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Johnny Rockets Gift Cards are great for every occasion!
They're easy to use, easy to buy, and easy to give as gifts all year round. Johnny Rockets Gift Cards are available to purchase and use at participating Johnny Rockets Restaurants in the USA. It's never been easier to give the gift of Johnny Rockets!
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Johnny Rockets Gift Cards are issued by Comdata Stored Value Solutions, Inc. on behalf of The Johnny Rockets Group, Inc. Your Johnny Rockets Gift Card can be used for making purchases at participating Johnny Rockets locations in the USA. The Gift Card has no value until activated. It cannot be redeemed or exchanged for cash. Treat your card like cash; if lost, stolen, or destroyed it cannot be replaced. The Johnny Rockets Group, Inc. and Comdata Stored Value Solutions, Inc. reserve the right to change these requirements at anytime. Use of your card constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.


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2014 Harvest TieGuanYin
TieGuanYin Harvest 2014 tea collection.
Bringing the Wan Ling Tea House collection of beautiful QingXiang (light and fragrant) style Tie Guan Yin teas direct from the mountains of AnXi, FuJian. Freshly harvested in early October. For the freshest Oolong tea online.
For our 2014 harvest collection we are pleased to introduce a new style of Tie Guan Yin in the form our Zheng Chao Guan Yin. This tea has been specially extra baked for extra depth and flavour.
Remember account holders at Wan Ling Tea House get early access to express shipped new season teas as well as special promotions and news. Why wait? Sign up for an account today and get preferential access to new season teas and special offers.

subset: commoncrawl


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From Williams Sonoma
Staub stoneware bakers distribute and hold heat gently and won't absorb moisture, so foods bake to a moist, tender, golden finish without drying out. And you can take them from freezer to oven to table with ease. These rectangular dishes come in various sizes for baking everything from casseroles, lasagnas and desserts to roasted meats and vegetables.
-Made of stoneware with a vitreous glass... Read more


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I am novice rails/terminal user and just did a fresh Lion install + Xcode after that.
Installed RVM but when I execute "gem install [any gem]" in terminal, I get this error:
/Users/[my user]/.rvm/rubies/ruby-1.8.7-p352/lib/ruby/1.8/timeout.rb:60: [BUG] Segmentation fault
ruby 1.8.7 (2011-06-30 patchlevel 352) [i686-darwin11.0.0]
Abort trap: 6
Can anyone help, please?
PS. I am using - and in the project I am working on, I must use ruby v1.8.7.


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ANAHEIM, Calif. � Viktor Fasth made 19 saves and stopped all three Nashville shootout attempts to win his NHL debut, and Corey Perry scored the only shootout goal in the Anaheim Ducks� 3-2 victory over the Predators on Saturday night.
Fasth, the Ducks� new 30-year-old backup goalie from Sweden, capped his solid debut performance by deftly gloving his deflection of David Legwand�s final shootout attempt out of midair.
Daniel Winnik and Bobby Ryan scored for the Ducks, who never led until the shootout in their third victory in four games to start the season.
Pekka Rinne made 20 saves for Nashville, but the Vezina Trophy finalist dropped to 0-1-3 this season when former 50-goal scorer Perry beat him to the glove side on Anaheim�s second shootout attempt.
Legwand and Winnik traded goals 1:03 apart midway through the third period, with Winnik becoming the first Anaheim player to score five goals in the first four games of a season with his tying tip-in.
Nashville goal-scorer Patric Hornqvist left the ice limping badly midway through the third period after getting tangled up with Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf while both players pursued a puck in the corner. Hornqvist didn�t return.
Brandon Yip scored an early goal for Nashville, which had won six straight over Anaheim dating to the clubs� 2011 first-round playoff meeting and 12 of 15 overall.
After getting routed 5-0 by Vancouver in their home opener Friday night, the Ducks restored much of the good feelings from their two season-opening victories on the road, but only after a rough start against Nashville. Ryan�s first goal of the season ended 99 straight minutes of scoreless hockey at Honda Center for the home team, and Fasth kept the Ducks in it during an eventful third period and overtime.
Nashville took the lead when Legwand ended up alone in the slot with the puck after Fasth gave up a long rebound of Kevin Klein�s shot. Winnik evened it moments later when he reached around defenseman Hal Gill and nimbly tipped Perry�s pass over Rinne�s outstretched pad.
The goal was the fifth in four improbable games for Winnik, the journeyman forward who joined Anaheim in the offseason. Winnik has never scored more than 11 goals in any of his five NHL seasons.
After starter Jonas Hiller set a club record and led the NHL with 73 starts in the Ducks� crease last season, Anaheim won the offseason competition for Fasth with a $1 million, one-way contract. Fasth was named the Swedish Elite League�s top goaltender in each of the past two seasons with AIK Stockholm, the first goalie to win back-to-back Honken Trophies since New York Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist.
Fasth gave up a goal on the second NHL shot he faced, but only after stopping the first shot in a 2-on-1 set up when a linesman accidentally blocked a Ducks defenseman�s path to a loose puck. Yip followed up for his first goal of the season, and the Ducks struggled to match it, with the home crowd booing them during a particularly feckless power play.
Anaheim showed more jump in the second period, but wasn�t rewarded until Teemu Selanne jarred the puck loose in the corner and got it to Cam Fowler, whose shot from the point was expertly redirected by both Selanne and Ryan, the dependable 30-goal scorer who ripped the Anaheim organization last summer during another offseason of trade rumors.
NOTES: The Ducks played back-to-back home games just six times in franchise history before this season. � The Ducks scratched young F Devante Smith-Pelly and inserted rugged F Brad Staubitz for his Anaheim debut. � Nashville D Jonathon Blum, the Orange County native who played well for the Predators during their playoff series win over his hometown Ducks in 2011, was a scratch for the fifth straight game.


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Hi folks,
I recently travelled from Scotland to visit California/Nevada. I'm a professional photographer so it was great to capture the amazing places. You can view my slideshow here- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzcn...m-upload_owner
My favourite place was actually Tonopah. So many abandoned houses. However, my question... I didn't enter any of the abandoned houses because I didn't want to break any laws or get into any trouble. It was frustrating because even outside the houses there were untouched newspapers from the 50's. It's a really fascinating town.
What's the rules if I go back? I want to respect the local laws.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)


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Chef Ben Shewry is saving the world - one ingredient at a time.
How could I have known as I travelled by train out to one of Melbourne's nondescript suburbs to meet a New Zealand chef, that the meeting would end in tears? Mine.
Ben Shewry is head chef of Attica in Ripponlea and the previous day, the restaurant had picked up top honours at the Age Good Food Guide Awards for Restaurant of the Year. Last year Shewry was voted Chef of the Year in the same awards. In fact the accolades have been coming thick and fast for this young chef who grew up in the backblocks of Taranaki and moved to Melbourne nine years ago. In 2008 he was recognised as Gourmet Traveller's Best New Talent, last year he made the list of Top 20 Rising Stars in the prestigious Food & Wine Magazine as well as making history by being the first chef from Victoria to be invited to appear at Madrid Fusion 2010, the annual international summit of all things gastronomical. If you're a chef, this is the equivalent of being nominated for an Oscar. And earlier this year, Attica jumped from 73rd to 53rd place in the San Pellegrino World's 100 Best Restaurant Awards.
Owners David and Helen Maccora must be well-pleased with their decision in 2005 to hand over creative control of their kitchen to Shewry.
There's a waiting list to get a table and I'd only secured one because a mutual friend, a chef, had put in a good word. Luckier still, Shewry had agreed to an interview. I usually prefer to talk to chefs after I've sampled their cooking in case they're the silent type - at least then I can break the ice by talking about their food.
When I turn up at the restaurant, I find Shewry in surprisingly good form despite admitting to feeling horribly jet-lagged. He'd just flown back from Denmark where he was one of the guest speakers at the inaugural Mad Foodcamp ("mad" means food in Danish), an initiative of chef Rene Redzepi of Copenhagen's famed restaurant Noma. Redzepi was so impressed after he ate at Attica a while back that he invited Shewry to join the select line-up of chefs, farmers, foragers and leading food scientists who were gathered to discuss how to build a healthier and more sustainable food culture. When I asked Shewry how it went I got a rather surprising answer; "It was amazing, I could talk about my feelings." Forget the small talk, we were straight into it. It sounded as though finding others who shared his philosophy for sustainability was just what he'd been looking for.
"I really appreciated being included and I like what Rene is trying to do with Mad. It's not about being commercial, there are no sponsors or billboards anywhere. It's open to chefs and farmers only. He wants to create a stage where we share our feelings without being self-focused or having to talk about 'the great things we've done'. I'm not interested in celebrity one bit. There's more important things for chefs and producers to be thinking about right now. We have a huge responsibility to lead on issues of the future of our food."
He speaks with such a heartfelt intensity, and devotion to sustainability, that it's impossible not be drawn into his world. "There's a lot of talk about sustainability but there's too few in our industry who are truly taking this into their restaurants on a day-to-day basis." At this point, I decide to abandon my pre-prepared questions and just listen, for here is a chef thinking expansively, almost without limits, about the role that chefs need to play in the future of food. And then he says something I'll never forget; "Chefs can decide the fate of a species." We're both silent with a mix of heaviness and hopefulness. According to Shewry "Our responsibility as chefs is to be informed and to act." And act he does. He's taken all finned fish off the menu at Attica. "I looked into it. All big fish take a long time to grow, so it's better to not offer any of them rather than debating the merits of eating one species over another." Big call but one he says the owners of Attica never questioned it and his customers have been fully supportive.
Currently there's lots of talk in foodie circles about foraging. Shewry has been foraging since he was five years old. To him it just makes good sense. He began using plants foraged from urban and rural environments in the restaurant before the practice became popular. "Foraging" may be the new catchphrase but what does it really mean on a daily basis for this chef?
"I live out of Melbourne, down on the Bellarine Peninsula, and I'll pick in the ocean in the morning and then head into the city, which is 90 minutes away from my house. We do a bit of urban foraging from the restaurant, in the laneways and down by the train tracks. This foraging in our direct environment helps to sort of manage and keep us in touch with our immediate surrounds and to use the things that are there. Then, just before dinner service, I go to another coast about 15 minutes away and I pick seaweeds and beach plants from there. And all the staff at Attica are involved, I think that's completely different from any other restaurant."
I'd heard that his presentation in Denmark was fairly atypical too. It was called The Cycle of Love and involved him building a small campfire on stage, complete with cooking pot set over the fire. He also showed a short film he'd made and he asked me if I'd like to see it before I left. So there we sat, shoulder to shoulder in the emptiness of the usually bustling dining room at Attica, watching his five minute film, Kobe and the Sea. And that was when I felt my tears welling up. It shows Shewry and his six-year-old son Kobe, rugged up against the elements, exploring a beach. A gentle voiceover from Shewry tells of how his own father took him to do the same when he was a boy growing up in NZ, teaching him where to find edible plants and sea life which they'd collect and cook over a small open fire. As the movie progresses we see Shewry and his son doing the same, on a wind-swept beach near Melbourne. It was so heartfelt and gentle and it caught me off guard. It finished and I was left trying desperately to blink away my tears. I couldn't work out what had touched me more - that here was this boy from rural NZ who is so incredibly talented he has made it to the world culinary stage or, that this film was such a small and humble gesture in an attempt to highlight an almighty problem with regards the future of our food chain?
I emerged from Melbourne's top restaurant into the daylight and headed straight for the shabby cafe a few doors down. I needed to collect myself. By Shewry's own admission, his food is "emo food - full of memories and emotion". I hadn't even sampled it yet and already I was an emotional wreck.
By the time we arrive for our booking that evening, I am composed and the modest and unpretentious dining room has taken on the warm buzz of a full dinner service. I'm joined by my Melbourne-based sister and a friend of hers, for whom this will be a fourth visit to Attica.
Reading the eight-course, $160 per person tasting menu doesn't give us any clue of what we're in for. Dishes are described in minimal detail and my sister and I are totally unprepared for the nostalgic journey back into our childhood that we're about to take.
It starts with a mountain. The "Snow Crab" is a dish inspired by Shewry's childhood growing up in the backblocks of Taranaki, with the snow-capped Mt Taranaki never far from sight. Succulent, sweet crab is combined beautifully with verjuice, puffed jasmine rice, salmon roe and freeze dried coconut. A cloud of horseradish-flavoured "snow" caps it off. It looks spectacular framed by its black plate but it's the taste that counts and it is absolutely sublime. Our tastebuds continue to be delighted by strangely familiar flavours with the next dish. Inspired by the hangi, it was this creation that wowed the audiences in Madrid last year. Simply described as "Potato cooked in the Earth it was Grown", a creamy, yellow potato rests on a pool of pure white smoked goats curd which is garnished with fried saltbush leaves, coconut husk and ground coffee. It is complex, yet undeniably comprehensible if you've ever enjoyed the spoils that emerge from the steaming baskets of the hangi pit. I have never tasted a more perfect potato. Next up we're treated to the meat from the pearl oyster paired with crisp, melt in your mouth pig's tail sitting on a shitake mushroom broth. And on it went, plate after plate of delightful surprises of ingenious, exquisite food.
"It's like he's homesick for NZ" commented my sister and by the time we arrived at desserts I found myself agreeing. The first of the sweet courses - "Apples & Leaves" - capture the essence of apples so perfectly it was as though we were tasting apples for the first time. Apple with jellied avocado oil, apple cream and candied grape leaves, all crunchy and autumnal in colour, adorned the plate. My favourite course, though, was the "Mandarin & Honeydew". Fresh mandarin is macerated in honeydew, which comes from the South Island and is created by tiny insects that feed on the sap in the bark of the beech tree. Textural elements are added with freeze dried mandarin segments and a silky caramelised calvados custard sauce. One mouthful and I was reminded of that wonderful honeyed rice bubble cake that we made as kids, albeit this one had a whole lot more sophistication.
Shewry gets what it takes to be exceptional - you have to be prepared to offer something of your true self to the diner if you want them to have a memorable, original experience. In his words "I always want to do something very different, something that speaks of the person that's making it. Therefore I look to my memories for inspiration."
Finally a bird's nest is delivered to our table. Inside rest three salted caramel-filled "pukeko eggs". A small print of a painting by Ben's father, Rob, accompanies it. It shows a pair of pukeko foraging in a wetland. On the back there's a message from Ben: "Being a thoughtful cook is about understanding ... for me it's important to have respect and empathy for animals and plants and a connection with the past".
I may have shed some tears in the afternoon, but emerging from Attica that evening I couldn't keep the smile off my face. Shewry has created in Attica a playful dining experience where you feel like you're exploring and foraging alongside one of Melbourne's best. I'd been so swept way with the adventure that I almost felt I should check my knees for mud and my toes for sand!
We spilled out on to the quiet main street of Ripponlea feeling exhilarated - by the childhood memories, the fantasies, by the cheeky flights of fancy and the deadly serious brilliance of Ben Shewry, the Taranaki boy who is doing his best to preserve the planet, one ingredient at a time. The future looks hopeful.


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This news clip is in Japanese, but the guilty look on this man's face is universal.
On the early morning of July 9, a 16 year-old was slashed in the face. When TV Asahi arrived on the scene that same day to cover the incident, reporters happened to find a man out on evening bike ride. The reporter said that the suspected slasher was between 30 to 40 years old and around 180cm tall. The reporter then asked the man—45 year-old Yuuichi Yamamoto—if he had seen anyone who fits that description.
"You just said someone who looks like me," Yamamoto replied.
"Scary, it's it?" the reporter added. Yamamoto agreed. He said he was asleep when the incident happened—right in front of his apartment. During the interview, Yamamoto acted odd, and the reporter even asked, "I wasn't you was it?" To which the man replied, "It wasn't me."
Later that evening, Yamamoto went to the police station, where he was arrested. He stated that he did not recall the attack because he had spent the previous night drinking at home; however, he added that perhaps he carried out the attack. The answer to that question appears written all over his face.
直撃に「私みたいですね」45歳男が逮捕前カメラに [YouTube]


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Learn how to contact each ARDA department.
Click here to view ARDA's staff by name.
By Franz Hanning,
President & CEO of Wyndham Vacation Club and ARDA ChairmanARDA Guest Blogger
July 11, 2014
As an industry, we are witnessing how technology validates the role we play in providing an outlet for people to unplug and spend quality time with loved ones. We've all seen the expansion of technology's impact on travel over the last decade, and we have recognized how consumers use technology before, during, and after travel. That's why the role technology plays in our industry was a key focus at this year's ARDA World Convention in Las Vegas.
During many of the educational sessions, we shared lessons learned about how developers incorporate technology into their business models, products, operations, communications, and sales and marketing efforts. From a renewed focus on in-room technology to enhanced customer experiences and owner-engagement programs, our industry is constantly adapting. The use of technology has enabled our industry to communicate better with our owner base, and taught us how to communicate with the next generation of owners. This means gaining an understanding of digital marketing, social media, and new technologies.
Be sure to catch-up on technology-themed lessons from ARDA World in the June issue of Developments magazine!
By Darla Zanini, Executive VP, ARDA International
Foundation (AIF)June 25, 2014
We are happy to present the latest research
from our State of the Vacation TimeshareIndustry: United States Study 2014. It shows that the timeshare industry
enjoyed significant growth in 2013. Here
are a few of the highlights:
When comparing 2013 to 2012
There were some other interesting tidbits as well:
For more
details, check out our infographic and for a full copy of the State of the
Industry Study, please contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
May 30, 2014
Travel and tourism is one of the world's largest industries, supporting 260 million jobs and generating 9 percent of the world's GDP—yet the perception held by many outside the industry is that it is a short-term career move rather than one that offers professional longevity.
New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a forum of business leaders in the travel & tourism industry, shows that companies today are missing out on the best new talent amongst graduates due to negative perceptions of a career in the industry. In fact, travel & tourism holds opportunities for job creation to address youth unemployment and gender inequality issues faced by countries around the world. The research findings also show that the industry employs a higher percentage of young people and women compared to the global workforce as a whole.
However, serious challenges have been identified when it comes to the understanding and profile of the sector amongst undergraduates. In an effort to combat those perceptions, the WTTC is launching a campaign to demonstrate the career opportunities available in the industry.
Anyone who works in travel & tourism can participate by creating a 15-second video to explain why they love working in the industry and answering one of these questions:
Then, upload your video to Instagram, tag @WTandTC, and hashtag #TourismMatters for a chance to win a prize—that's it! WTTC will award a first-place prize of $1,000 and runner-up prizes of $500 and $250 to spend on a travel event of the winner's choosing. The deadline to enter the contest is Monday, June 30, so act fast!
For more details about the campaign, check out the WTTC'S YouTube video, or visit their site for the contest terms and conditions. Good luck!
By Judy Kenninger, RRPARDA Guest Blogger
May 14, 2014
Today people increasingly turn to technology to get their news on-the-go, communicate with friends and family, shop, research, and more. Consider the statistics: Facebook counts 945 million monthly users of its mobile service, Yahoo! has 400 million monthly users who access it on their mobile phones alone, 89 million people in the U.S. watch 1.2 billion online videos each day, and 73% of adults online use a social networking site of some kind. According to Deloitte Hospitality 2015, mobile technology and social media are transforming the hospitality industry. People can research and book their own travel, visit peer review sites, take an interactive tour of a resort, and share their own vacation experiences online—all from their tablets or phones.
The timeshare industry is adapting to the fast-paced environment by integrating more visual content into their websites, developing interactive marketing tools, using social platforms to deliver meaningful content, and enriching the communication channel between brand and consumers. Such tools are particularly evident in timeshare sales organizations. Gone are the days of printed materials and brochures as consumers want to visually experience the vacation before they plan a trip. Resorts now incorporate multi-dimensional visuals and graphics into the presentation and some have developed a real-time inventory search and pricing information.
To read more about innovation in timeshare sales and marketing, check out the article on this topic in the April/May 2014 issue of Developments magazine.
By Peter Roth, ARDA's Vice President of Marketing and CommunicationsMay 7, 2014
In the timeshare industry, we know that travel is good not only for health and relaxation—it's good for our workplaces and our country's economy. During this year's National Travel & Tourism Week (May 3-11) , we think it's a good idea to remind ourselves of this impact. Here are some more statistics and facts on the travel industry from ARDA's friends at the U.S. Travel Association:
Let's start with jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the U.S. travel industry recovered faster than other economic sectors—restoring 111% of the jobs lost to the recession—while the rest of the economy has only recovered 90% so far. Travel is among the top 10 employers in 49 states, directly employing about eight million people at a payroll of $209 billion. Throw in jobs supported by travel, and the number almost doubles to 15 million workers: one of every nine American jobs.
Travel also positively impacts local economies and taxes. U.S. residents and international visitors now pump more than $28,000 per second into cash registers across the country. It adds up to a $2.1 trillion economic impact, contributing more than $130 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenues.Every household in America would have to pay about $1,100 more in taxes annually to make up what the travel industry alone brings to our schools, roads, search-and-rescue teams and other public programs.
Travel also boosts profits. One study found that every $1 spent on business travel drove nearly $3 in profit—a 300 percent return on investment (ROI) after adjusting for cost.
Finally, travel weathers economic storms. Sectors that decreased business travel during the 2007-2011 recession were more likely to see profits slow or drop, while industries that amped up business travel grew faster.
We can feel great about being one of the very robust areas within the travel industry – timeshare!
By Rob Kaplan-Sherman, Senior Vice President of HSR AssociatesARDA Guest BloggerApril 2, 2014
It seems that whenever I speak with someone in the industry about sales, the conversation quickly gravitates toward Millennials and the tremendous opportunity they provide for the timeshare industry.
A quick Internet search supports why this group and timeshare may fit together so well:
--Millennials take more vacations per year (approximately 4 each year) than Gen Xers (approximately 3) and Baby Boomers (slightly more than 3 annually)
--Millennials rank vacations and travel as the most important reason to save money—even more important than saving for retirement!
If vacations play an integral role in Millennials' lives, it is clear we should want to understand their values.
In late 2013, the AIF and HSR Associates conducted a series of focus groups with Millennials to better understand how they shop for and purchase vacations, and to identify potential opportunities for the industry.
When planning a vacation, Millennials appear to have four core requirements: unfettered access (their planning is limited only by their inspiration, research skills, and budget), completely customizable, no restrictions, and excellent value.
From this and other observations we are able to capture some significant insights.
--Millennials seem very apprehensive about commitment, so positioning timeshare as a life-long ownership product instead of an alternative to the next vacation can make the thought of timeshare a non-starter. Deliver a great vacation and create a relationship—and thus a credible, trustworthy source on the short-list for their next vacation.
--Leverage the superiority of timeshare lodging units over traditional hotel rooms. Focus group participants consistently expressed very positive reactions toward lodging units, and specifically enjoyed having a kitchen. In the absence of price, timeshare units generated greater preference than traditional hotel rooms. When learning of the similarity of price points between hotel rooms and timeshare units, participants appeared to view timeshare much more favorably.
--Promote flexibility and choice. While some Millennials may view these characteristics in almost unrealistic terms, it may be sufficient to start a conversation with them.
Read about all of the findings from the Millennial Focus Group in the March 2014 edition of Developments magazine.
By Peter Roth, Vice President of Marketing and CommunicationsMarch 12, 2014
Our industry is in a very exciting place—high customer satisfaction rates, new product offerings, and a positive financial outlook.
To reflect this, ARDA has re-energized its consumer website, VacationBetter.org, to embody this new energy and vibrancy. We created this site as a trustworthy resource for consumers to turn to for timeshare information and resources—with the main goal of reinforcing the positive experiences of owning and vacationing with timeshare.
With this goal in mind, we took several steps in revamping the new VacationBetter.org site, including:
The overall tone of VacationBetter.org is consumer-friendly, reliable, trustworthy, and conversational. Through more interactive content, it provides helpful information without being sales-focused, serving as a neutral go-to source for two key audiences: would-be owners and new owners. Key highlights of the site are:
Content for Audiences New to Timeshare
For first-timers, we provide compelling content that educates them on what timeshare is and how it works. On the homepage, they start with a "What Kind of Traveler Are You?" quiz that identifies their travel type as: Adventurer, Relaxer, Family Member, or Urban Explorer.
Content for New Owners
Content for the "new owners" audience is framed to help reaffirm their decision during the critical rescission period, so they remain confident that their timeshare purchase was a great decision. The site includes a Timeshare Owners' Guide with "hidden tips" for owners that tell them how to best use and enjoy their timeshare. We also have a section on understanding and using exchange programs. Finally, there will be a place for owners to share their own vacation stories or tips with other site visitors. The "What's New" section offers visitors a reason to return, with frequent posts discussing the benefits of travel and timeshare.
How to Use VacationBetter.org
The new site will be a terrific resource for consumers—owners and non-owners alike—and will gain traction via wide industry support. It is designed for ARDA members to use through their various communications channels—and when their owners also use it, we will be able to truly develop an "echo chamber" of support.
There are many ways that we can collectively encourage use of the site like (1) direct linking to VacationBetter.org, using our logo or "bug"; (2) provide information in the sales room and directly after the sale; (3) promote the site on social media and in owner communications; and (4) send people to the site when they book a tour or sales visit.
We encourage you to visit VacationBetter.org and to use it with your owners and future owners. It's a credible resource that can provide third-party information to educate your prospects and make your owners smarter and more loyal vacationers. Check out the all new VacationBetter.org site today!
Copyright 2014. American Resort Development Assoc. All rights reserved.


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An Elbert County homeowner got a morning surprise when she awoke to find her horse trapped inside her basement. The family horse fell into the basement of a home, triggering a four-hour rescue operation that included the help of a county backhoe and personnel from road and bridge, the Rattlesnake Fire Department and the Elbert County Sheriff's Office.
The call came into the sheriff's office at around 9 a.m. after the homeowner heard a noise in her basement. She went downstairs to find Summer the horse trapped inside, said Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap. Summer had fallen down a four-foot window well and landed in the basement, which was not constructed with a walk-out door.
"We thought of bringing her up the basement stairs," Heap said. "But the stairs didn't look safe enough to support her weight." A veterinarian sedated Summer, who sustained minor cuts and injuries in the fall, and a coring company was contacted to cut into the foundation of the home. The initial plan was to expose an area around a second window well, remove a portion of the foundation and create enough space to bring the horse out of the basement, Heap said.
The road and bridge crew brought in a backhoe to clear an area around a second window well, which was situated closer to ground level. Once the window was removed and exposed, crews found Summer could fit through the window. At around 1:15 p.m., Summer walked out of the basement on her own. "We're glad it worked out the way it did," Heap said. "The horse was fine once it was all over."
With more photos. There's a news video here.


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Publishing Isn't A Job Anymore: It's A Button
from the disruption-at-work deptTim Lee points us to a really fantastic (as per usual) discussion with Clay Shirky about media disruption, in which he makes the key point that publishing is no longer a job, but a button:
Publishing is not evolving. Publishing is going away. Because the word "publishing" means a cadre of professionals who are taking on the incredible difficulty and complexity and expense of making something public. That's not a job anymore. That's a button. There's a button that says "publish," and when you press it, it's done.Now, of course, publishing as a profession means more than just making public, but that is the root of it, and Shirky is absolutely right that that role is changing completely -- and that means that the industries that built themselves up by glorifying their ability to be a gatekeeper in making things public are going to struggle to adapt. There certainly are other important roles, but they're not "publishing" per se.:
In ye olden times of 1997, it was difficult and expensive to make things public, and it was easy and cheap to keep things private. Privacy was the default setting. We had a class of people called publishers because it took special professional skill to make words and images visible to the public. Now it doesn't take professional skills. It doesn't take any skills. It takes a Wordpress install.
The question isn't what happens to publishing — the entire category has been evacuated. The question is, what are the parent professions needed around writing? Publishing isn't one of them. Editing, we need, desperately. Fact-checking, we need. For some kinds of long-form texts, we need designers. Will we have a movie-studio kind of setup, where you have one class of cinematographers over here and another class of art directors over there, and you hire them and put them together for different projects, or is all of that stuff going to be bundled under one roof? We don't know yet. But the publishing apparatus is gone. Even if people want a physical artifact — pipe the PDF to a printing machine.When you think about it, this really does hit on the key point of disruption for so many of the industries we talk about today. The main role that the gatekeepers had was in helping to "make your work public." But that role isn't needed any more (nor is there any real gate any more). You can make anything public that you want and reach the entire world. Of course, there are still plenty of other things -- making it better, promoting it, monetizing it, etc. And all of those roles are very important, but the role of making something public was the only one that really had that gate. And since there was that gate, the gatekeeper could control everything and demand total ownership over the work. That's what we've seen for centuries.
The difference today is that the gates are gone, the need for help to make something public is gone, and those other things -- publicity, improving the product, monetizing, etc. -- can all be done by lots of organizations, rather than just a few. Thus, there is no need for gatekeepers, but (once again), it's all about the enablers. The enablers help make your work better, but still leave you and the work at the center. The gatekeepers stripped your work from you for a pittance. It's a very different world, but it's a much better world for creators -- and it all comes back to the fact that publishing is no longer a job, but a button.
Filed Under: clay shirky, gatekeeper, publishing


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The road trip is a classic warm-weather vacation. While they can be tons of fun, things can get bumpy if kids (or grown-ups, for that matter) start getting restless. Fortunately, some simple prep-work can keep tummies from rumbling, siblings from squabbling and boredom at bay. Here are five ideas for the road.
Make sure you've got everyone's taste buds covered with healthy snack choices. Sweet treats like sliced cantaloupe and firm, whole berries like strawberries or blackberries travel well in a cooler stocked with ice packs, as do savory snacks like cubed cheese, carrot sticks and mini pickles. Nonperishables like trail mix, dry cereal, popcorn and crackers can be stowed in each child's bag.
Water is the best on-the-go drink. Wash and reuse squirt-top refillable water bottles—many rest stops don't have recycling bins, and disposable water bottles only add to the mess in the car.
Stash puzzle books, card games, electronic handheld games and other activities in plastic shoe boxes. You're more likely to hold a kid's attention if the activities are brand new or haven't been played with in a while.
Give each child his or her own small plastic bin for stashing souvenirs such as rocks, fossils, seashells, postcards and other keepsakes. Decorating the boxes is a fun car activity. Blank packing labels are great for personalizing with markers, and the kids can continue sprucing up their boxes with souvenir stickers picked up along the trip.
Keep another plastic bin stocked with cutlery, napkins, hand sanitizer, wipes, single-serving condiments and a reusable plastic tablecloth so you're ready to dine whenever the mood strikes. Throw in a bottle of sunblock and insect repellent, too—you can never have too many of those extras on hand.


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The Seahawks are set at starting quarterback, that much we know. But having Russell Wilson doesn't mean the Seahawks don't potentially have concerns at the position, not after trading backup Matt Flynn and signing Brady Quinn, Jerrod Johnson and the since-released Josh Portis to compete for that job.
If Wilson starts 16 games next season, the backup quarterback won't matter, but if he's sidelined for a start or two, how comfortable would you be with Quinn, a guy who has thrown five more interceptions than touchdowns in his career and has completed 53.8 percent of his passes, running Seattle's offense? Maybe a fresh start with little pressure will help Quinn, but again, does a team with Super Bowl potential want to count on him for a few games if necessary? Or would you trust Johnson, who is physically talented but who has also never played a down of in the NFL?
Which brings us to the news out of Buffalo Monday, where the Bills released Tarvaris Jackson after one year with the team. Jackson, who spent the 2011 season as Seattle's starter before being traded to Buffalo for a seventh-round pick last summer, is suddenly available, and the Seahawks just might want to add him to the competition for the backup job.
So why not T-Jack back in Seattle?
After all, he did go 7-8 as a starter in 2011 on a far inferior roster to the current one, and did so playing most of the season with a partially torn pectoral muscle that severely limited his ability to practice and throw at full strength. Could Quinn, who has inferior numbers to Jackson pretty much across the board, have done that on the 2011 team? Seems doubtful, doesn't it?
Jackson also knows Seattle's offense having played for offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Minnesota and Seattle, and he is very well respected in Seattle's locker room, especially for the way he toughed it out through that injury.
About the only reason giving Jackson a look wouldn't make sense is if he is still holding onto hope that he can compete for a starting job somewhere, and therefore wouldn't be willing to come to Seattle, where Wilson is firmly entrenched as the starter, having beaten out Flynn and, yes, Jackson for that job last year. But if Jackson is comfortable being a backup at this point, it just seems to make sense on too many levels for a Seahawks front office that likes to turn over every stone, so to speak, when it comes to improving the roster.
And don't just take my word for it. Here's what Seattle WR Doug Baldwin had to say on twitter not long after Jackson was released:
It would be a good move to bring @7tjackson back… my honest opinion
— Doug Baldwin Jr (@DougBaldwinJr) June 11, 2013


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Relocation UK – Finding Rhyme and Reason to the London Summer Season!
Greetings from your guest blogger! Now, I have a confession to make. I am a through and through Brit; I grew up here, was born in Oxfordshire, spent my youth as a young and fairly outdoorsy child playing outside most of the time despite the British weather—my parents being of the opinion that a little rain wouldn't hurt and if we were cold to "put on a jumper…" Now I know that a lot of you are probably still trying to figure out the British weather (four seasons in one day), but I beg you, throw caution to the wind/sun/snow/hail and just get outside and enjoy some quintessential English moments!


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* High intensity of flu in Italy, Sweden and Norway
* Experts fear low uptake of vaccine putting lives at risk
By Kate Kelland
LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The number of H1N1 swine flu deaths in Europe has doubled almost every two weeks since the middle of October and 169 people died of the virus in the past week, disease surveillance experts said on Monday.
The Stockholm-based European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said 670 deaths have been reported in Europe from H1N1 flu since they began monitoring it in April and all 31 European Union and European free trade area (EFTA) countries now have cases of the virus.
"The numbers of deaths...has shown a steady increase — almost doubling every fortnight over the last six weeks," it said in its daily update. "While the most deaths have to date been in Western Europe there are increasing numbers of deaths being reported from central and eastern Europe."
Vaccination programmes against H1N1 have started in many European countries in recent weeks to try to halt the spread of the virus, which is commonly known as swine flu and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in June.
But immunisation plans are facing mixed levels of uptake and opposition from anti-vaccine lobbyists, according to the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). It said such opposition was putting "public health and lives" at risk.
"No one can afford to be complacent or sceptical about the benefits of the H1N1 vaccine," ESCMID's president Javier Garau said in a statement. "The serious consequences of skipping the flu jab must be considered...and physicians must make clear the safety and vital protection role the vaccine has to play."
The WHO said last week that governments across the world have administered more than 65 million H1N1 vaccine doses. Common side effects of the shots include swelling, redness or pain at the injection site, and sometimes fever or headache but the WHO ruled out any death links to the shots. [ID:nLJ604604]
The ECDC reported "very high intensity" of flu-like illness in the past week in Italy, Norway and Sweden and said intensity was "high" in Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal. The rest of Europe had mainly "medium" intensity, it said.
The ESCMID said flu levels were "unusually high for this time of year", with H1N1 accounting for 99 percent of cases.
It said it feared "deliberate misinformation" about H1N1 shots was being spread by a growing anti-vaccination movement and warned that a low uptake could hamper efforts to control the pandemic and increase pressure on health systems across Europe.
Some people say they fear the new H1N1 vaccines have been rushed through medicine regulation processes and not tested widely enough. But regulators, health experts and the WHO say the shots are safe, effective and offer vital protection.
"No one should reject a safe and effective vaccine when we are dealing with an unpredictable virus capable of killing children and young adults in their prime," Garau said. (Editing by Diana Abdallah) ((firstname.lastname@example.com; +44 (0)7990 567 059))


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My husband Dan went in for a check-up the other day, and came back with strict instructions from his doctor to eat a bowl of ice cream before bed every night.
Those who know Dan know that he's a little on the thin side. This year he burned some extra calories fixing up and re-selling an old house in downtown Dayton, so he really needs to put on a few pounds.
I have a hard time feeling sorry for him.
Dan can eat an entire sleeve of Oreos in one sitting and wash them down with a giant glass of milk, and not gain an ounce. All I have to do is look at them and I'll see the affects on my hips the next morning. With swimsuit season looming, I've just started my annual routine of running an extra mile in the afternoons, watching my caloric intake, and being perpetually cranky, all the while adding whole milk, bacon, sausage, pasta, ice cream, and peanut butter to my grocery list for Dan.
I suggested that we go on Oprah to get advice from Dr. Oz, but Dan wasn't crazy about the idea.
Anyway, I have faith that our love…and a few bon bons…will get us through this difficult time. In the meantime, because I consider myself a bit of an expert on weight gain, I've compiled the following tips to help Dan out. If you can think of more, send me your comments!
1. Don't eat because you are hungry. Eat whenever you feel excited, antsy, depressed, angry, or bored.
2. Graze. Leave open containers of potato chips and candy sitting around and just grab a handful at a time.
3. The drive-through is your friend.
4. Get second and third helpings of all my delicious meals…or grab a Hot Pocket out of the freezer when I'm not looking.
5. Follow the time-honored Southern tradition of frying everything!
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The media and press will have you believe that 3D Printing is a new technology. However, it's been around for 30 years, invented by 3D System's Chuck Hull. CRDM have been printing for almost 20 years in High Wycombe, making us recognised experts in this field.
3D printing offers an alternative way of prototyping and low volume manufacturing; the key benefits are making parts quicker than traditional methods of manufacturing, thereby shortening the design cycle as well as possibility reducing costs.
Examples of Sectors that use 3D Printing technology
- automotive & auto sport
- medical
- aerospace
- architects
- designers
- inventors
- 3D printing can be used in most industries that require tangible objects / tools
There are three ways that we can carry out 3D printing…
- SLA (Stereolithography) where we cure photopolymer liquids with a laser to make parts, a popular 3d printing method.
- SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) where a laser accurately melts nylon powder in 0.1mm layers.
- DMP and DMLS (Direct Metal Printing or Direct Metal Laser Sintering) is printing components from metal powder in 40 micron layers using a laser.
Before we can print parts, we need to have 3D CAD. The main format is an STL file and this is the universal language that 3D printers read. STL files are simply sliced into layers and 3D printing will print each slice of the CAD, layer by layer, to make a complete part or component.
CRDM focus on the professional and production aspect of manufacture, running machines that only a few companies in the UK that have the skills and resources to operate.


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Love One Another Print or Canvas
Love One Another Print or Canvas
Love One Another - John 13:34 - wall decor in print or ready to hang canvas.
Select from colors shown (old aqua, light vintage, dark chalkboard, French script, wood look 4) or specify a color to match your decor.
If a proof is needed, you will receive one between 24 - 48 hours. To avoid any delays in your order, please respond promptly. Without your approval I cannot start production on your order.
Prints will be printed on Epson Ultra Premium Luster heavyweight paper using Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 Pigment Ink that will last under glass for over 200 years. Your print will be archival, water-resistant, and fade-resistant.
NOTE: Prints come unframed and unmatted.
The canvas wrap is printed on a thick and luxurious poly-cotton blend canvas to provide great durability. The canvas is pH neutral and acid free and will not yellow over time. Canvas is stretched over kiln dried pine stretcher bars that ensures that it does not warp or bow. Canvases are available in .75 and 1.5 inch widths.
NOTE: Canvases come ready to hang (with hardware attached).


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Church to fight Philippine reproductive health law
The Catholic Church in the Philippines says it will challenge the constitutionality of the new Reproductive Health Law in the Supreme Court.
The controversial law has finally been passed in the Philippines following 13 years of deliberations.
Under the new law, the Philippines Government will provide the public, particularly poor women, with more information and access to birth control methods.
It also grants the government responsibility of educating public school students on reproductive health and allows the distribution of birth control methods to minors.
The law is opposed by the powerful Catholic church, which says it could breed promiscuity and has urged people against voting in the May polls for legislators who approved the measure.
Catholic Archbishop Angel Lagdameo says questioning the law in court is a logical next step in what has been a highly divisive issue.
President Benigno Aquino's spokesman has called for unity, urging critics to move on from the animosity that has pitted the government against the church.
Critics of the new law doubt the change will effectively control the Philippines's runaway population growth.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, community-and-society, sexual-health, womens-health, philippines, asia
First posted


text: Research papers, reports, and expert commentary on immigration are now available to journalists and other interested parties via a new website created by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. The website originated with a workshop designed to help reporters and editors who cover immigration better understand the complex economic, labor, and legal issues surrounding the topic. Resources posted to the site include instructions on accessing, analyzing, and visualizing immigration data sets, as well as videotaped talks from the conference, including presentations by economists, labor leaders, law enforcement officials, researchers, and academics.


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hyIQ Presentation
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The Hy.ly Multifamily Suite is the only Marketing Automation Suite designed exclusively for the Multifamily industry. Each product is powered by a central Big Data Store so that it can be smart, simple and scalable. And, yes, you can start with just one product and expand as your needs grow.


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The Poster Session at COFES allows you to present interesting recent research or novel ideas that have the potential to impact the future of engineering software. COFES is a unique opportunity to share your latest ideas, concepts, problems, research, or business plans with senior executives and thought leaders from design, engineering, architecture, development, and technology.
It's the idea that counts. Students, other academics, practitioners, software vendors--anyone with a great idea is encouraged to participate.
This is an ideal venue for showcasing innovative work.
The opportunity here is simple: Present your work in progress. If it gets selected to be at COFES, it's because we're sure that it will spark a discussion. Your work will benefit from input from some of the finest minds in the software industry.
We encourage researchers to submit their work-in-progress, present their valuable ideas, and benefit from the resulting discussion. Please, this is for work in progress only – don't send us posters on projects if it is too late for the input to make a difference.
Here is how it works
These areas, among others are of particular interest:


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Man charged with grand larceny-- of books
Stephen Thomas Lambert, 23, is charged with one count of grand larceny after University Bookstore noticed that $19,000 worth of textbooks were missing. Store officials discovered many of those titles for sale on a site called www.half.com.
Lambert, who is listed as an undergraduate in UVA's College of Arts and Science, was arrested June 30 and is out on bond. He's scheduled to be in court August 5.
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Halsey Minor should cut his hair like this kid. That might solve all Halsey's challenges...
Books? Only in Cville do people bother with those. LOL Like "i reed boox" HA HA ha
Here is the problem. This article was advertised in the Wednesday's Daily Progress as publication on Thursday... but on Thursday there was no mention of the article in the Daily Progress's website. Nor was there any mention of the article on Friday (allowing the Daily Progress a day's lag to try and sell newspapers with the extra story before transferring it to the web.
Because of that... the lack of follow up details.... it's all a moot point. Toss it in the waste basket because we no longer care.
Well, that's certainly...creative. Wouldn't be the first person I guess to steal from work then try to resell the items on the web.
He could have bought a haircut with that money!
Sounds like a prime candidate for the truTV show called "World's Dumbest Criminals". What goes through the minds of these people when they think they can sold stolen goods on the Internet without being caught?
My bad... meant "SELL stolen goods!"
This is a "Recession Crime." UVa students used to be from affluent families. Who would ever have thought a UVa student would have had to do something like this to make money? When times are tight, people stoop do doing things to get money that they ordinarily wouldn't have done.
Often, people engaged in "steal and return" crimes are addicted to drugs. It is relatively "Easy Money" for small, weak criminals.
Maybe I'm missing something here- I though you had to have some sort of intelligence to get into UVa.....perhaps a deeper study of the parental guidance here would be in order.
Perhaps "money talks and BS walks" at the admission office......


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SARATOGA SPRINGS -- The first day of school, already a happy and trying event for any student, saw a little additional stress for Maple Avenue Middle School student Adam Marino.
Marino and his mother, Janette Kaddo Marino, left for school by bicycle on Wednesday morning, as they often do in good weather, despite a phone call placed to students' homes by school officials, asking parents not to allow students to walk or ride bikes to school.
After a cold reception on Wednesday, local transportation advocates are rallying around the family, and plan to accompany the pair to school today in a bid to bolster calls for a policy change.
The Marino family had previously encountered trouble while cycling to school in May, when school officials informed them they were in violation of a school policy that forbids students from walking or riding to Maple Avenue Middle School. They rode anyway, noting that the family regularly rides for exercise and recreation.
Following the May incident, the school district charged a policy review committee to examine the rule, but the committee has not yet reached a conclusion. In the meantime, Kaddo Marino said she felt the district was stepping on her toes.
"I think it's my parental right to transport my child to school in the way I deem is appropriate. I think the district is usurping its authority by telling me that I can't," she said.
One section of the school policy states: "The Board of Education forbids the riding of bicycles by students to and from Maple Avenue Middle School." Another section also prohibits riding to elementary schools.
In an apparent contradiction, a third section states: "Secondary school pupils may ride their bicycles to school and shall park them in the racks provided."
The policy was written when the Maple Avenue school opened in 1994, and has never before been reviewed, Superintendent of Schools Janice White said.
�"At this point, the committee's work is in the final stages, and the board has not yet considered what, if any, changes will be made," White said.
While White acknowledged that the district does not have any apparent authority over how parents choose to bring students to schools, they do have a right to control activities on their property.
"The policy, when originally put in place, was put in place because of the location of the building," White said. "The rights of individuals to ride their bikes on Route 9 is their decision."
Route 9 is designated by the New York State Department of Transportation as a bike route.
Upon arriving at school on Wednesday, Adam and Janette Kaddo Marino were met outside by school officials and a New York State Trooper, who were on hand for the first day of school. They were informed that they were "out of compliance," and had a lengthy discussion over where Adam's bike could be locked.
"I was extremely bothered," Kaddo Marino said, "after reviewing the way we were met at the school. It was very intimidating to be met by these three men, one of whom was a trooper."
Kaddo Marino, who is involved in reviewing the transportation policy, said she knew she and Adam might raise concerns if they rode to school and left the decision up to him.
"Adam feels pretty strongly about it," she said. "I told him I didn't know if there would be an issue."
Still, even after their icy reception on Wednesday -- which ended with Adam going to school, his bike left locked outside -- they decided to ride again on Thursday, this time accompanied by a group of adult friends.
Friday's rain kept the bikes inside, but members of transportation advocacy group Saratoga Healthy Transportation Network sent a call to members on Friday, requesting that more cyclists join the Marinos for their ride to school today.
"I feel we must support and ride with Janette and her son, Adam, every morning we can until something gets resolved or until it gets too cold to ride," SHTN member Charlie Samuels said in an e-mailed message. "If it causes a ruckus, which it seems the school wants to avoid, then we win because it will attract attention ..."
Members of the group plan to participate, but SHTN has not yet taken a formal stance on the matter.
Although Kaddo Marino said she did not initially intend to make a political issue out of her son's commute to school, she sees validity in SHTN's adoption of the issue.
"If SHTN is going to rally around anything, this is probably a good enough cause. It's not just a school district, but a municipality that is quite resistant to making this safe for bikes, cars and pedestrian traffic," she said.
Caroline Stem, another member of SHTN who is also involved in examining transportation policies, said that while the Marinos' plan to continue riding to school will bring necessary exposure to the issue, she hopes it will not undermine efforts to examine district policy.
"It's bringing an awareness that kids should be able to walk and bike to school," Stem said. "If safe conditions don't exist, we should create those conditions, and if a parent decided to walk or ride with their kid, they should not be reprimanded for doing so."
Stem pointed out that while SHTN members are planning on riding with the Marinos today, it was not a formal action by the group.
"As an individual, I think it's very grassroots and makes a statement, but I personally want to work the formal channels as well," she said.
Doug Haller, another SHTN volunteer, added he hoped the policy committee's review would be meaningful and lead to changes.
"We're hopeful that they're going to progress a little bit, especially because of the movement throughout the state and country to get kids to ride to school," he said. "It feels to some of us that they are not moving forward."
Superintendent White declined to discuss proposals that may come from the committee on the bicycling policy, saying that work should be completed before it is discussed publicly. The committee will report to the school board at a Sept. 21 meeting.
In the meantime, White said the district plans to continue to work with Kaddo Marino to ensure that district policy is followed.
"We are trying to come to some reasonable understanding," she said.


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Strangely, I discovered that my Thanksgiving weekend will be mostly Southern - Sweet Potato pie, Broccoli casserole, Cornbread dressing, Macaroni and Cheese. How did I become Southern? No idea. I grew up in Illinois, and live in the Pacific Northwest. But that's what we are having. Looks like dinner rolls are more Northwestern, anyway. My partner is having a turkey roll thing, I am vegetarian so will not.
The family tradition that I grew up with was similar, but we usually had pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, bread dressing, dinner rolls, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole. Growing up in Illinois, that doesnt fit the map either - but not much about Illinois does. Cookies and cranberry relish?
On the other hand, for saturday I'm lobbying for some Chinese dumplings. That is also our usual Christmas dinner
Views: 176
Our Thanksgiving dinner came straight out of my grandmother's recipe box: roast turkey stuffed with sausage dressing, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and whipped cream ... with one exception ... this year's dinner was hours late because our family members are volunteer fire fighters and the wee hours of Thanksgiving morning a house fire call came in, the fire fully engaged before the firefighters could save the structure. Thankfully, no injuries. Nothing is left but the concrete foundation and a standing refrigerator towering into the sky.
Sounds like you had a great time! Sad about the house, but your fire fighting team did what they could.
We had turkey, ham, green beans, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, gravy and rolls. Then dessert was lemon pie, pecan pie, pumpkin pie. Is this Southern?
Anyways - I didn't cook it -- I just ordered the meal from a BBQ place all hot and carved ready to go.
Looks like the ham and cornbread dressing are southern. Also the pecan pie, although that one cuts a swath across the country's midsection all the way to canada! The lemon pie is a new one for me for thanksgiving!
My family always has a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner.
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La Crosse Construction Reviews
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A4 Glicée print — Lightness of Being
A4 Glicée print — Lightness of Being
This is a Giclée print of the original "Lightness of Being".
Size: 29'7x21cm
Printed on Hahnemühle German Etching paper (310g.s.m.), a beautiful and silky smooth heavyweight etching board with a fine surface texture. The high quality inks make this print 100+ lightfast and fade resistant.
All prints are signed, carefully wrapped and sent inside a stiff cardboard envelope.
(If you are interested in purchasing a print of an illustration which is not shown at the shop, please contact me at: firstname.lastname@example.com).
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|Jan 11, 2013
EU project will shake up offshore wind market with smaller wind turbines
|(Nanowerk News) SUPRAPOWER ("SUPerconducting, Reliable, lightweight, And more POWERful offshore wind turbine") is an EU FP7 founded research project focused on a major innovation in offshore wind turbine technology by developing a new compact superconductor-based generator.
The project aims to provide an important breakthrough in offshore wind industrial solutions by designing an innovative, lightweight, robust and reliable 10 MW class offshore wind turbine based on a superconducting (SC) generator, taking into account all the essential aspects of electric conversion, integration and manufacturability.
Todays geared as well as direct-drive permanent magnet generators are difficult to scale up further. Their huge size and weight drives up the cost of both fixed and floating foundations as well as O&M cost. New solutions to provide better power scalability, weight reduction and reliability are needed. Superconductivity may be the only technology able to combine such features and allow scaling to 10 MW and beyond by radical reduction of the head mass.
SUPRAPOWER will pursue:
|After 4 year of own development and from an already patented concept as a consequence of that work, the coordinator (TECNALIA) has assembled a top-class European consortium from 7 countries. Industrial partners are a wind turbine manufacturer (ACCIONA WP), an energy company (ACCIONA E), an SME superconducting wire developer (COLUMBUS), a cryogenic systems supplier (OLV), and an offshore engineering company (D2M). In addition to the coordinator, research partners are a important laboratory with deep experience in superconductivity (IEE), a university (SOTON) and a national institute (KIT). The main outcome of the project will be a SC generator able to be scaled in wind turbines up to power levels of 10MW and beyond, enforcing a key European technology
|Source: Elhuyar Fundazioa
Subscribe to a free copy of one of our daily
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Ellen Macadam collected five hits in two games at the Miken Classic Saturday (Gil Talbot).
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Three homeruns by the Harvard softball team helped the Crimson to a split in the second day of action at the Miken Classic on the campus of Florida Atlantic. Harvard started the day with a 7-2 win over Michigan State and dropped a 4-0 decision to Stony Brook in Game 2. Harvard moves to 2-2 on the season.
Harvard got on the board in the bottom of the first against the Spartans, courtesy of Kasey Lange's third RBI in as many games. Michigan State answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the third as Kylene Hopkins plated a run on a fielder's choice and Lindsey Hansen drove an RBI single up the middle to give MSU a 2-1 lead. Emily Henderson led off the bottom half of the inning with a single and Whitney Shaw bashed a homerun down the leftfield line to swing the lead back in Harvard's favor, 3-2.
Allison Scott led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to right and after Shelbi Olson followed with a single, Ellen Macadam drove her in with a homerun to left center to push the lead to 6-2. Lange capped the Crimson scoring with a sacrifice fly to left, plating Henderson with Harvard's seventh run.
Rachel Brown picked up her second win in as many days, scattering five hits over seven innings and allowing two runs while fanning 11 Spartan hitters. Macadam finished the game 3-for-4 from the plate with two RBI and two runs scored and Shaw also went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in.
In game two, Stony Brook jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a bases-loaded walk. Bernadette Tenuto gave the Seawolves a 3-0 lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third and came home with Stony Brook's fourth run two innings later to cap the 4-0 win.
Macadam went 2-for-3 from the plate to lead the Crimson while Shaw and Stephanie Regan also picked up hits. Laura Ricciardone went 5.1 innings for the Crimson, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out six in the loss.
Harvard wraps up its stay at the Miken Classic tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. with a game against Providence.


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Release Details
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida Kathleen M. Williams issued a significant sentence in federal court for violations of U.S. consumer product safety laws. Hung Lam, President of LM Import-Export Inc., of Miami, Fla., was sentenced to 22 months incarceration in federal prison, three years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine for pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic and smuggle in banned children's products that contained lead and small parts, in violation of federal laws enforced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Mr. Lam was also convicted of one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods.
From about April 2000 through May 2011, defendant Lam and his related corporations LM Import-Export Inc., Lam's Investment Corp., and LK Toys Corporation, conspired to sell and distribute in commerce banned children's products imported from China. These actions were in violation of the Consumer Product Safety Act and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. These products allegedly presented the risk of choking, aspiration, and ingestion, and some contained lead above the federal limits.
"The sentences handed down by the court against these repeat violators are a victory for consumers and the rule of law," said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "I commend the staff at CPSC, Department of Justice, and Homeland Security for their cooperation and success in bringing the defendants to justice. This result demonstrates how serious we are about protecting American consumers from dangerous products and defending our consumer product safety laws."
To learn more about this conviction and the related civil penalty and injunction imposed, see the press release issued by the Department of Justice and the consent decrees in 2011 and 2012.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800


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|Home > International Environmental Law > Natural Disasters
|This subcategory contains materials on the international community's response to and preparation for natural disasters. See also the International Human Rights section of EISIL, under the subcategory Humanitarian Law.
Primary Documents
Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters
More Information
Web Sites


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Comprehensive brochures can also be viewed or downloaded in PDF format using the links next to each variety, where available.
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New Zealand remain on course to complete their perfect year after beating England 30-22 at Twickenham on Saturday, but they did it the hard way after the hosts fought back from 17-3 down in a thrilling encounter.
With Twickenham rocking as England led 22-20 and scented a second successive upset win following last year's 38-21 thrashing, the world champions regrouped and managed to send winger Julian Savea over for his second try.
Flyhalf Dan Carter lasted only 26 minutes in his 100th Test, but by that time his side were seemingly in control after Savea and Kieran Read scored.
England, with their forwards in total command, roared back with a Joe Launchbury try and superb goalkicking by Owen Farrell, and though they were edged out in the end, the performance will give their young, developing side huge encouragement.
Carter led the teams on to the pitch in recognition of his 100th cap — joining three other centurions in the All Black side — but he was hurt in an early tackle and replaced by Aaron Cruden.
Only seven of England's starting team from last year's stunning 38-21 victory survived, while 13 of the All Blacks were on duty, including Read, the No. 8 who has made such an impact this season.
He was to the fore again from the start as he delivered a trademark offload after 90 seconds, despite the attention of three tacklers, leaving Savea an easy score.
A rare charge by prop Owen Franks blasted another hole in England's defense and Read took advantage to stretch the lead to 17-3 after 17 minutes.
England looked to be reeling, but got back to basics and controlled the rest of the half, finding a way to smother and frustrate the All Blacks in a way that none of their southern hemisphere rivals ever seem able to do.
England's forwards hammered at the line with a series of rolling mauls and after the TV match official ruled out a score by No. 8 Billy Vunipola, he then found in favor of the hosts to allow one for Launchbury moments later.
Cruden marked his entry with a penalty after 27 minutes, but it was a rare highlight for the visitors as England poured on the pressure, allowing Farrell's boot to reduce the deficit to 20-16 at the break as Read was sin-binned as a result of persistent All Black indiscretions.
England maintained their tempo from the restart and after Cruden hit a post with a penalty Farrell slotted one to make it a one-point game with 25 minutes remaining.
As the only team to have beaten the All Blacks in 33 matches England had real belief and that grew further when another series of really aggressive attacks drew another penalty that Farrell landed to put them ahead after an hour.
While the home fans went wild, visiting captain Richie McCaw drew his players around him for a huddle as he tried to find a way to turn the tide.
It seemed to work and great work by Ma'a Nonu sent Savea over for his second try.
Cruden converted, then added another penalty to make sure and keep his side on course for a remarkable clean sweep of 14 wins from 14 games this year, which they can complete by beating Ireland in Dublin next week.
Meanwhile, Wales tasted victory in a home Autumn International for the first time since 2009 when they walloped Argentina 40-6 at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The Six Nations champions had gone 11 end-of-year Tests without a home victory, but they ended that run in clinical fashion against the Pumas despite having two players sent to the sin bin.


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Believe it or not, Lent begins next week!
As has become a tradition here on the blog, I've compiled a list of 40 ideas that I hope will help you make the most of this season of reflection, penitence, and preparation. Some ideas are repeated from last year, others are updated, and others are brand new. Please feel free to add your own ideas and plans to the comment section.
10 Questions to Ask Yourself:
1. When I wake up on Resurrection Sunday morning, how will I be different?
2. Is there a habit or sin in my life that repeatedly gets in the way of loving God with my whole heart or loving my neighbor as myself? How do I address that habit over the next 40 days?
3. Is there anyone in my life from whom I need to ask forgiveness or pursue reconciliation?
4. What practical steps can I take to carve out time for daily contemplation?
5. What spiritual discipline do I need to improve upon or want to try?
6. What are some things in my life that I tell myself I need but I don't? Can I give one or two of them up for 40 days?
7. Why am I giving this particular thing up? How does giving it up draw me closer to God and prepare me for Easter?
8. What am I going to tell myself when self-denial gets hard?
9. Is it necessary/helpful for me to share the nature my fast with others or should I keep it private?
10. What do the ashes mean to me this year? What does baptism mean to me this year?
10 Book Recommendations:
1. A Place at the Table: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor by Chris Seay
2. 40 Days of Living the Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight
3. Lectio Divina Bible Study: Learning to Pray in Scripture by Stephen J. Binz
4. Eastertide: Prayers for Lent Through Easter by Phyllis Tickle (link fixed)
5. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
6. A Book of Hours by Thomas Merton
7. Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (Orbis Books)
8. The "30 Days With a Great Spiritual Teachers" Series (I've used, and enjoyed, Julian of Norwich,Teresa of Avila, and Therese of Lisieux)
9. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ by Dallas Willard
10. Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent by Richard Rohr
10 Disciplines, Fasts, and Rituals:
1. Pray the offices for 40 days. The Daily Office, (or the Divine Hours), consists of four times of prayer each day: morning prayers (Matins/Laudes), midday prayers (Sext), evening prayers (Vespers), nighttime prayers (Compline). I love praying the hours, and for Lent this year, I'd like to try to get into a more consistent schedule, at least sticking to morning and evening prayers, no matter what. If it's your first time praying the hours, I recommend using Phyllis Tickle's The Divine Hours. If you're looking to add something new to your prayer schedule, I recommend A Book of Hours by Thomas or Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro.
2. Institute a Way of Light wreath or an Easter Tree (via Ann Voskamp)
3. Eat and drink like the poor for 40 days. Then donate the money you save on groceries to a charity or project that serves the poor in concrete ways. This is the challenge offered by Chris Seay in his new book,A Place at the Table. Chris is teaming up with Compassion International and Living Water for this project, and you can learn more on his Web site.
4. Take the 40 Days of Water challenge from Blood: Water Mission to help bring clean water to Uganda. Give up all beverages except for water for the 40 days of Lent 2012 and donate the money you save to Blood: Water Mission. They have a great Web site through which you can track your progress and learn more.
5. Traditionally, Christians abstained from eating meat during Lent, so consider joining millions of Christians around the world in this fast. It's a great way to feel connected to the historical, worldwide church.
6. Spend a weekend at a monastery. It sounds crazy, but I spent three days at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama as part of my "biblical womanhood" project last year, and it was one of the most meaningful times of prayer and contemplation I've ever experienced. There are dozens of Benedictine and Trappist monasteries around the country that open their doors to overnight guests, usually at very inexpensive rates. Just be sure to contact the monastery ahead of time to inquire about their guest services. (And remember to be respectful of the silence and prayer schedule while you are there. Many monks eat in their meals in silence...so don't go expecting to chat it up during lunchtime!)
7. Commit to memorizing a significant portion of Scripture, like the Sermon on the Mount, or Isaiah 58, or (one of my favorites) 1 John 4.
8. Unplug—TV, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, etc. This is perhaps the single best way to carve out some extra time in your day for prayer and meditation.
9. Commit to 40 days of praying for your enemies. And I don't mean ruminating over all they have done wrong and praying that they will change, but praying that they will be blessed, that they will find health and peace and grace, that they will come to know Jesus or experience the love of Christ more fully. (Does anyone know of a good resources on how to do this well? If so, please leave a note in the comment section.)
10. Get outside! Commit to spending at least 20 minutes a day outside – walking, meditating, taking pictures, journaling. The transition from winter to springtime provides so many beautiful, tangible reminders of the significance of hope and rebirth in the Christian faith.
10 Meditations:
1. Psalm 51
2. Psalm 139
3. Isaiah 58
4. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
5. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
6. Litany of Penitence (You can find another version in the Book of Common Prayer - I love this litany!)
7. Litany of Humility
8. Prayer of St. Francis
9. Penitential Prayer of St. Augustine
10. This one, from Thomas Merton:
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always,
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Please add your own ideas and plans to the list! I always love reading the comments after this one.
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Builder Style Manager: Creating Styles
To create a new style, click Create Style from the Styles page.
The Style Editor
The Style Editor page will appear.
Tip: Expand the Preview Section
Tip: Drag the Preview Section to the top to expand it full-width.
Global Setting
Setting a Style as Global applies the styling to all layouts that don't have a Style selected.
Note: Only one Style can be Global.
Style Manager Options
From here, add any styles to the corresponding sections:
- Site Background - Modify the main site background with a background color, image, attachement, repeat and positioning.
- Site Font - Modify the base font on the site by choosing the font family, size and color.
- Links - These options are for global styling of links. Choose Link color, decoration, hover color and hover decoration.
- Headings - These styles are mostly-useful for modifying styling of content as different sections allow for styling specific headings (such as h1, h2, h3, etc.).
- Container - These options style the Container. The container is the wrapper div that contains all the modules.
- Post/Page Content Styling - These options style the page and post content.
- Comments Styling - Styling for the wrapper around all the comments and styles for individual comments.
- Basic Module Styling - These options set some basic module styling options that apply to all modules. The background options can be overridden for specific modules in each modules' options.
- Module Sidebars (and Widgets) - These options style the background behind the modules in all module sidebars. Note that Widget Bar module sidebars are styled separately in the Widget Bar Modules section.
- Header Module - These options control the styling of the Header Module.
- Content Module - These options control the styling of the Content Module. The post and page content can be styled in the Post/Page Content Styling section. Comments can be styled in the Comments Styling section.
- Navigation Module - These settings style the unhovered, hovered and active styling appearance of the Navigation Modules.
- Image Module - These options control the styling of the Image Module.
- Widget Bar Module - These options style the Widget Bar module container that holds all the widget areas, the Widgets and Widget titles
- HTML Module - These options control the styling of the HTML Module.
- Footer Module - These options control the styling of the Footer Module.
Applying Styles
Click Save Style. You'll now see your new Style added to the list.
Styles can also be applied while adding or editing a Layout. Selecting a Style from the dropdown list will override the Global Style (if one is set).


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Pandora tock fell off a cliff Thursday — closing down almost 12 percent — on reports that Apple is on track to launch a free streaming service in the first quarter of 2013.
CNBC first reported in early September that Apple was in talks with the music labels to launch a free, ad-supported streaming music service. On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that talks were on track to close at the end of November, with a service launching as early as January.
(Click here to get the latest quotes from Pandora.)
Not so fast — on Thursday, my sources told me that those talks are ongoing but that at this point they're not advanced enough for deals to close before December. Therefore, a service probably wouldn't launch until February at the earliest. (Read More: Apple Plans Web Radio Challenge to Pandora.)
One music industry source said Apple wants to launch its service around the Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, and that it would launch if it had deals with the two biggest labels — Universal Music and Sony Music — even if the others aren't on board.
Apple's service would be free and ad-supported, and sources said that Apple would pay the labels a licensing fee upfront and do an advertising revenue share. It wouldn't be a true Internet radio service, like Pandora or MOG, which could be why Pandora rebounded a bit after that initial drop.
True Internet radio services are regulated by the government with fixed fees and limits on the number of times per hour a song can be played. The fact that Apple is negotiating with the labels directly means it's more likely to be an on-demand streaming service like Spotify. Still, one could argue that any free music service is competition for Pandora. And it doesn't help that a big chunk of Pandora's traffic comes from Apple devices. (Read More: Pandora Well Positioned for Mobile Growth: CEO.)
One point of concern for the labels in these negotiations: Apple doesn't currently have a dedicated ad sales team in place for the service, and it doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to advertising. (Its iAd venture was a disappointment, and now Apple lags both Google and Facebook in mobile advertising). That said, mobile advertising is a huge growth area, as we heard in both Googleand Facebook's earnings. And it certainly makes sense for Apple to find a new way to tap into growing marketer demand to reach people on their iPhones.
Apple isn't the only company looking to get into the streaming music business. Microsoft just announced its big XBox Music launch to go along with Windows 8. The four new music services includes a free ad-supported music option. (Read More: Microsoft Jumps Into Music With the XBox.)
Microsoft is offering the free service to draw consumers into its music ecosystem, with the hope it'll help sell devices. Apple already has people hooked with iTunes, but if it's going to keep selling songs it needs to make sure people are turning to its products for free streaming, not Spotify, Pandora, or Microsoft.
Now we're watching to see if Apple can wrap up these negotiations in time for a well-timed Grammys launch.
—By CNBC's Julia Boorstin
Questions? Comments? firstname.lastname@example.com