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Virtually every climber will have heard of this French stomping ground. Situated just outside of Millau in the Midi-Pyrenees, lies a beautiful deep gorge, carved out by the ages with towering rock faces that rise up against the vast landscape, as far as the eye can see. When I arrived home from Spain my original plan was to head back out to Rodellar during the autumn to catch some much needed cooler temperatures. However plans end up changing like the wind and I was asked by my very good friends, Jon and Pete Clark, if we fancied a couple of weeks in the Tarn. These guys both have a seriously good knowledge of this part of the world, having both made around six or seven trips in the past.
They would do all the driving and organising and basically chauffeur me around for the entire time. How could I refuse? It was an easy decision to make. I said yes within an instant. The idea of a jolly in the sun even got my Dad tempted and so for the first time ever he decided to join us on a Euro adventure. Four Brits on tour.
Even though my experience of foreign climbing destinations is still rather limited, I have got to say that I think this place has the most amount of rock that I have ever seen! Route styles range from short bouldery gnarl to huge 100 metre+ outings, with grades across the entire spectrum. While it is a fact that the Tarn would be of more interest to folk operating within the 7's and above grade category, the adage of there being something for everyone could not be more true for this place. One thing to bear in mind though, is that this is France. It is old school in parts and certainly not a place for cheap 'Spanish' style holiday grades that is for sure. They make you work hard for your route of choice out here!
Driving up through the gorge on our first day, our eyes hardly knew where to look first. Akin to memories of the first time we ever drove up the Llanberis Pass. 'Like a kid in a candy shop' I remember it well. Seeing the Cromlech for the first time was out of this world. The itch and fire to start climbing increasing with every turn in the road, as another huge sector would come into view. Our faces pressed up against the car windows, straining to see but unable to take it all in. Huge blank walls flanking us on both sides. Steep prows and towers standing tall and casting enormous shadows. The river flowing below us, kayakers gently making their way down stream in the sunshine. I kind of knew what to expect after hearing so much about the place and seeing all the photos and videos, but to see the place in the flesh was breath taking.
What makes the whole thing even more spectacular is that the big established crags suddenly seem to come into view out of absolutely no where. You spend a good amount of time twisting, turning, winding and weaving your way up from Millau, past farms, fields, the odd 'village' and tiny pockets of civilisation and then BAM. You turn a corner and you are there. Paradise. Neck ache from craning your head up against the car windows is something that you just have to accept! The one thing that was so blindly obvious from the start was how much cooler it was down here than the 2 weeks prior in Rodellar. You could actually breathe, and walk about without verging on collapsing in a heap.
Being the only one of us all who would be climbing meant I was free to climb from route to route, and pick any crag I fancied for the day. It was definitely a bit of luxury and I am hugely grateful for all the guys time, belays, commitment and effort they gave me. But it did mean we had to be careful not to constantly go full burn the entire time. In between belaying Pete would disappear daily off up one of the steep gorges for a couple of hours and bosh out the odd 100 mile on his road bike! This guys dedication, commitment and psyche astounds me. It is hugely motivating when someone like that is so passionate about their goals and what they want to do.
The above photograph shows Ethan Walker climbing Bar-bitturique (F8a) at the Gullich sector in the Gorge du Tarn. Photograph by Jon Clark.
The above photograph shows Ethan Walker climbing Le spectre de l'ottokar (F8b+) at the Gullich sector in the Gorge du Tarn. Photograph by Jon Clark.
Rest days were needed and luckily there was always something to do in town. Side streets full of little shops, cafes and bakeries to discover. Old buildings to walk around and explore. Small music events in the town square. Millau is an historic place that is always bustling with life and colour, a hive of activity, with a weekly market that blew us away. Such a variety of food from all over. Stalls laden with local fresh fruit and produce. Beautiful, straight out of the oven baguettes and enough pastries and cakes that left you not knowing what to try first. The mind boggled! We would then retire back to the campsite and doss around in the sunshine, chat late into the evening before hitting the sack, already fired up and champing at the bit for the morning to come round and with it, a new climbing day. Life could not have been simpler.
One afternoon we joined JC and Pete for a hike up to the top of Gorge du Jonte. Home of the majestic vultures! The lads had already trekked to see these huge beasts a few days before and we figured it was an opportunity not to be missed. Seeing these creatures up close at 3000 feet, circling above your head and hearing the wind whip up all around you, was breath-taking and a pretty special way to end a day. These birds are always made out to be nasty, dirty and evil things, and while they may be scavengers, there is no doubt that they are magnificent creatures and with their 8 foot wingspan they truly are a sight to behold.
We visited such a huge range of crags and climbed such an abundance of fantastic routes that I am sure it would eventually bore you to death to read about them all. Every day was a good day but one of the stand out days was the session I power screamed my way up one of the areas hardcore pocket pulling test pieces. No surprises that this line resides at the aptly named sector 'Gullich'! The steep and fierce 'Le Spectre de l'ottokar', clocks in at around 8b+ and stands proud, jutting out high above the winding river below. A route that would fit like a glove in the forests of the Frankenjura.
It still amazes me how some of these routes are so perfectly formed. Each pocket immaculately shaped for a human hand and fingers. And not just shaped, but positioned in such a way that it creates one exact sequence of moves. I find it all rather bizarre, but it really is like these cliff faces were always made to be climbed, only somehow it has just taken centuries for the human race to realise.
It was full pedal to the metal, all out screaming on every move throughout the crux sequence as I stabbed my fingers into the sharp, shallow pockets. A very memorable experience and to managed to get it done on my 2nd try made the success even sweeter! Afterwards we trekked slightly higher up the gorge for the classic 7a and mega popular route 'Le Trésor du Zèbre'. For anyone visiting the Tarn, this route is a must. It is probably one of the finest routes I have EVER done, an absolute gem of a line on some of the biggest and craziest holds you can think of. A huge diagonal traversing pitch across pristine rock, with truly breath-taking scenery all around. One of the best positions you could wish for and the swing after stripping the draws is rather spectacular too. I can practically guarantee it will make it onto your all-time favourite route list.
I could probably write an entire piece about Cantobre alone. The ancient, fortified medieval village itself sits atop a rocky outcrop in the middle of the Dourbie valley and looks out across at the streaky, rainbow limestone cliff. It truly is a fantastic place, full of history that spans the ages. Stone Age man once roamed about these parts, the Celts have been here, the Romans, Saracens, the list goes on. It is perhaps more well-known however for being a bastion of the Knights Templar as this whole area was once a major passing route for crusaders on their way to fight in the Holy war. Everyone seems to have wanted a piece of the pie at some point. These days however its occupants and visitors are slightly different…
The cliff is something akin to Ceuse, albeit on a much smaller scale and without the hour approach! A multi-coloured swooping wave of compact rock, carved out through the ages with routes left, right and centre that range from 7a to 8c! It is a climber's playground and I quickly found it to be totally my style. It was plain to see straight away why JC had been ranting on about this place for so long and urging us to make the trip.
The general style here is big moves, powerful lock offs, and pockets, pockets, pockets galore, before many of the lines ease off as the crag begins to slab out at about half height. You have to be prepared to go big on some of these but with the safe knowledge that you'll soon reach a bucket of joy ahead.
The above photograph shows Ethan Walker climbing V02 Max, a short bouldery F8b at Cantobre, a crag close to the Gorge du Tarn. Photograph by Jon Clark.
We made a vague plan to return on our final day before starting the long drive back home. As the crag virtually gets full sun throughout the summer period we crossed our fingers the night before in the hope some cloud would roll in. And boy did it come good!
We awoke the next day to perfect cloud cover, and an incredible mild breeze that made for some of the best climbing conditions I have ever experienced. Thankfully we were able to make it count. A quick stop for bread and we made the easy, quiet drive up through the Dourbie. Within the first hour an onsight of the classic 8a of the crag 'Les Dernières Plantations du Christ' was in the bag and then the true prize of the day was my surprise first ever 8a+ onsight, 'Torticolis'. What a beauty! Big all out leaps between pockets and a head wall to rival climbing in Ceuse made for one very unforgettable climb. It was one of my favourite and best days of rock climbing I have ever had and the perfect way to round off a fantastic 2 weeks.
We celebrated back at camp with a brew and one final pain aux raisin before bidding Millau au revoir, and then began the journey home, quickly vowing to return next spring!
Getting there, where to stay and rest days?
You could fly to either Montpellier or Nimes and then from there hire a car but the best option would be to drive. Catch a ferry to Dunkerque, hit the A75 and keep following it south, down to Millau.
Be sure to pack a full rack of quickdraw's and at the very minimum a 70 metre rope!
The crags are about 20-30km from Millau but you can choose from any amount of campsites that are situated up the entire length of the valley or if you fancy a roof over your head and some comfort then there are just as many nice gîtes dotted about the area and all for a decent price. While we opted to stay down in Millau itself, but most people tend to base themselves around Les Vignes a small populous up the gorge. Being here means you are nice and close to the crags and keeps the driving down to a minimum. There is a small shop, bakery and one or two chilled bars and restaurants (the local pizza is not to be missed and the perfect 'send treat'). But the best option for buying food would be to do a big shop at one of the many supermarkets in Millau before heading up the gorge.
There is an abundance of things to check out on your rest days. One of the main attractions of the Tarn, besides the climbing, is the breathtaking canoeing/kayaking. Pick from one of the many companies offering canoe hire, grab yourself a fishing license from the local tourist office, and spend a day leisurely paddling down the river. If this is not your thing or you fancy something totally different then head up into the neighbouring valley, the Gorge du Jonte and home of the vultures. Seeing these creatures up close and personal is not to be missed and the scenery is equally stunning to behold.
If all you want is a day of total chilling then pop back down into Millau or one of the cool little surrounding villages, stroll around the markets, grab a coffee and croissant and relax in the sunshine.
One thing you will not fail to see while visiting is the impressive Millau Viaduct. Go stand under this epic structure and marvel at the sheer scale.
The local guidebook for this place is indispensable. You can purchase it for around €20-25 from either the small climbing shop in Millau or from one of the tourist information offices up the gorge. Buying one will go towards helping and supporting the continued development of the valley.
If you find yourself running out of routes, or heaven forbid getting bored of the place then check out both Le Boffi and the Gorge du Jonte for some stunning multi pitches and to feast your eyes on totally virgin rock for miles and miles.
Gorge du Tarn, Cantobre, Gorge de la Jonte and Le Boffi are all included in the Rockfax Languedoc-Roussillon guidebook. Buy this guidebook from our shop.
This article was written by Ethan Walker and all the photographs taken by Jon Clark.
Are you a budding travel writer?
Climb Europe are looking for exciting destination articles about various rock climbing areas around the world. Earn money from your travels by sending your articles to Climb Europe. Contact Us directly.
The Rockfax Languedoc-Roussillon rock climbing guidebook includes the Gorge du Tarn, Cantobre, Gorge de la Jonte and Le Boffi crags that are described in this article.
Buy this guidebook from our shop.
Find out more about rock climbing in south west France including the Gorge du Tarn.


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The first week of 2010 shows no change at the top with Activision Blizzard taking a 9th consecutive week at No1 with �Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2� (-41%).
The title is currently the 3rd biggest game ever in terms of UK history unit sell-through � it actually managed this feat last week, so after just 8 weeks on sale. For the record the current No1 is Nintendo�s �Dr Kawashima� on DS, released in June 2006 and No2 is Rockstar/Take 2�s �GTA San Andreas�, initially released on PS2 in November 2004 (Xbox and PC in 2005). Back to the present and Nintendo�s �Wii Fit Plus� climbs 3 places to No2 (-43%), Ubisoft�s Wii �Just Dance� climbs 4 places to a best-ever position at No3 (-41%) and Nintendo remain at No4 with �Wii Sports Resort� (-54%). There are only 2 new entries this week and both make the Top 10, starting with Sega�s �Bayonetta� (360/PS3) at No5. The other is THQ�s �Darksiders� (360/PS3) debuting at No8.
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subset: commoncrawl


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by Chinua Achebe
(Rant/sidetrack: I've been meaning to read Things Fall Apart for a while and I actually tried to read it for an assignment in high school. My Unnamed Teacher basically told me I'd read it before and called my a liar when I said I hadn't. Unnamed Teacher, you are a dick. You played favorites, ridiculed kids, and generally got too involved with students' lives. I'm pretty sure you advised my girlfriend that she was hanging out with the wrong crowd- referring to me and a couple of friends. And you called me a liar, without basis. You may be smart and successful, but being a good teacher should be more than making sure your students read the right books; you should probably not be using your position of power to play students against each other. Just my opinion, guy.)
The title and epigraph of Things Fall Apart come from the W.B. Yeats poem "The Second Coming," the epigraph reading:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.
I've never read the full poem, nor any others by this poet whose name I consistently mispronounce (it apparently rhymes with 'gates,' not 'beets'), and I generally don't read too much into epigraphs anyway. I also tend confuse epigraphs with epitaphs. But in this case, the epigraph primes you for the whole novel. When I consider the themes of Things Fall Apart, they're all there, in those four lines.
The story begins by describing Okonkwo, whose ambition and sense of self-worth come from his distaste for his father's laziness and poverty. As such, Okonkwo strives to become one of the most powerful men in his village of Umuofia. That chip on his shoulder allows him to become a champion wrestler, a successful farmer, and a leader in his community. His demeanor, however, sets him a bit apart from his village; he's impulsive and quick to anger, and he resists change and scorns compromise. In the end, the attributes that Okonkwo sees as his virtues are revealed as his weaknesses.
It's hard for me to say whether Okonkwo brings on his own downfall, or whether he's brought down by forces he can't control, primarily in the form of British colonization. Perhaps it's both equally, and I could certainly see Okonkwo's story playing out the same way regardless of the outside influence. If this was an English essay, I'd probably have to take a stand on the matter, but it's not. It's not for me to decide whether one's personality defects qualify as tragic flaws.
I also wonder what political message, if any, Achebe means to send with the book. Half of the story takes place before Okonkwo's people encounter the British missionaries, when 'white men' referred to lepers and not Europeans. This was probably the more interesting part of the book for me, watching Okonkwo navigate a society that he understands pretty well, though maybe not as well as he thinks. He plays by the rules, for the most part, and experiences successes, but every once in a while he runs afoul of societal norms, and must pay the price.
When the Europeans do arrive, Okonkwo reacts in his Okonkwo-like fashion, but many others take a more conciliatory and inclusive stance. To Okonkwo and those like him, the loss of the clan's cohesion is the real tragedy, even though the missionaries don't attempt to coerce the clan into adopting Christianity. Okonkwo sees that his ideals are becoming less relevant all the time, and doesn't understand how other people don't see it. He's lived his whole life by his own code, and it's served him pretty well so far, so how else is he supposed to deal with these new problems?
So there's really two ways to frame the story. You could see it as Okonkwo's story, set during a particularly difficult period of history, or you could see the story of the invasion, colonization, and proselytization of Africa, as seen through the eyes of one man. I think I prefer the former; it seems more interesting, and more universal. Okonkwo is a man who thinks he understands the world better than the world understands itself. Whether you call it confidence, or arrogance, or something else, we can all relate to that feeling. Nobody wants to go to bed understanding their place in the world, only to wake up completely lost.
As for the latter (the novel about the clash between British and Ibo cultures), I think that could be interesting as well, but I don't really know much of the actual history. In fact, I'd never heard of the Ibo culture before reading Things Fall Apart. Achebe does a good job, I think, of presenting an African perspective on this confrontation, through the eyes of Okonkwo; then again, he also sets Okonkwo apart from the rest of his tribe, which makes it harder for me to see him as representative of Africa or of the Ibo. So I prefer to see colonialism as a backdrop, providing context for our protagonist's attitudes and actions, and making his story all the more tragic.
Things Fall Apart is a great book. A real think-piece. As I sat here writing this, I realized that Okonkwo is one of the most interesting literary characters I've seen in a while. So read it.


text: Free shipping on ecommerce orders over $150. There are many custom blends for all moods, seasons and needs. A diffusor provides a safe and efficient way to disperse essential oils into the air. Pictured.... far left is the Room model. Right rear is the Optima model with a larger pump. The small model in front is the Tranquility model that features a rheostat that allows for air flow control.


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SIP Industrial: Brands
Since SIP Industrial Products began trading in 1968, quality research and development has been at the forefront of our work, designing and producing the latest industry innovations. Many of our flagship industrial air compressors, welders, generators and pressure washers are built and tested by our skilled engineers on-site at our UK HQ in Leicestershire.
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The extensive Fireball collection of heaters has gained popularity since the first introduction of the range. With models to suit all budgets, these units offer our customers great performance at value prices. All these models are heavy duty and designed for regular use, with propane space heaters, diesel/parrafin and kerosene space heaters, electric infrared, and electric fan heaters available to choose from.
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The Pro Booster models from SIP are high quality constructed booster packs manufactured in Switzerland, which are specifically designed for professional use on cars and light goods vehicles, with the top model able to jump start engines up to 550HP. These models feature both LED and digital displays, allowing for accurate monitoring. Some of these models also feature a 12 month battery warranty.
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Our fantastic range of Airline compressors are exclusive from SIP, with many built at our headquarters in Leicestershire by our skilled and experienced service engineers. These compressors are outstanding value-for-money, they are oil-lubricated for longer life and feature twin gauges for great performance. Wheel mounted for easy movement.
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Situated in Italy, with nearly 40 years of experience, HELVi® continues to reassert itself as an ideal partner for researching and developing technological solutions for the welding industry, always offering innovative products in line with the needs of the market and its own customers. From the past to the future, amongst tradition and innovation, HELVi® is always at its customers' side, and now stands side-by-side with SIP Industrial Products.


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Caramel Apples
Makes 12
Prep 15 m
Cook 15 m
- 1 of 6 Line a large baking sheet with nonstick foil. Coat foil with nonstick cooking spray.
- 2 of 6 Remove stems from apples; wash and dry apples. Insert wooden stick into stem end of each apple.
- 3 of 6 Place unwrapped caramels in medium-size saucepan. Add 3 tablespoons water; heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted and smooth.
- 4 of 6 Working quickly with one apple at a time, and keeping caramel over low heat, dip the apple into the caramel, turning to coat the apple completely (tilt pan slightly for easier dipping). Remove apple from caramel, letting excess caramel drip back into saucepan. Scrape bottom of apple on edge of pan, and transfer to prepared baking sheet. Repeat with all apples.
- 5 of 6 Press pistachios, peanuts or sprinkles onto bottom of apples and 1 inch up the sides; place in cupcake liners on new baking sheet. Refrigerate 10 minutes or until caramel is cool.
- 6 of 6 Meanwhile, melt chocolate with shortening in a small glass bowl on HIGH in microwave for 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Transfer to a small plastic bag; snip off corner. Drizzle over apples. Refrigerate until hardened, about 20 minutes. Store in refrigerator.
Nutrition Information for Caramel Apples
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Per Serving: 5 g pro., 74 g carb., 9 g Fat, total, 5 mg chol., 5 g sat. fat, 4 g fiber, 182 mg sodium, 378 kcal cal.
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Per Serving: 5 g pro., 74 g carb., 9 g Fat, total, 5 mg chol., 5 g sat. fat, 4 g fiber, 182 mg sodium, 378 kcal cal.


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Yes it's true, you haven't heard much from me after that I've set foot in New York City, (NYC for short). The few days were a "grand n'importe quoi". My luggage arrived at the hotel 4 full days after the last time I had seen them in Beirut airport at check-in. Thanks God my sister had a few sweaters and stuff in her carry-on. I was wearing that same legging for 3 days, I think I swore I'll never wear it again. I expected to receive my luggage on that last day, but I didn't. So we went shopping that night to buy something fresh to wear for next day's classes at New York University, (NYU). Successfully registering my NYU courses was not trouble-free either, I was so close to give it all up when so much was already going on. Two sisters who could not agree much on everything were just thrown away with no luggage in a city where we did not know much about.
Fortunately, our hotel was centered and close to everything. We spent the first few days taking cabs and walking. No subway for the moment, no need for more isssues and getting lost in the city when we were lost within ourselves.
By Wednesday, I felt that everything was getting better. That night we hung out with Lebanese friends from AUB and it was fun to have a little bit of home in this city. I also took the New York subway for the first time at night. It felt so easy because I was just following the lead. It wasn't until yesterday that my sister and I realized how confusing the subways are--when we stayed at it while on a trip to Brooklyn. On Saturday, we visited the Modern Museum of Art, (MoMA), and shopped on fifth avenue.
With Paris attack and other shakiness in Lebanon, I must say that I am glad this week is over and I'm looking forward to this one with more enthusiasm yet with lower expectations!
My first purchase of the trip at Charles de Gaulle airport.
Those leggings...
I love french fries so much that my mom calls me "Miss frites"! Good excuse to buy the socks!


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Seminar 4: The Daydreamer
Tuesday, December 12 / 15:30 – 18:30
Knut Knaus Auditorium
What particular languages and narratives does artistic practice incite or provoke? How might one speak of artistic works that are fundamentally at odds with conventions of discourse and description? Are there unique forms of knowledge generated by artistic research that require other ways of speaking? The seminar will focus on how the materials and processes of art making generate what we may call "poetic knowledge". In contrast to discourses based on rational thought – a making sense – poetic knowledge will be considered as being aligned with the irrational and the unnamable, and which requires methods of confusion and unlearning when approaching language and articulation. Poetic knowledge, and the fevers of poetic discourses, will be explored as offering a critical interruption and imagination onto the structures of linguistic and social ordering through a radical position of Not Knowing.
For this fourth and final seminar we'll concentrate on the figure of the Daydreamer. The act and experience of daydreaming will allow us to follow poetics into what Gaston Bachelard highlights as the "oneiric": the phantasmic yet no less real shimmering of consciousness. Following Bachelard's work, daydreaming will lead us into exploring the relation between poetics and love, reverie and childhood, human to nonhuman sharing, and further, into the productive "cosmos" opened up by the small nap that is daydreaming. In addition, the figure of the Daydreamer can be mobilized to query the social conditions of precarity, vulnerability and weakness, allowing us to ask: how might poetics be positioned as the basis for states of non-violent resistance? Can we understand the poetics of the imagination as a general framework for fostering what bell hooks calls a "loving community"? We'll conclude the seminar by reflecting on a number of artists whose practices capture poetics as a labor of love and commingling, including Erdem Gündüz, Womanhouse, Alice Chauchat, Robert Filliou, Jonas Mekas, and Palle Nielsen.
Gaston Bachelard, Poetics of Reverie
Judith Butler, Precarious Life
Luce Irigaray, The Way of Love
Robert Filliou, The Principles of Poetic Economy


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If you don�t want to deal with the hassle of preparing a turkey dinner, you can be thankful for our many dining establishments open on Thanksgiving Day.
Many restaurants in South Walton and Destin will be open and stand ready to accommodate your desire for the traditional, or not-so-traditional Thanksgiving meal.
The Sun reached out to several restaurants and these are some of the options.
Elephant Walk: On Sandestin's beach side, the Elephant Walk hosts its first Thanksgiving feast buffet-style. Executive Chef Mike McAnulla will create the menu featuring of more than 25 dishes, from southern cornbread dressing and a variety of salads, to sweet potato casserole and fresh autumn vegetables, to classic pumpkin pie and more. The buffet will be served from noon to 7 p.m. for $34.95 for adults and $16.95 for children, tax and gratuity not included. Reservations are recommended. Call 267-4800. Walk-ins will be accepted on availability but cannot be ensured. Visit www.elephantwalkatsandestin.com. for more info.
Sandestin bayside: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will host Thanksgiving brunch at its Linkside Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an assortment of seafood, sides, salads, oven-roasted turkey and a variety of desserts, as well as traditional favorites. The brunch will also feature a southern shrimp and grits station, a gumbo station and an assortment of cakes, pies, cookies and a banana�s foster flamb� station. Reserve by emailing email@example.com or call 267-6398.
Caf� Thirty-A: The restaurant is offering a sit-down four-course Thanksgiving Day dinner with all the extras from noon to 4 p.m. Choose from deep-fried turkey, lamb shanks, gulf grouper, or filet mignon. Adults $50 (excluding tax and gratuity). There will also be a children�s menu, $15. To-go orders are available to serve six for $160. Pies are $25 each. Call 231-2128.
Bud & Alley�s: As is tradition, Seaside's Bud & Alley's, The Pizza Bar, and Taco Bar will be closed Thanksgiving Day. But that evening, Bud & Alley's roof deck bar will open at 4:30 p.m. for sunset enjoyment until 8:30 p.m.
Great Southern Cafe: Across the road, Great Southern Cafe will offer a traditional Thanksgiving Day buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $26 for adults and $12 for ages 10 and under. Reservations are encouraged at 231-7327.
WaterColor: The resort is offering Thanksgiving brunch at its Lake House on the north side of 30A from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $65 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under. A 4-course dinner is offered at Fish Out of Water on the Gulf from 4-8 p.m. at a cost of $60 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. Or, takeaways for 10 are available for $350. Takeaways must be ordered by Nov. 25 and may be picked up Thanksgiving Day in the lobby bar between 10 a.m. and noon. Reservations for the sit down meals are recommended at 534-5050.
Stinky's: The eatery will be open Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 267-3053 for reservations.
Marigny: The Marigny on E. Hewett Road is offering a Thanksgiving Day buffet with two seatings at noon and 3 p.m. by reservation only. Their regular menu will not be offered. They are offering deliveries of a Thanksgiving meal that will serve eight. Call 622-9101.
Solaris: The Solaris dining yacht will host a Thanksgiving Day cruise on the Choctawhatchee Bay with a traditional buffet with all the trimmings at two seatings: noon to 2 p.m., and 6 - 8 p.m. Adults $58; children 3 � 10, $35; and infants under 3, $20. Call 650-2519 for reservations.
Cuvee Bistro: Open from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. for annual Thanksgiving Buffet. Early reservations are recommended. Adults are $35, children under 9 $16. Visit Cuvee Bistro online at www.cuveebistrodestin.com for the complete Thanksgiving menu visit or call 850-650-8900.
O'Quigley's Seafood Steamer: O'Quigley's will open from 11 a.m.-close and will feature a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, green beans, and cranberry. Dinner is $16.99. The regular menu is also available. For more information call 850-837-1015 or visit www.oquigleysseafoodsteamer.com.
790 on The Gulf: Open from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., serving a traditional Thanksgiving menu Gulfside. Reservations are recommended. Visit 790 on The Gulf on the web at www.eatmoregumbo.com, or call the restaurant at 850-650-4853.
Ruth's Chris: Ruth's Chris will also be open Thanksgiving Day and serving a sizzling turkey breast with cranberry sauce for $25, with a children's menu also available for $12.95. Dinner will feature traditional sides and an a la carte menu will be available from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 5 - 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Call 850-337-5108 or visit www.ruthschrisdestin.com.
Ocean Club: The Ocean Club, located at the entrance to Tops'l Beach & Racquet Resort, will be serving Thanksgiving dinner from 12 - 8 p.m. The menu will feature traditional Thanksgiving favorites, as well as rack of lamb, prime rib, grouper and a special kids menu. Call 850-267-3666 to make reservations or visit www.theoceanclubdestin.com.
Marina Cafe: Marina Cafe will be serving Thanksgiving Day dinner from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. The menu will feature roast turkey, duck and ham, as well as all the trimmings. Prices are $36 for adults and $16 for those 12 and under. For reservations call 850-837-7960 or visit www.marinacafe.com.
Booked solid: The Vue on 30A and Fire are serving, but they are booked.
Dine for free: However, if your Thanksgiving desires fall on the altruistic bent, Harbor Docks in Destin welcomes the community to its free Thanksgiving Day dinner. Yes, free. It's a 19-year tradition benefiting Okaloosa Habitat for Humanity and Destin Harvest from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Harbor Docks invites family, friends, locals and tourists to come and enjoy a traditional, home-style Thanksgiving Day meal. Charles Morgan III, owner of Harbor Docks, partners with Okaloosa Habitat for Humanity and Destin Harvest to serve the feast. Morgan covers the cost, while raising awareness and funds for the non-profit organizations. AJ�s Seafood and Oyster Bar will donate ham for the event while The Donut Hole will provide dessert. There will be table service with plated food and a cash bar. Okaloosa Habitat for Humanity and Destin Harvest contribute 200 volunteers to cover every position in the restaurant. Harbor Docks employees will also be on-site to assist. Donations are accepted and payable to Okaloosa Habitat for Humanity or Destin Harvest. Last year the annual Thanksgiving event fed more than 1,500 people and raised more than $20,000 with 100 percent of donations going directly to local needs. To volunteer for this event email firstname.lastname@example.com or email@example.com for details on available times.
The options are plentiful this Thanksgiving and there is no need for anyone to be alone on this day. Happy Thanksgiving!


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Jonathan Ross, Chris Evans and Brian Blessed have led the tributes to late Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson, who died on Boxing Day.
Anderson died in his sleep aged 83 yesterday after battling mixed dementia, his son Jamie announced.
TV presenter Ross praised Anderson's work on hit TV shows including Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Stingray.
He tweeted: 'For men of my age his work made childhood an incredible place to be.'
Brian Blessed, who worked with Anderson on shows like The Day After Tomorrow and Space: 1999, said he was 'child-like' but not 'childish'.
He told The BBC: 'I think a light has gone out in the universe.
'He had a great sense of humour. He wasn't childish but child-like and he had a tremendous love of the universe and astronomy and scientists.'
Radio DJ Chris Evans posted on his Twitter page: 'Gerry Anderson has passed away. The man was a visionary like few others. Belated and surely to be celebrated.'
While TV star John Barrowman tweeted: 'Your shows introduced me to a whole new world of Scifi.'
Comedian Eddie Izzard wrote: 'What great creation Thunderbirds was, as it fuelled the imagination of a generation.'
Anderson is survived by his widow Mary and son Jamie as well as three children from former marriages — Joy, Linda and Gerry Jnr.


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Friday, August 14, 2015
Hi everyone! The weekend is here, TGIF! Today I'm sharing the layout of my father-in-law! It was a little challenging making a masculine layout with feminine supplies but I think I pulled it off. I added some gold hardware and left off the flowers and lace. The layout is really clean and simple but overall I love it and it blends with all the other layouts in the album.
Thanks for stopping by... hope you have a purr-fect day!
Posted by Karen Howard at 4:57 AM
Labels: album 50 Years, layout 8 x 8, scrapbooking
1 comment:
- Sue said...
I love your layout,well done getting the page done with your stash
- August 14, 2015 at 7:35 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Privacy Policy
Thank you for visiting the https://www.surfaricharters.com website. Your privacy is very important to us. Simply stated, our policy is to collect no Personally Identifiable Information about you when you visit https://www.surfaricharters.com, unless you affirmatively choose to make such information available by filling in a contact form, sending a reservation inquiry, purchasing through our shopping cart, or by sending us an email.
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PrimeTime Fitness regularly offers the following services
Be sure to check out our "Club Hours, Fees and Schedules" for class schedules and pricing.
In addition, you can find the following seasonal or special programs offered at various times during the year:
PrimeTime Fitness is my 'fitness home' where I go to be challenged, welcomed, and excited to stay healthy and strong. With amazing trainers, comfortable atmosphere and fun fun fun boot-camps I always look forward to spending time on the island with the PrimeTime Team!
Prime Time Fitness combines great service on a very personal level. The trainers are dedicated professionals who want you to achieve your fitness goals. I love being a member there and part of this special community.


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Nowadays, with the advent of the Internet, information is easily distributed and accessed. One of the downsides, however, is that people tend to feel that they're being bombarded with lots of information and would prefer to ignore the marketing messages sent their way. Given this, it is important that you take steps in ensuring that your marketing message doesn't get lost in the noise. How do you do this? Be effective in your "storytelling." Here are some tips that you should consider, which are results of the study done by LookBookHQ, a content marketing company:
1. Opt to show, not tell. According to their study, press releases which contain multimedia elements get 77% more responses as compared to those with just text. Furthermore, blog posts which contain videos are linked to 3 times more than those which purely contain texts.
2. Make information easily read and understood. Nowadays, most people are so busy in their fast-paced lifestyle such that most of them (approximately 79%) just scan the online content instead of reading it word for word. You should thus avoid publishing information which are too content-heavy and opt for easily digested materials instead.
3. Create catchy headlines. Given that most people just scan content, you need to have headlines which will immediately get their attention. Your headlines and opening statements should make them want to read more!.
4. Make your stories personal. Remember that personal stories about real people and situations stand out from among the thousands of marketing messages that are sent out daily. Put a "heart" to your message by making it personal. What you're saying should have an impact to your target market and readers.
5. Package your content. Instead of distributing your videos, images and text separately, package them all together in order to create a more powerful and relevant marketing message.
Do you have any concern when it comes to marketing your products or services? Feel free to contact us today.


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This week my flatmate arrived home with 5 beautiful lemons for the ridiculously low price of 49p. Cooking is a pretty expensive habit for a student, especially as I am a total food snob, and wouldn't dream of skimping on ingredients (I would rather go without everything else), so when life gives you cheap lemons, make lemon meringue pie.
Having spent the summer making preserves I definitely wasn't prepared to cheat and use shop bought lemon curd. So, having not made lemon meringue pie in years, I did some research and decided upon a recipe by Angela Nilsen, which I adapted slightly (as I can never play by the rules!) I did want to use a recipe from Paul Hollywood's 'How to Bake' as it is an amazing book, and his recipes have not failed me yet. But his recipe requires a dozen eggs which is pretty excessive in comparison to the five Angela Nilsen uses.
Lemon Meringue Pie.
For the sweet shortcrust pastry;
175g/6oz plain flour
100g /3.5 oz cold butter , cut in small pieces
1 tbsp icing sugar
1 egg yolk
For the lemon curd;
100g caster sugar
finely grated zest 3 large lemons
125ml fresh lemon juice, sieved to remove all pips and pith
85g butter , cubed
2 tbsp cornflour
3 egg yolks and 1 whole egg
For the meringue;
4 egg whites
200g caster sugar
2 level tsp cornflour
1) Place the flour, butter, egg yolk, icing sugar and 1 tbsp of water in a food processor and blitz until it forms a dough. Place in a sandwich bag, or wrap in cling film and leave in the fridge for a minimum of an hour (this can be done the day before).
2) Preheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll out your pastry so it is just thicker than a ten pence piece, and cover a 22inch loose bottom pie dish. Prick the bottom of the pastry case with a fork and place greaseproof paper on the top, fill with baking beans (or rice/dry pasta) and bake blind for 15 minutes. After these 15 minutes, remove the greaseproof paper and bake for a further five minutes to make the base a light golden colour, but not too cooked. You can trim the pastry before you cook it, or cook it and then trim it. I am yet to decide which method I prefer, if you have a good quality sharply fluted tin, you can trim afterwards.
3) In the meantime, place the lemon zest, cornflour and sugar in a saucepan.Add water to the fresh lemon juice to make the mixture up to 250ml and pour into the saucepan. Place on a moderate heat and stir until the mixture thickens.Remove from the heat once thickened and beat in the cubed butter. Then, one at a time, the egg yolks and the whole egg, until you have a smooth mixture. Return to the heat and mix until thick and sliding off of the spoon. Take of the heat.
4) Now your lemon curd is made, and your pastry case is baked, start on the meringue. Place the egg whites in a glass bowl, ensure your bowl is very clean and grease free. Avoid using plastic bowls as no matter how well you clean them, greasy residue will be left behind and this could hinder your meringues. Using an electric whisk, beat your eggs until they reach soft peaks, then, add the caster sugar in one tablespoon at a time, whisking whilst you do this. Once you have added half of the sugar add the cornflour, and continue the sugar adding process until all has gone and your left with glossy, hard peaks.
5) Reheat the lemon curd, so it is easier to pour, then pour on top of your pastry base. Spoon the meringue on the top, starting from the outside in, working quickly so the meringue doesn't melt under the heat of the lemon curd. You could pipe on the meringue, I prefer to just spoon the mixture on and using the back of a metal spoon, shaping the meringue to form fluffy peaks.
6) Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes, until the meringue has a golden colour, leave to cool in the tin. I believe lemon meringue pie is best served cool.
I was perusing twitter whilst waiting for my lemon meringue pie to cool, and came across Nigella Lawson's recipe of the day tweet, it just so happened to be a lemon meringue cake. Being the baking nerd that I am I tweeted a picture of my pie to her saying I wished I had made a lemon meringue cake instead, and she messaged me back…this of course was a highlight of my life. I promise next week I will try bake something without tweeting!
This week I also found a beautiful new Edinburgh cafe, that I will definitely be frequenting on a regular basis, called 'Lovecrumbs'. It's pretty much how I would have my own cafe; hardwood floors, mis-matched furniture and lots of vintage china. Not only was it beautifully decorated and serenely quiet, it served fantastic tea made with home-made tea bags and the selection of cakes was overwhelming. I went for the pumpkin and chocolate chip bundt cake, which was an excellent choice, although I will be returning to try out the other choices (for blog research purposes only). The greatest thing about this cafe was undoubtedly the fact that the cakes were stored in a big, mahogany dresser, I wish my wardrobe at home had a cake on every shelf.
Lovecrumbs cafe is at 155 west port, a little bit further up from the grassmarket when you're headed to lothian road.


text: Rescue workers continue to find bodies from Tuesday's quake The governor of the stricken Kerman province said 490 people had been killed and 900 injured when the 6.4-magnitude quake struck on Tuesday. "These figures are not final and are expected to increase further," governor Muhammad Ali Karimi told public radio on Thursday. He said the search for victims was still going on in the mountain village of Houtkan, which was demolished in the quake, the worst in Iran since the Bam earthquake of December 2003 that killed more than 31,000 people. Homeless At least 500 people have been confirmed dead About 8000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the Zarand region closest to the epicentre of the quake, leaving thousands homeless as temperatures dropped below freezing and rain and snow hampered rescue efforts. Hundreds of rescue workers and soldiers were digging by hand through the rubble of mud-brick buildings as blocked roads made it impossible for heavy earthmoving equipment to reach some villages. Zarand governor Javad Rachidi, spoke of 500 dead and 990 injured. Delay in aid President Muhammad Khatami, whose government is facing protests from stricken villagers at the delay in aid reaching some of the most devastated areas, said on Wednesday that Iran would accept international help if offered. "Up to now about 9400 tents, 60,000 blankets and a large quantity of basic supplies have been distributed"Muhammad Ali Karimi, Kerman governor"We are not calling for aid [from abroad] but we will accept it as we did before [after the Bam disaster]," he said. US President George Bush, who has warned of possible military action against Iran over its nuclear activities, was among those offering help for quake victims. Kerman governor Karimi said he was satisfied with the distribution of emergency aid despite residents holding a number of protests to highlight their lack of tents, blankets and food. "Up to now about 9400 tents, 60,000 blankets and a large quantity of basic supplies have been distributed," Karimi said. "The distribution will be quicker once the weather improves." SOURCE: AFP


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It started as an experiment – as things often do in this industry. Icelandic game developer CCP wanted to find out what was possible with the Oculus Rift, a virtual reality (VR) gaming headset that has become a major tech phenomenon since its successful Kickstarter appeal in August 2012.
So the company put a small team on a VR project and got to work. Since its main IP, the hugely successful online multiplayer title Eve: Online, features spaceships prominently, a space combat simulator seemed like the obvious start point. EVE: Valkyrie, then, puts players into the cockpit of a star fighter which must battle it out against a range of computer controlled craft in zero gravity. Imagine the swirling, fast-paced dog fights that defined Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, and you have Valkyrie, except here it's interactive and utterly immersive.
As we discovered at E3, no description can really prepare you for the experience of putting on the Rift and actually playing. Once the headset and earphones are in place, the outside world is obliterated and replaced with the a first-person view of the ship's cockpit. Look left and right and you can see the cannons on the starfighter's wings. Look down and you see "your" torso and legs in a flight suit. Look behind you and you can see the exit hatch.
Of course, if Eve: Valkyrie was a traditional flight sim, you could do all of that using the thumbstick on a controller – but that's the point: with the Rift, intuitive head movement replaces fiddly controls and the degree of immediate agency it gives you is staggering. For example, your ship's missile lock is mapped to the Rift and, if you pull in the left trigger, it targets what you're looking at – what's more, your target area increases exponentially the more you look around.
Valkyrie is also built to combat the motion sickness that many people associate with virtual reality experiences. You never leave the cockpit, so you don't get the giddy feeling that often comes when controlling a character physically moving on screen. Also, thanks to the Rift's Time Warp function – John Carmac's software addition to Oculus's headset – the frame rate appears faster than it is. This cuts down on motion blur and makes all the action look a lot crisper.
Eve: Valkyrie may still be a long way from release and to a degree it still feels like a tech demo for the Oculus Rift (although it is also being developed for Sony's Project Morpheus headset). However, CCP is talking about linking the game in with EVE Online, and expanding its narrative, so that the dog-fighting action is part of the wider universe. We can also expect a range of spacecraft as well as customisable weapons, and team-based multiplayer action.
But really, it's all about the feeling of being out there in space, surrounded by other ships, by satellites, by planets floating in the distance. If this turns out to be a genuine taste of what's to come, the idea of virtual reality as a mainstream entertainment proposition has just got a little less outlandish.
• Eve Valkyrie is currently scheduled for release on PC and PlayStation 4. release date is to be confirmed
• EVE Valkyrie – the future of space combat in games and virtual reality


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Carrie Rengers
Phil Ruffin buys Florida oceanfront property sight unseen, but it's no joke
UPDATED — There are a lot of jokes about waterfront property in Florida that someone would like to sell you sight unseen.
The oceanfront property that billionaire Phil Ruffin purchased in December – without even looking at it – is no joke on him, though.
"We went down there and looked at it at New Year's, and it's a beautiful piece of property," Ruffin says. "It's a luxury property."
The price may be even more attractive. Ruffin paid $6 million for 500 feet of oceanfront property on almost 12 acres in Vero Beach for which the previous owners paid $17.5 million.
"It was a bargain," Ruffin says. "Someone took an $11 million hit."
There used to be a Radisson hotel on the property, but it was torn down after a storm.
"Once that happens, you have to start over again," Ruffin says of rezoning for potential hotel use.
He's going to go through the rezoning, but Ruffin says he isn't sure what he'll do after that.
He might build a new hotel.
"Or we might flip it."
Ruffin, who owns Treasure Island in Las Vegas and the Wichita Marriott on Corporate Hills Drive, says he likes investing in land.
"I'd rather have land than money right now," he says. "Money's not worth a lot. It's very hard to invest our money and make anything off it right now. The interest rates are so low that money markets are not good, and stock markets are a little bit jumpy, so land is a pretty good investment right now in hot areas."
So, ah, what are those hot areas that perhaps the rest of us may invest in?
"Well, Florida's real good, and Vegas is getting better, and Wichita's not bad," Ruffin says.
"I like my little hometown. I'm not sure they like me, but I like them."


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Top-performing students from Cass Tech, DIA, DSA, EEVPA and King receive full-ride scholarships covering their college expenses through graduate school
Seven Detroit Public Schools seniors – two more than the previous year — are among only 1,000 recipients nationwide who will receive the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship award. They include a student from East English Village Preparatory Academy who will introduce First Lady Michelle Obama as she pays a special visit to the city of Detroit in celebration of the nation-wide College Signing Day.
The highly-regarded Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) Program selects 1,000 talented students each year to receive a full-ride scholarship covering all college expenses including tuition, housing, books and supplies through graduate school to use at any college or university of their choice. The DPS recipients will attend top-ranked colleges and universities, including Spelman College, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Michigan State University.
The 2015 DPS recipients include:
Cass Technical High School– Jocelyn D. Rice and Dajion N. Whitfield
Detroit International Academy for Young Women– Fatema Akhtar and Sakilah Islam
Detroit School of Arts– Jon David Graves
East English Village Preparatory Academy– Fred Wright-Jones
Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School– Paris Dimick
With the number of DPS students receiving Gates Millennium scholarships increasing from five in 2013 to seven, Denise Barnes, a 12th grade counselor at Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior High School, says that students are beginning to prepare for the application process as early as 9th and 10th grades because they do not want to miss this life-changing opportunity.
"The Gates Millennium Scholarship is definitely a motivational tool for everyone," said Barnes. "I have students who are coming to me as freshmen asking me what they can do to start preparing to apply for the scholarship. With DPS' Gates Millennium recipients increasing, it shows our students get it, and as a district, we are definitely doing something right."
Sakilah Islam, a senior from Detroit International Academy for Young Women, found out she was a Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient during an acceptance ceremony at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, her dream school. She received the confirmation via text message from her mother.
"My mom texted me in the middle of the program and just said 'you got it.' I literally ran out of the room, called my mom and she told me the news. My whole family was so excited and proud of me," Islam said. "I don't think it has hit home yet, but receiving the news was definitely a finalization of the fact that I really can reach my dreams."
According to the Gates Millennium Scholars Program website, this is the largest and most successful minority scholarship program in the country. Thousands of students annually submit their applications in hopes of full-ride scholarships to countless post-secondary institutions.
Fred Wright-Jones, a senior at East English Village Preparatory Academy, National Honors Society President, athlete and co-editor of the EEVPA student newspaper, has maintained a 4.0 grade point average since middle school and also plans to attend the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and double major in Athletic Training and Sports Management.
"I was ecstatic when I found out that I had received the scholarship," said Jones. "My parents don't have the finances to send me to a major university like U of M so this opportunity alleviates the concerns completely.
Adding to his recent accolades, Jones was selected to introduce First Lady Michelle Obama as she speaks in Detroit during the nation-wide College Signing Day event.
Additionally, scholarship candidates were required to complete the intensive GMS official application, which consisted of three parts: a student application submitted by the student; a nominator form completed and submitted by an educator (principal, teacher, counselor); and a recommender form completed and submitted by any adult (work supervisor or a community leader) who is familiar with the student's community service and leadership activities.
"Even though the process is very extensive and requires a lot of work from the students, I love the amount of support that the students receive from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," Barnes explained. "They continued to reach out to the students throughout the process, encouraging them and even followed up with other scholarship opportunities."
With more than $138 million in student grants and scholarships for 2014 graduates, DPS is committed to supporting all families and providing the highest quality public education available to its students.
DPS recently launched its spring Open Enrollment period, extending now through May 22. For more details, visit detroitk12.org/enroll or call 313-240-4DPS (4377).


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Tangerine Canada (formerly ING DIRECT Canada) is currently offering a $ 50 sign-up bonus when you open select Tangerine accounts with a $ 100 minimum deposit through a customer referral.
Plus, new Tangerine Canada customers can get an extra $ 25 bonus when you set up an Automatic Savings Program (ASP) into a Tangerine Savings Account with a minimum $ 100 per month for 6 continuous months.
In addition, current Tangerine Canada customers can earn $ 50 referral bonuses when you refer new customers to open a qualifying account.
Just open a Tangerine Canada Chequing or Savings account with a $ 100 minimum deposit to receive a $ 50 referral bonus and an extra $ 25 when you set up an Automatic Savings Program (ASP).
This bonus offer is for the Tangerine Canada referral program, but there is also a U.S. Capital One 360 Referral Program if you live in the United States and would like to receive a $ 25 360 sign-up bonus.
How to Get Your Tangerine Canada $ 75 Bonus
1. Sign up for a new account with Tangerine Canada.
2. Enter this Orange Key code (referral code) on the bottom right side of the first page of the application form: 16777264S1
3. Deposit a $ 100 check to get a $ 50 bonus.
4. Get an additional $ 25 bonus when you set up an Automatic Savings Program (ASP) into a Tangerine Savings Account with a minimum $ 100 per month for 6 continuous months.
5. You will get your own Orange Key – so you can start referring people (if they use your key, you both get $ 50 when your referrals open an account).
Just don't forget to include the Orange Key 16777264S1 (see comments below for more valid Orange Keys) on the bottom right of the enrollment form when you open an account to get your $ 50 bonus.
Tangerine Canada Refer-A-Friend Program
The Tangerine Canada Refer-A-Friend Program has been increased from $ 25 to a $ 50 bonus.
For every friend who opens a Tangerine Account with a deposit of $ 100 or more using your Orange Key, you'll earn a double bonus of $ 50.
Check out the Tangerine Canada Referral Page to start referring your friends today.
Your referrals will also get $ 50 when they become a Tangerine saver, plus an additional $ 25 bonus when they set up an Automatic Savings Program (ASP) into a Tangerine Savings Account with a minimum $ 100 per month for 6 continuous months.
Tangerine Canada $ 50 New Account Bonus
There is also a $ 50 Bonus Offer available for new customers.
You'll get $ 25 when you become a new client by opening a Tangerine Savings Account, RSP Savings Account, or Tax-Free Savings Account with at least $ 100. You must enter this Orange Key on enrollment: Orange25.
You'll get $ 25 when you set up an ASP of $ 100 or more per month when you enroll with your Savings Account. Your ASP deposits will earn 2.40% interest for 6 months, and if you keep your ASP going for the full 6 continuous months, you'll get a $ 25 bonus.
Tangerine Canada $ 100 Switch Assistant Bonus
There is also this Switch Assistant Bonus to earn $ 100 when you switch your payroll direct deposits and make either 1 pre-authorized payment or 2 bill payments.
Only clients who have never received a bonus related to switching your payroll direct deposits are eligible for $ 100 bonus.
Take advantage of this Tangerine bonus offer for Canadian accounts.
Open a Tangerine Canada account today to get a special referral bonus offer.


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Mail merge is one of those things that we would all like to do from time to time, send a personalized email to a list. Most people are familiar with mail merge in Microsoft Word, but due to a quirk in the way Word implements Simple MAPI and a deficiency in Thunderbird, it just does not work.
The answer is simply,
either use another word processor like LibreOffice Libre Office sends it's own mail merges without any reference to a mail program at all. It also quite happily uses the Thunderbird address book to address the mail and is my prefered method of mail merging..
Install the Mail Merge add-on for Thunderbird and do it all from Thunderbird,
Friday, February 10, 2012
Mail Merge
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Dogfish Head Releases Perfect Beer for Wine Lovers
Photo via Dogfish Head Brewery
Photo via Dogfish Head Brewery
This time on Behind the Bar, we spoke to Kat Corbo of The Study, who recently won Speed Rack 2019....read more ›
Whether it's on the waterfront with seafood and crushes or on a dog-friendly deck with whiskey, outdoor drinking is a staple in this city....read more ›
In a huge move for the American craft beer community, Boston Beer and Dogfish Head have agreed to a merger valued at $300 million dollars. ...read more ›
With snow and winter winds behind us, it's time to step into spring. Is there any better way to put a spring in your step than with some seasonal si...read more ›
A new, high-end blend of Jack Daniel's whiskey, known as Jack Daniel's No. 27 Gold, which was previously only ...read more ›
Coopers' Craft Kentucky Straight Bourbon has debuted an entirely new label design, has expanded to more states...read more ›
Is there a better name for a place to bar hop in Baltimore than Brewer's Hill? Here's our guide to their best bars. ...read more ›
Here are the best spots in Baltimore where you can grab a pint....read more ›
Pabst Blue Ribbon has filed documents to create its very own whiskey, making for the perfect shot & beer combo....read more ›
In this edition of Behind the Bar, we chatted with Tory Pratt, the founder of Pratt Standard....read more ›
Ridley Scott has directed a four-minute short film for Hennessy X.O. visualizing the seven flavors of the high...read more ›
On this edition of Behind the Bar, we had the honor to sit down with Chris Morris, the master distiller at Woo...read more ›


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Oppenheimer Funds launched a completely new website for advisors that pushes its content in new and unique directions.
Beginning last week, advisors visiting oppenheimerfunds.com were redirected to the brand new oppfunds.com. Oppenheimer's revamp offers advisors a robust and engaging website while also laying the foundation for the firm's advisor business going forward.
Previous visitors to the site will immediately notice the new homepage style and layout, which shares practically no similarities to the previous site. Oppenheimerfunds.com is still accessible through a dropdown menu in the top static menu, but it's clear that the firm is positioning this new site as the future of its business. The homepage introduces the new "Advisor Dashboard" menu on the left margin of the page, which grants access to a new client account management system, a live customer service chat, and alert notifications for fund documents and commentaries. Although Oppenheimer is not the first firm to integrate a floating dock into its site, it serves as a clear improvement over the previous site design.
New OppenheimerFunds Advisor Site Homepage
Firm's Previous Advisor Site Homepage
Site Design
The new site is significantly leaner, removing previous Retirement and College Savings content and most secondary navigation options and focusing instead on new social initiatives. The firm presents its site as a more personal user experience by hosting biographies and profiles of its many portfolio managers. The main focus however is on the new Advisor Exchange system – a self-contained social platform that allows registered users and Oppenheimer personnel to comment and collaborate on the site's Professional Development. Advisor Exchange seems like an interesting idea – it's a unique feature among Advisor Monitorfirms – but it is so new that there is not yet enough participation to fully understand its potential. We will be sure to revisit Advisor Exchange in the future and offer a full review.
Advisor Exchange Homepage
While the site does have a multitude of positive new features and design elements, its usability on mobile devices is notably weaker. The site does not offer a mobile-specific layout, and while the webpage fits a tablet's screen without difficulty, pages often load erratically and site performance is generally slow. Users with an iPad 1 will receive a message warning that their device is not currently supported, and the site will not work properly as a result. Many financial services firms have already taken steps to optimize their websites for tablet use. To learn more, download Corporate Insight's latest study – Tablet-Friendly Web Design: Best Practices for Financial Services.
Advisor Monitor Subscribers
Subscribers to CI's Advisor Monitor research service can read a more in-depth review of Oppenheimer's new advisor website in the Advisor Monitor Update report released on September 23rd (CI Client Login Required). The full review looks deeper into a number of the website's new capabilities including the client accounts system, Insights tab and more.
For more information on our Advisor Monitor research service or your firm's subscription, contact Ben Pousty, Marketing Manager, 212-832-2002 x-134 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Subscribers: to register for CI Client Access and download the report, click here.


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In Jonathan's Sarna's article in The Forward about the challenges of American Orthodoxy, he lists aliyah as one of the challenges:
Third, American Orthodoxy is experiencing a significant brain drain. It sends its best and its brightest to Israel for long periods of yeshiva study, and unsurprisingly, many of them never return. One can think of multiple examples of remarkable Orthodox men and women who might have had a profound effect on Jewish religious life in America but preferred to cast their lot with the Jewish state. Can a movement that sends its most illustrious sons and daughters to Israel truly expect to triumph here in the United States?
Israel expects that American Jewry will support the State of Israel and this is even more true for American Orthodoxy. The Modern Orthodox Jewish community in the United States is extremely supportive of Israel – donating funds, educating students about the importance of Israel and encouraging tourism to Israel.
Sarna's thesis, that this philosophy ultimately hurts American Orthodoxy is an interesting one. The bulk of Orthodox Jews educated in yeshiva in the US remain in America. The ones who make aliyah go to Israel looking for better educational opportunities for themselves or their children or in order to fulfill the mitzvah of living in Israel. Are these the cream of the crop religiously and intellectually? Are these the Jews who could be influential active members of religious communities in the US?
Today is the Salute to Israel parade in New York City. Many Jewish day schools will be marching in the parade to celebrate Israel's independence and to show their support for Israel. The organizers expect 100,000 participants and one million spectators.
Support for Israel is built into the American Orthodox educational system and this is unlikely to change soon. Whether this will really have an effect on the quality of Jewish communities in the American Diaspora remains to be seen.


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Britain's bankers are set to splash out £1bn of bonus money on luxury homes in the capital next year – although City types are being crowded out of central London by higher taxes and competition from wealthy foreigners.
Estate agent Savills says City professionals are tightening their belts, but only modestly. Total bonus money spent on property in the capital is forecast to fall by 17% in comparison to this year's figure of £1.2bn.
New European guidelines encouraging banks to pay bonuses in shares, rather than cash, are making it harder for City professionals to get large mortgages from high-street lenders – many are turning to specialist private banks for their personal finances. Bonus money is none the less expected to restrict any fall in the capital's top-end property prices to 1% during 2011, compared with 3% drop in home prices for Britain as a whole.
"They're going to be taxed more heavily and they're getting more of their bonuses in deferred shares," said Lucian Cook, director of residential research at Savills. "I don't think we're going to see the kind of massive flow of bonus money that we saw into the market back in 2006 and 2007."
For all their wealth, bankers are being squeezed out of expensive central districts such as Belgravia and Kensington by overseas buyers, largely from Russia and the Middle East. Financiers are tending to flock to a "banker-broker belt" in the west of the city, stretching from Fulham to Clapham, Wandsworth, Richmond and Wimbledon south of the Thames, plus a handful of areas in north London such as Islington and Hampstead.
"The two biggest groups we're seeing buying in central London are from the Middle East and from Russia," said Cook. "It does mean that unless you're on a mega-bonus, it's becoming more likely that you're going to buy your home in south-west London."Figures from the Centre for Economic and Business Research suggest bankers' bonuses will be down by 5% to £7bn this year and will be 13% lower after the impact of higher taxes. The bonus pot is 45% lower than its pre-recession peak in 2007.


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Inspiring Innovation in Education
Educators are working to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs across the country.
Recent developments, such as the Common Core State Standards, federal programs to promote funding for STEM education, and a push to prepare more STEM educators reflect the rapidly changing landscape in education.
Educational STEM Solutions can help you navigate this changing landscape, whether you are looking to implement a new STEM program or sustain an existing program.
Educational STEM Solutions promotes STEM education by providing support, service and programs for educators. We leverage our extensive experience in the field to help you find sources of funding for your program, implement the best curriculum, and keep your program thriving with teacher training and support.
How Educational STEM Solutions Can Help You
Our Mission
e-STEM Solutions is committed to helping produce success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) classrooms.
Our company is built on the principles of providing quality products and providing reliable service.
Our diversified product range continues to grow by following trends, improving our standard products, and listening to the customer.
Our unique service has established our place in this industry. This allows us to make a distinctive and substantial impact for our clients.
Our Expertise
We have a unique perspective derived from years of experience working one-on-one with teachers, administrators and students. We have built partnerships with organizations promoting STEM education to bring you proven solutions. Our team has over 60 years of combined experience in the development STEM and CTE programs.
Our Territory
e-STEM Solutions is happy to represent our manufacturers in the following states:
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- New Jersey
- New York


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The Kraft Plus challenge for February,
A sketch and a colour combo, to get you creating!
A sketch and a colour combo, to get you creating!
Make sure you head over to the Kraft Plus blog for more inspiration.
Thanks for visiting :)
Comments are now moderated,
due to high levels of spamming.
So your comment won't appear straight away.
I do like questions, so if you have any please ask, and I will try to reply here in the comments, via email (if you leave your email address), in a blog post or visit your blog with an answer.
I love new visitors so please don't be shy :) say hi so I can come visit your blog too :)
And Dave, if you read this, I love you ooddles and ooddles :)


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Our Key Staff
Laura Michaelides, ASID
Laura Michaelides, Four Square's principal designer, grew up in the New York City area, and received her design training and early professional experience there. Since moving to Houston in 1999, she has become known for thoughtful, clean-lined interiors with a sensitivity and respect for architectural space.
Laura has a modernist sensibility, and her work is characterized by tight color palettes and well-proportioned spaces. Her projects often mix old and new, highlighting each by means of the contrast with the other, and she enjoys adapting older structures for modern use, honoring a building's origins while anchoring her work in the present. Her clients value and appreciate her attention to their needs and aesthetic sensibilities.
Before beginning her formal design education, Laura worked in the field of Historic Preservation, and those early experiences helped shape her knowledge and appreciation of historic structures. Laura's early professional experience included commercial and residential design at ISD Incorporated, Brezavar and Brezavar Architects, and Naomi Leff and Associates, all in New York City.
Laura holds a B.A. in Art History from Oberlin College, and graduated summa cum laude from the Interior Design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. She has passed the national NCIDQ certification exam, qualifying her to be a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and a registered interior designer in the state of Texas (registration no. 10776).
Sarah Hannah
Sarah Hannah joined Four Square in 2014. Sarah's previous professional design experience has ranged from working at a commercial interiors firm specializing in large-scale corporate campuses, to a stint at a small residential-design firm, to several years at an architecture firm known for fabrication and installation of large-scale civic artwork.
Sarah's six years of focusing on fabrication and installation put her in contact with a wide range of craftsmen and fabricators throughout Houston. In her civic art installation projects, she worked with companies whose usual lines of work ran more to gate fabrication and oilfield drilling equipment, and steered them instead through the process of creating large metal sculptures. Encouraging fabricators to work outside of their comfort zone yielded incredible results, as well as a large rolodex of resources.
These experiences have left Sarah well versed in technical drawings, the permitting process, and project and construction management.
Sarah was born in Houston and holds a B.A. in Art History and History from Rice University, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the University of Houston.
Evan Michaelides
Evan Michaelides manages the administrative and financial operations of Four Square so that our designers can concentrate on clients and creative work. Evan joined Four Square in 2014 after a 30-year career in software design, development and project management, in the course of which he also acquired experience in many aspects of running a small but growing business. Evan holds a bachelor's degree from Yale University. In his youth, he was a competitive chess player; he holds the title of Chess Master and was the 1977 Missouri state chess champion.


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Satya has
ceased publication. This website is maintained for informational
purposes only.
To learn more about the upcoming Special Edition of Satya and Call for Submissions, click here.
The Elephant Lady
The Satya Interview with Daphne Sheldrick
With a fondness for trunks in her living space, Daphne Sheldrick is
one of the only orphan elephant rehabilitators in the world. Born and
raised in Kenya, Sheldrick has been working with elephants for 50 years.
She began as a naturalist-researcher in Tsavo, in Kenya's southeast,
where her husband, David, served as warden for nearly 30 years. When
he died in 1977, she set up the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The
organization works on a range of elephant conservation efforts, including
anti-poaching programs, support for a mobile veterinary service in
Tsavo, and advocacy on issues like the ivory trade (against).
Since 1987, the trust has run an elephant nursery in the grassland adjacent to
Nairobi National Park. Current infant residents—ranging in size from tiny
(a few weeks old and charmingly unsteady on their legs) to venti (just shy of
two years)—receive constant care from keepers. The nursery opens to the
public for an hour a day. But this is no zoo: far from it, and Sheldrick is outspoken
in her opposition to elephant captivity of any kind. The orphans do no tricks
and visitors are not allowed to touch them—even the shy, curious children
who come regularly on school trips. When they are about two, the orphans are
transported to a relocation facility in Tsavo. Here, they get more care and controlled
exposure to wild herds until around age 10, when they are ready to leave. All
55 of the African elephants Sheldrick has fostered have or will join wild herds
in Kenya's Tsavo National Park. They have also taken in a few orphaned
baby rhinos.
Satya Consulting Editor Mia MacDonald recently met Daphne
Sheldrick (a tall,
direct woman with a mane of white hair) in Nairobi to talk about the care of
orphans with huge ears and supporting animal rights.
So what do baby elephants need? What does the nursery provide them with?
The nursery gets them through the very fragile, essentially full-time 'milk
year.' Elephants need milk for two years, but start taking a few greens
at six months. The second year is their weaning year, but they need milk as well.
We have to supplement the diets of our growing elephants after the age of two
with coconut because of the fat; they need help until they're about five
or six years old. It's taken me 28 years to get everything right. It's
not just the milk formula, it's also the care, the husbandry and dealing
with the problems they have—they're very fragile animals.
They also need psychological help until they're comfortable amongst the
wild herds. It's not a question of taking an elephant and dumping it in
the bush. They've actually got to make friends, find the friends more interesting
than their human family, and gradually make the transition. To begin, they stay
with us and we expose them to wild situations. Then they decide to be elephants
and to visit us. But elephants never forget, so they will always harbor love
for their human families.
Have you really had a 100 percent success rate releasing the orphans into the
Yes, I think so. We don't know what happens to the ones who haven't
come back, whether they're just happy with the wild elephants, which I
suspect, or if they have come to grief in some way. Sometimes they come back
after four years—and four years in the life of an elephant is not very
long. They live 70 or 80 years. One young bull came back after eight years.
Is it difficult for you when they go?
I've learned over the years not to be selfish about animals. You want the
best for them, just as you do for your own children. For an elephant, the best
for them is not sitting around in the backyard. They need space. We're
always sad to see them go, but we're happy with the success. We've
raised two now from the day they were born.
Are there orphaned elephants you have had to turn away because you just
have the room?
We have to make space. You can't turn away a baby elephant. I'd give
up my bedroom first—and that's happened before. When the first ones
came in, we had two or three stables. Until more stables were built, the elephants
were in the house. We've got a few spaces now, but they're filling
up rapidly, because we also have three rhinos. We're hoping not to have
to expand, but poaching seems to be on the rise and the Kenya Wildlife Service
[a government agency] has been in a mess.
Has the new government, fairly elected in 2002, made things better for elephants
than the old regime of Daniel arap Moi?
The new government has been an enormous disappointment. They seem completely
disinterested in wildlife. They're thinking of votes all the time so everything's
for "the people." But bending the rules defeats the people and compromises
the animals. They are talking about grabbing a lot of land in national parks.
They've done nothing to control the bushmeat trade. We've never had
such a threat posed to wildlife. We're hoping this government doesn't
get in again. [The government has to be] serious about wanting to preserve its
wildlife and serious about what it will take to preserve the tourism industry;
without it, they would be sunk. But they don't think like that. It's
just all [about] themselves.
Can you talk about the bushmeat trade? How big is it?
It's now a commercial trade—it's not subsistence anymore—and
it poses a huge threat. Kenya actually exports bushmeat to West and Central Africa
because they've eaten everything there. It also goes to capitals in Europe
with immigrant communities. It's unsustainable here, and it's threatening
our wildlife—unless the government does something about it pretty rapidly.
The previous government opened it up to private ranchers, and they started offering
game meat in up-market restaurants like Carnivore. All the tribes that traditionally
didn't eat meat see the tourists waltzing into it, so they think, "Oh,
that's good. We could snare an animal." On private ranches, the Kenya
Wildlife Service has never had the capacity to monitor the trade, so it's
completely out of control. Wherever there's money involved, unfortunately,
corruption creeps in, particularly in Africa.
What needs to be done to stop the trade?
It has to be addressed through the courts. A chap that's found with bushmeat
gets one or two days in jail or some community work and then he's back
in the bush. One of our teams in Tsavo picked up over 1,000 snares in three days.
We can pick up snares and save animals, but that's not the answer: we can
only cover a minute portion of Tsavo's boundaries.
That's really disturbing. What's the outlook for elephants in Kenya?
Poaching is definitely on the increase, and we only know what goes on in the
protected areas and not all of that either, because half the time there is no
aerial surveillance. In the northern area of Tsavo, which is 3,000 square miles,
there are seven rangers. The [poachers'] snares target everything: lots
of elephants get them round their legs. The snares sever their legs and eventually
they have to be shot. [Others have] severed their trunks off. In the Maasai Mara
you can see masses of them with only half a trunk. It's terrible.
You have been outspoken on the issue of elephants in captivity. Why did
you get
involved? Often, there's not a lot of overlap between people who care about
wildlife and people who care about animal rights.
No elephant can be happy in captivity. They can't be. It's actually
cruel to subject [them] to lifelong captivity. No matter how wonderful we think
a zoo is in human terms, it's not adequate for an elephant. You can't
give them an enclosure that's hundreds of miles long, and that's
what they need. Elephants also need friends and family, just like humans. The
worst punishment we give a human is life imprisonment. So why do we think an
elephant is going to be happy in a zoo? They have human emotions, the same span
of life, a sense of family, a sense of death—they're very human-like
animals. It's unpopular to think that way, but it's true. We are
animals. It just suits us to pretend we are different, but actually we are not
that different, even from a tree squirrel. I'm asked to write affidavits
against abuse of animals all over the world—not just elephants. I do that
all the time.
Do you consider that an important part of the work that you do?
Yes. I'd like to think that if I can help an animal, irrespective of where
it is, I'd certainly try.
So, would you describe yourself as a supporter of animal rights?
I'm not supportive of people who go and open up cages and let animals out
to run riot, without actually relocating them in a sensible way. But I think
animals should have rights, the right to humane treatment. That's the right
I support.
What about breeding programs? For example, Ringling Bros., the circus, has an
elephant breeding program in Florida that they say is contributing to conservation.
That one [Ringling] has a stinking reputation. I've written I don't
know how many affidavits about the elephants they've been abusing. Unless
you actually breed an animal in captivity to put back to the wild, it's
just a con.
What keeps you going? I mean, this is hard work.
Well, I can't just abandon it, can I? We have 17, plus another 29 elephants
that rely on what we do here. The thought of walking away is unrealistic. It's
just not on the agenda. Much as I often dream of a nice, comfortable retirement
in a little cottage with a garden and being able to sit and knit and crochet
and look at the TV and just have a quiet life, it's not an option. I never
really envisaged after my husband died being involved like this. I thought I'd
probably retire and write books. I've written four and I've been
trying to write my autobiography for the last ten years, but these elephants
have intervened.
What are your sources of strength or support? Is it the elephants?
It's not just the elephants, it's all animals, and the joy I get
from them. I grew up on a farm and had wild orphan animals. I've lived
with animals all my life, both domestic and wild. My first wild orphan, when
I was three years old, was a little antelope. So it's been a lifelong passion
for me.
For information about The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, pictures of the
or to support the trust by 'adopting' one of the orphans, visit www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org.


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Get the show here or get it on iTunes — Please post a review on iTunes.
In this episode, Skip Cohen and Chamira Young chat with renowned photographer Anne Geddes.
We discuss in detail:
- How storytelling relates to photography
- How to be authentic in your work
- Finding your personal creativity and style, and the importance of being able to control light
- How to find the photographic "bliss" that will drive your work forward
- Building relationships with clients, whether they are 3 months old or 30 years old
- Making your subjects feel comfortable
- Being confident during portrait sessions, even if you're nervous – fake it 'til you make it!
- Building trust with clients and their stories
- Raising awareness for important causes
- Finding balance with business, family, and life
Check out Anne's "Baby Look at You Now" Project on Instagram
See Anne's baby photography subjects all grown up!
You can find Anne at:
Enhance your revenue stream: sign up for Adobe Stock and submit your video content!
- Learn more and sign up here
- Learn how to shoot better video with the weekly Photofocus DSLR column
Have suggestions on future topics you want us to cover? Reach out!
- SkipCohenUniversity.com
- @SkipCohen on Twitter and Facebook
- [email protected]
- Chamira Young: [email protected]
Share This Podcast!
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Chamira Young
Chamira will readily admit it: she's an art nerd, Photoshop geek, and photographer with an obsession for productivity and creativity. Through online teaching and podcasting, she loves helping other creative minds become more successful by empowering them with the knowledge and inspiration to up their game. Currently, ChamiraStudios.com is the hub of her creative mischief. It branches out to her other projects, and allows her to be an artist, photographer, podcaster at ProPhotographerJourney.com, and online course creator. You can also find her on Twitter.
Latest posts by Chamira Young (see all)
- The Mind Your Own Business Podcast with Sarah Petty | Photofocus Podcast June 14, 2019 - June 14, 2019
- Mind Your Own Business Podcast with Peter Hurley | Photofocus Podcast May 10, 2019 - May 10, 2019
- Mind Your Own Business Podcast with Bobbi Lane | Photofocus Podcast April 12, 2019 - April 12, 2019