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ECON115 3 credits
Introduction to Economics
Surveys the principles of economics, evolution of economic thought, and development of present United States economic structure. Covers concepts of supply and demand, opportunity costs, and history of economic ideas. Course does not substitute for ECON201 or ECON202 in the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree or Associate of Science/Oregon Transfer degrees.
Prerequisites: BT113 or WR115, or designated placement test scores.
ECON201 4 credits
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduces students to consumer and company behavior and the market process. The economic analysis of different market structures of perfect competition, imperfect competition, and monopoly are analyzed along with the principles of income distribution and resource allocation under a market system.
Prerequisites: RD90 and BT114 or WR121, or designated placement test scores; CS125WW recommended.
ECON202 4 credits
Principles of Macroeconomics
Deals with human behavior and choices as they relate to the entire economy. Covers aggregate demand and aggregate supply of goods and services, how tax and spending affect the entire economy's output and employment, and how the Federal Reserve can manipulate the supply of money, inflation, and economic growth.
Prerequisites: RD90 and BT114 or WR121, or designated placement test scores; CS125WW recommended.


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Adam Lambert to Perform With Queen on Select Dates
It seems that every other day Adam Lambert is or isn't scheduled to perform with Queen. Make up your minds, guys! After their Sonisphere Festival gig was canceled, it's been announced that Lambert will, in fact, join the legends for select shows.
Billboard reports that Lambert and the 'We Are the Champions' rockers will hit the road together for their June 30 show in Moscow, another performance with Elton John and two July dates at the Hammersmith Apollo. The Apollo dates were described as "some alternative… for some of the people who had bought tickets" to the Sonisphere Festival.
Queen's Roger Taylor is particularly thrilled to perform with the 'American Idol' alum. "We're really excited about it," Taylor said. "Adam, of course — he has this unbelievable range, like Freddie (Mercury) had range. Adam can really cover it. He's an extraordinary singer and a real talent," he gushed. "I feel he fits into our sort of theatricality."
So will the band do more work with Lambert? Maybe so. "We're just going to see what happens, how well it goes, how we get on." Considering how well they've done in the past, we think it's a safe bet that this will soon turn into a resounding "yes!"

subset: commoncrawl


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Three groups of men and women in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills pursue Liposuction for body contouring, in order to achieve their ideal body. Unlike diet and exercise liposuction can spot reduce areas of unwanted fat deposit. This makes Beverly … Continue reading
Our center also includes the Regency Surgery Center which is a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery facility certified by Medicare and accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc., (AAAASF).
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Feb 4, 2011
Jarrod Fairclough is Outraged
Jarrod Fairclough is Outraged
Jarrod Fairclough - I am outraged, Muppet fans. Absolutely sick to my scorn. The last time I was this outraged was when Ke$ha released that awful "Turn It Up" song... Man I hate her.
But alas, Ke$ha is not the reason I am so outraged. No, Muppet fans. The reason is because of someone on this very blog. Someone we all know, and yet none of us trust. Especially not Ryan's cat... I'm hoping everyone here has gone and looked at The Muppet Mindset's "About Us" page. If not, go and have a look, because it has some great bios of the staff and frequent contributors to the blog, of which I am one. And with these bios are some photos. There's myself with Bert, Ryan with Zoe, Lisa the Intern with an awesome blue Whatnot. But... Wait a second... The British Correspondent has a photo of himself with a question mark over his face...
And this is where the outrage comes in...
QUESTION MARKS ARE MY THING ON THIS BLOG! For a few months now, I've been writing a series of article's entitled "?". See that? See the title. It's a question mark. And yet The British Correspondent reckons he can just waltz in with his mysteriousness, and claim the question mark? Look at my logo:
See, it's a question mark. With Kermit's head as the dot. A QUESTION MARK!
So here is my message to The British Correspondent. You can do what you like to this blog when Ryan leaves it with you. You can do whatever you did to that poor cat as much as you like. You can be all mysterious. But if you don't change that About Me photo, and swear off question marks, then be prepared for me to reveal who you actually are! Okay, Mr Bean? You got me, Black Adder??? Listening, James Bond? No, not James Bond. He has too much class to steal someone's question marks.
Your move, British Correspondent.
Jarrod Fairclough
The Muppet Mindset does not support this feud, nor do we plan to get in the middle of it or pick sides... but we do enjoy watching it.
The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier
4 comments:
This is newsworthy?ReplyDelete
Lol, sorry Prawnman, but this has me chuckling, because it's like anytime some minor little thing upsets a celebrity who shouldn't be a celebrity (ala Paris Hilton), but it makes like big-time international news. And I'm assuming the British Correspondent is our under-appreciated custodian whom we loved so dearly, yet despised his cooking. ;)
i DON'T like this news post prawn! sorry just sayin..ReplyDelete
I like Ke$ha. She's kind of like a Muppet. I can see her hanging with Janice. I think this is just a case of the "$" vs "?" thing! ;-)ReplyDelete
That awesome blue Whatnot, for the record, is named Bug. I realize that's fairly irrelevant to the feud, but Bug was over here insisting his name be known to the world... He's a persistent little fella when he wants to be.ReplyDelete
--The Intern


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Final Form Games is 3 years old today!
And, for those of you who've been wondering: we are still at it. As we prepare to move to a new office, we're happy to announce that we are in the very first, super-early, gestational and unpredictable stages of planning for our second game. Game 2! It's an exciting time.
That said, Game 2 (codename: A Zound of Zanzibars) is going to be a bit of a mystery for a while. We'll be quite busy performing our experiments and throwing everything away several times and going on spirit journeys and meditating under waterfalls and so forth.
But the day's gonna come. We'll keep you posted.
Likely To Be Asked Questions (LTBAQ):
What is Game 2 going to be?
We honestly don't know yet. It's still very, very early in development. But it'll be super cool!
Will it be a sequel to Jamestown?
That's looking unlikely. We have several other ideas we're pretty excited about. But as always, we reserve the right to change our minds at any time, and for any reason. Because the universe reserves the right to throw unpredictable randomness into our path constantly, our acceptance of ambiguity has worked out strangely well for us so far.
Will it be a shmup?
We love shmups dearly, but are looking forward to trying something different for our next project. However: see above regarding our right to change our minds.
Surely you know something specific?
Nothing we'd be comfortable going on record with yet. We appreciate your patience!
What's a "Zanzibar"?
What? Hmm…
When will it come out?
Oh, come now.
So yes. Game 2 (new codename: Captain Jameson's Pinata Disaster) is coming. It may not be coming soon, but it's coming soon enough. Hit the follow/subscribe buttons to make sure you know the moment that "soon enough" becomes "right now", and we'll see you then!


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Vera Wang Eyewear Eyeglasses
A woman's face reflects her mood, her personality and her style. Vera Wang Eyewear communicates this belief through luxurious shapes and mediums, exceptional fits, weightlessness and proportion. Her collection conveys elegance and sophistication. It is the ultimate in vision and style.
If you do not have a millimeter ruler, you can print a very accurate, disposable paper ruler. Simply
click here to open the PDF containing
a disposable paper ruler, and please disable any "shrink to fit" options
on your printer.


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End of This Blog. Transition to WordPress.
For reasons sketched out in a previous post, I do not presently plan to post any more messages in this blog, and will instead be posting my technical stuff in a new WordPress blog.
For reasons sketched out in a previous post, I do not presently plan to post any more messages in this blog, and will instead be posting my technical stuff in a new WordPress blog.
Posted by raywood 1 comments
I had a bunch of email (EML) files scattered around my hard drive. Some of them, I noticed, were displaying a lot of HTML codes. For example, when I opened one (using Thunderbird as the default EML opener), it began with this:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 6.5.7036.0"> <TITLE>RE: Scholar Program</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
findstr /r /m /s "<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC" D:\*.eml > D:\findlist.txtIt produced a dozen "Cannot open" error messages. The reason seemed to be that the filenames for those files had funky characters (e.g., #, §). Also, Findlist.txt contained the names of files that did not seem to have the DOCTYPE text specified in the command. DOCTYPE may have appeared in attachments to those files, but I didn't want to be flagging that sort of EML file. So despite a number of variations with FINDSTR and several Google searches, I gave up. I returned to Copernic, searched for the DOCTYPE text (in quotation marks, as shown above), and moved them manually. Copernic had a convenient right-click Move to Folder option, so that helped a little. So now, anyway, despite the imperfections of the process, I apparently had the desired EMLs in a single folder. I would just have to re-sort them back to where they belonged manually.
pdftk.exe - System Error The program can't start because libconv2.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix this problem.I moved the two files to C:\Windows and tried again. That worked: I got documentation. It scrolled on past the point of recovery. Typing "pdftk --help > documentation.txt" solved the problem, but ultimately it didn't seem to give me anything more than already existed in pdftk's docs subfolder. The next step was to put pdftk to work. It would apparently allow me to specify the files to combine, using a command of this form:
pdftk 1.pdf 2.pdf 3.pdf cat output 123.pdfMy problem was that, at least in some cases, the filenames I was working with were too long to fit on a single line like that, one after the other. I decided a solution would be to take a directory listing, put it into Excel, and use it to create commands for a batch file that would rename the emails and their accompanying attachments, with names like 0001.pdf. I would need to keep the spreadsheet for a while, so as to know what the original filenames were. The original filenames were my guide as to what files needed to be combined together. For this purpose, with one of the original filenames in spreadsheet cell A1, I put the ascending file numbers in cells B1, B2 ... (i.e., 1, 2, ...) and then, in cell C1, I put =REPT("0",4-LEN(B1))&B1&".pdf". Finally, in cell D1, I put ="ren "&CHAR(34)&A1&CHAR(34)&" "&C1. Then I copied the formulas from column D into Notepad, saved them as Renamer.bat, and ran it.
Posted by raywood 2 comments
Labels: attachments, convert, Emacs, emails, EML, HTML, pdf, PDFsam, pdftk, print, TexFinderX
In a previous post, I looked at replacements for Windows Explorer ("WinEx"), including especially FreeCommander. The runner-up, at that point, was Explorer++. Further experience with FreeCommander prompted me to take a closer look at Explorer++ after all. This post provides further information on these two utilities.
As I used FreeCommander, I was surprised to find that a few right-click (context menu) options were missing. For example, I often used LockHunter to find out why Windows was not letting me move or delete a certain file or folder. But in FreeCommander, I was no longer seeing the context menu question, "What is locking this file?" That option did continue to appear in Explorer++, as it had appeared in WinEx. One possible explanation was that FreeCommander did not offer a 64-bit version, whereas Explorer++ did, and I was using the 64-bit version of LockHunter.
Another problem in both FreeCommander and Explorer++ was that I no longer had the option to create a new text file in a specified folder. That option had been available in WinEx, as I recalled, via File > New > Text File. I was pretty sure there was a way to create a new text file in FreeCommander. It seemed to me that I had done so by accident, once or twice, while trying to do something else with a familiar command from WinEx. But I was not seeing that option on the menu nor in the list of shortcuts, and likewise in Explorer++. Workarounds in either program were to open a command window in the selected folder and type one of these options:
Posted by raywood 2 comments
Labels: alternative, Explorer, Explorer++, FreeCommander, replacement, substitute, windows
Posted by raywood 9 comments
Labels: 7, alternatives, files, folders, navigator, replacement, substitute, windows
I guess I have assumed that almost everybody loves Google, and those who don't are the bad guys. Microsoft, for example. Maybe it takes a huge corporation to stand up to another huge corporation. If so, Google is a champion for those who have disliked various things about how Microsoft got its start, what it did to increase its power, and what it has done with that power.
There comes a point, however, when the good guy turns bad. Maybe it doesn't have to happen. But power tends to corrupt. And even when it doesn't actually corrupt, it tends to create an impression of corruption. That impression may be able, by itself, to make people more or less as miserable as they would be in case of actual corruption and abuse.
Case in point. I have been blogging for years, here in Blogger. I wasn't necessarily eager to see Google acquire Blogger. But they were welcome to do so, for my purposes, as long as they left me alone. The deal was that I got to use their free blogging platform to put out various things that I wanted to write, and they got to use my work, my viewers, etc. to make money from advertising and whatnot.
Gifts can make people resentful when they stop. I would be unhappy with Google if they pulled the plug on my blogging enterprise, even though they're not charging me for it. I have spent years putting stuff here, linking one post to another and so forth. It would take a lot of work -- work that I might never do -- if they were suddenly to just shut it down or screw it up. I would feel that, after all, Google does have competitors, notably WordPress. If nothing else, I'd sooner be paying for a hosted website than to do all this work and then watch it get messed up.
What's sad is that I have been warned that they are quite capable of doing exactly that. It has already happened. Circa 2000, many people were using DejaNews as a convenient gateway to Usenet. Usenet newsgroups contained tons of free, helpful information on a vast array of subjects -- especially but not only computer-related, like this blog. Google acquired DejaNews. Evidently they felt that all that information would interfere with their desire to sell advertising related to webpages. For whatever reason, they basically destroyed Deja. That was a shame, for all those people who could have continued to use it to obtain useful information. And it was irritating to me, because all the things I had put out there, thinking I would always be able to access them, were removed from access as a practical matter, by me and most everyone else.
I was pretty unhappy with Google about that. That was the first big chink in their claim that they would "do no evil," as their corporate motto ("Don't be evil") has been widely reported. They had obviously ruined something useful, for purposes of increasing profits.
That stuff would not be coming back to mind now if I weren't having an off day with Google today. Here I am, working away on my blog, and suddenly it is no longer very functional in Internet Explorer. I have a nice little desktop arrangement, with various browsers, but now Blogger has suddenly ceased to work properly when I try to post or edit. Google lets me know that, instead, I should be using its own browser, Chrome, for this purpose.
That part happened several days ago. So, OK, I have been trying to post in Chrome instead. But I am finding that Chrome is not yet up to speed for this purpose. Google was eager enough to move me over to its browser -- the statements and signals have been out there for some time -- but, lo, it develops that Chrome is inserting white backgrounds. Whole chunks of my post are whited out. Why? I don't know. Probably they don't know either. I am having to go in and manually remove whiteing that I didn't put there. Why not just leave me alone, free to work on my blog in Internet Explorer, until Chrome gets its act together?
That seemed like a fair question, so I tried to present it to Google. Problem is, their "Contact Us" webpage is a lie. You cannot contact them through their webpage. Or at least I cannot. I tried today. I tried once before, with a problem so obvious and banal that it pained me to have to bring it to their attention. In that case, I gave up and wrote them a letter. It seemed ironic, and yet telling, that I had to use the U.S. Post Office to communicate a simple thought to one of the world's largest software corporations.
Like most people, I don't like being lied to. If you're not going to let me contact you, don't give me a "Contact Us" webpage. Call it "FAQs" or whatever. It's great that you can hire the best and the brightest, but that can backfire: you can create the impression that you think you're too good for the rest of us. It wouldn't be terribly smart to generate unnecessary resentment, would it?
It had never occurred to me, until today, to search for something that I have now searched for and found. Yes, as it turns out, there does exist something called IHateGoogle.org. I'm not really sure what it's about. I'm not resentful enough to dig into it. But, Google, keep it up: maybe someday I will be. You seem to be making a good start at it: today you tell me that as many as 1.4 million webpages convey that sort of feeling toward you and your actions.
Obviously, I am not the only person who has attempted to communicate with Google along these lines. People rarely get resentful when they feel they are being respected. If Google cannot make its own programs work together -- Chrome and Blogger, in this case -- it is welcome to keep them in beta. But forcing me to use them when I don't want to: at this point, that is a problem. Not just a software problem. As presented in this post, it is an indication of larger and more worrisome things.
I was using Thunderbird 11.0.1 in Windows 7. I had accumulated some emails that I wanted to export as individual EML files. An EML would still be readable in Thunderbird, and it would carry any attachments along with it. I had attacked this problem on several previous occasions. As before, I was not sure I would get all the way through from Thunderbird to EML to PDF. This post provides another contribution in the slog toward that outcome.
First Step: From Thunderbird to EML Format
Some of my previous efforts to export to EML and then convert to PDF had produced something of a mess. Exporting, itself, was easy enough. I was using ImportExportTools. It would give me EMLs with names containing some, but not all, of the information that I wanted in file names. Specifically, it would provide the date and time, the sender, and the subject; but it did not include the recipient. I could get it to produce a separate Index.csv file that would contain the full information, but that would just be a spreadsheet file. I could use that spreadsheet file to give me nice names for files; but which file was supposed to get which name? Matching them up had required a surprising amount of manual effort, last time around. I was hoping to make the process smoother, if I could.
It wouldn't help to print a PDF directly from Thunderbird. As far as I knew, that would require me to enter PDF filenames manually. I was looking for a mass-production kind of solution. About.com recommended mbx2eml, but it seemed to have some disadvantages, notably a very limited set of options for the resulting EML filenames -- which was the main problem. Generally, it did not seem that any solution had broken through into prominence, in either the T-bird to EML or T-bird to PDF category.
In my first try at this problem, I had tried Total Thunderbird Converter and Birdie EML to PDF Converter, but for various reasons had not been impressed with either. I did like Attachment Extractor, for when I got to that part of the project. My notes seemed to favor Universal Document Converter (UDC) ($69), if I wanted a direct T-bird-to PDF-solution. As I reviewed the struggles I'd had in that first try at this problem, and also in the second and third tries, I wondered if I should have focused more seriously on UDC. But it did not seem to have command-line capability or other automation features. It was basically a glorified PDF printer. Moreover, its default filenames did not include all the information I wanted.
My previous notes did not seem to mention that Thunderbird messages were apparently already in EML format, stored in Thunderbird subfolders. For instance, I had moved the messages that I was now seeking to export to a Local Folders subfolder called Export, and I could see that folder in Windows Explorer as Mail\Local Folders\Export.mozmsgs. But this was confusing: the number of EML files in that folder was not very close to the number of messages in the Export subfolder in Thunderbird. Anyway, the EMLs in Export.mozmsgs had seemingly random names that would be useless for my purposes.
So I went ahead with ImportExportTools. My first step was to eliminate duplicates. For this, I used Remove Duplicate Messages (Alternate). Then, in Thunderbird, I went to Tools > ImportExportTools > Export all messages in the folder > EML format. The first time around, this produced undesirable results (see below). But I didn't know that until I was partway through the second step.
Second Step: Adding Recipient to the EML File Name
I had my EMLs. But as noted above, I wanted to add the name of the Recipient to the filename, in the format Date-From-To-Subject. As a first step, I thought I would just try to append the Recipient's name to the end of the filename. Then I would figure out how to shuffle the words around to the desired order.
Given my limited knowledge of programming and such, I decided to try to achieve this with a Windows batch file. I struggled to figure out how to write a suitable one, and finally posted a question on it. One of the early answers to that question led to a separate pursuit -- a one-line batch file that would convert Word and WordPerfect documents to PDF.
The answers that I had received, at the point when I was writing up these notes, fell into two categories. One, which I found easier to understand (and, predictably, seemed less popular among the knowledgeable respondents), involved a simple loop that would call an external process. Basically, in plain English, it went like this:
FOR each EML file, run Process.By contrast, the approach preferred by most of the answering individuals would put all the steps inside the loop, instead of having a separate process afterwards. It seemed to be a matter of style. A second difference was that, in discussing the specific steps, they seemed divided between two general possibilities: with, or without, delayed expansion. Delayed expansion was apparently a response to a complication in how the FOR command worked. As I understood it, the computer would read the entire contents of a FOR command as soon as it hit the word FOR. So assigning a value to a variable inside a FOR loop would be too late; the computer would already have decided what value that variable had. The variable would have been immediately expanded to its value. Delayed expansion would postpone definition of the variable's value until later in the game. A variable would be marked for delayed expansion by surrounding it with exclamation marks (e.g., !VAR!). I wasn't familiar with delayed expansion, so I was in accord with some advisors' feeling that it would be better to proceed without it if possible. What they (especially Aacini) suggested was:
Repeat loop.
When list of files is exhausted, quit.
Process starts here.
Do various things.
End of process
@ECHO OFFI have double-spaced the lines for clarity, anticipating that Blogger will wrap some long lines. I haven't indented the way a programmer would, because of apparent limitations in the formatting options here in Blogger. Basically, this batch file said, give me a fresh output file called Fullnames.txt; and on each line in Fullnames.txt, type the contents of two variables. The first variable, %%f, was the name of the EML file under consideration, in all its Date-Sender-Subject glory. There would be one such filename assignment for each EML file in the folder; hence a FOR loop. The batch file would loop through all EML files in the folder.
IF EXIST fullnames.txt DEL fullnames.txt
FOR %%f IN (*.eml) DO (
SET firstfind=
FOR /F "delims=" %%l IN ('findstr /B /C:"To: " "%%f"') DO (
IF NOT DEFINED firstfind SET firstfind=now & ECHO %%f%%l >> fullnames.txt
Posted by raywood 6 comments
Labels: attachment, convert, emails, EML, EMLs, export, pdf, thunderbird


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Welcome to Atkins Research Global
is recognized
Top Rated
9 Years in a Row
by Impulse Survey.
ATKINS RESEARCH GLOBAL is a top-rated qualitative research organization combining first-rate facilities with exceptional service at an affordable price. Our skilled recruiters have years of experience in the field and can ensure the precision, thoroughness and attention to detail you require. We have a 4-suite facility that provides a professional yet personable environment with modern comforts that will please your clients. We have a dedicated and committed staff that provides clients with friendly and professional service. Our overall quality and value led to the 2013 Impulse Survey rating Atkins Research Global, Inc. as top-rated worldwide, and one of the highest rated focus group facilities in Los Angeles.
OUR FACILITY is located in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles in an executive tower at the corner of Wilshire and Highland. We are about 15 minutes west of downtown Los Angeles and 15 minutes east of Beverly Hills. We are located 30 minutes northeast of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Our Mid-Wilshire address provides us with easy access to a diverse demographic of respondents, which helps us to guarantee our clients top-notch quality in recruiting every possible demographic. Our location on the ground floor permits easy access for any large equipment required by your research needs.
CLIENT ACCOMMODATIONS at ARG are first-rate. We have a separate entrance available for clients to use if desired—perfect for high-profile clientele who wish to preserve their privacy. Our facility has multiple client lounges, including a private relaxation "Zen Room" for clients and moderators to enjoy throughout their stay. Our mission at ARG is to make you feel as comfortable and taken care of as possible. Our staff is dedicated to providing the personal touches that make your research experience as comfortable as possible, whether that means a latte run across the street or baking fresh cookies for you and your clients to share.
ARG's PHILOSOPHY is to provide attentive, friendly, and personal service in a professional yet comfortable environment. We provide high quality recruiting from our unique mix of demographics to ensure you get the information you need from the people you need it from, all at an affordable price. At ARG, we strive to build long-term working relationships with clients and give every client and project our utmost personal attention. Because of our facilities and our client service, the Impulse Survey has rated us as a "top rated facility worldwide" since 2004.
Atkins Research Global is
is Top Rated
by Impulse Survey 2014.
Our location in
the heart of Los Angeles
offers exceptional demographics
for all your research needs.


text:
Find schools and get information on the program that's right for you.
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It hasn't always been this way. In 1817, a French government vessel, the "Medusa", foundered off the coast of West Africa with hundreds of men on board. At a court of inquiry, it was revealed that a boatful of officers had been towing a raft heavily laden with passengers and crew. However, fearing for their own lives, the officers cut the rope, expecting the raft to be lost and all those onboard to drown. They didn't. The French painter Théodore Géricault created a massive 16'x23' depiction of the moment when those on The Raft of the Medusa sighted the rescue vessel. Widely displayed first in France, then in England, the painting was instrumental in a massive shake-up of the French government of the time.
Maybe someone should do a Whitewater painting.
Contributed by Lane, Jim17 November 1997


text:
Doubling-down on obstruction, congressional Republicans are refusing to nominate candidates to serve on a special panel whose job is to help control Medicare costs under the Affordable Care Act – law most of us know as Obamacare.
As the Associated Press reports, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell are boycotting the Independent Payment Advisory Board. The pair also promise the House next week will vote again to repeal Obamacare, which became law in 2010 and which the U.S. Supreme Court declared constitutional.
The 15-member board would have the power to cut Medicare payments to insurers, drug companies and other providers if Medicare costs rise beyond certain levels.


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Taittinger remains one of the few Champagne Houses to remain owned and actively managed by the family named on the label.Its origins date back to 1734 when the original house was founded by Jacques Fourneaux. The Taittinger link was established in 1931 when Pierre Taittinger, the founder of today's company acquired the House. Pierre had spent much time in the Champagne region when serving in the 1st world war as a young cavalry officer. Stationed at the Château de la Marquetterie, he fell in love with this remarkable property and its vineyards and eventually purchased the company. Today, the Reims based House is headed up by Pierre's grandson, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger and his son, Clovis and daughter Vitalie both of whom are actively involved in the day to day running of this thriving family Champagne House.Taittinger's home is situated above miles of chalk tunnels and cellars. These 4th century UNESCO listed cellars once belonged to the Benedictine monks of the abbey of St Nicaise and are perfect for the slow ageing process required for great Champagne.The hallmark of the Taittinger Champagnes is the high percentage of Chardonnay used in their winemaking which can be anything from 40% in the Brut Réserve Non Vintage to 100% in the prestigious Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs. This Chardonnay dominance provides for a style of elegance, delicacy and finesse which is recognised worldwide and has earned the House many accolades and awards over the years.Today it is served in over 140 countries worldwide and made recent history by becoming the first Champagne house to purchase land in England to ultimately produce a premium English Sparkling Wine. This pioneering joint venture, Domaine Evremond marks an exciting new time for the family and Hatch Mansfield its partner.
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Hey guys and gals, I'm the newest blogger on tankhard.com, and I want to talk with you about dual specs today. Dual specs have been in the game for quite some time now and while people first were skeptical about their use, most can't live without them nowadays. Whether you just use them for your quick entry to the LFG dungeon to tank, or want a better spec to PvP with, they are useful to a lot of people in one way or another. The subject I wanted to approach today was the use of that second dual spec.
You probably had it before, standing for a boss encounter, thinking: "Oh, why didn't I pick that one talent, it is really useful on this certain boss.". The thing you did in TBC was going to your home city for a respec if it was so good that it was "necessary" or you just ignored it and tried to make the best of it with what you had. Nowadays people don't really think about it that much and just tank with a general spec that "sort of" works for everything. You chose your spec to fulfill everything, but not to excel at a specific part.
Here's where my question comes in: could you have used your second spec for a tanking spec as well, making it so that you have two different specialization with both having their strengths and weaknesses? For example, you have the classic warrior build for Heroics, trash and add tanking and you also have the more single target focused. Both can be used for everything, but neither are optimal for the job their counterpart was designed for. Now, let's take a look at the encounters we currently have in raids and what spec fits there. You have fights like Halfus Wyrmbreaker where having the extra AoE is really nice. Add tanking on Nefarian? Not required, but fun anyway ;) Jumping between Nezir and Anshal, grab some extra AoE damage on the adds. Doing Maloriak? Hey, extra threat/damage is always welcome. In general, it helps out quite a lot fights. So why not have 2 tanking specs, just to give it that extra oomph on those specific bosses.
A lot of you might now be thinking: "Ok, I helps on certain bosses, but does that really make such a difference?". Let me take for example Halfus Heroic. For the ones of you who haven't tried him, while he only has 3 drakes at his command in normal mode, in Heroic he has all 5 of them flopping around. As stated in the previous paragraph, an AoE spec seems really good at that point. But how much of an improvement is it? I'll give you an example from my raids. Note, we haven't killed him yet, but we are getting close. We use 4 tanks on the encounter, 2 of them being warriors. I myself use a spec including Blood&Thunder, while my co-tank doesn't. Over a whole night of wiping I did over 96million damage, while he did 48million. That's DOUBLE the damage done! You might think that tanks aren't supposed to do lots of damage, but on this fight every bit helps. The faster you kill those dragons, the easier it gets on you tanks and as result the healers. Plus, you'll need the threat to keep aggro from the Hellfire-Happy-Warlocks.
The use for our single target spec implies, as you probably guessed it, a single target. Where AoE tanking has it's niches, single target is what the majority is about. Tanking Magmaw, Omnotron Council or other bosses, you don't need to worry about the adds (unless you're using some funky strategy) and are all about that one thing, or actually 2 if you count survival as well: Single Target Threat/DPS. The better you are at your single target job, the better it is for the DPS and the healers. Since, the faster stuff dies, the less strain you put on them. In general, it makes sense to use a single target spec on a single boss.
So, except for the fact that you don't have a DPS spec to relax when not raiding, having two tanking specs seems a really good idea. What are your thoughts on the issue? Do you use two tanking specs? Or do you think having a DPS/Healing spec is better? Let us know.


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The City of Pella hosts its annual "Beggars' Night" Saturday night; giving hundreds of candy hunters a chance to go door-to-door dressed in their Halloween best in search of treats. Lieutenant David Beukelman of the Pella Police Department says the department will take steps to make themselves visible and available.
"All of our officers and myself will be on patrol; and we have reserves coming in as well to make a good presence felt," says Lieutenant Beukelman. "If people feel suspicious about anything, they can certainly approach us and talk to us about anything that concerns them."
Beukelman adds that a proper ratio of responsible adults to children, only approaching well-lit porches, and carrying flashlights are all additional ways that those who are out can remain safe. "Beggars' Night" in Pella runs from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Saturday night.


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A popular conference hosted by the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and Hope College for educators seeking to enhance teaching and learning through the latest in brain research is returning for a 13th year.
The annual "Midwest Brain and Learning Institute" is convening at the Haworth Inn and Conference Center at Hope on Monday-Wednesday, June 24-26, with a post-institute wrap-up on Thursday, June 27.
Co-sponsored by Hope, the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District and Allegan Educational Services Agency, the institute is being attended by 100 educators from districts in the area and state-wide. More than 1,200 educators are estimated to have attended the program since it began in 2001.
The institute is intended for educators who work with students of all age levels, including pre-school teachers, K-12 educators and college professors. The event is organized particularly with educators from West Michigan in mind, but regularly draws attendees from throughout the state and beyond. This year's institute is focusing on "The Creative Brain: Moving Beyond Recall to Extended Thinking."
The program's format itself has been designed in light of neuroscience research and emphasizes the guiding principle that learners must be actively involved. The institute's settings have been varied to include whole-group presentations, question-and-answer panels, small-group learning clubs and opportunities for informal dialogue.
Participants also have the option of continuing their experience beyond the on-site institute. Options include a two-year online program that leads to a Professional Certificate in Advanced Studies in Student Learning, and individual online graduate courses in "Advanced Studies in Literacy," "Assessment," "Instructional Strategies" and "Action Research." A new eight-week course, "Student Engagement," will be launched this fall
Monday is focusing on system change in education. The speaker will be Charles Fadel, founder and chairman of the Center for Curriculum Redesign. He is co-author of the best-selling book "21st Century Skills—Learning for Life in Our Times," and has worked on education projects with more than 30 nations and states. Among other activities, he is vice-chair of the Education committee of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); a Board member at Innovate/Educate; and a visiting scholar at Harvard's Graduate School of Education, MIT's Environmental Study Group/Independent Activities Period and Wharton/UPenn's Chief Learning Officers program.
Tuesday is examining current neuroscience developments regarding the foundations for learning. The keynote speaker will be Dr. G. Christian Jernstedt, who is professor of psychological and brain sciences at Dartmouth College, adjunct professor of community and family medicine at Dartmouth Medical School and co-director of the Center for Educational Outcomes at Dartmouth. He has written more than 100 articles, reports and papers, and is a consultant who has advised many different organizations. His research is in the area of learning as it occurs both in formal classroom settings and in the natural environment, and he has been extensively involved with using technology to support learning, thinking and problem solving. Jernstedt has been a popular presenter at the institute, and helped design the program's structure when the planning team first did its work 15 years ago.
Wednesday is exploring neuroscience implications for classroom practice. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Mariale Hardiman, who is the assistant dean for urban school partnerships and clinical professor of education at The Johns Hopkins University School of Education, where she co-founded and directs the Neuro-Education Initiative. Her research and publications focus on enhancing educational practices through techniques that foster innovation and creative problem solving for all students, and she presents nationally and internationally on topics related to the intersection of research in the neuro- and cognitive sciences with effective teaching strategies, including meaningful integration of the arts. Before joining Johns Hopkins, she served in the Baltimore City Public Schools for more than 30 years.
Additional presenters throughout the institute include Kimberli Boyd and Ronna Alexander. Boyd is chief executive officer and founding artistic director of "Dancing Between the Lines," and integrates the basic elements and principles of dance with other core curriculum in order to enhance the study of science, mathematics, language arts, social studies and more for grades pre-K-12 and beyond. She completed the online Professional Certificate program, and this will be her fourth year working with the institute. Alexander is a graphic recorder who visually captures the content of all the presentations for the week on large-format charts which are then digitized and provided to all attendees. This will be her seventh year providing a visual record of the institute.
The post-institute session on Thursday, June 27, will emphasize "Taking the Institute Home." In the morning, Philip Schlemmer of Holland Public Schools will lead K-8 teachers in exploring project-based learning, while Jason Pasatta of Ottawa Area ISD will share insights with high school teachers regarding the Ottawa Area ISD program that creates external partnerships that get students engaged in real-time business processes, challenges and solutions. An afternoon work session will provide a framework for developing plans in which participants can integrate the week's information into their own practice as educators and share it with others in their schools and districts.
The two-year program for a Professional Certificate in Advanced Studies in Student Learning includes 20 hours of graduate credit. In addition to including participation in the institute for two consecutive summers, the program features a series of online courses: "Theory, Pedagogy and Learning Community"; "Introduction to Brain-Compatible Instruction in the Content Areas/Literacy"; "Advanced Studies in Assessment in the Content Areas"; "Action Research"; Advanced Studies in Literacy"; and "Advanced Studies in Research-Based Instructional Strategies."
More information about the institute may be obtained online at http://braininstitute.org/


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Sip wine in Burgundy, feast on local delicacies in Provence, follow scenic tracks along Italy's Cinque Terre coast and raise your glass to the best of France and Italy. Over 14 well-paced days, travel from Paris to Rome and savour the region's cultural and natural highlights. Your expert CEO will take the hassle out of travel and leave you with plenty of free time to explore. Witness the charm of Beaune and Florence's great masterpieces, relax on the beach and fall in love with the beauty of this region.
What's Included
Your Foodie Moment: Burgundy Wine Tasting, Beaune
Your Discover Moment: Florence
Your Discover Moment: Rome. Burgundy wine tasting (Beaune). Market visit. Palais des Papes and Pont St Benezet visit (Avignon). Beach time on the French Riviera. Monaco day trip. Cinque Terre park fee, unlimited train ticket and CEO accompanied hike. Pisa visit (half-day). Piazzale Michelangelo evening visit (Florence). Rome orientation walk. Traditional Roman meal. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Wander through charming medieval cities and glorious countrysides, taste fine wines and local delicacies, soak up the classic European culture, explore modern day and ancient Rome
Dossier Disclaimer
The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Important Notes
It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places.
In Europe it is very rare to find elevators in train stations, hotels or other public places. We use public transport on this trip, which means you will need to carry your luggage from platform to platform, in and out of trains and buses etc. and also possibly up several flights of stairs. You will also need to be able to stow your luggage safely on trains and buses. It is therefore essential that you pack light and bring luggage which is compact and lightweight, and which you can easily transport. The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.
Please note, on some departures the trip will visit Avignon and include the Palais des Papes and the Pont St Benezet as scheduled, but will actually stay overnight in the nearby historic cities of Nimes or Arles.
Please note that if you wish to visit popular museums such as the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) and Villa Borghese in Rome, and the Uffizi or Accademia Galleries in Florence, to avoid waiting in line for a long time (especially in high season May-September when it could be a question of hours!), it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance. Tickets can be reserved online at various websites including www.florenceart.it or www.virtualuffizi.com for Florence and www.tickitaly.com for all. Please make your Florence reservations for Day 11 of your tour, when you will have a free day to enjoy Florence. Most Museums are closed on Mondays. There may be the possibility of arranging tickets on arrival, with the help of your CEO, but availability cannot be guaranteed at such short notice.
Two of the Cinque Terre towns (Vernazza and Monterosso) suffered extensive damage during the floods of early November 2011. Three towns – Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia were unaffected.
In terms of the hiking routes, the coastal path between the towns is not all open at the moment. During the storms some damage was done to the paths and work to restore them is ongoing, so while Riomaggiore-Manarola, Monterosso-Levanto, the higher level path Manarola-Corniglia via Volastra and Riomaggiore-Portovenere are all open, the sections Corniglia-Vernazza-Monterosso are not at time of writing. However, restoration work is under way and the National Park is committed to opening the routes as quickly as it can safely be done. Regardless of whether the entire coastal path will be open, there are many alternative paths available and there will be plenty of hiking opportunities.
The Cinque Terre villages are very keen to encourage people to visit the area and support the local economy and the environment (which we do with every Cinque Terre National Park pass we buy for this tour). While some effects of the flood will remain and some path diversions may be in place, the area remains beautiful, welcoming and rewarding to visit; and we strongly wish to support the local community and environment, now more than ever.
Group Leader Description
This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.
It is important to note that in Europe, all guiding is based around local guides all of whom are licensed to work only in a particular city. As such, our leaders are able to provide orientation walks which will show you the layout of each town and city as well as the location of local services such as post offices and laundromats, but are unable to legally share historical facts and figures in public places. If you wish to take a guided city tour in any location our CEO will do their best to help you arrange this and pay locally.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12
Meals Included
11 breakfasts, 1 dinner
Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Public bus, train, walking
About our Transportation
Intercity transport on this trip will be by local bus and train. The bus and train systems in France and Italy are generally very good, often with seat reservations and toilet facilities. inevitably travelling by public transport can involve delays and frustrations, though, and we ask you to keep this in mind. Unfold your map, pack in your phrase-book and mp3 player and get ready to enjoy the landscape and practice your French and Italian with the locals.
Between public transport and hotels you may be required to carry your luggage short distances (up to 20mins walk), in larger cities you may travel by metro or city bus, and occasionally the group will take taxis to and from hotels.
Local Flights
If required all local flights are included in the cost of your tours unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.
Solo Travellers
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Hotels (13 nts).
My Own Room
"My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops.
Please be aware that single room accommodations in European hotels are often smaller, and may not be to the same service level as double-occupancy rooms.
About Accommodation
It is important to note that accommodation in Europe tend to be quite different to other areas of the world you may have travelled in. Buildings and rooms are generally old and may not have been renovated or maintained to the highest standard. Downtown hotels in Europe were not build to be hotels but rich owners houses, which have been changed into hotels. Therefore unusual room sizes are common as large rooms have been partitioned in the past, resulting in rather "thin" walls. Reception areas, rooms and bathrooms tend to be very small as they were often added into an existing room, and may have a hand nozzle rather than a conventional shower head.
On this trip you can expect to stay in small family-run hotels or pensions (with the exception of the start and finish hotels, which are often larger city hotels), which will vary a little in standard and facilities: some may not have elevators, air-conditioning or English-speaking staff, but most importantly all are locally-run, with some traditional character, and in excellent central locations to give you maximum time for exploring the sights. You can expect to find clean, safe, simple accommodation in convenient locations.
Staff can occasionally demonstrate less than perfect customer service. As accommodation is in short supply, especially during the summer months, hotels can charge a premium and there is sometimes little motivation to improve facilities.
Joining Hotel
For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.
Joining Instructions
Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don't see a note, please ask reception for details!
If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.
From Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport:
Follow signs inside the terminal "Paris by train", and take the RER B line direct to Gare du Nord. Journey time is approximately 30mins. Cost is €8.40 EUR. From here it is a short taxi ride (20 mins at €15-20) to the hotel. Alternatively, you can take the metro from La Chapelle Station: LINE 2, to Villiers Station.
From Paris Orly Airport:
Take the ORLYVAL shuttle train to Antony (8mins) where you will take the RER B line direct to Gare du Nord (45mins). Cost is €7.40 (ORLYVAL) + €6.10 (RER). Follow the same instructions as above from Gare du Nord to the hotel.
A taxi from either of the airports to the hotel will cost around €50.
Arrival Complications
We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, as soon as possible please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your CEO. If you are unable to get in touch with your leader, please refer to our emergency contact details.
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Operator (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
G Adventures Office, London, UK
After hours emergency number: +44 7817 262559
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
Finishing Point Instructions
TRAINS TO AIRPORT: The Leonardo Express is the name of the train that'll shuttle you from central Rome's Termini station to Fiumicino airport. A Leonardo Express train leaves every half hour in each direction.
The train covers 35 km in around 30 minutes. Cost: 14 Euros
Tickets for Leonardo Express are available at:
- rail ticket office (railway station atrium)
- newspaper seller-tobacconist's (railway station atrium)
- self-service tellers (railway station atrium)
You must always stamp tickets in the machines on the platform before starting your journey.
TAXI : fixed rate to/from airports
The rate for designated Fiumicino taxi drivers is 60EUR, inclusive of luggage, for a maximum of four passengers.
What to Take
We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. A daypack is also essential for carrying everyday items. Space is limited on transportation, so there is a limit of one main piece of luggage per person. You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage. You must be prepared to carry your luggage up and down stairs, on and off transportation, and to hotels (max 15-20 mins.)
Packing List
Suggested Items:
-Weather-appropriate clothing
•Light fleece top
•Light windproof/waterproof jacket
•Small towel and swimwear
•Sun hat
•Sturdy walking shoes
•Toiletries (biodegradable)
•Watch or alarm clock
•Water bottle
•Money belt
•First-aid kit
-Day pack
-Camera with extra memory cards and batteries
-Personal Entertainment
-Waterproof backpack cover
•Passport (with photocopies)
•Travel insurance (with photocopies)
•Airline tickets (with photocopies)
•EUR cash
•Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
•G Adventures vouchers, pre-departure information and dossier
•Any entry visas or vaccination certificates requireddossier
•Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge or ask your CEO where the closest laundromat is. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Visas and Entry Requirements
Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. It is your responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. While we provide the following information in good faith, it is vital that you check yourself and understand that you are fully responsible for your own visa requirements.
All visitors to the EU (European Union) and EEC (European Economic Community) countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa to visit the Schengen area (see below), however they may not stay longer than three months in any 6-month period.
For other nationalities, travelling in Europe has been simplified with the introduction of the Schengen visa. As a visitor to the Schengen area (Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal, Finland, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) you will enjoy the many advantages of this unified visa system. Generally speaking with a Schengen visa, you may enter one Schengen country and travel freely throughout the Schengen region during the validity of your visa. There are limited border controls at Schengen borders, if any at all.
Please note that the UK and Ireland are NOT part of the Schengen agreement.
A Schengen visa is applied for at the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country in which you will be spending the most nights on your trip to the Schengen space. If you are only visiting one country on your trip then you apply for your visa at the Consulate of this Schengen country.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Money Exchange
France and Italy are in the Eurozone and the unit of the currency is the Euro.
Credit cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances but you must remember to bring your PIN number (be aware that many ATM machines only accept 4-digit PINs). Both Cirrus and Plus system cards are the most widely accepted debit cards. Visa cards are the most widely accepted credit cards. While ATMs are commonly available, there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in France or Italy – check with your bank. You should be aware when purchasing products or services on a credit card, that a fee usually applies.
Do not rely on credit or debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of Euros, traveller's cheques and cards is best. Avoid relying on traveller's cheques alone as these are less and less readily cashed as clients use them very little.
Always take more rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling short of funds.
As currency exchange rates can fluctuate often we ask that you refer to the following website for daily exchange rates: www.xe.com
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
It is customary in Europe to leave a small tip for service providers, such as waiters, if you are pleased with the service (€1-2).
Tipping is an expected – though not compulsory – component of your tour program, and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from €3-5 per day, depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture.
Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline €30-40 per person, per week can be used.
Optional Activities
- Hospices de Beaune Visit (8EUR per person)
- Beaune Bike Rental (19EUR per person)
- Dijon Day Trip (16EUR per person)
Les Baux-de-Provence
- Château des Baux Medieval Castle Visit (15EUR per person)
Pont du Gard
- Pont du Gard Day Trip (16EUR per person, 180EUR per group)
- Lavender Tour (50EUR per person)
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape Visit (60EUR per person)
- Orange Visit (20EUR per person)
- Promenade des Anglais (Free)
- Vieux Nice Visit (Free)
- Monaco Visit by Water Taxi
- Monte Carlo Casino
- Medici Chapels Visit (8EUR per person)
- David (Galleria dell'Accademia) Visit (12-17EUR per person)
- Il Duomo di Firenze Visit (Free)
- Mercato Centrale (Mercato di San Lorenzo) Visit
- Uffizi Gallery Visit (13EUR per person)
- Colosseum Visit (12EUR per person)
- Pantheon Visit
- Roman Forum Visit (16-20EUR per person)
Vatican City
- Sistine Chapel (10EUR per person)
- Vatican Museum Visit (20EUR per person)
Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up to date medical travel information well before departure.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers / antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that quite often we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings for trip specific information. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Safety and Security
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your CEO has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
Protests and Demonstrations- Protests and demonstrations, even those that are well intended, have the potential to turn violent with no warning. Counter protests can also turn violent. Action by security forces to disperse demonstrators and protesters may occur at any time. If you are in an area where demonstrators or protesters are gathering, avoid the temptation of staying for a good photo opportunity and leave the area immediately.
Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards) have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).
Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk.
We take all prudent measures in relation to your safety. For ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling, please visit:
Trip Specific Safety
Always keep an eye on your belongings especially in major cities, bus and train terminals.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your CEO, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation
The Planeterra Foundation planeterra.org is a Canadian non-profit organization that helps empower local people to develop their communities, conserve their cultures, and create humane and supportive systems for their endeavours. Planeterra provides capacity building and catalyst grants to get community social enterprises off the ground. These businesses address local challenges by providing benefits for indigenous people, empowering marginalized women, and granting disadvantaged youth access to education, employment, and brighter futures. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating programs into G Adventures' itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra's largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.
Dollar-a-Day Program
G Adventures' Dollar-a-Day Program provides travellers with the opportunity to give back to the people and places visited on our tours by donating one dollar for every day you are on trip. 100% of these donations go directly to support community development projects worldwide that are implemented by Planeterra.
Local Dress
In Italy, shoulders and knees should be covered while visiting churches and cathedrals. Beachwear is only considered suitable for the beach. Ask your CEO for more specific advice.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at [email protected] and we will send it on to you.
Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at www.gadventures.com/newsletters/
Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation – Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra's monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit.
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Max Pax
Group Leader
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides
Day 1: Paris
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
We recommended arriving a day or two early to fully explore this world-renowned city. The "City of Lights" is unlike any other place on earth. Known for its glorious monuments, museums, and markets, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, Montmartre to the Marais, Paris has something for everyone. Discover for yourself Paris' "je ne sais quoi."
Included Activities:
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
Day 2: Paris/Beaune (1B)
Take a short walk into the historic centre, and enjoy a winetasting as an introduction to the region's famous vintages.
In the evening, opt for a dinner with the group here in the heart of one of France's most distinguished culinary and wine-producing regions, Burgundy.
Included Activities:
Burgundy Wine Tasting
Most routes require a change in Dijon.
Local train (2.50 hour(s), 311km)
Day 3: Beaune
Opt to visit Dijon, famous not only for its mustard, but for world-class museums and handsome architecture. There, or in Beaune, you can take a mustard tasting tour and learn about production, regulations, and taste some samples.
For a little more activity, explore the countryside around the Cote d'Or vineyards by bike or on foot. Stay closer to town and explore the famous Hospices de Beaune or visit one of the other wineries in the town centre.
Day 4: Beaune/Avignon
There's plenty of time to explore the spectacular walled medieval town of Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This charming city boasts pretty tree-lined squares bustling with cafés and restaurants. Try some mouth-watering Provençal cuisine. Bon appétit!
Additional Notes:
Please note, on some departures the trip will visit Avignon and include the Palais des Papes and the Pont St Benezet as scheduled, but will actually stay overnight in the nearby historic cities of Nimes or Arles.
Included Activities:
Palais des Papes (Popes' Palace)
Pont d'Avignon (St Bénezet) Visit
Local train (5.00 hour(s))
Day 5: Avignon (1B)
Enjoy a free day to explore the city or go further afield. Nearby options include the Pont du Gard, the town of Orange, or the wine region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Day 6: Avignon/Nice (1B)
With free time, wander in the cobblestone streets, visit the museums and beaches, or travel further to visit the rest of the Riviera.
Train (3.50 hour(s))
Day 7: Nice (1B)
Spend a free day with an included coastal train ticket. Use the full day ticket to travel up and down the Riviera, stopping off at different towns, or head straight to Monaco and Monte Carlo to see what all the fuss is about.
Stroll its manicured streets and whisk up its network of lifts and escalators, passing palaces, lush gardens, and, of course, the famous Monte Carlo casino, en route.
Included Activities:
French Riviera Train Ticket
Day 8: Nice/Riomaggiore (1B)
Spend two nights by the stunning Cinque Terre National Park, where five little villages are built into the rocks between the beach and the hills. Hike, swim, indulge in the local delicacies like Focaccia and fresh seafood, and watch amazing Mediterranean sunsets.
Travel down the coast with train changes along the way.
Local train (7.00 hour(s))
Day 9: Riomaggiore/Monterosso al Mare (1B)
The national park pass and daily unlimited train ticket is included. Opt to follow your CEO along centuries-old footpaths and mule tracks leading through olive groves, vineyards, and orchards on a full day hike, or hop on and off the train, experiencing each town on your own. Choose to rest in each of the 5 villages, sampling delicacies in each place, such as local pesto, espresso, or delicious gelato.
Included Activities:
National Park Pass and Unlimited Train Ticket
Cinque Terre Coastal Path Hike
Local train (0.50 hour(s))
Day 10: Riomaggiore/Florence (1B)
Head east by train to Pisa, where we stop for a visit to the Field of Miracles to see the famous leaning tower (entrance fee not included). Then, travel on to the heart of Tuscany— Florence.
Take an evening walk (weather permitting) up to Piazzale Michelangelo for the most famous and photographed vista of the city.
Included Activities:
Pisa Visit
Piazzale Michelangelo Walk
Local train (1.50 hour(s))
Local train (1.50 hour(s))
Day 11: Florence (1B)
Enjoy a free day in Florence. Opt to see the statue of David, wander the Uffizi, or swing by some shopping stalls.
Day 12: Florence/Rome (1B)
Travel to Rome for an orientation walk of the Eternal City. Get the lay of the land before exploring for a full day.
Included Activities:
Orientation Walk
Local train (3.00 hour(s))
Day 13: Rome (1B, 1D)
There is no shortage of sights to see in Rome, opt to visit the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel), Catacombs of San Callisto, and the Pantheon. Make time for a refreshing gelato break in Piazza Navona.
In the evening, enjoy a true taste of Italy with a delicious, traditional Roman meal. Buon appetito!
Day 14: Rome (1B)
We recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience all that this magnificent city has to offer.


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Dr. Crofts, his wife Hilary and two sons, Camden and Jaylon will spend the next three years in Scottsdale, AZ while he completes a residency in Family Medicine.
Zeb is the son of Forrest and Shirley Crofts of Blanding and a 2000 graduate of San Juan High School.
He also received an Associate's Degree from CEU-San Juan Campus in 2003 and earned a degree in Zoology/Chemistry from Weber State University in 2006.


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Loyola at a Glance
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Next MBA open house is Tuesday, March 12
March 8, 2013
The Loyola University New Orleans College of Business will launch a fully revamped MBA program in August, marking the culmination of changes to offer cutting-edge business education and real-world certifications to its students. The revised MBA program not only follows the Baldrige Framework for Performance Excellence—a highly advanced systems-based structure for leading organizations—but students at Loyola are also offered the opportunity to complete complementary Six Sigma and Project Management certifications.
To showcase its revised program, Loyola will hold three MBA open houses and information sessions this spring. Open houses will be held on the following Tuesdays: March 12, April 9 and May 7. The open houses begin at 6 p.m. in Miller Hall, Room 112 on Loyola's main campus. Attendees can enjoy light refreshments followed by an information and question session with MBA program representatives in Room 208.
The integrated approach to the curriculum sets Loyola's MBA program apart, according to recent graduate Elizabeth Perry, MBA '12, now working at Ochsner Clinic Foundation.
"Learning how all the pieces connect to one another has allowed me to better anticipate problems and work proactively to find solutions before issues arise. The MBA program at Loyola also has a great group of students and professors. Everyone brings in diverse experiences and backgrounds, so we are all able to learn from each other," said Perry.
Attaining the MBA has given graduate John Charles "JC" Eustis, MBA '12 the tools to successfully manage businesses.
"Before the MBA, I was more of a drone, completing tasks, solving problems and putting out fires. Loyola's MBA taught me to look at problems differently, in more of a big-picture sense, which is exactly how an executive needs to think," said Eustis.
Other Loyola MBA graduates have obtained advanced professional appointments in such large national companies as General Electric, General Motors, Symetra and Shell, among others. The Baldrige Framework is based on an internationally recognized structure for increasing performance in organizations, simultaneously increasing profits, controlling costs, inspiring customer loyalty, enhancing worker capabilities and improving operations.
"Six Sigma is a quality improvement methodology that is used by most of the top companies in the country for controlling variation and reducing costs. It's a highly prized, internationally recognized standard," said Jerry Goolsby, Ph.D., M.B.A., director of graduate programs for the College of Business.
"When a Six Sigma certification from the American Society for Quality is combined with a Project Management Institute certification, our students obtain very impressive jobs. In fact, I would argue the certifications are worth more than most any MBA degree today," Goolsby said.
Registration for the open house is recommended but not required. Loyola's MBA application fee will be waived for any open house attendee.
For more information on Loyola's MBA program, contact Megan Bourg at firstname.lastname@example.com.
For the latest updates about Loyola University New Orleans, follow us on Twitter @LoyolaNOLANews or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/loyno.
Loyola at a Glance is written and distributed for the faculty, staff, students and friends of Loyola University New Orleans. It is published by the Office of Public Affairs, Greenville Hall, Box 909, 7214 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118. (504) 861-5888.
Information to be included in Loyola at a Glance must be received 2-3 weeks in advance of the publication date. Send us your news here.


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On the Ball: Prescient Men's Hockey Quotes, State Wrestling on Tap
It's almost always fun to hear what athletes have to say after games. Yes, results can vary, but more often than not they come up with some nuggets. On Tuesday, for example, Vergennes Union High School senior Connor Merrill was really funny when he admitted that he had been distracted by a sign some classmates held up counting down to his 1,000th point — that's in today's print edition. That sign didn't prevent him from reaching that milestone, BTW, for those who missed the news.
I mention interviews because back in December I talked to Middlebury College men's hockey assistant coach John Dawson and senior caption John Sullivan after the Panthers' last game before their holiday break. It had been an up-and-down first semester, but both men were at heart truly optimistic that the young Panthers had the talent and grit to excel.
It took a while, but time proved them to be right. After an unfortunate weekend in New Hampshire, the Panthers finished the season by winning nine out of 10 games to earn the second seed in NESCAC; they will host No. 7 Tufts Saturday at 4 p.m. Their only loss in that stretch came to Norwich, 3-1, when a couple of their goals were called back, at least one unfairly.
What did Dawson and Sullivan say back in December? Here's Dawson: "It really comes down to their consistency. It's been a different team on different nights and in different periods. There's a lot there to work with. I think we can be very good ... Coach Bill (Beaney) and I are both hoping we can click on it and that we're playing at a pretty high level every night."
And Sullivan: "It's been a process to really get us into unison and get us going ... But we're positive about this group. I think we have tremendous potential, and we're really looking forward into getting into the second semester. And I think this team can do great things once we come together."
True enough. As always, anything can happen in a one-and-out tourney (or two, if the Panthers win NESCAC and get the league's automatic NCAA bid). But I wouldn't bet against the guys in blue. Look for a full write-up, analysis, more comments and photos of their Saturday game in Monday's paper.
On the high school level, Vergennes Union hosts the state championship wrestling tourney for the first time this Friday and Saturday, weather permitting. The newly lit VUHS gym seats 1,200 and should be a great venue.
And there are a couple of guys, both juniors I wouldn't bet against: Otter Valley's George Mitchell, the 2009 champ at 125, is the top seed at 130 with a 40-2 record, and Middlebury's Bryan Ashley-Selleck is the top seed at 152 with a 37-1 record. Bryan hasn't lost since December.
Other local top-four seeds are:
• OV's Joey McCoy, #4 at 103.
• OV's Seth Harrington, #3 at 112.
• Ricky Karzmarczyk of VUHS, #3 at 125.
• Jarrod Ashley of MUHS, #4 at 130 (his father and coach Jon Ashley said he's gaining on Mitchell).
• Kody Murray of MUHS, #4 at 135.
• Simon Flynn of VUHS, #4 at 140.
• Kaden Odell of MUHS, #2 at 145.
• Alex Alger of OV, #4 at 145.
• Geoffrey Grant of VUHS, #2 at 171.
• OV's Evan Bathalon, #3 at 215.
Good luck to all of them and the rest of the teams. We'll report the results briefly on Monday, and have a detailed write-up and plenty of photos on Thursday, when we'll have more room to do the wrestlers justice.
Questions, comments or criticism? Send all to [email protected].


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Islam and Terrorism
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Islam and Terrorism: What the Qur'an Really Teaches About Christianity, Violence and the Goals of the Islamic Jihad is a 2002 book ISBN 0-88419-884-7 by Mark A. Gabriel, an Egyptian Islamic scholar and former lecturer at Al-Azhar University in Cairo.
|This Islam-related article is a stub. You can help Wikiquote by expanding it.
- My conversations with him drove me to pour over the Quran and the books of the Islamic law, hoping to find something to contradict what he said. I couldn't change the reality of what I read. As a Muslim, I realized I had two options:
- I could continue to embrace the "Christianized" Islam—the Islam of peace, love, forgiveness and compassion, the Islam tailor-made to fit Egyptian government, politics and culture—thereby keeping my job and status.
- I could become a member of the Islamic movement and embrace Islam according to the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad. Muhammad said, "I left you with something [the Quran]. If you hold on to what I left with you, you will not be led astray forever."
- SECTION I, MY STORY, 1 Disillusioned at Al-Azhar


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Crawford's 'amazing' summer continues with six-year contract extensionby Staff Writer / Chicago Blackhawks
|Getty Images
It has been such a great summer for Corey Crawford that he could hardly be blamed if he didn't want it to end.
Crawford began the day he earned celebrating with the Stanley Cup in his hometown by agreeing to a six-year contract extension Monday with the Chicago Blackhawks.
"Obviously being able to have a chance to bring the Cup back home and all the people that I went through minor hockey with and grew up with and all my family was pretty special to start off with, and to add this on top of it is amazing," Crawford said. "I want to be in Chicago for my whole career and this is amazing to be able to do this and get this deal done."
Crawford began the 2012-13 with people outside the organization questioning his viability as a No. 1 goalie for a contending team and finished it with a superlative performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs en route to winning a championship.
The 28-year-old Crawford went 19-5-5 for the Blackhawks during the regular season with a .926 save percentage and a 1.94 goals against average, and then got even better during the playoffs. He posted a .932 save percentage and a 1.84 GAA as Chicago claimed the Stanley Cup for the second time in four seasons.
"The reality is we need to have a top-notch goaltender in our organization and we've got one in Corey and we know him well. He's grown up with our organization, and he's been to the ultimate with our group," Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said.
When the Blackhawks won their first championship in 49 years in 2010, starting goaltender Antti Niemi was one of several casualties of the club being close to the salary cap ceiling, and it allowed Crawford the chance to become the No. 1 guy.
He had a strong rookie season, particularly near the end as the defending champs squeezed into the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. After a .917 save percentage and 2.30 GAA as a rookie, he slipped in his sophomore campaign.
"There was never a question in our mind, but we wanted to commit to him because it's the most important position." Bowman said. "We have a lot of faith in his ability to continue. He's a young goalie and he's certainly worked hard to get himself to the NHL and proven he can do it at the highest level."
Crawford still had a 30-17-7 record, but also a .903 save percentage and 2.72 GAA, and the Blackhawks bowed out in the first round of the playoffs for a second straight season. He responded with a very good regular season, and a fantastic postseason in 2012-13, and is now the undisputed No. 1 goalie in the Windy City.
He's also a candidate to make the Canadian team for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Crawford spent a few days last week in Calgary with the other Olympic hopefuls at Canada's orientation camp.
"That was pretty special for myself. I hadn't been able to do that yet for Team Canada in my career," Crawford said. "That was pretty cool to be able to go there, even though we didn't go on the ice, just to be a part of it was definitely another step in my career."
For Bowman and the Blackhawks, they can add Crawford to the growing list of core players on the roster with long-term contracts. There are six players -- Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Bryan Bickel, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Crawford -- under contract for at least the next three seasons.
Niklas Hjalmarsson is the only key figure from the 2013 title team that will be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane will need new contracts the following summer.
"We'll figure it out as time goes on," Bowman said. "A lot changes year to year. We don't have the knowledge of where the cap will be in two years or three years but the one thing we do know is we're going to have a great goaltender. That is why this was an easy decision for us."
For Crawford, he had the opportunity to spend Labor Day, the unofficial last day of Summer, with the Cup and celebrating his new contract. He also recently got engaged, and spent the aforementioned time at Canada's Olympic camp.
"It's just been getting better and better. I'm on a bit of a high right now," Crawford said. "Hopefully I don't come down from it. It's been amazing. The last couple of months have been great.
"It was fun to win last year, and have a fun summer with it. I'll have my Cup day today and do all that, but at one point you're just going to have to shut it off and do it all over again. I think we're prepared to go at it again."


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Translation Disclaimer
The Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) makes findings and recommendations for granting or denying variance and use permits as provided for in the Zoning Ordinance, Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance, and Neighborhood Commercial Preservation Ordinance. The ZAB generally meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. The agenda and staff reports for each meeting are posted online: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=13104 . Call 981-7410 for more information.


text: is a Holarctic genus of obligate social parasites that attack the closely-related genus Formica. They are commonly called 'Amazon ants' , 'kidnapper ants', or 'slave-raiding ants'. Polyergus workers are apparently unable to perform the tasks involved in nest construction, foraging, and brood care. Work is instead carried out by the host Formica, who are captured as larvae and pupae during spectacular afternoon raids.Read More


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Reviewed by Farangis E. (age 6)
My favorite part of the story is when Elsie and Francis make the fake fairies because they are very cute and nice. My favorite characters in the story are Elsie and Francis because they make the fake fairies look really good! The pictures help me understand the story because I can see what the fairies and other characters look like.
I think others should read this story because it teaches you about fairies and now we know there are real fairies. This story is cute and has a nice ending.


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The Qimini (pronounced "Chee-mini") is a new wireless charging concept that would see consumers carry around a small charging station with their laptops for use with a compatible smartphone - the Lumia 920 or Lumia 820 (with supported shell) in our case. Acting just like the Nokia (or equivalent) wireless charging station that's plugged into the wall, the Qimini will power a smartphone without any wires.
The product is an idea by European company Tektos, which is based in Hong Kong. Boasting support for the Qi standard (hence the product name), the Qimini is just 9mm thick and has a "tuck-away" USB cable for use with laptops, desktops or even Windows tablets. Speaking of which, this product is aimed at those who are continuously on the move, and the Windows tablet range is a perfect source of power.
Check out the official video above, showing off how the Qimini can be utilised in the real world for those who are mobile. Just like any charging station, the Qimini will begin charging a smartphone when placed on top, and will reportedly receive the same amount of juice as a standard cable. Instead of fiddling with the USB cable to charge the smartphone, this is a potential solution to help solve such issues.
As noted in the above photo, the Qimini will be available in four colours - black, ivory, emerald and dragon fruit.
So when can we expect to see the product hit markets? There's no pricing detailed on the website, but consumers can pre-order their choice of colour, and resellers can also get in touch with the company. Our thoughts? This could be pretty big, especially if the products are high quality. We'll look to get a unit in for review.
We've contacted the company and will update you all should we receive more details on the Qimini. But if you're the impatient type, be sure to follow Qimini on Twitter for the latest updates.


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Last week, we did one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. We had Petie, our beloved 16 year old dachshund, euthanized. He was diagnosed with a heart murmur (and other heart issues) and a collapsing trachea in the summer of 2011 and had been slowly declining since then.
Prior to our move out of Baltimore, Petie started to have chronic diarrhea (that we couldn't get a clear diagnosis on). He started to lose weight. He went from a healthy and active 12 lb dog to a frail 8 lb dog that could barely stand because he was so weak. He had cataracts in both eyes (so couldn't see anything). He just wasn't Petie anymore.
So on Friday, January 4th we said goodbye to our friend. I've never done anything like this before and I am still shocked by how upset I am over the whole thing. I can't talk about it without tearing up or crying. I was trying to put things into perspective (I mean… my DAD died 6 months ago) but this is just such a different experience.
Annmarie keeps saying, "Petie bye bye?" and "We see soon?" every day. And it breaks my heart a little bit.
Emily, Petie's faithful sidekick for the last 11 years, seems to be doing okay. We've been spoiling the crap out of her (err… I have been spoiling the crap out of her with food and I recognize that we're just going to end up with a really fat dog).
Goodbye, Petie. You were a great dog.
Petie at the Outer Banks in 2008
|From Outer Banks
|From Outer Banks
Petie at the Outer Banks in 2009:
Meeting Annmarie for the first time in 2011:


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Andy, the interface is largely the same as TG2. This is not the same kind of complete overhaul that Terragen 2 was to Terragen Classic. We're adding tools and significant new capabilities, but the UI remains structurally and functionally the same.
Found yours, Richard. Need to buy some more pants...
Can you make a small change on the Terragen 3 page so that thumbnails show up when facebook links are made.
This is really awesome news!I have a question tho. Will this version of Terragen support SSS?