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Selling Nostalgia
This morning I am just now waking up as I am off for good Friday. Which in truth I always thought was odd given how much Baptists outnumber Catholics in my area, but whatever the case I will take it. I like days off, other than the fact that they sort of cause me to lose momentum. As a result I have been staring at the screen for awhile now after waking up and eating a couple of croissants. and now seem to have absolutely no ammunition for a proper blog post. As a result you are instead getting a bit of a reprise of something I already said on the interwebs. Yesterday at some point during the day I went on a bit of a tear on twitter of posting a chain of posts about nostalgia and gaming projects. Every so often I decide to react to something… and like the confused madman that I am I rarely if ever provide proper reference for the ramblings that are about to ensue. Yesterday was no different, and ultimately what started the machine running was the fact that I keep seeing announcements relating to the various City of Heroes nostalgia projects that are all hoping to capture the magic of that game.
The general problem I have with this concept is… that City of Heroes was a specific moment in time for me and involved not only the game… but the general lack of other options available at the time. In the early MMO era there was a period of each game release absolutely eclipsing what the previous one was offering me. Prior to the launch of City of Heroes, the MMOs that I had played for serious amounts of time were Everquest, Dark Age of Camelot and Horizon: Empire of Istaria in that order. From each game I gathered up some friends and carried them forward into the next title, and this was absolutely the case for City of Heroes seeing me splitting time between playing with a circle of local friends, my first Everquest guild, my second Everquest guild… and a group that would ultimately end up being the core of folks I carried forward into World of Warcraft. It was a weird time in gaming and it was made vibrant by the fact that everything was fresh and new. That said the moment any of us got our hands on World of Warcraft, it pretty much was the death of City of Heroes… and instead of continuing to play we largely spent a bunch of time planning out what our ultimate adventures in Azeroth would look like.
The City of Heroes nostalgia games however are instead a dogmatic recreation of this thirteen year old game brought into the 16:9 resolution world with higher fidelity. Sure that is an interesting prospect, but something you might download a screw with on a boring Sunday afternoon like an Everquest emulator… but probably not something you are likely to play for long periods of time. The core problem with City of Heroes is that there were simply not that many people actually playing it when the game was shuttered. Sure it bothered me greatly to know that this virtual world that I once loved was now gone, and it still frustrates me. However I was not actually playing it… nor was anyone that I knew… and that was the issue. It was a game we all remembered fondly… but chose to keep remembering fondly by not playing it and subjecting it to the criticism of knowing the games that came after it. This is not entirely a critique of City of Heroes, because there are plenty of other trips down memory lane in the works that intend to bring back Everquest or Dark Age of Camelot. City of Heroes was an important game for me… but also one I had moved past.
"I remember this thing fondly" is an extremely dangerous demographic, because our memories are ultimately fallible. It is entirely possible for us to inflate the idea of something to the point where it no longer represents anything vaguely close to the actual experience. A prime example of this is that I loved Bravestar the cartoon… and a number of years ago I tracked down a copy of the series run. About three episodes into watching it, I stopped because it simply did not stand the test of time… and seemingly I remembered the show… but also infused that memory with how much I actually enjoyed playing with the toys. Similarly I remember loving Airwolf… and then subjected myself to watching the show from Netflix and it was something that just no longer worked for me. I think City of Heroes is going to ultimately be the same for a lot of people, that they remember the game fondly because in truth they are actually remembering a moment in time and the people that were involved with it. I've changed an awful lot since April of 2004, and I have this feeling that most of the folks that really clamor for a return to that game have changed as well.
The truth is I would love to see a modern City of Heroes, but when I say that I don't mean it literally. What I want is a modern super hero MMO that captures the spirit of City of Heroes, but more importantly is relevant and something that all of my friends are similarly excited to be playing. The last part is the hardest in the equation. Online games are never actually the same, because they are this combination of elements that the game studio has control over, and elements that it doesn't in the form of the community of folks playing it. Sure you can revisit a book or a movie and even though you have changed… the source material ultimately has not. That is not the case with an online experience, because the community effects your perception of the game in ways that we don't even fully understand. I might phase my statement "I really miss X game" but what I am actually saying is I miss the moment in time when I had a group of friends actively playing that game. These little vignettes of time are just something you can't really get back. I have experienced this so many times with World of Warcraft as folks rush into a brand new expansion… only to peter out once again because it ultimately feels like ground we have tread too many times to maintain the level of excitement for long.
Nostalgia is a seriously addictive drug, and I admit that I succumb to it rather often. As gamers we are all I think chasing the original high we felt when we played this game or did this activity. Then ultimately lying to ourselves when we claim that the game is just as good as we remembered it. Comfort gaming will always be comfortable because we can slip into it without the experience asking that much from us. However in doing so we are largely feeding off past memories far more than we are actually making new ones. I remember those first few years in World of Warcraft with crystal clarity, but with each expansion and each succession of a brand new group of people to meet and remember… they get significantly more hazy. Coming back to a game… makes you remember not just the highlight reel of good moments, but the crashing reality of all of the frustrations you felt about the game and that likely ultimately lead you to quit in the first place. All of this is why I feel like relying entirely on nostalgia to carry a project forward is a deeply dangerous proposal. Nostalgia is a great hook to get people through the door, but the project itself has to immediately stand on its own two feel and start building deep and interesting memories to keep people there for long. I wish the crop of nostalgia induced projects the best of luck, but at the same time I am deeply skeptical that they are going to live up to our memories.


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This picture is more than a bunch of pretty tulips and the crackling fire - to me the tulips are symbolic of the gentle nature and breathtaking beauty of every woman and the fire is figuratively speaking her inner zeal, passion and emotional intensity with which she nurtures, protects, heals, loves and gives with all her heart. Know that you are strong, beautiful, intelligent, sexy, inspiring, invincible - or to put it simply "INCREDIBLE IN EVERY WAY" !
Images: Clicked by Sruthi Singh. Please do not use without prior written permission.
Images are the property of Sruthi Singh and subject to copyright.

subset: commoncrawl


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Well, it's official: spring is now upon us. Time to get that garden ready, look through seed catalogs, wipe the dust off the yard tools, and tune up the lawn mower (Yes, it's already time to mow!).
We are dreaming of warmer days with this Friday's wines: Alta Luna Pina Grigio from Italy is a beautiful, feminine take on this deliciously refreshing grape. It shows a bit more softness and minerality on the palate than some other examples of this varietal, and we think it is just perfect for the "somewhat-warmer" days of spring. This is a really lovely little wine, and a consistent staff favorite.
We are really happy with the great reception our French wines are getting from all of you! There are some really nice, approachable French wines (both red and white) in reasonable price ranges these days, and we have worked hard (tasted a lot) to find you some fabulous new values from France.
Côtes du Rhône
We have a succulent treat for our red wine lovers: a brand new Côtes du Rhône with a special pedigree. In addition to running the legendary Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate Domaine du Pegau with her father Paul, Laurence Féraud manages a successful negociant wine business under the Sélection Laurence Féraud label. These fantastic wines are true gems of the Southern Rhône, and just this week we brought in Féraud's Côtes du Rhône. This classic, unoaked Côtes du Rhône is made with 70% Syrah, 30% Grenache, and it offers up densely layered black fruit aromas with a characteristic spiciness on the nose. Medium bodied on the palate, with ripe tannins, plenty of black cherry fruit, and a long, lingering finish. Delicious!
Sweet fans, we are revisiting sunny Argentina with New Age Rose, a fantastic, elegant, lightly sweet rose with a refreshing hint of sparkle. New Age Rose greets you with fresh raspberry on the nose, and its lovely palate reminds us of red berries and sweet violets. Don't forget, this is a great spring sipper – – and it also makes a lovely "cocktail" on the rocks with a twist of citrus or even an early spring strawberry.
Please join us Friday night, March 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. to enjoy these wines and chat with our staff! We look forward to seeing you.


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To collect data on the changes in urban architecture, planning, technology and social conditions since 1880, Relph takes the "geographical" approach of "watching:" he starts with "the totality of what I see," then follows "several directions more or less at once," looking for unusual details, new developments, and ironic juxtapositions within the larger context of the urban fabric. Landscapes, to Relph, are the "visual contexts of daily existence," and he insists on retaining the wholeness of the urban landscape because so much of landscape is about context, about the relationships between buildings and the streets and spaces and other structures around them, that you cannot study any one element in isolation. Only by preserving landscape's "fragile wholeness" can we hope to learn anything about how it functions.
Using this method, Relph traces a history of ideology in the landscape, from 1890s Progressive Era landscapes, through the Machine Age and into the Postmodern city. He shows how Bellamy, Morris and other Utopians created landscapes of the future in the 1890s; how the Machine Age created both unornamented, standardized. geometric factory buildings and a chaotic mess of wires and tracks, the results of business needs, consumer demands, and municipal safety engineering; how the Modern "international style" was only briefly popular, but dominates the landscape because it belonged to an era of skyscraper-building; and how the Information Age has both refined and profoundly changed the forms of the Modern era, so that like "plastic flowers: things are left looking much as they always did but their materials and meanings are profoundly changed."
Relph also discerns two sweeping trends with huge impacts on urban landscapes in the last 100 years:
- internationalism: new building technologies, combined with faster communications and transportation, mean that "virtually identical bits of cities now seem to crop up almost everywhere, and behind any national or regional differences that might be visible there are always widely shared patterns and an international habit of thought."
- a "conviction in the merits of self-consciousness:" "everything now is subjected to cool analysis and technical manipulation, leaving little room for the traditions which stood behind most preindustrial landscapes." Elements of landscapes, from buildings to parking meters, follow an increasingly rationalised and institutionalized (and specialized) process, so very little building happens in a vernacular sense.
While Relph retains human geography's emphasis on the coherent "fragile wholeness" of landscape, he also discerns power differentials and the impacts of capitalism on the landscape. While he needs to work on his positionality (he argues at one point that everyone in cities works a sedentary job), I suspect this use of social theory is Relph's way of making a few plastic flowers of his own.


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All Purpose Flour (Maida) - 1 1/2 cups
Soft Butter - 1 cup (2 sticks)
Instant Oats - 1 1/2 cups
Dark Brown Sugar - 3/4 cup
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Boiling Water - 1/4 cup
Semi-sweet Chocolate chips - 1 cup
Vanilla Essence - 2 tsps
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 F.
- Place a sheet of wax paper on each cookie/baking trays. You might need 3 cookie/baking trays.
- Beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Add app purpose flour and salt. Mix well until well combined.
- Dissolve baking soda in boiling water and add to mixture. Mix well.
- Stir in rolled oats and chocolate chips. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
- Drop 1 tbsp full of prepared dough onto the cookie sheet. Keep a gap of 1/2 inch between around each cookie dough drops.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10-12 minutes. Don't over cook.
- Remove the trays out of the oven and let them stand on a metal rack. Let them cool down a bit.
- The cookie will be soft when hot but will eventually harden on cooling.


text: Frenchman Kevin Kalkoff went to Málaga, Spain to ride their new bowl but got kicked off by security when he got there. No problem, Ruben Alcantara was his guide and he had the skinny on plenty of other spots. Ruben, Kevin and the crew spent their time sessioning every corner of this jewel of the Costa del Sol – from street to park and even a little dirt.


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Week 3 Fantasy Football Sleeper Picks
Each week there are hidden treasures that if uncovered could bring you fantasy glory. Let's take a look at some possiblities for Week 3.
Jake Delhomme – For starters he gets his top weapon back following Steve Smith's return from John Fox's two game suspension. I love that Fox was rewarded with a pair of Ws, which reinforces the value of the team over the individual. So perhaps Steve Smith will want to prove himself to his teammates and light up the Vikings. It shouldn't be hard because they have once again proved vulnerable to the pass. Everybody knows that your best bet to beat the Vikes is through the air, and they have yet to come up with a solution to their problem.
Bonus Option: J.T. O'Sullivan – You saw what he did to Seattle. Imagine Detroit coming to town.
Running Back
LaMont Jordan – Laurence Maroney got banged up. Surprise, surprise. He was limited to 16 yards. I wonder how many fantasy footballers he let down that figured he'd be the main weapon with Brady out. LaMont Jordan filled in and ran hard. He racked up 62 yards on 11 carries (5.6 per touch). Could he repeat that? You bet he could. He didn't factor into the passing game, but you know he's capable from his Raider days. Al Davis must want to pull his hair out when he sees his ex-Raiders thriving in New England.
Bonus Option: Darren Sproles – As long as LT is banged up, Sproles will get his looks.
Wide Receiver
Bryant Johnson – I mentioned his QB (J.T. O'Sullivan) as a bonus option above. Naturally a strong QB performance will be accompanied by a strong WR performance. Isaac Bruce may have had more yards, but Johnson had more catches (6 compared to Bruce's 4) and a TD. If he can do that on the road against Seattle, you have to figure he can have success at home. When you consider how bad Detroit's Pass Defense has been thus far, you can see both Johnson and Bruce getting good production this week.
Bonus Option: Steve Smith – Not the nose breaker, but the Giant.


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I have written before about how many Americans do not appreciate the rightward shift of European politics that has occurred over the past decade and a half. But I noted the major exception to the rule: France, which in 2012 elected a unreconstructed Socialist government.
However, the municipal elections did not treat the Socialists kindly. French mayors have broad powers, and turnout in these elections is therefore high by US standards. They thus are a valid indicator of popular political sentiment.
Marine Le Pen's anti-immigrant (but allegedly no longer Anti-Semitic), harsh law and order favoring National Front had its best municipal elections ever, with preliminary results showing that it won control of 11 towns with populations of more than 9,000 people as well one of Marseilles' districts.
An even better night was had by the center-right UMP, which took over 100 towns out of Socialist hands. Fortunately, UMP seems to draw enough support from more conservative French voters to keep the National Front from becoming a major force in national-level politics. But Le Pen's party is expected to do well in the European Parliamentary elections because its key issues play particularly well with voters who participate in those lower turnout affairs.


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2029 West Whispering Wind Drive Phoenix 85085 USA
Facilities The hotel offers travellers a total of 164 rooms. Services and facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, a dining area, a newspaper stand, a conference room and a business centre. Wireless internet access in public areas allows guests to stay connected. Travellers can buy souvenirs at the gift shop. Guests with their own vehicles can make use of the available parking spaces. Rooms Each of the rooms is appointed with air conditioning and a bathroom. A sofabed ensures a good night's sleep. Additional features include a fridge and a tea/coffee station. Other features include internet access, a telephone, a TV and WiFi. A hairdryer is provided in the bathrooms. The establishment offers family rooms and non-smoking rooms. Sports/Entertainment Guests can enjoy a varied leisure programme thanks to the range of sport and entertainment options available. The accommodation features a pool and an outdoor pool. The hot tub is the perfect place to relax. The hotel offers a gym (for a fee) to guests. Meals Breakfast can be booked.


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Hello, Jeni here!! Happy Thanksgiving to those of you reading this in the U.S. today!! I thought these pretty gold leaves I found at the dollar spot at target were a perfect compliment for this sentiment today!!! The sentiment is from the From Us set. Have a wonderful day!!!
This is a card you can throw together in a matter of minutes, very handy because I usually never have get well cards and when you need 'em, you need 'em fast! Enjoy!
Hi it's N@ Ali, here's my card using Rain or Shine. Have a great day!
Happy Thanksgiving! Dana here with a card that features Wispy Wishes and a sentiment from the set From Us. I kept it simple by stamping the flower with white ink and using a punch out flags to decorate one side of my card.
Wispy Wishes again (such a pretty set!) with a sentiment from the From Us set. And that's a strip of torn vellum behind the sentiment in case you were wondering!


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From a Box Brownie, to the latest digital gear, it is all just tools, or a means of stating who we are, at various points in time. The sophistication of our images has more to do with our personal growth, than the equipment that we acquire along the way.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Yesteryear's Cool
Posted by David c.h. Brown at 11:45 PM
4 comments:
A prolific amount of work. thanks for the posting, I enjoyed viewing them all.
- May 16, 2017 at 8:55 AM
- David c.h. Brown said...
Thanks for your comment John...glad you got a little enjoyment from them. Hope you and yours have a great Summer. Dave
- May 16, 2017 at 11:22 AM
You going away for the summer or do you not expect to hear from till after the summers done?
- May 16, 2017 at 1:16 PM
- David c.h. Brown said...
Probably will be around here most of the Summer, and then possibly down East toward the end. Hope to make it up North a couple of times meanwhile. But will still be posting regardless. Cheers! Dave
- May 16, 2017 at 11:13 PM
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KublaCon's Harassment Policy
KublaCon Game Convention – safe and fun for everyone.
KUBLACON is an inclusive, family-friendly convention, and a safe and welcoming environment for anyone interested in games and gaming of all sorts, including related game clubs and communities. We expect all attendees to treat each other with common courtesy and respect.
KUBLACON does not permit harassment in regards to sex, gender, sexual orientation, dress, age, race, religion or lack thereof, disability, or involvement / non-involvement in any group or activity at any KUBLACON event or venue.
Harassment includes any behavior that annoys, alarms, demeans, or threatens another person or group. Harassment includes (but is not limited to) verbal comments, the use of overly sexual imagery in public areas, intimidation, stalking, unauthorized photography or recording, inappropriate physical contact, unwanted sexual attention, and the disruption of events or activities. If someone asks you to stop or to leave them alone, do so immediately. Continuing contact with that person may be considered harassment.
If you feel you are being harassed, fear for your safety, or witness someone harassing others, contact a KUBLACON staff member or volunteer immediately. All harassment reports will be investigated and dealt with thoroughly, with consequences including, but not limited to, the revocation of membership without refund, ejection from the site, or the involvement of local authorities.
It's in our best interests, and our responsibility to keep KUBLACON a friendly, open environment where every person is free to enjoy their attendance and express their love and enthusiasm for any and all forms of gaming. Together we can maintain KUBLACON's reputation for openness, inclusiveness, and mutual respect.


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So yesterday my dear friend Niko (who also co-own this establishment) told me that Sensory Lab was opening on the 19th of May so I wasted no time to come here after I had an appointment in Gading earlier, so here's the thing! Lately there have been TONS of new places opening but to the irony, I used to be the one who's so crazy about new places that it's exciting for me to come and review first for you, but I wasn't feeling most of them but Sensory Lab was an exception of course because I am always excited to see what my Common Grounds buddy has in store!
Sensory Lab is located at Mall Kelapa Gading 3 around the lobby entrance and across Starbucks Coffee, the coffee bar and some small seating area is located at this island space, for some reasons if I come alone I think I would love sitting around the island space more but since I always order more than I can take there won't be enough space to hold the food and coffee because there's only a little square table.
It took me a while to really know what I want to eat here because everything looks fuckin good on the menu, but I kept on eye-ing the Fri-Ken Benedict and Cookies & Cream Pancakes (because I kept on imagining dem fat Common Grounds) but Glo (the head chef) recommended me the French Toast instead so I went with her legit reco!
Here you can also find La Maison macarons
Special coffee from Yoshi, "Geisha" Finca Deborah aka their competition coffee! It's bold & fresh!
Cold White (IDR 45k)
Their take on Iced Latte and nope they don't serve the classic 'on ice' coffee here but you can ask. Me loving this one, it's creamy with fresh aftertaste and the right balance of coffee and milk. You should try. I don't know why I freaking forgot to capture a photo of their Iced Mocha but it was SO GOOD!!! It tastes like this amazing blend of only coffee and chocolate, just so creamy, sweet, enchanting and I like how they put real chocolate inside the drink for texture.
Straight up guilty-pleasure, indulgence after indulgence.
Close up! Say egg porn!!!
BBQ Brisket Burger - IDR 100k
I didn't have a bite on this one but my friend told me this was good, only the scrambled egg kinda overshadowed the BBQ brisket which should be the highlight of this dish.
Congrats Niko!
Sensory Lab for me is the more casual version of St. Ali and truth is, Kelapa Gading needs more cafe like this! PS: they're opening in PIK in a few months yay!
Sensory Lab Indonesia
Mall Kelapa Gading 3
Jl. Boulevard Utara Kelapa Gading
Kelapa Gading, Jakarta Utara
Opening hours: 10 AM-10 PM
Average spending for two: IDR 250k
Dresscode: none
email: email@example.com
Map for Sensory Lab


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Hello my dear friends, It's Summer Time and everyone needs to keep their eyes protected. Here's your chance to win a pair of Real Kids Shades for your little one. It is open to the US and Canada and will run from 7/07 12:01am EST until 7/21 11:59pm EST.
Real Kids Shades are the doctor recommended sunblock you can apply directly to your kids' eyes. They're made with shatterproof, impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses because it's the best stuff kids' sunglasses can be made from. Their Xylex frames are super light and durable while their TPE frames are extremely flexible and bendable. Their wrap-around frames minimize exposure to harmful peripheral light. Opticians can even fit some of their styles with prescription lenses.
Review done by DonnasDealsAndMore
My munchkins love their Sunglasses! I have to admit I never really thought a lot about whether or not they're wearing sunglasses outdoors. I feel kind of foolish now, but it seems like common sense. I need to wear my sunglasses and my eyes hurt when I don't. Why wouldn't children need them too? Sun can be very damaging to anyone's eyes but especially to kids. In fact, they're at an increased risk for permanent eye damage from sunlight until they are 10 years old. And sun damage is permanent. You can't replace your eye lens over time. There is more information that can be found in Protecting Your Child's Eyes From the Sun: What Every Mom Should Know HERE
These sunglasses were a definite hit! All the munchkins have been wearing them both outside and inside. They are very flexible. They also come with a band to keep the glasses on if they're playing or when we're on the boat.
The frames are flexible, durable made with shatterproof polycarbonate. They're also lead free and phthalate free. They also have many styles that can be fitted with prescription lenses!
One lucky reader will win a pair of their own! Just fill out the rafflecopter below. Good luck!a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Pinterest Fanatics is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.
*Open to US and Canada
Please take a look at these other great giveaways...


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I guess.
For me, it means spending extra time stroking my 1930s knickers and nighties and finding new ways to wear them.
For the locals, I guess it means possibly falling over and getting a concussion.
I made a mad dash home before dark to snap off these pics.
Tonight is State of Origin night (interstate rugby league comp) and footy fans everywhere are flying flags, wearing team colours and generally getting ready for a huge night on the piss.
I wondered about the odd looks I was getting today, but realised that if people feel good in ugly league shirts, PJs, dressing gowns and strange hats while carrying slabs of beer around, I have the right to look like a carny;)).
I'm wearing a 1930s silk PJ top, 1920s tail coat - both from eBay; Saba bag; thrifted silk scarf and leather shorts; Midas leather and glitter shoes - flea market and some tricky Black Milk leg wear.
The style is based on their Wet Look Leggings, but with feet! So they're warm, slinky and shiny all-in-one piece!
I dub thee: Cooch Dancer Shoes.
Laura Palmer brooch from The Bookhouse Girrrrl's Etsy shop.
When Carnivale aired late at night from 2003, I was knee-deep in two sets of babies' nappies and boobies leaking breast milk.
Sadly there was just no time for the grit of life in the 1930s Dust Bowl and Great Depression.
Until now.
My recent discovery of Carnivale had The Phoenix and I in its apocalyptic grip for endless nights.
Then I saw a poster for Water for Elephants, the film set in the same era, and remembered someone had given me the book a few years ago.
So I dived in and devoured it too.
I've just emerged for air and think I've turned carny.
1930s silk knickers - eBay; black kimono worn inside out - eBay, I added the gold silk patches to the torn lining; 1980s silk sequinned top - thrifted; 1950s leopard-print hat - gift from Nelly.
My parents were born in the mid-1920s and grew up in New Zealand and Australia during the Great Depression, so it's an era I experienced second-hand.
They were sad and desperate times.
My dad left school and started working as a farm labourer at age 13.
The same year, he bought his first pair of shoes.
My mother still doesn't throw ANYTHING away and I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s steeped in frugality and the WWII "make do and mend" ethos.
I must have seemed a strange child.
The circus and the carnival arriving in America's rural towns must have seemed a few hours of sweetness for the poor folks doing it tough.
Far from the harsh life in the Dust Bowl, my parents' generation also experienced desperate battles for their daily needs but I always suspected they sugar-coated daily life in the 1930s and 1940s.
What I love about the modern interpretations of those times, is the subversive content of what life was really like.
There was friendship, kinship and loyalty.
On the other hand, there was rape, alcoholism, prostitution, poverty, starvation, cruelty and murder.
Bit like today huh?
Desiree xo


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View more information on STAGO Solutions.


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Re: Herman Albaugh in Ohio
In reply to:
Re: Herman Albaugh in Ohio
Cynthia Cochran Scheuer 2/22/03
Cynthia, I am descended through John/Henry/Adam/Henry/Solomon Beamer, etc. of Maryland, then Ohio.My line intermarried extensively with Albaughs.I've been searching for info on John (not even sure that's his true name) and his parents for some time and have recently found info (from an Albaugh researcher) that John's parents may have been George Beamer and Nancy Springer.They lived in Sussex County, NJ before moving to MD.Can you supply more info on Nancy?You can reply to this post or e-mail me separately at email@example.com would love to hear from you.Thanks for any info you can provide.
More Replies:
Re: Herman Albaugh in Ohio
Sherri McDonald 8/18/05


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Highgate Hotels names John Trovato Managing Director of the Lexington New York City
Highgate Hotels announced today the appointment of John Trovato as Managing Director of the storied Lexington New York City located in the heart of midtown Manhattan. A dedicated manager who draws upon 20 plus years' experience in the hospitality industry, Trovato is responsible for all operations at the 725-room property, which recently joined Marriott International's prestigious Autograph Collection and completed a $46 million transformation.
Trovato joins The Lexington New York City following a ten-year run as General Manager of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. During his tenure, Trovato managed daily operations of the 1,015 room property, improved quality of guest services, managed financial operations, oversaw a multi-million renovation and was awarded recognition for Hotel of the Year for all Interstate Hotels and Resorts in 2008.
Previously, Trovato held a range of General Manager positions at top rated hotels across the country, including the Fort Magruder in Williamsburg, VA; Founders Inn, Virginia Beach; and the Marriott, San Francisco. Trovato's first General Manager assignment was in 1993 at the Pala Mesa Golf Resort in San Diego. Trovato began his career with Interstate Hotels and Resorts as the Coffee Shop Manager at the Pittsburgh Green Tree Marriott in 1981. He grew with the company and relocated on more than 10 occasions, rotating through various middle management positions on both coasts, Florida and the Midwest in hotels that were acquired or newly built. He eventually worked his way up the ladder and earned a corporate position as Regional Director of Operations for the Eastern Region overseeing 35 properties.
Trovato has received numerous accolades throughout his robust career including being nationally recognized by Hotel Management Magazine as one of the "Top 25 General Managers to Watch" in 2012. Additional accolades include the General Manager's Award for Most Positive Organizational Climate and the Special Achievement Award for House Profit and Guest Hospitality with Interstate Hotels and Resorts; and Marriott Owner's Relation Award.
Trovato received a bachelor's degree in science from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn. He resides in Cedar Grove, New Jersey with his wife and three children and enjoys to travel, exercise and read in his spare time.


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Monthly donations are the easiest way for you to help researchers find ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cerebral palsy.
With your support, we can target the most promising research areas to get the answers we need to find a prevention and cure for cerebral palsy.
It also enables us to continue vital research through our Grants program, which has funded more than 90 projects across the world.
Every dollar you donate counts. And the more research we can do, the sooner we can prevent and cure cerebral palsy.
Your monthly donation will help:
- Find prevention strategies and one day a cure
- Identify causes of cerebral palsy
- Reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in pre-term babies
- Improve interventions and therapies to make daily life easier for people with cerebral palsy
- Improve outcomes for future generations
As a supporter you are improving the lives of children like 4 year old Max.
Max was born with severe cerebral palsy. It affects his arms, legs and head control.
He needs assistance 24 hours a day, is often in pain, and needs help with many aspects of his life – eating, siting up, walking, talking, learning and playtime.
To do just about everything in his life, Max relies on specialised equipment and regular intensive therapy sessions.
Whether it is specialised equipment or accessing a range of early intervention options, Max and his family are benefiting every day from the knowledge gained from cerebral palsy research.
He needs assistance 24 hours a day, is often in pain, and needs help with many aspects of his life – eating, siting up, walking, talking, learning and playtime.
Improvements in technology and equipment made possible by research can give children like Max the opportunity to improve their independence.
Among the equipment Max uses is a customised chair that allows him to play with his big brother at eye level (instead of being on the floor), sit at the dinner table, go out for a meal and socialise with family and friends.
He has also received BOTOX® and a second skin (it's like a corset that provides stability to his torso) that supports him and means that his eating has improved and can better use his arms and hands.
Max has started drinking from a cup, and for the first time is now feeding himself finger food. He's also learnt to use the muscles he needs to sit unaided on the floor for 5 minutes and stand in a special frame for up to 30 minutes.
Max and his family have also participated in Cerebral Palsy Alliance's CP Check-Up program which regularly reviews children to help identify areas requiring attention. This program is helping the family understand Max's abilities and plan for his future.
They're now working on communication technology options for Max and also trialing a power chair.
'Our family is grateful for the generosity of people who support cerebral palsy research. Their support gives us hope that answers will be found and that we can maximise our little boy's potential. Thank you.'


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IT Services (ITS) is the central support department that provides all of the University's ICT services and facilities. Here you'll find the information you need to access these services and who to contact if you need help or support. Please click here to log on specific pages.
As this shiny new printing service (see the notice below) will be replacing both the current staff and student systems to provide unified printing across campus for the first time ever!... we thought it was worthy of a new identity. As such we would like to introduce you to Aston uniPRINT.
You may have already noticed some of the new printers being moved into place around campus. We expect some of these devices to be available shortly after the August bank holiday!
General information about uniPRINT and updates regarding the rollout will be posted to our website so keep checking back.
It's been several years since IT Services introduced managed printing services to the university the and as such our contract with our supplier came to an end. We are pleased to announce that we have awarded a new contract to Landscape Printing Systems Ltd.
As part of this new contract we are working with Landscape to refresh our ageing printers with brand new HP devices. The devices will have a new look and will be equipped with a full touchscreen interface, the fleet will be more energy efficient and more cost effective to run.
We also took the opportunity to review our existing print management system (FollowMe) and as such will be replacing this with a new product called PaperCut. This will allow us to enhance our services such as better scanning and mobile printing.
In addition to the new devices, Landscape are also providing a full time on-site engineer which we hope will improve the response time for fault fixing.
Software, including software available for use at home
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Quality Coffee Supplier in the UK
Black Gold
It occurred to me that I have yet to comment on one of my most favourite things in the world – real fresh coffee! Good quality gourmet real coffee. Esspresso machine, cafetiere, moka pot, they're all good because they make the coffee. Whether it's a short sharp esspresso, a sugar fuelled mocha or a long relaxing latte, coffee makes the world go tick.
I don't claim to be a purist (milk and sugar please), I don't roast my own coffee beans (green, brown, smoking lumps of carbon, what's the difference anyhow?) I don't even drink all that much anymore. I do however, live 15 minutes from one of the best coffee bean suppliers (IMHO) in the UK, MacBeans of Aberdeen.
They sell lots of different types of specialty gourmet coffee, they roast their own every day (I once got some off the roaster, got it home ten minutes later and it was heavenly!!) and they know their beans. It does cost a bit, but not overly more than supermarket packet coffee or even better brands of instant …stuff. They deliver, so you can buy online.
I've never had a bad batch of coffee from them and when I was a student, I visited pretty regularly. They carry good stocks of many different coffees from all over the coffee growing regions of the world, including the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.
I even got Kopi Luak from them, before the whole scandal of caged Luaks. This is very rare due to the tiny amount on the world market. They're also very good at recommending coffee and usually do a coffee of the day on offer.
The Big Five
Below are my five iconic coffees – the ones with distinct flavours.
Old Java
This is an aged coffee and slightly odd I find. The flavour is very heavy with almost mustiness or spiciness to it, a kind of earthy taste. Supposedly the aging process of exposing it to warm damp monsoon weather for a year or three reduces the acidity while increasing strength. Even though I used a filter paper it felt like there was a lot of fines and sediment. This maybe is a good one for Turkish brew and people who like to chew their coffee although this could have been down to the way I ground the beans or made the coffee.
Kenyan Peaberry
Completely the opposite of the old java, this is a very clean and fresh coffee. The peaberry is so called because only one bean forms inside the cherry. I found this to be a thin, dry, almost acidic coffee but very refreshing and with an intense sweet flavour (an effect of one bean instead of two). A late morning coffee to my taste.
Blue Sumatra
One of my all time favourites, I drink this the most. Quite dark roast, it's a rich, almost chocolaty taste that's smooth while not being weak. The coffee seems naturally syrupy, sometimes spicy and if you put a lot in, a bit earthy. Excellent after dinner coffee to relax with, but I drink it any time :)
Full of beans
Hawaiian Kona
This coffee is sublime, albeit a little expensive. It's possibly the third most rare and expensive after Kopi Luak (civet coffee), in number one and Jamaican Blue Mountain in two. The taste is light and full but velvet smooth. This is one of the rare coffees where you can make it stronger by adding more coffee (never brew it longer to add strength) and the taste doesn't become either bitter or acidic. I tend to reserve this as a treat though on account of the cost. Possibly beware this coffee, I've never had a bad batch from MacBeans, but by some accounts, Hawaiian coffee can be quite bad, especially for the price.
El Salvador
This is a high caffeine coffee. It's good on that account if you use coffee as a pick me up. It tends to be quite clean in taste and packs a good punch. I like it for the generally nutty taste it tends to have. This is definitely my morning coffee of choice.
If you're looking for a bit more in-depth information I'd recommend sweet Maria's coffee site as an excellent place for green beans, kit and shed loads of information. They're an American site and I've never ordered off them (don't know if you can outside of the US) but they're easy to understand and they seem to know their coffee!
Nice article, good to find another coffee blogger in here.
Have read sweat maria, they are really good, with a lots of info about coffee roasting.
you should try ethiopian yirgacheffe, is one of my favorites they are great beans with a good hint of citrus, and a nice roaster as well.
Excellent blog very well laid out indeed. I wish mine were as good as yours. Keep up the good work. Take a look a t mine and tell me what you think
Take care and have a happy life.