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Notation basée sur
139 Avis
5 sur mars 21, 2018
Coming to San Diego, I wanted to explore the city but get a local feel, so decided to try Carole's BnB. What a cute, quaint, quiet place. I stayed in the garden suite which had its own patio, and a large comfortable king bed. Breakfast was great the four days I stayed, and sitting in that historic house with the wood trim and antiques enjoying the delicious food, was a great way to start the day. Will definitely stay again.
4,8 sur février 14, 2018
Anytime I am in San Diego I have to stay at Carols. This B&B is my go to place. Close to family & all the activities San Diego has to offer. Michael's breakfasts are always delicious & the conversation with guests, around the breakfast table, are delightful. This B&B has rooms to fit anyone's needs. I know you will enjoy your stay there.
Réponse du propriétaire
We always love having you stay with us, and look forward to having you return! Have a wonderful 2018!
- Carole Dugdale (Innkeeper)
4,8 sur janvier 08, 2018
We rented a studio across from the main house on New Year's Eve. Carole and her son, Michael could not have been sweeter or more welcoming. Carole recommended an Italian restaurant down the street where we had one of the all time best dinners ever (and we've had many). The property is in a tranquil residential community accessible by freeway to most local attractions. Michael cooked us excellent breakfast. Our bed was quite comfy and the room, while small (it was, after all, a studio) was cozy and charming in decor as is the main house, which is decorated in early American with family pictures everywhere, betokening the love and warmth of this very welcoming place.
5 sur octobre 21, 2017
I'm daydreaming about my upcoming reservation at Carole's....for what about what is probably my tenth or twelfth stay at this wonderfully-welcoming inn. Can't wait for more of the hospitality, the great food, the relaxed atmosphere. (I'm an innkeeper myself, and Carole and Mike are my models of what it should look like when the innkeepers get it RIGHT!! see you soon!
Réponse du propriétaire
We are always delighted to have folks return and you certainly have the record! We truly look forward to our morning conversations with you. You are certainly two of the reasons we love our business. My best, Carole
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
5 sur octobre 15, 2017
Carole's B&B genuinly makes you feel at home! Fell in love with the place! If you want to feel at home while on vacation please come here. These wonderful people (Carol and Mike) will take care of you. Amazing breakfast! Carole is so accodomating and welcoming! The house is in a great location as there's a number of restaurants and shops within a few blocks, yet it's tucked away in a very quiet neighborhood. I can't wait to come back to San Diego just to stay at Carole's Bed and Breakfast!
Réponse du propriétaire
It was a pleasure to have you stay with us, you were so eager to make every minute count and you certainly did it! Can't wait to have you stay again, have a great day! -Carole
- Thank you! (innkeeper)
5 sur juillet 26, 2017
We had the pleasure of staying at Carole's this past week for Comic Con and we loved it!! There was plenty of space for our family of 5 and it is conveniently located within walking distance of several restaurants and local breweries. Carole and Michael were super sweet and treated us like family.
5 sur juillet 25, 2017
We had the pleasure of staying with Carol and Michael this past week during Comic Con. They were super sweet and made us feel like family. It is conveniently located near several restaurants and local breweries. We had plenty of space for all 5 members of our family. Michael's breakfast's were delicious. We are already making plans for next year!! Thank you, Carol and Mike
5 sur juillet 04, 2017
A longtime friend who once lived in the area years ago recommended Carole's B and B to me. I was in San Diego for a tennis tournament being played at Balboa Park. This location allowed me to walk back and forth to the tournament as well as to restaurants and bars in the evenings. Home cooked breakfast was offered to me every morning. Carole, the hostess, as well as her son Michael and grandsons were always overly gracious and welcoming!! I stayed in the Rose Room which offered me a private bathroom as well as a door leading to a deck and view of the pool. It was ideal!! After a long day on the tennis courts, returning home to 3221 Grim felt like a true respite....just what I needed!! I loved the history of the home, the fun and hilarious conversations I shared with Carole and Michael as well as getting to meet other guests as well. I strongly recommend Carole's B and B to anyone looking to stay in the heart of San Diego - close to everything fun and hip. Great food, great music, great architecture and history and AMAZING hosts!! I look forward to a return trip soon!!!
4,6 sur juin 14, 2017
My wife and I and our 13 year old grandson stayed at the Casita across the street from the main B&B. Carole is a wonderful hostess. Very helpful. Good meatless breakfasts. Super location basically next to Balboa Park, very close to I-5. We stayed 6 nights. Comfortable, clean, walk to restaurants and bars.
5 sur janvier 10, 2017
Great spot for our holiday family visit with our daughter who lives nearby in this charming neighborhood which is close to the Zoo, Balboa Park, and Downtown areas. Spacious, clean and comfortable 2 bedroom apartment was just right for our son from Chicago to join us. Thank you, Carole and Michael, for your good conversation, wonderful attention to our needs, and especially the great breakfast every morning! Herb and Jean from Michigan.
Réponse du propriétaire
With lovely guests like you two, it's no wonder why we still love our business for over 30 years, here's to a wonderful 2017. -Carole
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
4,2 sur octobre 12, 2016
We recently stayed at Carole's for an anniversary get-away! We loved our room! Carole and family are the perfect hosts and made our stay absolutely perfect! We would highly recommend this wonderful little treasure!
Réponse du propriétaire
We certainly enjoyed having you here as did all the other guests! Hope tp se you again soon. Have lots more happy anniverseries.
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
5 sur septembre 28, 2016
We stayed in the casita for four nights. The place was lovely and quiet. A very private garden behind it made for a pleasant stay. Carole is a charming host and Mike, her son, is the breakfast cook and what a cook! A different breakfast every day and I think I gained 10 pounds from the food. The location is very convenient to Balboa Park and to other parts of San Diego. The very eclectic neighborhood (North Park) has lots of little restaurants that are close by and easy to walk to. All in all, a wonderful B&B and we would not hesitate to stay there again or to recommend it to others.
Réponse du propriétaire
No wonder we still love our business! (est. in 1982) We truly enjoyed having you two here and are so happy that you are relocating to San Diego. Drop by when you are settled.
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
4,8 sur août 28, 2016
I have stayed at Carol's B&B many times and I always enjoy coming back. I would think of nowhere else to stay. The variety of accommodations and prices make it a perfect place whether single or you have a family. Mike"s breakfasts are amazing. The atmosphere is wonderful and, when you are eating breakfast, you get acquainted with so many interesting and wonderful people, not only from this country, bur all over the world. Stay at Mike and Carol's and you will not be disappointed. L.D.
Réponse du propriétaire
It is folks like you that have kept me loving our business after more than 30 years. See you again real soon! Carole and Michael
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
5 sur juillet 19, 2016
We knewkour last minute plans to San Diego for Pride would be a pricey pain for flights and airlines but after looking around and finding Carole's B&B, I knew it was perfect! Very laid back and personal, genuine hospitality, and the great location are the key things that will bring me back. I loved our Red Rose room that was close to their refreshing, clean, and spacious salt water pool. The residents their were also friendly and made or stay extra special. Being gay and kid friendly is a very important factor they welcomed. The history of the place is enough to keep you intrigued and keeping the place on the map is something I hope to see in the years to come. I'm happy we stayed and wish Carole and her prosperity. They treated us like family, thanks!!!
Réponse du propriétaire
We always strive to be a comfy, homey kind of B&B (with a great location). Sounds as if it is working! Have a great day. Carole
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
4,6 sur octobre 04, 2015
Our studio was very private and quiet and had the most comfortable mattress I have ever slept on. Carole and Mike are lovely people.
Réponse du propriétaire
Everyone comments on that wonderful Cal. King bed on the pedestal in Studio One. And I agree. We loved having you here and hope to see you again. Hope you are having a great summer. Carole
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
5 sur août 16, 2015
My husband and I stayed at Carol's bed and breakfast inn for one night and it was very pleasant. We felt right at home. She gave us great recommendations on where to eat and what to see in San Diego and all were on point. Thank you Carole for a wonderful weekend!
4,4 sur juin 09, 2015
Carole's B& B is our "go to" getaway when we come to San Diego to visit our son and family.We've been staying there at least twice a year for the last 8 years, and always enjoy our visit! We love the cozy quaintness of this 1800s built home, in a very quiet neighborhood. Carole and Michael are always welcoming and accommodating, and provide a delicious breakfast to begin our day. We always feel like we're visiting old "friends" when we come to stay!
Réponse du propriétaire
We always look forward to your visits with us and catching up with whats happening with you folks. Plus all the news from Wisconsin! See you real soon. With affection, Carole
- Carole Dugdale (innkeeper)
4,6 sur mai 07, 2015
I am an engineer who recently moved from Los Angeles to San Diego for work and I had an oppurtunity to stay at Carole's Bed and B'fast. Initially my plan was to stay there for a week and find my own place to move out. However it never happened and I ended up staying there for almost a month. From day 1 itself, I started feeling very comfortable and was having a homely feeling at Carole's. The place is right in the heart of North park with so many shops, restaurants and bars all around in a walkable distance. Carole and her partner Mike are very nice people and they take care of their customers and their needs with utmost care. They are very friendly and never make you feel that you're new here. In addition to the aforementioned good things, I'd also like to point out that her timings are quite flexible. Carole is very adjusting and not stringent about the Check in/Check out timings unlike corporate rip off hotel chains that we see everywhere. She's also very accommodating and adjusting about the B'fast timings. The breakfast is homely made and is very delicious. I am very happy with my stint over there at Carole's and I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone. So people who are looking for an economical, homely, warm-and-fuzzy place to stay, this is it!! Thank you Carole!
5 sur avril 22, 2015
Comfortable home environment where we stay while in San Diego.
1,8 sur avril 11, 2015
I'm mystified by all the positive reviews of this B&B. Maybe the other rooms are nice, but the room that we stayed in, the Rose room, was awful. Carole is very friendly, there is free parking and the location is convenient, but the room we stayed in needs a lot of work before it can be called a B&B. There is no air conditioning, the bed is extremely uncomfortable, the lace curtains don't afford much privacy and the room needed to be cleaned and decluttered. We did not sleep well at all because of the bed and the headaches that we got from the dust in the room. I was willing to tough it out for the remainder of our reservation, but once I spent time in the bathroom in the morning, I knew that we had to leave. There is a window in the shower with a lace curtain over it. I had assumed that the window went to the exterior of the house, but apparently it connects to the kitchen. I could hear every word that Carole and her grandson were saying in the kitchen. It sounded as if we were in the same room. I felt as if I had no privacy while I was taking a shower and getting ready in the morning. I can't comment on the food because we left before breakfast was served.
Réponse du propriétaire
Most people who live in San Diego and the visitors feel that San Diego is air conditioned by Nature. Our usual temperature is 65 to 75 degrees. However, we do have rooms in the the Main Inn that are air conditioned and all of the Studios, the Casita and the Marine Suite are air conditioned. If that feature is important to them, folks usually request it and we comply. The windows in the bedroom have wooden blinds behind the lace curtains . Our beds are all firm, which most folks seem to prefer. I wish you had stayed for breakfast. We all have a good time every morning and the food is great, as you can tell by our reviews.
- Carole (innkeeper)
4,4 sur décembre 17, 2014
I stayed at Carole's Bed and Breakfast in December 2014. After a first visit 6 years ago, I looked forward to staying there again. The B&B is a home-like, Craftsman-built home in a quiet residential neighborhood an easy walk from the shops and restaurants of North Park, and bus connections to Balboa Park, the Zoo, and downtown San Diego. My room was pretty and clean, comfortable rather than "decorator stylish," with a settee, TV, books and magazines, a plush robe, and near the large bathroom. Guests also have access to the kitchen, a public living room and dining room. Carole's son cooks a different breakfast every day, although fresh fruit is available for light eaters. The two breakfasts I ate were a cheese and veggie omelette with good toast, and a Belgian waffle with berries and whipped topping. Carole is friendly, down-to-earth, and super helpful. I recommend her B&B highly for good value, tasty food, and friendly people.
5 sur décembre 10, 2014
I first stayed was about three years ago. My stay then was outstanding and my recent visit was beyond my expectations. Carole and Mike are excellent hosts and very accomodating. I arrived in the late morning and Carole and Mike were very prepared. They greet each guest on arrival, confirm the arrangements, and show the guest to the room. Mike cooks an excellent, healthy breakfast. The main dish is served with fruit and orange juice. Mike and Carole check with each guest before or after their breakfast to ensure each guest has directions or suggestions for local attractions. Carole's library includes books with more information on the local attractions. The Inn is located very close to the San Diego Zoo (located in Balboa Park), minutes from Downtown and a few blocks from the North Park neighborhood business district. During my visit the Inn was a block from the Chili Cookoff which offered various chilis and local microbrews. The Inn is located in a very quiet neighborhood for a large city. I was very impressed by Carole and Mike and look forward to my next visit.
4,0 sur août 01, 2014
Karen-June 19-26-2014 My first stay at a B&B and Carol made me feel right at home. Thanks for making my San Diego trip even more special.
4,8 sur juillet 26, 2014
This was my first time at a B&B and I am so glad that it was here. Carol and her son Mike were wonderful. Carol was very helpful and made my stay there very comfortable. The breakfasts that Mike prepares are yummy and very filling. No continental breakfasts here!!!!!! I plan on staying at this B&B whenever I am in San Diego. Thank you Carol and Mike for a wonderful stay.
5 sur février 26, 2014
Great breakfast, Close to Zoo & our Grand Children. Owner very accommodating.
5 sur février 15, 2014
I've stayed at Carole's twice now. The people who run this place are the sweetest humans you could care to meet. Its a family business with a long long history and you feel it when you come in the door. Carole in particular is a kind, upbeat and lovely lady who obviously loves what she does. At Carole's you get a perfect balance of attention and "hands off". You get the sense they are available if you need them and you can have privacy if you want it. The space is warm with a nice dark wooden interior that feels like its always a holiday of some kind. The rooms are simple. They are in fact the rooms that you might find in an old school house like this one. The thing that I love about this place is you feel like you're part of some extended family when you come here. I know that sounds like something that an overly sentimental person might say. But it's true. Two other things. The breakfasts are amazing. This last time i was here I was served these killer greenish pesto eggs, a fruit plate and a muffin. They remembered that I like the licorice tea so they brought some from the back. Finally the neighborhood the house is in is my favorite in San Diego or close. Its basically Golden hill which is a beautiful and homey non-pretentious part of the city. it's central to everything. After breakfast check out The big kitchen down the end of 30th. These two things together give you a taste of truly the best of my version of San Diego.oh and Check out Carole's cool sweaters.
5 sur décembre 20, 2013
Carole and Mike made all of us feel 100% at home! What a warm and welcoming bed and breakfast. Hospitality could not get any better and they treated our 6 year old daughter like a princess! Breakfast was delicious everyday!! We will be going back! Thank you!
4,0 sur décembre 19, 2013
This B&B will make you forget you're not at home! It's very comfortable- and in a super location!
4,0 sur décembre 17, 2013
Convenient, attentive host - very nice neighborhood-
5 sur décembre 13, 2013
Fantastic Time. Very nice room & food. Owner's were very nice. Plan another- visit soon.
5 sur décembre 10, 2013
Outstanding visit. Would love to do again.
4,8 sur octobre 21, 2013
Quiet,cozy enough little place that when your night is coming to an end, you can say "lets go home" and feel natural saying it. BEST PLACE TO STAY!!!
4,2 sur septembre 04, 2013
Carol is perfect Innkeeper with her warm personality. She is very knowledgeable of the area, history, destinations and transit. Had a very pleasurable stay.
5 sur septembre 01, 2013
Carole is a lovely hostess, helpful in every way. We enjoy visiting with her and her son, who prepares the breakfast. The neighborhood is pleasant and close to Balboa Park. Great accommodations.
5 sur août 26, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. I will absolutely be back. What a lovely family owned business. It was the perfect place! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
4,0 sur août 26, 2013
Cosy and comfy room in a beautiful house. Carole was a very nice host. Breakfasts each morning were delicious!
5 sur août 22, 2013
We felt like family. Everything was wonderful, the food was amazing.
3,4 sur août 22, 2013
This was our first time visiting Carole's and we enjoyed everything. Good food, good company, good accommodations. Bed and breakfasts are the only way to travel.
5 sur août 21, 2013
I love this place. The furniture is gorgeous and Carole is so sweet and nice.
5 sur juillet 23, 2013
Its calm, its comfortable and I have zero complaints about anything. This is the best bed and breakfast I have stayed at in Southern California without a doubt. The breakfast is incredible, everyone is friendly and its the perfect place to come back to after a hectic day out and about. Stay here once and you will stay here again.
4,4 sur juin 11, 2013
This is just what we were looking for — a lovely room, garden and wonderful hosts. We came back to find seashells added to my collection sitting outside our door.
5 sur mars 17, 2013
Michael and Carole are very welcoming host and hostess. Enjoyed the great night's sleep and the private patio and bath. Michael's strawberry waffles are to die for! Also great company at the breakfast table with other guests. So enjoyable and the location is close to Balboa Park for a great Sunday morning adventure. C Fowler
5 sur février 24, 2013
Excellent service and homey atmosphere, good food!
5 sur janvier 20, 2013
So close to tourist sites... Plus: atmosphere was super warm and inviting. Rooms were extremely clean and designed in various period styles. The food was delicious and artistically presented. I and my wife could not eat all as was very plentiful. This is a must-stay for all!
4,4 sur septembre 11, 2012
Carole's accommodations were cozy, and the breakfasts were expertly prepared. The real standout, though, was the friendly, welcoming staff. A++
5 sur septembre 08, 2012
I couldn't have asked for a better stay. Great amenities, stellar service. They even made breakfast early for us when we had to leave before breakfast hours.
5 sur septembre 06, 2012
Our stay with Carol & Co. was excellent as usual. This was our third time with her and each time is more enjoyable. Our children and grandchildren echo our kudos for Carole's B&B.
5 sur septembre 03, 2012
We enjoyed our time here enormously. Terrific hospitality, clean & welcoming rooms.
5 sur août 06, 2012
We decided to try a B&B for the first time in many years, and Carole's Bed and Breakfast was an excellent choice. For a cost that was comparable to staying in a hotel, we had a wonderful stay. We were warmly welcomed and shown to our cozy, comfortable, and spotlessly clean room. Carole and Michael's attentiveness to guests was outstanding, and they were able to answer any questions we had about things to do and see in San Diego. Breakfasts were delicious, and nobody could leave the table hungry! The location, close to Balboa Park, was convenient. We recommend Carole's to anyone visiting San Diego.
4,6 sur juin 21, 2012
Came down to San Diego from the bay area for a concert and some get away time. Location was ideal for the venue which was in the downtown area. We were greeted by Carole and her daughter Marine who both seemed to love what they're doing. After a tour of the gardens and pool area we were led to our room with a private bath in the main house. The decor was something you would expect from a craftsman home build in the 1900's. We had a great time at our show and really enjoyed the breakfast served by Carole the following morning. Spent several hours out by the pool and on our private deck before our afternoon departure. Will definitely stay again when in the area. Thank you Carole for making your home our home away from home.
4,6 sur juin 13, 2012
The room is comfortable and very cozy. The garden is charming and inviting; it is a very pleasant place to spend a bit of a quiet evening. It was nice to take walks around the neighborhood and nearby park. But the best part was Carole's warm welcome, and chatting with other guests at breakfast. I would go back anytime!
5 sur mai 07, 2012
A wonderful first experience for staying at a B&B. Felt so welcome, very nice accommodations and the breakfasts were out of this world.
5 sur mai 07, 2012
Close to family & a nice community -- a wonderful B&B experience.
3,6 sur avril 18, 2012
Lovely old home, nice host & hostess, good breakfast, close to Balboa Park.
3,2 sur avril 18, 2012
Carole runs a delightful, comfortable, and friendly B&B in an attractive neighborhood near Balboa Park. Her son is a first-rate breakfast cook and baker. We look forward to staying with them again.
4,6 sur avril 13, 2012
Carol's place is an excellent choice. Very quiet, beautiful place, and Carole is helpful, friendly and promptly replies to inquiries. On a trip to San Diego, I would come back again without hesitation.
4,0 sur février 17, 2012
My partner and I spent 3 nights and 4 days at this lovely B&B. We enjoyed every breakfast and the owners are incredibly kind and generous. The location turned out to be perfect for catching the bus and going all over town. Thank you Carol and family for completing our wonderful vacation.
5 sur décembre 12, 2011
My wife and I live in San Diego and had a company Christmas party in Balboa Park to go to so we decided to get a room downtown, only to find out that all rooms were sold out for 2 conventions in town. So I went online and found Caroles BNB. We booked the room site unseen and when we got there we were very happy with the room and especially with Carole she is so welcoming and attentive to your needs. The bed was so comfortable that we might have to call Carole to find out what brand it is so we can get the same bed at home. The omlettes on Sunday morning were also an unexpected treat! Thank you again Carole. Jim and Ann in San Diego, we will be back.
4,0 sur novembre 19, 2011
Chose Carole's BnB due to proximity of couple we were visiting. Really enjoyed the neighborhood and felt like we were actual residents. Plenty of places within walking distance, and felt safe even late at night. Innkeepers were awesome! Excellent hosts...breakfasts were great, plenty of fresh fruit and coffee. Called cabs for us and gave us excellent tips as what to see. Made our stay enjoyable and would definitely visit again.
4,0 sur novembre 13, 2011
Mike and Carole are wonderful hosts. The inn is located within a short drive of the airport and not very far from two local parks and downtown. The house is beautiful, well decorated and very warm. Mike and Carole go out of their way to make you feel welcome and an honored guest. Breakfast was tasty and cooked perfectly. Their recommendations for local sites to see (including the USS Midway Museum, and Balboa Park to name two) getting around San Diego, and area dining (a short walk away) were excellent. I can't wait to visit again!
4,6 sur novembre 03, 2011
When you meet American people who open their home, it's always a pleasure coming and visiting USA.
4,4 sur novembre 03, 2011
This is a very quaint little B&B. Well-maintained and the breakfast is extraordinary! The staff is outstanding. We'll definitely be back!
4,4 sur novembre 02, 2011
Carole and Mike were warm and helpful, they were really great with our kids. The place was charming and clean; it felt like a home. The breakfast was great. My only regret was not having enough time to check out the pool.
4,4 sur novembre 02, 2011
Carole and Michael were warm and friendly hosts. We stayed in the house across the street from the main house. The courtyard was very charming - with tile walkways, a little fountain, a garden, and the two beautiful white cats we saw periodically. The house worked well for our family - with two young children. It had a bathroom with a tub, a kitchen with an eating nook, and bedroom with a queen bed, and a small living room with a pull-out couch. It backed up to an alley which was a little noisy at times, but it was Halloween weekend - which is a big deal in San Diego. The noise did not prevent any of us from sleeping. Michael made yummy breakfasts and was accommodating for the children. Although we never had a chance to use it, there is also a salt-water pool behind the main house.
5 sur août 02, 2011
What a delightful experience we had at Carole's B&B. Food was delicious, the gardens were peaceful and inviting, and the accommodations were perfect. We've been spoiled.
5 sur juin 01, 2011
This was my first stay in a bed and breakfast. Carole is an outstanding hostess. A great value.
4,2 sur janvier 30, 2011
Carole let us prepare fondue to enjoy in her dining room, prior to attending a dance event in her North Park neighborhood.
4,2 sur décembre 07, 2010
North Park is a wonderful and quiet neighborhood with lots of restaurants and shops. The location is perfect with easy access to San Diego sights. Mike and Carol are aware of guests' needs: we had a heater in our room as the weather in SD was unexpectedly cold and plenty of blankets. They checked every morning to make sure all was well. Breakfast was superb: moderate portions with seconds always available. We had different muffins every day and the eggs were creative! (Greek, pesto with cheese. . .) We will return!
4,4 sur octobre 04, 2010
Very welcoming. Real authentic B&B like we love. Highly recommended. Kids loved it!
4,6 sur octobre 04, 2010
Carole & her son Mike really know how to make you feel at home. They treat you like family. The B&B is located in a great, friendly & safe neighborhood that is convenient to everything. I will be back, and also bring my friends.
4,8 sur août 12, 2010
A lovely, homey retreat close to everything you visit SD for -- yet away from the noise. My room had a private entry and patio with a comfortable lounge chair for reading or napping. An overgrown bottlebrush tree in the next yard is full of hummingbirds and makes you feel like you're in the treetop. Breakfast was extraordinary!
4,6 sur août 10, 2010
Carole's provides a great alternative to regular hotel stays. Fabulous food, homey and superb service. The wooden hot tub and saltwater pool were an excellent way to relax. Great location for tourist attractions either via driving or public transportation.
3,6 sur juillet 29, 2010
We really felt like Carole's personal family guests and loved being shown around the historic house.
3,0 sur juillet 22, 2010
We were in San Diego for a family wedding and visit. Carole and Mike were most accommodating of our schedule. Our room was cozy and nicely made up. The location was very convenient and quiet at night.
5 sur juillet 15, 2010
We have spent a few days at this lovely Bed and Breakfast, and will give it our warmest recommendations. Nice clean rooms and homemade food make this B&B a great place to stay!
4,0 sur juin 15, 2010
Fine hospitality, location is excellent for weather and wandering.
4,0 sur juin 04, 2010
Carole definitely has the gift of hospitality - she is so energetic and attentive. She knows San Diego very well and gives great suggestions for sightseeing.
4,2 sur juin 02, 2010
This B&B is very conveniently located but in a pleasant and quiet neighborhood. Carole is warm, welcoming and attentive. The room was cozy and private, and breakfast in the main house was wonderful. We look forward to staying here again!
4,6 sur mai 25, 2010
A house that is a historical landmark, well kept and smoothly run. My sense of safety and satisfaction was immediate and persisted my whole stay. You're in good hands at Carole's B&B.
5 sur mai 06, 2010
Carole and her family obviously love what they do, and they do it beautifully - clean, hospitable, and great food. I'll be back next month!
5 sur avril 29, 2010
We had a wonderful time. We took lots of pictures. I'm inspired to do more gardening in my in my own yard.
5 sur mars 25, 2010
This place was fabulous in food, hospitality, location and accomodations! Definitely a must-try; we will stay again!
4,4 sur mars 05, 2010
Peace, quiet, charming and close to all the sights. We will be back.
5 sur février 19, 2010
Carole is the sweetest innkeeper. Kind and knowledgeable, our stay was relaxing and enjoyable. The B&B is well kept and conveniently located in the up and coming North Park district. Delicious breakfast! We'll be back!
4,6 sur janvier 13, 2010
Charming cottage in pleasant garden setting in quiet residential neighborhood. Warm hospitality and tasty, real breakfasts.
3,8 sur janvier 12, 2010
Carole and Michael's warm and welcoming home provided us a relaxing short break on our trip out from England. A nice experience with great breakfasts.
5 sur janvier 04, 2010
Discovered a new area in San Diego called North beach with Carole's B&B, excellent service, friendly atmosphere with a great craftsman house.
4,2 sur décembre 05, 2009
Very calm and good. Delicious breakfast. Carole and Michael are very nice !!
5 sur novembre 06, 2009
I went to California with my Grampa for a visit. We stayed with Carole and it was fun swimming in the pool. Grampa and I both really liked the delicious food. We went to the zoo and saw a big ship. I want to go back again and stay with Carole.
4,8 sur novembre 04, 2009
The rooms were nice & the breakfasts were delicious.
3,8 sur octobre 21, 2009
Clean rooms, sociable hosts and good breakfast.
5 sur octobre 21, 2009
Excellent, excellent, excellent. I will recommend to anyone, any time. Can't be beat.
4,4 sur octobre 20, 2009
It was the last minute, we needed a place to stay near our son. We found Carole's on the net. She was gracious, reasonable and within walking distance of our son and so many fine restaurants and shops. Our suite was lovely, clean and quiet. Our breakfast was just right! A perfect 2-night ending to our trip!
4,0 sur octobre 06, 2009
My Family and i had a wonderful stay, a full week of great Breakfasts. a clean and inviteing pool. and a house full of charm each room had it's only personality. will defentily go back. Carole was such a gracious hostess. Diane Horton
5 sur septembre 27, 2009
I loved staying at Carols B&B, It was my family's first time staying in a bed and breakfast and it was way beyond our expectations. We enjoyed our nights sitting out in the front visiting and our kids LOVED the pool! Nice rooms, it felt like home. They had wonderful breakfast, you get way more then you expect. I also like the location, quiet neighborhood and centrally located for going to the Zoo, SeaWorld and the beach. We will definitely stay there again!
4,6 sur septembre 18, 2009
We had a delightful time staying at Carole's. She and Michael could not have been more gracrious or helpful. And Michael's breakfasts were yummy - sweet potato pancakes with homemade apple syrup!! Would definitely stay with them again.
4,6 sur septembre 16, 2009
My husband and I are in the middle of relocating to the San Diego area for nursing school. I've been staying here at Carole's Bed & Breakfast for a month now. I have had the most wonderful time here. Carole and Michael (the innkeepers, mother & son) are both wonderful people. They cater to their guests so attentively. Michael is the cook, and boy is he good at it. Every morning I feel like I'm having a gourmet breakfast. My favorite breakfasts so far have been his delicious banana pancakes (he caramelizes the bananas first), his greek eggs (with feta cheese, spinach, kalamata oilves, sundried tomatoes), and his fresh baked muffins. He could absolutely give Martha Stewart a little competition in the kitchen. Carole is the sweetest lady. She's so attentive to details and keeps the house very clean. I am very greatful for their wonderful hospitality. They've treated me like family. I highly recommend Carole's BnB. I know that you'll enjoy your stay, just as much as I have. It really feels like home here. Demi
4,6 sur septembre 02, 2009
Very nice people, nice rooms, great breakfast. I enjoyed it very much.
3,6 sur juillet 29, 2009
Carole's has an interesting mixture of antiques in her 1904 house and more contemporary southwest furnishings in her other houses; a saltwater pool and delicious homemade breakfasts. Carole & her family are very friendly & knowledgeable hosts.
4,8 sur juin 19, 2009
My husband and I were so happy with our hosts and the wonderful breakfast. We stayed in a lovely room. I recommend this place to everyone!
4,6 sur mai 30, 2009
Perfect!! Perfect!! Perfect!! We stayed in the cottage called "La Casita" across the street from Carole's main house. The cottage has reserved parking for one car, a kitchen with attached dining area, a restroom, a bedroom with a 5-drawer chest, an extra 2-drawer chest, and a closet; and a living room with plenty of light from the main window...the main entry door also has a screen door (which allowed us to enjoy the fragrant air produced by Carole's nearby flowering garden). The cottage is NOT attached to any other building and thus is very, very quiet. The cottage is not luxurious by any means and thus the affordable price. Nonetheless, Carole has maintained it in great condition and we did not stay in the cottage for long...as we were always out enjoying the great, great weather and sites. We stayed from 5/22/09 thru 5/27/09 and used the kitchen to have romantic dinners while enjoying lunch at the nearby restaurants and breakfast was provided by Carole. Carole was extremely nice and attentive to our every need. We were vacationing from Fort Worth, Texas and Carole made us feel right at home by describing some of the local restaurants, the local history, and pointed out things which were of interest. Carole is a great lady and is easy to talk to and get to know. Carole's BNB is located very close to all of San Diego's attractions. During our stay, we went to Coronado Island, visited Old Town, visited the San Diego Zoo, relaxed at Balboa Park, took strolls around Carole's absolutely gorgeous neighborhood, drove to Los Angeles and went to Hollywood, Universal Studios, Walk of Fame; and much more. It was a great vacation (much needed) and we are glad that Carole's BNB a part of it. We are Ed and Angela from Fort Worth, Texas and we both agree that Carole's BNB is in a great location, easy on the budget, and the service is great. We both highly recommend Carole's BNB to anyone visiting San Diego and will definitely stay there again.
4,8 sur mai 26, 2009
very nice breakfast; very nice place. This place has a real soul. This is the place to be at in San Diego.
5 sur mai 26, 2009
Carole's B&B was comfortable and cheery. Breakfast was delicious and varied each day. Carole was gracious and wanted to please and fulfill our every need. We WILL be back!
4,6 sur mai 19, 2009
As every time, it was more like coming home than being on vacation!
5 sur mai 13, 2009
An easy, relaxing, friendly place sheltered by tall trees and surrounded by beautiful flowers. The neighborhood is quiet, the salt water pool is refreshing, and everything is within walking distance. It's the only place in San Diego that I will stay. Carole's is the best!
5 sur avril 22, 2009
Carole's B&B was convenient and a great place for us to stay while we were in San Diego. Carole was helpful and went out of her way to make sure we had a good stay. Goos breakfasts to start the day.
5 sur avril 22, 2009
My stay at Carole's was perfect. It was clean, quiet and located in a quaint neighborhood (North Park). The daily breakfasts were great. The nearness of neighborhood restaurants and Balboa Park was very convenient. It is also located near a busline which goes right to downtown San Diego.
4,8 sur avril 17, 2009
Carole provides warm and homey accommodations, a great breakfast, and she is eager to please and help in every way!
5 sur avril 09, 2009
Absolutely wonderful experience. I'm out here alone looking for work and Carole made all my fears go away with her hospitality. I don't want to leave!
4,4 sur avril 09, 2009
Carole's B&B is a very pleasant place and conveniently located.
4,8 sur mars 27, 2009
Extremely gracious hosts!
4,0 sur mars 27, 2009
Great breakfasts. convenient location. helpful innkeepers.
5 sur février 12, 2009
We have visited Carole's 6 times in 3 years and we love everything here. The atmosphere is unsurpassed. We think the world of Carole's
4,2 sur janvier 29, 2009
Carole's B&B is a comfortable, homey place to stay in San Diego, only minutes from Balboa Park and the Zoo. It is unpretentious, not extra fancy, but just relaxed. A good place to come back to after a day of site-seeing.
4,0 sur janvier 22, 2009
very pleasant, homey atmosphere. Friendly and comfortable.
5 sur janvier 22, 2009
Small, comfortable surroundings with early access to all of San Diego. The true delight here is the warmth of Carole and her family! :)
4,2 sur janvier 14, 2009
Very comfortable studio suites with clean and very nice atmosphere. The breakfast is very good, and I can recommend it. Thanks for everything
5 sur janvier 12, 2009
Carole is such a wonderful, genuine, caring hostess. The home is cozy and well cared for and the library of books is impressive!
5 sur janvier 12, 2009
We have discovered Carole's B&B on the early 2000's when my husband and I were looking for a place to stay in San Diego. Since then, whenever we visit Southern California we always stay at Carole's. The rooms are fabulous, the gardens and pool area is so fit for relaxation, and the entire staff are courteous and fun! It's one of the best we have been--A HOME AWAY FROM HOME... Eric, Grace, and Sedona of Arizona
3,8 sur janvier 09, 2009
I have stayed at Caroles several times. hospitality is top notch. Carole and Michael are always helpful. Healthy food and they listen for special needs. hot tub is great. access to Balboa Park
4,8 sur décembre 18, 2008
An exceptional visit, once again. We often visit family in San Diego & always stay at Carole's because of the warm & pleasant hospitality. Carole & her family are extremely helpful & gracious. The hot tub is the best I've ever enjoyed. Rooms are well appointed & comfortable.
4,0 sur novembre 25, 2008
Wonderful host, accommodations, and food. A gem!
4,4 sur novembre 20, 2008
No hype,pressure, or hassles. Good breakfast and relaxed people. Carole knows her city and her people!
4,0 sur novembre 03, 2008
nice landlords, tasty breakfast
4,4 sur octobre 15, 2008
Lovely accommodations, delicious home-cooked breakfast. Carole is so pleasant, warm & friendly. This is my 3rd stay there!
3,0 sur septembre 29, 2008
Carole's was very friendly and homey, but not in any way upscale; neighborhood was a little run-down.
5 sur juillet 17, 2008
Relaxing, fabulous location! Pleasant people. Amazing food, comfortable room.
4,8 sur juillet 08, 2008
The warm, homey experience was only exceeded by the good food and personal attention from Carole. The conversations with the other customers were very enjoyable. When we come back to see our relatives Carole's is where we will stay.
4,4 sur juillet 02, 2008
Very friendly, good personal service. Tasty, tasty food.
4,8 sur juin 30, 2008
Traveling without your spouse is sometime lonely especially if you are on business. But at Carole's you were made to feel comfortable from the very start of the week. The attention (not too much) was just right, the food was good, the room very comfortable, wireless internet available with ease, and inn keeper delightful along with interesting guests. Can't wait to go back to San Diego one of my favorite cities and bring my husband this time for a visit to Carole's. Great location - easy access to freeways and local stores and eateries.
3,8 sur juin 28, 2008
Carole is a gracious hostess, Michael's breakfasts are excellent, it's a lovely neighborhood with half a dozen great restaurants within 3-4 blocks, even a pool out back -- what's not to like?
5 sur juin 18, 2008
Lovely folks, beautiful house, wonderful breakfasts.
4,0 sur juin 02, 2008
Great place--great stay/like home.
5 sur mai 21, 2008
Carole's is near my friend's house inn park and was a delight to stay in-my room had its own private balcony overlooking the pool and hot tub and gorgeous gardens. Carole and her family were so so welcoming.
5 sur mai 14, 2008
I lived at Carol's for three weeks and every day after work it was a comming home. Carol and her daughter make one feel as part of the family. They are very helpful, generous and they have a wonderufl home that offers all kinds of people a place to stay. In the three weeks I met some very interesting people at the breakfast table and we had interesting intercultural discussions over a cup of coffee. Carol has the right balance between being a great host and leave each guest its privacy! Thank you so very much for that, Carol!
5 sur mai 13, 2008
Very friendly, great location!
5 sur mai 10, 2008
I tend to rise before the innkeepers as a rule--usually to read, write, or correct papers--in the quiet of the living room, but I like to have coffee as close to immediately as possible. Within a day of learning my habits, the innkeepers would bring me coffee (at 5:00 a.m.!) turn up the lights, greet me briefly--seeing that this trip I was a bit preoccupied with correcting papers--and then return at the perfect moment to refill my cup. They simply understood my variety of peace and solitude and very civilly accomodated it. At 7:00 a.m., my wife and I sat down to breakfast with the most engaging company--a helicopter pilot from France, a teacher from Switzerland--for a half hour of fascinating conversation and cultural exchange, Carole or her daughter periodically appearing to refill a plate or pour more coffee. Our weeklong stay in San Diego could not have been more pleasant.
4,8 sur avril 25, 2008
In deed the place to go and to have a nice stay.
5 sur septembre 21, 2007
Carole & Michael were excellent innkeepers. They were most helpful in suggesting places to eat. All of the places they recommended were delightful. Michael is a great chef. We looked forward to breakfast every morning. We had a great time and would heartily recommend this B & B.


text:
Morning Links: It's Quiet Out There, Sarge
Short interest, or bearish bets, on S&P 500 stocks sits around the lowest level to start a new year at least since 2007 — Morning MarketBeat
Is a lack of panic such a terrible thing? Must we become enablers of a desperate financial media that is utterly bereft of alarm bells to ring? — Josh Brown
ETF industry smiles, turns 20, pats itself on the back — Brendan Conway
Bond investors pivot back to banks — WSJ
The 10 things we learned at Davos — Dennis K. Berman
This year's Davos was all about tail risk — or, more to the point, the absence thereof — Felix Salmon
Apple Inc. debuts 128GB version of fourth-generation iPad — TechCrunch
Are you a value investor? Take the Apple test — Aswath Damodaran
Currency wars in the era of unconventional monetary policies — Econbrowser
Will Research In Motion Ltd.'s new BlackBerry win back corporate customers? — WSJ
Too soon to celebrate for Europe's banks — Francesco Guerrera
Media firms probed on data release: Investigators examined if economic figures were given early to clients; no criminal charges seen — WSJ
Marissa Mayer has enjoyed quite a honeymoon at Yahoo Inc.. What isn't clear is the sustainability of her early success in boosting Yahoo's value — Heard on the Street

subset: commoncrawl


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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 15th Feb. 2019:
As off the 15th Feb. 2019 our Valley View Shop will be closed so
we can prepare and fit out our all new, never before experienced
--- the Rock and Roll Dress retro vintage extravaganza!
The Rock and Roll Dress online shop, phone ordering services, and the
Rock and Roll Dress pop-up shop will all be operating and trading at
rock and roll festivals, club nights and special events as per usual!
Looking forward to seeing each and every one of you bobbin' 'n' a hoppin'
rockin' 'n' a rollin' a little later in 2019!
Ya' have fun now ya hear!
Les 'n' Lorrraine! :)
- Dresses XS - XL
- Dresses 1X - 4X
- Skirts
- Ladies Pants
- Ladies Shirts & Tops
- Badges and Patches
- Bags Totes Wallets
- Bobby Socks
- Catseye Sunglasses
- Chiffon RnR Scarf
- Dance Hosiery
- Dance Shoes
- Dance Shorts
- Dance Slips
- Elastic Belts
- Flags and Tin Signs
- Folding Hand Fans
- Gift Certificates
- Gloves
- Jackets - Sweaters
- Jewellery
- Lucky 13 clothing
- Petticoats
- Printed Leggings
- Rock n Roll Shirts
- Rock Steady Shirts
- Sourpuss handbags
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- All Products ...
New Products [more]
Manufacturer Info
Who's Shopping?
We currently have 14 guests shopping at Rock and Roll Dress!
Your IP Address is: 184.108.40.206
Copyright © 2019 Retro Vintage inspired 50's Rock 'n' Roll, Swing, Lindy Hop, Rockabilly dress.. Powered by Zen Cart


text:
Wednesday, 13 April 2011 08:21
In July 1944, 730 delegates from 44 nations met at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods- NH for a UN Monetary and Financial Conference.
Its purpose was to establish a post-war international monetary system of convertible currencies, fixed exchange rates, free trade, the US dollar as the world's reserve currency linked to gold, and those of other nations fixed to the dollar.
It also designed an institutional framework for market-based capital accumulation to assure newly liberated colonies would pursue capitalist economic development beneficial to victorious allies, mainly America.
In addition, the IMF and World Bank were established to integrate developing nations into the Global North-dominated world economy, using debt entrapment as the way to transfer their wealth to powerful Western bankers.
The scheme to this day obligates indebted nations to take new loans to service old ones, assuring rising indebtedness and structural adjustment harshness, including:
- privatization of state enterprises;
- mass layoffs;
- deregulation;
- deep social spending cuts;
- wage freezes or cuts;
- unrestricted free market access for western corporations;
- corporate-friendly tax cuts;
- crackdowns on or elimination of trade unionism; and
- harsh repression against those opposing a system incompatible with social democracy.
As a result, since WW II, public wealth shifted to powerful private hands, widening the gap between super-rich elitists and working households, a process more intense than ever now, including the amounts.
In 1971, the system unraveled when Nixon closed the gold window, ending the last link between gold, the dollar, and sound money. Thereafter, currencies floated, competing with each other in a casino-like environment, manipulated by powerful insiders like Soros, hedge funds, giant international banks, or governments at times cooperatively with others in their own mutual self-interest.
Bretton Woods established a post-war international monetary system, including the IMF and World Bank's original missions:
- the former to establish stable exchange rates linked to the dollar and bridge temporary payment imbalances; and
- the latter to provide credit to war-torn developing countries. Both bodies, in fact, proved hugely exploitive, their purpose to this day.
In his book "Super Imperialism: The Economic Strategy of American Empire" and other writings, Michael Hudson explained how the dollar glut finances US imperialism and corporate interests by:
- circulating surplus dollars globally to further financial speculation and corporate takeovers;
- global central banks "recyl(ing) these dollar inflows (into) US Treasury bonds to finance the federal US budget deficit; and most important the military character of the US payments deficit and the domestic federal budget deficit."
In other words, dollars finance US corporate takeovers, speculative excesses creating bubbles and global economic crises, as well as America's reckless spending, militarism, imperial wars, hundreds of bases worldwide, and overall belligerence and exploitation at the expense of democratic values and social justice.
Sooner or later, however, excesses erode confidence and produce change, especially today with the Federal Reserve sacrificing dollar strength to bail out Wall Street at the expense of productive economic growth and stability. The greater the dollar erosion, the less likely foreign investors will tolerate buying bad assets, giving America a free lunch to finance counterproductive policy.
As a result, Hudson sees international tensions growing for the next generation because of America's reckless monetarism, perpetual wars, and extreme wealth gap between super-rich elitists and ordinary workers.
For decades, US companies had a competitive advantage from Washington Consensus rules and Bretton Woods institutions it controls, including the IMF and World Bank, affording America a free lunch to rule by forcing other countries into debt bondage, threatening to bring down the global monetary system if enough of them balk. And, of course, waging imperial wars when financial ones don't work.
So far it has because Europe and Asia lack the political will to establish a new international economic order, so nations producing economic gains can keep them, not let America usurp them to reinforce its "new kind of centralized global planning" - one based on financialization and a US Treasury securities standard, not industrial mechanisms.
In WTO terms, it transfers foreign trade gains from other economies to America, drains their resources overall, promotes dependency, not self-sufficiency, and backs it with hardline militarism and threats of systemic monetary collapse.
Eventually, exploited countries balk about "taxation without representation," a "quid without quo," a free lunch from "the world's payments-surplus nations." The longer America demands it by glutting world economies with dollars, the more likely disadvantaged nations will object, by threatening to withdraw from the IMF, World Bank and WTO.
It's a possibility globalists like George Soros aim to exploit, among other ways through Bretton Woods 2.0 to develop ideas and policies for a new financial world order, elitists like himself control.
George Soros - Billionaire Predatory Investor
His rogue investing is notorious. For example, in 1992, he made a billion dollars sabotaging European monetary policy by attacking the European Rate Mechanism (ERM) through a highly leveraged speculative assault on the British pound, forcing its devaluation and ERM breakup.
In June 2003, Neil Clark wrote a New Statesman article, explaining his machinations as a rogue predator. As a result, he "made billions out of the Eastern currency crash of 1997," and was fined in 2002 "for insider trading by a court in France." When asked about the turmoil his speculation caused, he dismissively said:
"As a market participant, I don't need to be concerned with the consequences of my actions."
Earning billions from them, they've caused havoc for millions globally. More still by his International Crisis Group and Open Society (open meaning for him to plunder) collaboration with Zbigniew Brzezinski, Al Gore, General Wesley Clark, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, and many other notorious scoundrels and organizations.
For decades, Soros operated roguishly for a buck. For example, in 1998, he wrote an outrageous letter to Bill Clinton, calling for a "comprehensive political and military strategy for bringing down Saddam and his regime" for reasons the Bush administration implemented.
He's also connected to the Carlyle Group, profiting on militarism and wars from defense contracts. There his partners and associates include Bush I, James Baker, Colin Powell, former UK Prime Minister John Major, Frank Carlucci, Richard Darman, at one time members of bin Laden family, and many other well-connected figures.
Clark explained that Soros "may not, as sometimes suggested, be a fully paid-up CIA agent. But that his corporations and NGOs are closely wrapped up in US expansionism cannot seriously be doubted."
He turned on Bush II over tactics, not ideology, for committing the cardinal sin of giving away the game through overzealously endorsing belligerence.
In fact, Soros strongly supports financial and military warfare for greater profits globally, to gain control over money, resources and markets, but wants it done skillfully with little notice - his way.
As a result, he uses his wealth and influence to oust "bad for business" regimes. For example, Clark said he was instrumental in the Soviet collapse by:
"distribut(ing) $3 million a year to dissidents including Poland's solidarity movement, Charter 77 in Czechoslovakia, and Andrei Sakharov in the Soviet Union. In 1984, he founded his first Open Society Institute in Hungary and pumped millions of dollars into opposition movements and independent media. Ostensibly aimed at building up a 'civil society,' these initiatives were designed to weaken the existing political structures and pave the way for eastern Europe's eventual exploitation by global capital."
Soros now takes credit for "Americaniz(ing) eastern Europe" by exploiting its wealth and people for profit. In Yugoslavia, Clark said:
"The Yugoslavs remained stubbornly resistant and repeatedly returned Slobodan Milosevic's reformed Socialist Party to government. Soros was equal to the challenge. From 1991, his Open Society Institute channeled more than $100 million to" anti-Milosevic elements, "funding political parties, publishing houses and 'independent' media" like Radio B92," using it against Milosevic.
When Washington ousted him in 2000, "all that was left was to cart (him) to the Hague tribunal, co-financed by Soros" and other so-called human rights custodians, corporate ones wanting their share of the booty. Today, Yugoslavia is balkanized, its people exploited, and Kosovars governed by Hashim Thaci's Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), a rogue organization connected to the CIA and organized crime.
Soros, however, profited hugely. He's done it, in fact, in each country he targeted at the expense of freedom, democratic values, and public welfare.
"In Kosovo, for example, he invested $50 million in an attempt to gain control of the Trepca mine complex, where there are vast reserves of gold, silver, lead and other minerals estimated to be worth (about) $5 billion. He thus copied a pattern he (used) to great effect over the whole of eastern Europe (through) 'shock therapy' and 'economic reform,' then swooping in with his associates to buy valuable state assets at knock-down prices."
In fact, his Pax Americana strategy differs only from Bush II in subtlety. "But it is just as ambitious and just as deadly," whether by military or financial warfare for maximum profits.
Soros' Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) Bretton Woods Conference
From April 8 - 11, INET's second annual conference addressed global economic crisis aftershocks, as part of a wide-ranging effort to "engage the larger European Union, as well as the emerging economies of Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia" to accept Soros' New World Order ideas.
Aiming to "inspir(e) and provok(e) new economic thinking," over 200 academics, business and government leaders (many with direct ties to him) attended, including INET's Soros and Robert Johnson, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Paul Volker, Larry Summers, Joseph Stiglitz, Kenneth Rogoff, Jeffrey Sachs (whose shock therapy poison helped wreck post-Soviet Russia and Eastern Europe), Carmen Reinhart from the (Pete) Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Bank of England's Andy Haldane, Henry Kaufman, and other New World Order elitists, plotting new ways for global financial control and profits.
Topics discussed included:
- The emerging economic and political order: what lies ahead?
- Bretton Woods: what can we learn from the past in designing the future?
- Getting back on track: macroeconomic management after a financial crisis.
- Sovereignty and institutional design in the global age: the global market and the nation states.
- Can sovereignty and effective international supervision be reconciled: the challenge of large complex financial institutions.
- Exploring complexity in economic theory.
- The political economy of structural adjustment: understanding the obstacles to cooperation.
- The market or the state: can market forces deliver innovation, education, and infrastructure?
- Sustainable economic.
- Optimal currency areas and governance: the challenge of Europe.
- The architecture of Asia: financial structure and an emerging economic system, and
- Rising to the challenge: equity, adjustment and balance in the world economy.
A Final Comment
Globalist Soros believes "America should be replaced by a world government with a global currency under UN rule."
In other words, he wants national sovereignty replaced by centralized control over money, populations, resources and markets - an undemocratic ruler-serf society unfit to live in except for rulers and profiteers.
On January 25, 2010, New York Times writer Andrew Sorkin headlined, "Still Needed: A Sheriff of Finance," quoting Soros saying:
"We need a global sheriff" ahead of the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Perhaps he has himself in mind.
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Tucked away on a secluded 100-acre peninsula on the southeastern coast of Antigua, the St. James's Club Resort & Villas exudes a casual, club-like ambience. Two white-sand beaches offer a host of fun-filled activities. Coco Beach is like an aquarium for snorkelers, while the calm waters of Mamora Bay are ideal for swimming. St. James's Club provides complimentary non-motorized water sports, catamaran sailing and a deep-sea fishing boat. Guests can also dip into six swimming pools, succumb to the pleasures of a spa and salon, or stay plugged in at the Internet café. And when it comes to dining, the resort's four top-notch restaurants serve everything from casual to Continental cuisine.
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Champagne breakfast in bed, Massage, his-and-hers treatment, Spa Products 2 Verandah bathrobes. Click Here!
Romance & Private Honeymoon Package - Starting from: US$830 per couple* - Romantic sunset cruise, Couples massage, candlelit dinner in room, 2 St. James's Club T-shirts. Click Here!
Renewal of Vows Package- Starting from: US$450* - Wedding Coordinator, Decorated nuptial venue, Registrar, Renewal of Vows cake, Champagne Bottle. Click Here!


text:
For those who may have forgotten that Prince is a musical genius who has mastered at least a dozen instruments, he gently reminds us in the 'Rock and Roll Love Affair' video with an opening scene in which he plays guitar and keyboards at the same time, with one hand on each. That is some serious talent!
The 54-year-old looks and sounds good in the clip. It's a basic performance video, but it was shot on a small soundstage, giving it a laid-back feel. Prince is backed up by a mostly-female band, as well as the brass section that accompanied him during his recent concert dates and appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's late night show.


text:
Steel Bevel Gear Reducers Provide Efficient and Hygienic Design
The material and design used in SEW-Eurodrive's RESF37 stainless steel helical gear reducer and KESA37 stainless steel helical bevel gear reducer offer high resistance to bacteria, chemicals and processes common to the food processing industry.
The shaft-mounted gear units are available with TorqLOC which combines interchangeable bronze bushings and a stainless steel clamping ring for mounting onto various sized solid shafts.
The RESF37 and KESA37 are available with NEMA C-face motor adapters, IEC adapters or as gearmotors. Other options include seals to provide IP69K protection and food grade oil. All shafts and hardware are high quality stainless steel as standard.
The new RESF37 and KESA37 stainless steel gearboxes from SEW-Eurodrive are available with ratios up to 134.82 and 106.38:1 respectively. Both have an input power rating of up to 3 HP and an output torque rating of 1,770 lb-in.


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Belgian Strong Golden AleMarch 1, 2011 - K. Florian Klemp
Though Belgium is revered as the kingdom of sanctified abbey and monastic brews, the majority of its beers spring forth from secular breweries. One Belgian beer style mischievously plays on this earthly angle with brand names depicting the foibles and temptation of life itself. These are the strong golden ales. The touchstone is Duvel, fittingly... View Article


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ACT Test Preparation
The Newport Beach Public Library, in partnership with Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, is hosting a free ACT test preparation, starting at 10 a.m. for three hours in the Friends Meeting Room in the Central Library, 2000 Avocado Ave. The event is free, but registration is required.
'Egyptian Surfer' Party
Musician Matt Hurray will perform songs from his new album "Egyptian Surfer" from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Village Inn, 127 Marine Ave., Balboa Island. Admission is free. For more information, go to http://www.matthurray.com.
Artist's Reception
Turley-Emett Studios, 417 30th St., Newport Beach, hosts an artist's reception from 5 to 9 p.m. for Laguna Beach artist Tamara Thornton. A portion of art sales will benefit the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, or a shelter of your choice. For more information, call (949) 723-1513.
Estancia & TeWinkle Schools Foundation
Themed "Some Like It Hot,"the fifth annual gala to benefit the Estancia & TeWinkle Schools Foundation will kick off at 6 p.m. at the Mesa Verde Country Club, 3000 Club House Road, Costa Mesa. For more information, go to http://www.etsfoundation.org.
Art Show Opening
The Orange County Great Park hosts an opening for "Marks on the Land — The View from Here, Aerial Photography by Tom Lamb " from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Great Park Gallery at the park's Palm Court Arts Complex. Parking and admission are free. For more information, go to http://www.ocgp.org.
Griffith at Alta Coffee
Griffith performs from 8 to 10 p.m. at Alta Coffee, 506 31st St., Newport Beach.
'Sleeping Beauty'
Festival Ballet Theatre will stage its springtime production of "Sleeping Beauty" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. Tickets cost $40 per adult, $36 per senior and $30 per child. To purchase tickets, go to http://www.festivalballet.org.
SCR Junior Players' 'Sleeping Beauty'
South Coast Repertory presents "Sleeping Beauty" at the Nicholas Studio at SCR, 650 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. For showtimes and more information, go to http://www.scr.org.
Art Exhibit
Brett Rubbico Gallery in Newport Beach will host an opening reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday for a new exhibit, "Ray Friesz (1930-2007) Thought Out." The gallery is at 361 Old Newport Blvd. For more information, go to brettrubbicogallery.com.
'Brad Miller: Primordial Algorithms'
SCAPE gallery, in collaboration with Edward Cella Art + Architecture gallery in Los Angeles, presents an exhibition of work by L.A.-based artist Brad Miller. The show will run through March at SCAPE, 2859 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar. For more information, go to http://www.scapesite.com.
30th Anniversary Special
Royal Khyber Fine Indian Cuisine at South Coast Plaza Village celebrates its 30th anniversary with a special three-course dinner, which includes a glass of wine. The cost is $30 per person. For more information, call (714) 436-1010 or visit http://www.royalkhyber.com.
'Sight Unseen'
South Coast Repertory revives playwright Donald Margulies' "Sight Unseen," a finalist for the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. For showtimes and more information, visit http://www.scr.org.
Book Signing
Writer and poet Barbara J. Knutsen, author of "The View from Here: Vile Knowledge," will sign copies of her book from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Martha's Bookstore, 308½ Marine Ave., Balboa Island.
Mendelssohn Piano Trios
Acclaimed classical musicians David Finckel, Wu Han and Philip Setzer perform Mendelssohn's Piano Trios at 4 p.m. at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Samueli Theater. Tickets start at $60. For more information, visit http://www.scfta.org.


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Spread across steep hillsides that overlook the Rio Tejo, Lisbon has captivated visitors for centuries. The amazing vistas reveal the city in all its beauty: Roman and Moorish ruins, white-domed cathedrals, grand plazas lined with sun-drenched cafes. Included is a three night stay in Lisbon.
Meals Included: Dinner
Today you will have an exciting tour of the city center and view some of the famous points, as well as experience the sights of the yellow trams clattering through tree-lined streets.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today enjoy your day at leisure in Lisbon; your tour director is at your service to help you plan your day in this vibrant city.
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Sintra (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today travel north along the Atlantic coast stopping at the enchanting town of Nazare, home of one of largest waves in Europe. Once in Porto, board your Emerald Waterways luxury river cruise ship. This evening join your fellow travellers for dinner on board.
EmeraldPLUS: Sunset Cruise Through Porto
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today, enjoy a full day sailing the windy turns and twists of the Douro Valley. A UNESCO world heritage site this area is sparsely populated by small quaint villages and typical communities working vineyards and small farms. In the afternoon, your Cruise Director will host a lecture on board showcasing the history and wine culture of the region. Later, arrive in the village of Pinhão which is situated on a river bend surrounded by terraced hillsides producing some of the world's best Port. Tonight, your captain will be delighted to host the welcome dinner and cocktail reception.
EmeraldPLUS: Cooking Demonstration on Board
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin your day with a visit to a beautiful Quinta vineyard in the heart of the Douro Valley. Alternatively, join the EmeraldACTIVE walk through the vineyards. Later, sail to Vega de Terrón, your gateway into Spain.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Walk through Vineyards
EmeraldPLUS: Cocktail Lesson on board
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Founded in Roman times, the city of Salamanca is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, the seat of the Spanish language, and still a lively student town. Board your coach this morning in Vega de Terrón and travel to this beautiful golden city for a guided walking tour passing through its grand squares and medieval structures, where you will feel like stepping back in time. Tapas bars feature on every street and traditional Spanish music trickles out of buzzing bars and restaurants. You will also have plenty of free time to explore independently before returning to the ship later this afternoon.
EmeraldPLUS: Local Entertainment
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, arrive in Pocinho and either embark on an excursion to the Côa Valley Museum or take part on the Emerald Active canoeing experience. The Côa Valley Museum is a concrete structure that details pre-historic stone carvings made by the early inhabitants of the Douro, which were uncovered during the construction of the nearby dam. Later return to your ship for lunch and enjoy your idyllic surroundings as you sail towards Régua.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Canoeing Experience
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
EmeraldPLUS: This evening your highlight dinner will be hosted at a traditional rural wine estate in the Régua area
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will have a choice to visit the marvelous baroque village of Lamego and the picturesque Our Lady of Remedies Sanctuary where history stands still. As part of your EmeraldACTIVE feature, walk up the stairs of the Our Lady of Remedies Sanctuary.
EmeraldACTIVE: Walking up the Stairs of the Sanctuary
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
EmeraldPLUS: Mosaic Tile Painting Lessons on Board
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Mateus Manor House with wine tasting (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Located at the mouth of the Douro River, Porto is a fascinating eclectic mix of modern and ancient architecture. Enjoy your city tour passing by numerous landmarks of this beautiful city.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Active Walking Tour
DiscoverMORE: Visit to Guimarães (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast disembark your river cruise ship and transfer to Porto airport for your flight to Lyon. In Lyon, you will be transferred to the new ship journey.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Chalon–Sur–Saône is best known as the birthplace of photography and the center of Burgundy's wine region. Travel by road to the quaint village of Beaune, where we visit the Hospices de Beaune, one of the finest examples of French fifteenth–century architecture. Marvel at the multi–colored roofs of this former hospital, now a museum, which has become one of the symbols of Burgundy.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lyon is France's third largest city, a former Roman capital positioned at the conference of the Rhone and Saone rivers, which is steeped in history. Today be part of the guided tour of Lyon, which starts with a drive to the Basilique Notre Dame de Fourvière, Lyon's hilltop church, with stunning views over the town. Then, pass by the recently re–discovered Roman amphitheatre and walk through the cobbled streets of the gastronomic old town including the secret laneways. Alternatively, join a guided bike tour of Lyon.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided Bike Tour
DiscoverMORE: Tour to Perouges (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Join your local guide for a walking tour of Tournon, which is dominated by the 16th century castle and roman ruins, and is nestled in the valley near the steep slopes of le Massif Central, France's 3rd largest mountain range. The area has a long tradition in wine making, including the renowned wine growing centre of Tain l'Hermitage across the river.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided active walk through vineyards
EmeraldPLUS: Regional wine lecture on board
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided bike tour to Glun
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Arrive in Viviers, a town which still has a lot of flare. Viviers is also the home of one of France's oldest cathedrals, join an included city tour exploring all the architectural heritage of this quaint town.
EmeraldPLUS: Cheese and olive tasting on board
DiscoverMORE: Tour to Grignan (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Avignon has a rich history from Celtic beginnings to being the residence of the Popes and later central to the French Revolution. Although a fortified town, it is the Papal Palace which stands more secure on a hill in the centre of town; its walls are 17–18 feet thick. Your guided walk with a local guide takes you through this historic centre with its cobbled laneways and shops, overlooking the famous 'Pont d'Avignon'. The rest of the day is at leisure.
EmeraldACTIVE: Guided active hike in Avignon
EmeraldACTIVE: Yoga Lesson on Board
EmeraldPLUS: Provençale dinner hosted by local Chef Fabien Morreale
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Pont du Gard (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail into Arles where you will join your local guide for a walking tour showcasing the highlights of the city in particular the 2000-year-old Roman Amphitheatre still in use today, which was originally built to hold 20,000 spectators in the style of the Colosseum in Rome. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax on board and explore Arles further.
DiscoverMORE: Excursion to Les Baux de Provence (extra expense)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast disembark your river cruise ship in Arles and transfer to Nice and check into your hotel. Included is a three-night stay in Nice.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Nice, the capital of the Côte d'Azur, is beautifully curved round the Bay of Angels, desirable and as lively as you like. In the morning enjoy free time to explore on own, and in the afternoon we will take you to Monte Carlo for a guided tour, where you will learn about the jet set life in Monaco.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today enjoy your day at leisure in Nice; your tour director is at your service to help you plan your day in this vibrant city.
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your onward or homebound flight.
Please note: Pre release itinerary subject to change
Meals Included: Breakfast
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Fashion factors change with the seasons. We dress for the climate. At the point when the temperature drops, we wrap up. It's our natural tendency to do as such. But when it comes to choosing the right look, there's something else entirely to consider. Shipgig has the latest fashion jewelry collection trending for this winter to enable you to remain on tone and trend. Here is a lowdown.
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These were the trending products for this winter from our artificial jewellery collection. To explore more visit our website http://www.shipgig.com/


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SANTA ANA — With all 71 precincts reporting, former Mayor Sandy Genis and current Councilmen Steve Mensinger and Gary Monahan are the top three vote-getters in the Costa Mesa City Council race. Voters were able to choose three of eight candidates.
But with potentially thousands of provisional and vote-by-mail ballots still uncounted, and with fourth-place candidate John Stephens trailing Monahan by 319 votes as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, the local attorney said he's not ready to concede.
"We still have a shot," Stephens said Wednesday morning, as he observed ballot-counting at the Orange County Registrar of Voters' headquarters. "It depends on how many votes haven't been counted in Costa Mesa."
Stephens was one in a small pack of council candidates and supporters on both sides of the "3Ms" and Costa Mesans for Responsible Government divide who showed up at the registrar's office to watch some of the remaining Orange County ballots be counted — a process that could take days, as there are approximately 260,000 of them.
The number of provisional ballots left to count as of 5 p.m. Wednesday was about 78,394, which does not include vote-by-mail ballots.
Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley said updated results will be available at 5 p.m. daily until results are certified in about two weeks. Those updates, he added, are unique to Orange County in California.
The practice of observing counting operations, he said, is not uncommon with close races.
"I've been through this tons of times," Kelley said over the steady hum of vote-by-mail envelopes zipping through machines and the shuffling of papers in the office's warehouse. At picnic tables nearby, seasonal county workers stacked and sorted forms to be counted, while others studied signatures on hundreds of orange provisional ballots.
Kelley told the group — which also included a few people interested in other tight contests, like the one between Assemblyman Chris Norby (R-Fullerton) and Fullerton Mayor Sharon Quirk-Silva — they are free to roam around most of the facility or peek over some workers' shoulders.
Although observers are welcome to challenge the validity of ballots based on factors like whether the ballot and envelope signatures match, Kelley said that most challenges won't disqualify the votes.
"You may have an interest in a campaign, and you might try to start challenging everything," he warned. "That'll die real quick."
Which means it's still a long shot for Stephens — though Monahan's lead narrowed slightly from Wednesday morning to late afternoon.
If the current election results hold up, Mensinger and Monahan, two of the "3Ms," will keep their council seats and maintain the council majority, led by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer.
The "3Ms," which also included Planning Commission Chairman Colin McCarthy, campaigned together on a hard-line antunion platform of fiscal reform and backed the failed Measure V, which would have established a city charter. Mensinger, with 16.1% of the counted votes, and Monahan, with 15.8%, garnered second and third place in the polls, respectively.
Genis, who ran with Stephens and Harold Weitzberg as part of the "Top 3" slate, ran on a platform opposed to what some have deemed drastic and overly hasty action by the current council majority. Genis, a former mayor who led the recent fight to block the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds, took the most votes, with 17.7%.
Stephens, meanwhile, earned 15.4% of the counted vote. McCarthy trailed Stephens by 188 votes. He got 15.1% of the counted votes.
Weitzberg took the sixth spot with 13.2% of the counted votes and the remaining two candidates, Al Melone and James Rader, took 6.6% between the two of them.
While representatives on both sides said it's too early to say whether they'll contest the ultimate result, each side said they didn't want the other side to have any influence over the counts while at the registrar's office.
"I'm here as an observer," Mensinger said. "We just want to make sure there's an equitable resolution."
Monahan, said Mensinger, planned to stop by to observe later in the day. Monahan could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Newport-Mesa school board member Katrina Foley, who has been active in the Top 3 slate's campaign and is a strong supporter of Stephens, said she's not concerned about the county workers.
"It's a little surprising, the team that came from the Righeimer crew," she said. "We just wanted to make sure nothing is being done to disrupt the process."
"[Observing] helps tremendously," Kelley said. "They see the level of detail in the counting process," which reassures candidates and their representatives.
McCarthy added, "They're here to observe and we're here to observe. Others are here to observe other races. You've got to see it through to the end."
Twitter: @jillcowan


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I realized, after the fact, that I neglected to put my shop link in my last post and I've caused some confusion. The semi-custom stones that I am making time for right now are what I call large stones. They are about the size of the palm of my hand and require a little more finesse and a lot more stitching than my small and medium stones.
These custom stones are priced at $100 each, and if you are interested, you can find them here.
Thank you, and sorry for the confusion.


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Indian languages Indian culture Indian information for kids
|Find Native American ancestors in your family tree
This is our collection of links to Tonkawa folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our American legend section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to each other. In particular, though these legends come from the Tonkawas, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Caddo and Wichita tribes are very similar.
Back to American Indian god spirits
Read some Native American Indian poems
Learn more about the Tonkawa tribe.
Native American Indian art Indian costumes Lenape Delaware Red Indians Indian tattoos
Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?


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Ye Olde Republic wrote:I suppose it's reasonable to think that retailers could start recieving and putting August sets out on shelve just about any time now.
On a side note, are EB and Brickset related sites? They seem to be lumped together quite often, like username just did.
I expect we won't see anything concrete until at least May or June. Sets are usually released a bit early, but we still have four months until August. It's not as if the collectable minifigs have hit store shelves yet and aren't they supposed to have a June release date?
The new castle sets are coming; just not as fast as we'd like them to.


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HIV and Inflammation
March 2011
Inflammation has become a major concern of HIV medicine in recent years. Experts now recognize that persistent HIV infection leads to long-term immune activation and chronic inflammation, even among people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with undetectable viral load. Ultra-sensitive tests show that a small amount of residual HIV remains in the body despite effective treatment, and a growing body of evidence shows that even this low-level virus can cause a range of problems long before a person's CD4 T-cell count falls into the danger zone for opportunistic illness.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a broad term for what happens when the immune system recognizes and responds to a threat. Many different types of immune cells go into action, including macrophages that ingest invaders, CD4 helper T-cells that coordinate the overall immune response, and CD8 killer T-cells that disable virus-infected and malignant cells.
In response to an acute threat, injured tissues alert white blood cells such as macrophages that are present throughout the body. A protein called nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) is released, switching on genes involved in immune response.
Immune cells communicate using chemical messengers known as cytokines. These signals exert a variety of effects, from calling white blood cells to a site of injury, to stimulating cell proliferation, to making blood vessels more permeable so immune cells can more easily maneuver.
Activated macrophages and other early responders produce pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interferon gamma. Neutrophils and other immune cells migrate to the affected area, where they ingest or poison pathogens and release their own chemicals. In addition, the liver produces acute-phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and plasminogen. Some of these chemicals can be detected in the blood and are used as biomarkers to assess inflammation.
At the local level, these chemicals cause physiological changes responsible for the classic inflammatory signs of redness, swelling, heat, and pain. They also play a role in blood clotting and tissue repair. System-wide, pro-inflammatory chemicals act on the brain and elsewhere, causing fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, and other "flu-like" symptoms.
This innate response is active against a range of invaders. Early responders also trigger adaptive or specific immune responses carried out by lymphocytes, known as B-cells, T-cells, and natural killer cells. These cells learn to recognize and directly target particular antigens (for example, pieces of bacteria or virus displayed by macrophages).
T-cells differentiate into CD4 helper cells and CD8 killer cells. CD4 T-cells, which direct the immune response, are the primary target of HIV. Young B-cells (which produce antibodies) and T-cells are naive, meaning they can respond to new antigens. After an immune response, a subset of these cells become long-lived memory cells that remember a specific threat in order to respond quickly if it appears again.
Normally immune responses are self-limiting and "turn themselves off" when no longer needed. Just as pro-inflammatory cytokines trigger immune activation, anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) inhibit or shut down immune responses.
While a robust immune system is key to good health, it is not designed to sustain a continuous inflammatory response over the long term. But when faced with an ongoing threat such as chronic HIV infection, the immune response remains engaged, leading to problems throughout the body.
Over time, persistent cytokine elevation and other immune processes can damage organs including the heart and brain. Furthermore, continuous activation accelerates progression of immune cells though the cycle of growth and division, causing them to "burn out" prematurely, a state known as immunosenescence. In an article published in Topics in HIV Medicine, Steven Deeks reports that middle-aged HIV-positive people show signs of immunosenescence resembling those of HIV-negative people over age 70.
How Does HIV Cause Inflammation?
Inflammation is implicated in almost every type of health problem and its consequences tend to be worse for people with HIV since the ongoing presence of the virus maintains CD4 and CD8 T-cells in a constant state of activation. Combination ART has dramatically reduced the risk of AIDS-defining opportunistic illness and death. But as HIV-positive people survive longer thanks to effective treatment, they are at increased risk for a variety of non-AIDS conditions even while CD4 cell counts are relatively high.
At a recent forum, Deeks suggested AIDS should perhaps be thought of as "acquired inflammatory disease syndrome." "HIV is causing high-level inflammation and inflammation-associated disease," he explained. "Antiretroviral therapy can help people live longer, but it does not restore health and they do not have a normal lifespan." Starting treatment earlier, he said, might mitigate these effects.
Experts think chronic immune activation and inflammation contribute to higher rates of cardiovascular disease and other non-AIDS conditions seen in people with HIV. But given that HIV disease is characterized by immune suppression, how can it also cause excessive immune activation and inflammation? The answer lies in the complexity of the immune response. As Peter Hunt and colleagues from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) explained at the 2010 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), "HIV has its foot on the accelerator and the brakes at the same time."
While late-stage HIV/AIDS involves severe immune deficiency, immune activation and dysregulation are more common at earlier stages. Throughout the course of disease, however, the percentage of infected CD4 T-cells does not seem large enough to explain the extent of immune dysfunction. Most CD4 cells in the blood and lymph nodes of people with chronic infection do not carry the virus, but it appears that only a small amount is needed to sustain an inflammatory state. Even "elite controllers," the small proportion of HIV-positive people who naturally control the virus without treatment, show greater immune activation than HIV-negative people, and they are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and other non-AIDS conditions.
HIV proteins including Tat and gp120 appear to directly stimulate immune responses by altering cytokine signaling. HIV also contributes to inflammation in less direct ways. At the earliest stages of infection, the virus establishes itself in lymphoid tissue in the gastrointestinal tract, the body's largest reservoir of susceptible CD4 T-cells. Brenchley et al. explained in a 2006 report in Nature Medicine that HIV infection damages the intestinal lining and makes it more permeable, allowing bacteria that normally reside in the gut to escape, a process known as microbial translocation. As they enter the bloodstream, these bacteria and a toxin they produce called lipopolysaccharide (LPS) trigger a strong systemic immune response.
Viral and bacterial coinfections also play a role in HIV-related inflammation. Decreased immune function, even while CD4 cell counts are still relatively high, can lead to loss of control of other disease-causing organisms in the body. HIV-positive people with active chronic viral coinfections, such as herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and hepatitis B and C viruses, typically have higher HIV viral load, lower CD4 T-cell counts, and faster progression to AIDS.
UCSF researchers showed that HIV-positive people with stronger CMV-specific CD8 T-cell responses had higher levels of inflammation biomarkers and more early atherosclerosis. At CROI 2010, they reported that treating CMV with valganciclovir reduced CD8 cell activation. Similarly, Kovacs et al. found that among HIV-positive women coinfected with hepatitis C, those with the most activated CD8 cells had three times the risk of progression to AIDS.
Finally, metabolic abnormalities such as elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and body composition changes associated with HIV and its treatment can trigger inflammation, and these inflammatory changes in turn can affect metabolism.
While some antiretroviral drugs can contribute to metabolic abnormalities, the overall effect of ART is to reduce inflammation. Experts advise that lowering viral load as much as possible is the most effective way to reduce persistent immune activation and inflammation in people with HIV.
Inflammation Biomarkers
It is increasingly clear that complications seen in HIV-positive people are not only due to the effects of the virus on the immune system, but also the immune system's response to the virus. The idea that persistent immune activation and inflammation influence HIV disease progression is not new. Since the early years of the epidemic, researchers have reported that HIV-positive people have elevated levels of various markers of inflammation. Hunt et al. have shown that greater T-cell activation predicts faster CD4 cell decline among untreated people, and poorer CD4 cell recovery on ART despite viral suppression.
The large Strategies for Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (SMART) treatment interruption trial prompted the latest wave of interest in HIV-related inflammation and its consequences. SMART enrolled more than 5,000 HIV-positive adults with a CD4 count above 350 cells/mm3. They were randomly assigned either to stay on continuous ART or to stop treatment when their CD4 count rose above this level, resuming when it fell below 250 cells/mm3.
The treatment interruption arm was halted ahead of schedule in January 2006 after an interim analysis showed that these participants not only had a higher rate of opportunistic illness and death, but also were at higher risk for serious non-AIDS conditions including heart, liver, and kidney disease. These results, and those of subsequent studies, led to an intensive search for an explanation. Researchers began looking at biomarkers of increased inflammation, coagulation, and endothelial (blood vessel lining) dysfunction.
At the 2008 CROI and in a follow-up report in PLoS Medicine, Lewis Kuller and colleagues from the SMART team reported that elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6, the coagulation marker D-dimer, and the acute-phase protein CRP were associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. IL-6 and D-dimer rose along with viral load after treatment interruption, but remained stable in people on continuous therapy.
The Swiss-Thai-Australia Treatment Interruption Trial (STACCATO), in which participants restarted ART when their CD4 count fell below 350 cells/mm3 (rather than 250 cells/mm3 in SMART), also revealed a link between HIV viral load and inflammation biomarkers. A variety of markers, including D-dimer, VCAM-1, P-selectin, MCP-1, and leptin, decreased as HIV was suppressed on ART and rose during treatment interruption. In contrast, levels of anti-inflammatory biomarkers, including IL-10 and adiponectin, increased as viral load declined and fell during treatment breaks.
In a comparison of inflammation biomarkers in people with and without HIV, Neuhaus et al. looked at SMART participants and HIV-negative individuals in two large population-based cardiovascular studies, Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) (age 45-76) and Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) (age 33-44). People with HIV had significantly higher levels of markers including IL-6, CRP, and D-dimer. Levels were higher in HIV-positive participants both on and off ART compared with HIV-negative people, and this link remained after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
While SMART revealed more inflammation among participants who interrupted ART, even people on continuous ART with stable suppressed viral load have higher inflammation biomarker levels than HIV-negative individuals. Furthermore, Baker et al. recently reported increased inflammation biomarkers in HIV-positive people who still have high enough CD4 cell counts that they do not yet need treatment. Indeed, even elite controllers show more inflammation than HIV-negative people.
In summary, it is now widely acknowledged that HIV has harmful effects well before it causes serious immune deficiency, and these effects can persist despite undetectable viral load and high CD4 cell counts.
This article was provided by Gay Men's Health Crisis. It is a part of the publication GMHC Treatment Issues. Visit GMHC's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.
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