers can also bring students to the museum for a facilitated field trip focusing on Infectious Diseases. Download the HIV/AIDS curriculum supplements. Explore the avian influenza webquest. Learn more about the museum's field trip program.
Science, Evolution, and Creationism Podcast (2005)
Science, Evolution, and Creationism explains the fundamental methods of science, documents the overwhelming evidence in support of biological evolution, and evaluates the alternative perspectives offered by advocates of various kinds of creationism, including "intelligent design." The podcast, from the series Sounds of Science, gives a brief overview of the report, which was released January 4th.
Genesis: The Scientific Quest for Life's Origins (2005)
Life on Earth arose nearly 4 billion years ago, bursting forth from air, water, and rock. Though the process obeyed all the rules of chemistry and physics, the details of that original event pose as deep a mystery as any facing science. How did non-living chemicals become alive? While the question is (deceivingly) simple, the answers are unquestionably complex. Genesis tells the tale of transforming scientific advances in our quest for life's origins. Written with grace, beauty, and authority, it goes directly to the heart of who we are and why we are here. (Published by Joseph Henry Press, an imprint of the National Academies Press. The views expressed in this book are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National.)
Darwin's Gift to Science and Religion (2007)
With the publication in 1859 of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, Charles Darwin established evolution by common descent as the dominant scientific explanation for nature s diversity. This was to be his gift to science and society at last, we had an explanation for how life came to be on Earth. In Darwin's Gift, a voice at once fresh and familiar brings a rational, measured perspective to the science of evolution. An acclaimed evolutionary biologist with a background in theology, Francisco Ayala offers clear explanations of the science, reviews the history that led us to ratify Darwin's theories, and ultimately provides a clear path for a confused and conflicted public. (Published by Joseph Henry Press, an imprint of the National Academies Press. The views expressed in this book are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National.)
Statement on the Teaching of Evolution
InterAcademy Panel on International Issues
Activities, Writings and Resources on Evolution
Sigma Xi The Scientific Research Society
Evolution: Constant Change and Common Threads
Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2005 Holiday Lecture Series
Statements from Scientific Organizations
National Center for Science Education
Position Statement on the Teaching of Evolution
National Science Teacher's Association
National Center for Science Education
Home page
Resources for Teaching Evolution
National Science Teachers Association
Evolution: A Journey Into Where We're From and Where We're Going
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
Online Course for Teachers: Teaching Evolution
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
Understanding Evolution
University of California Museum of Paleontology and the National Center for Science Education
The AIBS/NCSE Evolution List Server Network
American Institute of Biological Sciences and the National Center for Science Education
Evolution on the Front Line
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Press Room
Political Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution
American Geological Institute


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We were at the special Comic-Con screening of Locke & Key, an attempted TV adaptation of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's acclaimed horror fantasy comic. We can officially add this to the list of brilliant pilots that never got series.
The episode is a condensed adaptation of the book's opening arc, "Welcome to Lovecraft." Written by Sarah Connor Chronicles showrunner Josh Friedman and directed by Never Let Me Go's Mark Romanek, the pilot introduces the Locke family - parents Rendell and Nina, teenagers Tyler and Kinsey, and six-year-old Bode - in a moment of tranquility that is shattered forever by the arrival of mentally disturbed teenager Sam Lesser, who kills Rendell. The family moves in with Rendell's brother Duncan at the Locke family's ancestral New England home, the Keyhouse, and then some very fantastical, frightening things start happening.
Bode discovers a key that unlocks a door to another world - specifically, one in which he can become a ghost, which allows him to travel anywhere at will. His attempts to tell his family about this are met with concern and bemusement, as everyone else is struggling to keep some sense of normality. Bode also discovers the mysterious woman Echo at the bottom of the Keyhouse's well. Bode befriends Echo, but this is a mistake - she was behind Rendell's murder in the first place, and she is tricks Bode into helping Sam escape from prison, which leads to a second brutal confrontation between Sam and the Lockes as he tries again to free Echo from her effective prison in the well.
Like I said, the pilot mostly follows the "Welcome to Lovecraft" arc, so most of the pilot's plot points mirror those of the original. There are, however, a few key divergences from the comic, both major and minor. While Bode is pretty much the exact same character he was in the comics, Tyler is less of the jocky, hulking presence he was in the comics, and Kinsey has lost the dreadlocks and the piercings - both, basically, read a little more like "normal" teens than they did in the comics. Duncan is a little more conflicted about his feelings toward Rendell, while Nina is more stable here than she was in the opening arc of the comic.
We also jump directly from Sam's arrival at the Locke's getaway spot to the surviving Lockes arriving at the Keyhouse, and what happens in between is only partially revealed in later flashbacks. Sam's escape from prison and journey to the Keyhouse is condensed (and his comics accomplice Al Grubb is excised entirely), Kinsey is a swimmer now instead of a runner (a decision made mostly because it was winter when they shot the pilot, and far too cold to be out running, according to Friedman), and the Lockes' new town features less of the New England color that Hill put into the original comic. Oh, and Tyler no longer wears his trademark hat, which actor Jesse McCartney explained that he would have loved to wear, but it was a nightmare to light properly and keep his eyes in shot.
There are a couple huge changes made right at the very end of the episode, which set up where the show would have gone if it had been picked up - and, as both Joe Hill and producer Bob Orci made abundantly clear, there's pretty much zero chance of that happening at this point. Echo remains female at the end of the episode, and at least Tyler is now aware of the keys. The episode repeatedly hints at the idea that Rendell used the keys to wipe people's memories, particularly those of his brother Duncan. But the big reveal at the end of the episode is completely unique to the TV version: it ends with a zoom inside a big tree near the Keyhouse, and inside the tree we find a hidden chamber in which tiny people are kept imprisoned in jars, each representative of a memory that Rendell stole: and the jar we zoom in on has a tiny Nina inside. I guess we now know why they cast everyone's favorite creepy man of mystery, Mark Pellegrino (Lost, Supernatural), as Rendell Locke.
So, with all that in mind, how good is the pilot? It's a very strong hour of television, and it does a valiant job translating an incredibly complicated premise into something that could ever even theoretically work on TV, and writer Josh Friedman and director Mark Romanek deserve a ton of credit for pulling all this together. I can't think of anything on television quite like Locke & Key, which throws together a ton of seemingly disparate fantasy elements and treats them as perfectly reasonable. Indeed, if anything, the pilot underplays the fantasy elements - I suspect I would have been a bit confused if I hadn't just read "Welcome to Lovecraft", and I could see wider audiences having a little trouble grappling with all this.
That said, there's so much this series gets right and does well that it's hard to get too worked up over the minor missteps. The entire cast is excellent - Miranda Otto and Nick Stahl nicely balance their own emotional journeys with their responsibilities as adults, Jesse McCartney and Sarah Bolger really get across Tyler and Kinsey's torment while maintaining a certain sense of humor, newcomer Harrison Thomas is truly unnerving as Sam, Ksenia Solo is a great ethereal presence as Echo, and child actor Skylar Gaertner is pretty much the perfect Bode.
At the panel afterward, Joe Hill praised the memory jar tree, saying that was completely Friedman's idea but that ti's so good that he'll probably have to steal it for the comics at some point. Friedman explained that he created this as a hook for the rest of the series as a way to hook Nina more strongly into the overall mythology. Hill admitted that, because he wanted to focus in on just the kids, Nina tended to be put more in the background, and he did regret having to make that call.
The panelists also explained where the show would have gone if it had gotten a series order. Hill said there's only about eight episodes of TV to be made directly from the existing comics, so the series would have had to invented a lot of new material. To that end, Friedman explained the show would have adopted a "key of the week" format, in which the Lockes discover a new key and explore its possibilities, and every three or four episodes they would return to the comics source material for an episode to build up the larger mythology. Friedman said the plan was to stick fairly closely to the original comics and not diverge in the way that, say, The Walking Dead has, but the comics would still only serve as a spine for the larger series.
At the end of the day, the creators were realistic about the show, saying that the vast majority of pilots never get picked up and the vast majority of shows get canceled. They argued that, for all the flack that FOX gets, at least they are willing to take risks on out there projects in the first place. As Hill and Rodriguez pointed out, Locke & Key was difficult enough to sell to comics publishers, let alone TV studios - and that they were grateful for the opportunity to show the pilot at all.
At this point, director Mark Romanek broke in: "This is all too gracious. They should have fucking picked it up." On that point, I would tend to agree.


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Winemaking Consultant
Tom Payette 540.672.0387
Tom Payette Phone: 540-672-0387
Tom Payette, a premier hands on and analytical winemaking consultant, serves clients throughout the United States and internationally. His wide range of expertise includes winery and vineyard start-ups and expansions, still and sparkling wine production and general winery issues. He has worked since 1985 crafting still and sparkling wines, including seven years experience in ultra-premium Bordeaux varietal wine production in Napa, California. Tom studied under famed Bordeaux enologist Jacques Boissenot. In addition to winemaking, Mr. Payette is a noted national speaker, recognized International wine judge, contributing author to the book Winemaking Problems Solved and technical columnist for international trade magazines.
Mr. Payette recently received four awards for his winemaking achievements and contributions to the industry. The Atlantic Seaboard Wine Association presented Tom with the Wine Grape Productivity Tray in recognition of his major contributions to the sustainable growth and economic viability of the American wine industry. Tom was awarded the Virginia Governor's Cup (the most prestigious wine award in the Commonwealth) in back-to-back competitions first for his red wine, 2008 Meritage Blend, and then subsequently for his 2009 Reserve Chardonnay. Blue Ridge School awarded Tom Payette the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year.
Tom Payette was named "Winemaker of the Year" in 1999.
Notwithstanding Tom's national and regional recognition, he is a humble, talented, resourceful and efficient winemaker who can teach you how to make wine and work with you in the cellar and beyond to maximize your business and resources.
Winemaking Consultant
Tom Payette
7111 B Riverside Dr
Rapidan VA 22733
Phone: 540.672.0387


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50 এর বেশি ডেটিং
এটা বলা হয়েছে যে যখন ভালবাসা আসে, বয়সটি কেবল একটি সংখ্যা ছাড়া আর কিছুই নয়। যাইহোক, যখন আপনি ডেটিং করছেন এবং পঞ্চাশেরও বেশি প্রেমের সন্ধান করেন, তখন একই একক অভিজ্ঞতাগুলি, লক্ষ্য এবং স্বার্থ ভাগ করে এমন অন্য একককে পূরণ করা গুরুত্বপূর্ণ।
Seeking love over fifty can be an overwhelming process. You might be unsure of where to start, or where to look since at this stage of your life you're likely done with the bar or club scene, and your social network might not offer much in the way of love matches. While dating over fifty doesn't come without it's unique challenges, there are also quite a lot of benefits to finding yourself single and ready to mingle at this stage of your life. For starters, you've got loads of experience under your belt that your younger counterparts could only hope for. You know yourself, you know what you like and dislike, and you have the life experiences and independence to back it all up. So while the prospect of mature online dating might be a daunting one, tapping into the inherit confidence of yours will attract like-minded partners.
Senior Date ideas
Looking for some inspiration for a first date? Or, are you looking to romance your way to a serious relationship by wowing someone lucky? We have created a list of stunning date ideas to help anyone looking for a fun date.
Dinner is probably the simplest and most popular choice for all first date. No matter where you live, there will be a huge selection of places to have dinner. You may want to consider a quiet place that isn't too crowded. After all, you want to be able to hear what you're both saying. Another consideration is distance. Maybe the place you have chosen is close to where you live, but how far is it from your date's home? Try and gage what sort of place your date would like to eat in. If your date chooses the sort of place you're not keen on, don't worry about asking for a compromise. Bon appetit.
Country Walk
What better place to relax with new company. A country walk will afford the peace and quiet that you may need to really get to know one another. If the countryside is a little out of your way, how about a walk in the park, or the canal path. If you have a dog, take him or her along too, to find out if your date is a dog person. Whatever you choose, the relaxed pace and fresh air in your lungs should put you in the mood to chat. A game of eye Spy wouldn't go amiss to help break the ice.
City Bus Tour
If your date is from out of town, how about a city bus tour date? You could impress your date with your knowlege of local history, or even learn a few new things about your home town yourself.
Oi, no snogging on the back row! But seriously, the cinmea is a great first date idea. You'll be sat close to your date, secretly whispering about the movie to one another. Remember, if you're retired, most afternoon matinee movies are half price. Watching a movie together will also give you pleanty to talk about in the pub after.
Many parks around the country have boating lakes. You may be a land lover, but you're sure to have a hoot with your date, going round and round in circles, getting drenched as you go well, that's what happens to me when I go boating. Don't forget to take your camera, just in case. Warm up after with a cup of tea in the park cafe.
Garden Centre
It may not be rock and roll, but we like it. Many retiree's love gardening, and with the size of our garden centre's these days, you can actually make a day of visiting your local garden centre. If you both love gardening, you'll find lots to talk about in the garden centre cafe.
5 Things Not to Do on Online Dating Sites
- Don't lie – It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised at the number of people that out-right lie about their identities online. So many in fact, that there are private investigators out there who specifically market themselves as providing background checks for people that you've met online, If you're married, or not the age you say you are, your tryst will very likely find out eventually. In fact you might even be breaking the law. If you are married then representing yourself as single counts as fraud in many countries such as the USA, and can carry fines of up to $250,000.
- Don't use text talk – If you're not a fourteen year old girl then writing "u" instead of "you" online is simply unacceptable. It just doesn't come across as all that adult, or even all that literate. Type in full, grammatically correct sentences and if you're not sure then take a spell-checker to it before uploading. Another frequent foible of those unused to communicating online is SENDING MESSAGES IN ALL CAPS. On a social level, this is roughly the online equivalent of shouting in someone's face; definitely not the kind of image you want to project to a potential date.
- Don't talk about your bad experiences – If someone is looking to go on a date with someone they met online, they're probably hoping that they're going to be fun to be around. Moping in your dating profile is perhaps the worst way of showing that you know how to have a good time. Then again, bragging about your past conquests is probably not the best way about it either. Try to find the golden mean, coming across as fun to be around without being arrogant either.
- Don't use an old or inaccurate photo – If you are ever planning on meeting up with the people you're talking to, they will find out and probably react badly. It's common sense that if you're hoping to begin a relationship of any sort then it's best not to start out under false pretences. Additionally, don't keep the same photo online until it grows old. Change your main photo every now and again and test out what gets the best response.
- Don't confine yourself to just one site – As discussed in one of my other posts, the dating game is a numbers game. The more you put yourself out there, the more responses you are likely to get. Equally, many dating sites will just not be right for you. They may not have many people from your area, or may mainly cater to an entirely different type of person. Browse around and try to find out what works through trial and error.
Step Out Of Your Dating Comfort Zone
We all have our standard answers to the question, "What is your ideal guy/girl like?" that we rattle off like a checklist, as we wonder WHERE OH WHERE IS THIS MAGICAL MAN and, subsequently, disregard any possible suitors who don't possess every quality on our handy dandy checklist. We turn down dates, don't respond to texts or emails and hold out for Prince (Or Princess) Charming. We limit ourselves because we have a list and we are sticking to it, damn it.
He should be tall, 6'1 would be ideal. Dark hair, light eyes. I've never had much luck with blonde men, so let's count them out entirely, shall we? He must be in good shape, and have impeccable style. I want him to make me laugh when I am determined not to crack a smile, love red wine and know the difference between a Shiraz and Cabernet, have a schedule that meshes perfectly with mine, remember all of my friends' names, birthdays and favorite foods, bring me to orgasm 3 times a day, make sure my car is always filled up with gas, basically does the right things, says the right things, always at the right times-as defined by me, of course and these "right things" are subject to change at any time, plus he should put up with my self-admitted moodiness and it would be awesome if he played the guitar or piano too, just because I think it's sexy. OH, and he should be loyal, charismatic caring, kind…you get the point. This is the man-quivalent of my comfort zone.
Online Dating Profile Photo Tips
Nothing says more about you than your photo. Did you know that dating profiles with photo's get 90% more interest than those without, and it take literally seconds to add a photo to your profile.
Say Cheese!
A smile is always free, and it shows your best side. Nobody wants to see a grumpy or confused face on a dating website, they want to see happy looking people. Profiles with smiling photo's get twice as many messages as those without. Go on, give us a smile.
Location, Location, Location
Don't sit in the closet, come out into the light. A well lit photo of you in an interesting location will look 100% better than one taken in a dark spare room. Some of our members have really gone for gold and added photo's of themselves on aeroplanes, boats and with the odd palm tree on a beach. Of course we can't all jump on a plane to take our profile photo, but how about a shot of you in the garden? If you don't have a garden, maybe a park? If all else fails, we suggest you try sitting facing a window, that way your face will be well lit (direct light also hides the odd wrinkle
What Happens When What We Say We Want Isn't What We Really Need?
In my experience, nothing ever goes according to plan, and if it does, well, it's kind of boring. Getting exactly what I want is great, don't get me wrong-I like my Starbucks made a certain way, exactly the way I want it, my MAC configured to specifically fit my every need, and my steak better be medium rare or else it's going back.
Centre yourself. Sometimes online dating services crop member photo's down automatically to fit certain website pages. With that in mind, it's a good idea to keep your face as near the centre of the your photo as possible, that way, your photo will look great without any of your features being snipped off.
"Which one is you?"
While some of your best photo's of you may also contain other people, it's worth not uploading those, just in case you confuse other members about which person in the photo is you. Answering questions such as "Which one is you?" may be embarrassing. With respect, we suggest you don't upload photo's of you with either your ex, or even late partner. This also may confuse and even worry a potential date. Keep it simple, keep it fun.
The Professional Job
Something we've noticed popping up on our website, are professionally shot profile photo's. These are where a professional photographer is hired to take a few shots of you in their studio, or in your home. This may sound expensive, and sometimes is. One of our members came up with a cheeky way of getting his professional photo taken for free. He suggested to his son that he have professional photo's taken of the entire family. Once they were done, he uploaded his. 2 birds with one stone, you might say


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Whether or not any of the so-called Hollywood Hills Burglar Bunch are ever convicted, they are fast becoming celebrities in their own right. Aerial photos of 51 pricey mansions were stored on a computer police say was stolen by the group, TMZ.com reported.
The Burglar Bunch of at least seven teenage and 20-something suspects have already targeted the homes of celebrities including Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Audrina Patridge, Megan Fox and Orlando Bloom, according to police and prosecutors.
Accused so far are Courtney Ames and Alexis Neirs, both 18, Diana Tamayo, 19, and 27-year-old Roy Lopez Jr., all arrested Oct. 22 and released on bail.
A fifth suspect, Rachel Lee, 18, was arrested in Las Vegas, but the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to immediately file charges against her.
In addition to the charges against Ames, Neirs, Tamayo and Lopez, five additional burglary charges have been filed against 18-year-old Nicholas Prugo, of Calabasas, who was arrested Sept. 11 and previously charged with two counts of burglary.
Los Angeles police have also identified a seventh suspect named Jonathan Ajar, who remains at large.
According to police and prosecutors, the theft ring swiped more than $3 million in jewelry, designer clothes and accessories during a spree that began in December and continued through at least Oct. 11.
Surveillance images from an Aug. 23 burglary showed a male and two females with their faces covered by scarves walking through a gate and into the courtyard near Lohan's home.
More images from a Feb. 23 burglary at Patridge's home, which the actress posted on the Internet, showed a male and a female walking near her home, then breaking in and leaving with two bags. Prosecutors said more than $43,000 in jewelry and designer clothes was stolen.
Prugo, who is now charged with seven counts of residential burglary, is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 12.
Tamayo, of Newbury Park, is charged with two counts of residential burglary and is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 17. Neirs is expected to be arraigned Nov. 16 on one count of burglary. Ames will arraigned Nov. 20 and Lopez will be arraigned Nov. 23, both on single counts of burglary.


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Pope calls for 'God-centered' global economy - Jul 2009
Pope Benedict XVI today called for reforming the United Nations and establishing a "true world political authority" with "real teeth" to manage the global economy with God-centered ethics.
In his third encyclical, a major teaching, released as the G-8 summit begins in Italy, the pope says such an authority is urgently needed to end the current worldwide financial crisis. It should "revive" damaged economies, reach toward "disarmament, food security and peace," protect the environment and "regulate migration."
Benedict writes, "The market is not, and must not become, the place where the strong subdue the weak."
The encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) is a theologically dense explication of Catholic social teaching that draws heavily from earlier popes, particularly PaulVI's critique of capitalism 42 years ago. And echoing his predecessor John Paul II, Benedict says, "every economic decision has a moral consequence."
FAITH & REASON: Experts say pope's economic views draw from politics
Issued days before his Friday meeting with President Obama, the pope's views here are "to the left of Obama in terms of economic policy," particularly in calls for redistribution of wealth, says political scientist Thomas Reese, a Jesuit priest and senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
The encyclical also echoes Benedict's many speeches, saying that to reach sound a global economy every responsibility and commitment must be rooted in the values of Christian truth.
Without that, he says, "there is no social conscience and responsibility." Neither, he says, are mere "good sentiments" enough. Human progress requires God, and today's choices concern "nothing less than the destiny of man."
Although Benedict says the church has no "technical solutions to offer," he asserts that religion has a role in the public square. His very specific suggestions on the economy, ecology and justice are addressed not just to Catholics, but to everyone, from heads of state to household shoppers.
According to the encyclical:
- - Labor must be safeguarded after years of rampant market forces leaving citizens powerless in the face of "new and old risks" and without effective trade union protections.
- - Elimination of world hunger is essential for "safeguarding the peace and stability of the planet," and the problem is not resources but their inequitable distribution.
- - "Demographic control" through an "anti-birth mentality" that promotes abortion and birth control "cannot lead to morally sound development." He blasts those who support abortion "as if it were a form of cultural progress."
- - The environment is "God's gift to everyone" and we have a "grave duty to hand the earth on to future generations" in good condition, says Benedict. He laments, "how many natural resources are squandered by wars!"
- - "Financiers must rediscover" ethics and not use "sophisticated instruments" to "betray the interests of savers."
- - Consumers, must "realize that purchasing is always a moral — and not simple economic — act." In this context, the ecological crisis is seen as a crisis in human ecology.
"The pope is saying you need just structures and people who act justly," says Steve Colecchi, director of the office of international justice and peace for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "He's calling on every level of society to be rooted in an ethical vision of the human person."
The "true world political authority" that Benedict calls for should keep solutions as simple and local as possible but still create solidarity for the common good.
Reese notes the "strong language here on the redistribution of wealth — not something people like to talk about in the USA. If the Catholic right is against the redistribution of wealth, they're against the pope. He doesn't believe an unregulated marketplace is going to solve all the problems of economy and poverty."
Kirk Hanson, executive director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara (Calif.) University, praised Benedict for including an emphasis on "life ethics" as "essential" to a healthy social and economic order.
Lew Daly, senior fellow at Demos, a New York City-based public policy organization and author of God's Economy: Faith-Based Initiatives and the Caring State, praised the text as "a turning point for the church and particularly for the American church, because our nation and our society is both the epicenter of wealth and the epicenter of inequality.
"Nearly half of the world's population lives on less than $2.50 a day and nearly 80% live on less than $10 a day. In the meantime a relative handful of corporations and wealthy families have grown rich far beyond the greatest emperors and kings of the past.
"There may be growth, but a faithful Catholic does not call this progress, the pope argues, until the growth is more equitably shared according to the design of the Creator," says Daly.
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY
View original source here


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Telstra has announced the next stage of its $800 million cloud services investment with new data centres set to go live in WA, SA and ACT in Q1 of 2013.
A new Victorian data centre will also be opened during 2014 in Clayton, Melbourne, complementing an existing facility in Melbourne. The telco also operates a centre in Sydney.
A Telstra spokesman said he could not provide details on the size of the data centres or estimated power usage effectiveness (PUE).
According to Telstra enterprise and government group managing director Paul Geason, the new infrastructure will provide hosting services for customers who rely on "latency sensitive applications" and other customers with data sovereignty requirements.
Victorian data centre investment hits $500 million:Rich-Phillips
Avoiding the data centre property trap
Australian government agencies still reaching for the cloud
"By adding a further four data centres across the country, which are all fully integrated within our Next IP and Next G networks, our customers will have even more cloud-based options located in Australia and under Australian laws," Geason said in a statement.
He added that the company's data centre customers will be monitored "around the clock" by 140 staff based out of an Australian operations centre. Telstra also provides network security for customers' cloud networks, data, applications and devices through its security operations centre.
Victorian data centre plans
According to Victorian government technology minister Gordon Rich-Phillips, more than $100 million will be invested by Telstra in the new Melbourne data centre creating 500 jobs during the construction phase in 2013.
"Once complete, the 2000 square metre facility will house Telstra's future revenue generating platforms, such as enterprise cloud services, and showcase the latest data centre design and energy efficiency," he said in a statement.
According to Rich-Phillips, many businesses in the state were looking to cloud computing to solve data challenges and this was creating demand for more facilities such as Telstra's.
He added that over the past two years the Coalition government has helped facilitate more than $500 million worth of data centre investment in Victoria.
Follow Hamish Barwick on Twitter: @HamishBarwick
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.


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Vera Wang Runway | Fashion Week Fall 2013 Photos
Vera Wang Fall 2013 Runway
Vera Wang Fall 2013 Runway
Vera Wang got sculptural for Fall 2013, adding volume to architectural shapes and playing with tones of layered jacquard prints. Moving away from the slim lace silhouettes of Spring 2013, the designer focused on stone and black looks for her opening, with domed cape backs on jackets and sleeveless vests — even having bandeaus snake under armholes to contrast tight fronts with voluminous backs. Evening emerged in a flash of violet sparkle with exaggerated peplums, printed chiffon blouses billowing over matching cigarette pants, and all-over beaded dresses. It was utterly elegant, formal without being stuffy, and one of the designer's tightest seasons in memory.


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UMBC (3-9) returns to the court and will play its first home game in four weeks when they host the Navy Midshipmen (5-5) on Monday, Dec. 30. Navy defeated UMBC, 73-58, in Annapolis on Nov. 23. Tip-off time is set for 7:00 p.m. with Gary Stein and Paul Mittermeier bringing fans all the action on Q1370 radio or www.q1370.com. Live streaming is also available at www.umbcretrievers.tv.
RETRIEVER UPDATE: UMBC has dropped four straight, all on the road, since opening December with a victory over UMES at the RAC Arena. The Retrievers are 3-1 at home this season. In its last outing, UMBC dropped a 74-61 decision at nationally-ranked GW on Dec. 21. SR F Brett Roseboro led the way with 13 points and FR G Rodney Elliottscored in doubles for the fifth consecutive game with 10 points. But 21 turnovers derailed UMBC's chance to spring the upset.
MIDSHIPMEN UPDATE: JR G Brandon Venturini scored a season-high 20 points but the Navy men's basketball team let a double-digit lead slip away in falling to Northern Kentucky (4-7), 72-65, at The Bank of Kentucky Center on Dec. 21. Venturini's 20 points came on 7-of-11 shooting and JR F Worth Smith added 15 points. SO G Tilman Dunbar leads USNA with 11.9 ppg and 5.0 assists per game, while Smith is at 11.6 points per outing. After a 4-1 stretch, the Mids have dropped two straight and are 1-5 on the road this season.
WHO'S UP NEXT: UMBC opens its 11th season of America East Conference play on Sunday, Jan. 5 when the Retrievers travel to new league member UMass Lowell for an afternoon affair.