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|Refresh the image
Highlights: Visit Orlando (Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, EPCOT Center, Gatorland, Magic Kingdom, Orlando International Premium Outlets, SeaWorld Orlando, Typhoon Lagoon, Universal's Islands of Adventure). Inclusions: 6 nights hotel accomodation, Transportation (hotel shuttle bus for theme parks)
|Third Person
|Fourth Person
(Age 0-12 years old)
(Age 0-12 years old)
We're constantly adding new departures dates and times, as they're made available to TakeTours by our local suppliers.
In some cases our suppliers have not yet confirmed their future schedules. So bookmark this page and keep checking back with us if you don't see the dates you're looking for.
We also recommend you sign up for TakeTours's monthly email newsletter, in order to stay on top of the latest deals & travel news.
|Theme Park Options
|Date / Date Range
|Legoland Theme Park + Legoland Water Park - Surcharge
|2019-03-09 - 2019-10-30
|Gulf of Mexico Tour
|St.Augustine One Day Tour
Admission (Optional): Adult $5; Child $5; Transportation
Admission (Optional): Adult $25; Child (3-9 yrs) $15; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $25
Alternatively, guests may choose a special one day tour (transportation and guide included) to either the Kennedy Space Center, a Gulf of Mexico Coastline tour (Only Wed & Sat. The issue of weather or boat of deep sea fishing will result in the cancellation) or St.Augustine one-day tour( Only Thu & Sun) . )
Enjoy the daytime at the theme park you choose, you also have a chance to see the captivating stage show combining silence, laughters, fantastic performances and the astounding music at the largest venue of BLUE MAN GROUP or Cirque du Soleil!
Admission (Optional): Adult $72; Child (3-9 yrs) $72; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $72|Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00am - 5:00pm, Sat - Sun 9:00am - 6:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $66; Child (3-9 yrs) $60; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $66
We suggest that guests go to the Blue Man Group theater after Universal Studio or Universal Adventure Island. (The guests will be asked to go to the theater by themselves if choose other theme parks on the same day.) After the show, the guests can get back to hotel by hiring cab themselves or book the back-to-hotel service from the tour guide in advance at $10/person. (This offer is restricted to the guests of purchasing the tickets from tour leaders.)
Promotion: Orlando guest can get one free adult or child (if the second customer is child) ticket once he/she purchased one ticket from our tour guide during 9/12/2016 - 11/30/2016 (Based on customer?s attending date).
Admission (Optional): Adult $90; Adult (Fri, Sat) $101; Child (3-9 yrs, Sun - Thu) $40; Child (3-9 yrs, Fri, Sat) $45|Opening Hours: Show Time: 6:00pm/9:00pm nightly, 7:00pm Sunday
Admission (Optional): Adult $130; Child (3-9 yrs) $124; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $130; price Included Tax|Opening Hours: 9:00am - 9:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $130; Child (3-9 yrs) $122; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $130; including TAX|Opening Hours: 8:00am - 9:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $130; Child (3-9 yrs) $122; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $130; price not including TAX|Opening Hours: 8:00am - 10:30pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $106; Child (3-9 yrs) $106; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $106
Admission (Optional): Adult $106; Child (3-12 yrs) $106; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $106|Opening Hours: Mar 9 - Oct 30
Admission (Optional): Adult $138; Child (3-9 yrs) $133; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $138; including TAX|Opening Hours: 9:00am - 10:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $112; Child (3-9 yrs) $112; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $112; price not including TAX|Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm, Sat - Sun 9:00am - 9:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $74; Child (3-9 yrs) $68; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $74
Admission (Optional): Adult $143; Child (3-9 yrs) $138; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $143
Admission (Optional): Adult $143; Child (3-9 yrs) $138; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $143
As a reminder, due to the rule imposed by Universal Parks, if you choose Volcano Bay Water Park as one of your destination, you must also purchase the tickets of Universal Studios and Island of Adventure as well. For those who wish to go Volcano Bay Water Park, please reserve 3 days for the three theme parks.
Admission (Optional): Adult $61; Child (3-12 yrs) $50; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $61|Opening Hours: Mon - Sun 9:00am - 6:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $24; Child (3-9 yrs) $19; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $24|Opening Hours: Mon - Sun 9:00am - 6:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $25; Child (3-12 yrs) $20; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $25
Admission (Optional): Adult $65; Child (3-9 yrs) $45; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $65
A: Go with the great value racing package which includes 8-min racing, about 15 rounds. Its indoor location also includes a variety of fun for the whole family, such as bowling lunch package (beef burger or chicken sandwich + drinks), gaming and billiards. Please schedule your departure flight for after 3:00pm. (It will be effected from OCT.15 2019)
B: Head to I-Drive 360 square for visiting Orlando Eye, SeaWorld, and Madame Tussauds Wax Museum at your own expense. After that, you will be transferred to the airport. Please schedule your departure flight for after 2:00pm.
C: Go outlet shopping at one of the area's major shopping center. ($5 per person for transportation and additional $5 per person for drop-off fee.) Please schedule your departure flight for after 2:00pm.
D: Take an exciting helicopter tour over the city of Orlando. Please schedule your departure flight for after 2:00pm.
E. Enjoy another of the theme parks mentioned above except Legoland at your own expense. Please schedule your departure flight for after 5:00pm, or 7:00pm if you choose to visit Kennedy Space Center (at a price of $103 per person, admission fee + transportation, also have a chance to take the Airboat Rides at a price of $40 per person ).
F. Go to the Gatorland ($32/person).Please schedule your departure flight for 3:00pm.
Admission (Optional): Adult $30; Child (3-9 yrs) $25; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $30|Opening Hours: Mon - Thu Sep 5 - Dec 31 10:00am - 10:00pm, Fri - Sat Sep 5 - Dec 31 10:00am - 12:00pm, Sun Sep 5 - Dec 31 10:00am - 10:00pm, Mon - Tue Jan 1 - Sep 5 10:00am - 10:00pm, Wed - Sun Jan 1 10:00am - 12:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $112; Child (3-9 yrs) $112; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $112; price not including TAX|Opening Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm, Sat - Sun 9:00am - 9:00pm
Opening Hours: Sun - Thu 10:00am - 10:00pm, Fri - Sat 10:00am - 11:00am
Admission (Optional): Adult $32; Child (3-12 yrs) $21; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $32; Gatorland|Opening Hours: Mon - Sun 10:00am - 5:00pm
Admission (Optional): Adult $39; Child (3-9 yrs) $39; Senior (Over 65 yrs) $39
|Cape Canaveral, FL
|Kennedy Space Center (Optional)
|$50 (3-12 yrs)
|$61 (Over 65 yrs)
|Transportion to Kennedy Space (Optional)
|$40 (3-9 yrs)
|$50 (Over 62 yrs)
|Clearwater, FL
|Clearwater Marine Aquarium (Optional)
|$19 (3-9 yrs)
|$24 (Over 65 yrs)
|Dolphin Cruise (Optional)
|$20 (3-12 yrs)
|$25 (Over 65 yrs)
|Gulf of Mexico Fishing Trip (Optional)
|$45 (3-9 yrs)
|$65 (Over 65 yrs)
|Transportion to Gulf Coast (Optional)
|$25 (3-9 yrs)
|Orlando, FL
|Aquatica Orlando (Optional)
|$72 (3-9 yrs)
|$72 (Over 65 yrs)
|Blizzard Beach (Optional)
|$60 (3-9 yrs)
|$66 (Over 65 yrs)
|Blue Man Group (Optional)
|Disney 2 Days (Optional)
|$220 (3-9 yrs)
|$230 (Over 65 yrs)
|Disney 3 Days (Optional)
|$320 (3-9 yrs)
|$331 (Over 65 yrs)
|Disney 4 Days (Optional)
|$412 (3-9 yrs)
|$440 (Over 65 yrs)
|Disney's Animal Kingdom (Optional)
|$122 (3-9 yrs)
|$130 (Over 65 yrs)
|Disney's Hollywood Studios (Optional)
|$122 (3-9 yrs)
|$130 (Over 65 yrs)
|EPCOT Center (Optional)
|$124 (3-9 yrs)
|$130 (Over 65 yrs)
|Gatorland (Optional)
|$21 (3-12 yrs)
|$32 (Over 65 yrs)
|I-Drive Nascar (Optional)
|$39 (3-9 yrs)
|$39 (Over 65 yrs)
|Legoland Florida (Optional)
|$106 (3-9 yrs)
|$106 (Over 65 yrs)
|Legoland Water Park (Optional)
|$106 (3-12 yrs)
|$106 (Over 65 yrs)
|Magic Kingdom (Optional)
|$133 (3-9 yrs)
|$138 (Over 65 yrs)
|Orlando Eye (Optional)
|$25 (3-9 yrs)
|$30 (Over 65 yrs)
|Orlando International Premium Outlets (Optional)
|Orlando Night Tour (Optional)
|$15 (3-9 yrs)
|$25 (Over 65 yrs)
|SeaWorld Orlando (Optional)
|$112 (3-9 yrs)
|$112 (Over 65 yrs)
|Typhoon Lagoon (Optional)
|$68 (3-9 yrs)
|$74 (Over 65 yrs)
|Universal 1 Day P2P (Optional)
|$187 (3-9 yrs)
|$192 (Over 62 yrs)
|Universal 2 Day Base (Optional)
|$235 (3-9 yrs)
|$245 (Over 65 yrs)
|Universal 2 Day P2P (Optional)
|$298 (3-9 yrs)
|$308 (Over 62 yrs)
|Universal 3-Day P2P (Optional)
|$395 (3-9 yrs)
|$405 (Over 65 yrs)
|Universal Studios Florida (Optional)
|$138 (3-9 yrs)
|$143 (Over 65 yrs)
|Universal's Islands of Adventure (Optional)
|$138 (3-9 yrs)
|$143 (Over 65 yrs)
The purchase of any travel services represents your acceptance Terms & Conditions set out herein. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand these Terms & Conditions prior to booking.
Booking changes
A fee may be charged for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the booking is confirmed. Name changes or corrections may be treated as a cancellation and cancellation fees will apply. A change of tour date or tour itinerary may be treated as a cancellation, and normal cancellation fees will apply. Please be noted that we do not allow departure change 48 hours before departure.
Cancellations and Cancellation Fees
Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed and pending bookings. Therefore, cancellation penalties and or fees will apply. Time of cancellation will be determined when notice is received and confirmed by our office. Notice of cancellation must be made directly to TakeTours by email or through web mail at Contact Us .
Cancellation penalties per person. (For cancellation or change of departure date)(Notification day and departure day are not counted)
NOTE: We cannot grant any refunds more than 30 days after completion of tour. If any personal factor (Missing travel documents, being late, sickness, accident etc.) resulted customer not to attend the tour or to discontinue the tour, there would be no refund and any make up service. Our company has no responsibility for customer's any activity since the termination of the tour.
Itinerary Variations
We constantly strives to improve tour itineraries and features. If such improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary - we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. At certain peak periods duplicate departures may operate, and sometimes in reverse order in which case hotels may vary from those stated on the itinerary pages.
Tour Cancellation:
We reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control. If cancellation is made any time prior to departure* of the tour, TakeTours' only liability will be to refund to the passenger the amount it has received for the tour booking. We will try to re-book the same or similar tour.. Please note that we are not liable for any cancellation penalties incurred on any other travel arrangements including air tickets purchased separately from customers.
We are not responsible for any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations.


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Welcome to EURO Idols Video Collection!
Super Sexy movies in Very High Quality. 11 full playing movies. Aproximately 10hrs and 9GB of hot stuff.
Movies offered in 2 formats: MP4 & FLV. Multi-platform, easy playing. 1 minute long video previews for each single movie.
Clickable large photo screen caps and samples for each movie. You know what you are getting before you download.

subset: commoncrawl


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WASHINGTON, May 8 (UPI) -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki ordered a face-to-face audit of all VA clinics Thursday. The VA Chief was also subpoenaed by the House Veterans Affairs Committee earlier in the day.
It's fair to say: Eric Shinseki is having a rough week.
Monday, Daniel Dellinger, the national commander of the American Legion, issued a statement calling for Shinseki's resignation.
Tuesday, Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Arizona, wrote a letter to Shinseki, calling for a nationwide audit of the VA's scheduling system.
Wednesday, several GOP representatives echoed Dellinger's call, publicly asking the secretary to step down from the floor of the Senate.
Thursday, the house panel agreed in a verbal vote to subpoena the secretary.
The subpoena, the demand for the audits, and the calls for Shinseki's resignation all come in response to a recent records falsification scandal at the Phoenix VA. Allegations that veterans died avoidable deaths due to delays in healthcare caused by the department and covered up by its administration with a secret waiting list have put a target on Shinseki's back.
Shinseki was quick to respond when CNN broke the original story about the scandal at the Phoenix VA, saying: "These allegations, if true, are absolutely unacceptable and if the Inspector General's investigation substantiates these claims, swift and appropriate action will be taken."
The secretary immediately launched an investigation and placed the director and other management of the facility on administrative leave pending the findings. However, veterans and Congress still seem to want accountability to come from the top.
But Shinseki told the Wall Street Journal Tuesday that he would not step down. "I serve at the pleasure of the president," Shinseki said when asked if he would resign. "I signed on to make some changes. I have work to do."
Through his press secretary, Jay Carney, Obama voiced his continued support of Shinseki, "The President remains confident in Secretary Shinseki's ability to lead the department and take appropriate action."


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For Wireless Meat Thermometer (44-1794).
At Clas Ohlson you can always shop securely and quickly. You will always have an open return policy up to 90 days. Your order will usually be dispatched within 2-3 days. Exception to this is the busy season such as Christmas.
Usual questions about returns
Except where we state otherwise, we provide a two year guarantee on our products to cover materials and manufacturing defects and other defects that affect the product?s normal functioning under the guarantee period. This excludes consumable products, such as lightbulbs and batteries, which by their nature cannot be returned in a new or unused condition. For further information on other such consumable products excluded from the guarantee, please contact our customer service department on 0845 300 9799.
Read more in our terms and conditions of purchase
Are you not happy with your purchase or have you changed your mind? Don't worry, at Clas Ohlson you will always have an open return of 90 days. To get your money back you must:
Read more about returns in our terms and conditions of purchase


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This author's biography has not yet been added to our database.
Kevin Keller is the first openly gay character in the history of Archie Comics and currently stars in his own best-selling series of comic books. In this special paper-over-board novel, we focus on Kevin's early, awkward years and the struggles and joys of his inspirational road to self-discovery. This sweet and funny coming-of-age story features a strong anti-bullying message and is a perfect gift for Archie fans, parents, and anyone who has?or is?struggling to find their place.


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A West Point think tank responsible for training future U.S. Army officers has released an extensive report warning of a growing domestic threat from "far right" conservative groups it says are prone to violence. The study, authored by Arie Perliger of the U.S. Military Academy's Combating Terrorism Center, is entitled Challenges From the Sidelines: Understanding America's Violent Far-Right, and while much of its focus appears to center on white supremacist and Aryan/"Christian identity" groups, it also targets groups that value the personal liberties guaranteed in the Constitution and emphasize the need to limit the power of the federal government.
These "anti-federalist" groups, as Perliger labels those who embrace a limited, constitutionally defined role for government, "espouse strong convictions regarding the federal government, believing it to be corrupt and tyrannical, with a natural tendency to intrude on individuals' civil and constitutional rights," Perliger writes in his report. Additionally, they "support civil activism, individual freedoms, and self government."
Perliger, whose report was first noted by the Washington Times, makes a broad distinction between Americans who embrace conservative, Americanist values, and those committed to liberal-leftist ideologies, arguing that while "liberal worldviews are future- or progressive-oriented, conservative perspectives are more past-oriented, and in general, are interested in preserving the status quo." He goes on to charge that the "far right represents a more extreme version of conservatism, as its political vision is usually justified by the aspiration to restore or preserve values and practices that are part of the idealized historical heritage of the nation or ethnic community."
While the ideology of "far right" groups "is designed to exclude minorities and foreigners," the report adds, "the liberal-democratic system is designed to emphasize civil rights, minority rights and the balance of power."
Among the peculiar characteristics of the "anti-federalist" crowd is a strong belief in the sovereignty of the United States, along with the conviction that "the American political system and its proxies were hijacked by external forces interested in promoting a New World Order in which the United States will be absorbed into the United Nations or another version of global government."
Perliger warns, "Extremists in the anti-federalist movement direct most [of] their violence against the federal government and its proxies in law enforcement."
Framing this violence motif around the example of Timothy McVeigh and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Perliger claims that such violence "derived from the modern anti-federalist movement appeared in full force only in the early to mid-1990s and is interested in undermining the influence, legitimacy and effective sovereignty of the federal government and its proxy organizations." The report claims that there were a total of 350 "attacks initiated by far-right groups/individuals" in 2011 alone.
The report doesn't specifically attack groups promoting pro-life values, but it does manage to take a broad swipe at shadowy "anti-abortionists," which it claims have been "extremely productive during the last two decades, amassing 227 attacks, many of them perpetrated without the responsible perpetrators identified or caught."
While thus far few conservative groups have weighed in on the report, those who have commented have noted the apparent political motivation at its foundation. Herb Titus, a constitutional law professor and former dean of the Regent University School of Law, told WorldNetDaily that it seemed Perliger "has adopted the strategy of many left-wing members of the professoriate, concentrating on the behavior of a few in order to discredit many who hold similar views but who do not engage in any form of violence."
Titus said it is obvious that Perliger "disagrees with those who favor small government, cutting back of federal government encroachments upon the powers of the state, and to discredit this movement focuses on a few gun-toting militia." He added that "like so many in the Obama administration, Perliger does not want to engage in any dialogue on the issues, but just discredit an entire political movement by ad hominem charged words. Perliger is not a serious scholar, but a propagandist for the existing regime."
The Washington Times quoted an unnamed Republican congressional staffer as saying that if the Defense Department "is looking for places to cut spending, this junk study is ground zero. Shouldn't the Combating Terrorism Center be combating radical Islam around the globe instead of perpetuating the left's myth that right-wingers are terrorists?"
National Review noted that Perliger's study is not the first time the federal government has employed "sloppy work and a broadbrush analysis" in an attempt to smear the conservative movement. "In 2009, liberals in the Department of Homeland Security prepared a report defining 'rightwing extremism in the United States' as including not just hate groups, but also groups that reject federal authority in favor of federalism or local control," recalled National Review's John Fund. He added that the DHS report, which was sent to hundreds of local police departments and officials, "bore the ominous title: 'Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" and made the audacious claim that "right wing extremists have capitalized on the election of the first African-American president, and are focusing their efforts to recruit new members, mobilize existing supporters, and broaden their scope and appeal through propaganda, but they have not yet turned to attack planning."
Fund observed that a "casual reader might have concluded that 'attack planning' by said groups is inevitable. But the report is silent on just how the groups will attack, and indeed since 2009 there has been precious little evidence any of them ever did." He noted that following "much public ridicule, the DHS report vanished from public view as did a similar effort at the same time by the Missouri Highway Patrol, which had to retract its own report linking conservative groups with militia activity and mentioning 2008 presidential candidates Ron Paul and Bob Barr."
In 2009, William F. Jasper reported in The New American on the eight-page Missouri Highway Patrol embarrassment entitled "The Modern Militia Movement," noting that it "specifically mentions by name Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas), who ran for president in the 2008 Republican Party primaries, and third-party candidates Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin. The clear implication is that people sporting bumper stickers or literature related to these candidates should be viewed as potential threats that view all law enforcement as 'the enemy.'"
More recently, The New American's Alex Newman reported on a Department of Justice-funded anti-terrorism presentation that equated widely circulated conservative materials — including a popular bumper sticker advocating for a U.S. withdrawal from the United Nations — with right-wing extremism.
That this latest attack on conservative values should come from one of the nation's chief training centers for military leaders is particularly troubling. While the report "is outrageous in and of itself," commented one conservative observer, writing in the Washington Times, "it speaks of a far worse scenario at the hallowed West Point: the rise of liberalism within the faculty there and their desire to shape the next generation of warrior/patriots into left-of-center thinkers."


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Yesterday we made a pop bottle ecosystem. It was pretty simple to make once you have all the supplies on hand. We found our inspiration here on Pinterest:
Source: cranberrycorner.blogspot.com via Sarah on Pinterest
We made the following changes:
1. The pet store didn't sell duck weed so I told them to sell me the hardiest most weed-like plant they have. They did. No idea what it is called, so please don't ask. It was cheap though.
2. I didn't include any fish because I was afraid they would die. We got two snails instead.
3. We had to cut slits on the middle layer that joins the two bottles. Not a bid deal but it helped to slide it.
We used old sage from outside to feed the crickets until the rye grass grows. Hope they like sage!
Now we sit back and wait for nature to run its course.


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Film: My Week with Marilyn
Director: Simon Curtis
Program: Centerpiece Gala
Tickets: Oct 9: 6:30p 9:00p , Oct 12
Why you should see it:
First a few necessary particulars. The film is based on memoirs by Colin Clark. Clark was Laurence Olivier's assistant during his 1957 feature production The Prince and the Showgirl, which Olivier directed, produced and starred in alongside Marilyn Monroe. The movie received critical acclaim, did strong business and secured five BAFTA nominations. When you think iconic sex symbols, we all know very well who heads that list. Marilyn Monroe was equal parts drop dead beauty and accomplished artist. My Week With Marilyn examines the well-documented battle between Monroe (Michelle Williams) and Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) over her working methods and personality. In addition, the film takes an intriguing look at the starlet's humanity, showing a side of Monroe practically never seen before. Obviously these are huge shoes for an actress to fill, but two-time Academy Award-nominated Williams always delivers. My Week with Marilyn also offers a stellar supporting cast including: Judi Dench, Derek Jacobi, Zoë Wanamaker, Dominic Cooper and Eddie Redmayne as "Colin Clark."
Track record:
The film will have its world premiere at the 49th New York Film Festival.
About the director:
Simon Curtis has produced and directed numerous British television projects such as Cranford, Hunter (both mini-series) and A Short Stay in Switzerland. My Week with Marilyn marks his first theatrical feature.
What the critics are saying:
No critics have seen it yet, but stay tuned to the NYFF Facebook and Twitter pages for new reviews of this and other festival films.
What the NYFF programmers say:
"My Week with Marilyn is our Centerpiece film. This is by a relatively new director, though he has a career in British television, Simon Curtis. The story deals with the time that Marilyn Monroe spent in England working on the film The Prince and the Showgirl, which was directed by and starred Laurence Olivier. At the time, the pairing was much discussed: Laurence Olivier—perhaps at that point the world's most famous classical actor—and Marilyn Monroe, Hollywood's biggest star at that moment, coming together. As you can imagine, there were a lot of fireworks—some out in the open, others more behind the scenes. During all this, a young man who was one of Olivier's assistants actually grew very close to her at that time. This film is based on his memoir of the shoot itself. Michelle Williams plays Marilyn Monroe, in a truly Oscar-worthy performance. I think that she is probably the early favorite for it. It's the first time, really, I've seen Monroe or a Monroe-like character portrayed as anything but caricature. It's truly a great performance. Kenneth Branagh plays Laurence Olivier, which is interesting since he is clearly his idol, so it's curious to see him enacting that role. All in all, a very strong film." —Richard Peña, Program Director


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Product Highlights
Sample Available
Product Benefits and Features
Available in a wide variety of colors, including blends, our Veryfine Cut Eco-Spring Fill is an economical way to fill your gift baskets and boxes.
- Fill is sold in 10 lb. boxes.
- 10 lb. box of shred measures 24" L x 16" W x 12" H.
- Eco-Spring Fill is made with 100% recycled paper.
- Recyclable.
- Stiff enough to hold items in packaging, Veryfine Cut is perfect for baskets, boxes, containers or bags.
- Veryfine Cut is a Trademark of Spring-Fill Industries, Inc.
- A sample is available for this product for a nominal delivery fee of $5.00 (plus applicable sales tax). Please contact customer service if you would like to order a sample. This will be processed net 15 unless otherwise indicated.
- Made in USA.


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Robin Roberts back with "GMA" team
ABC's Robin Roberts, 52, returned to the "Good Morning America" anchor chair Wednesday, with a promise to share her story in prime time on "20/20," locally at 9 p.m. Friday on Channel 7.
She's been checking in with fans via the internet during her medical leave, which may have covered up how serious her condition was. In last week's People magazine she talked about how close to death she was following her bone marrow transplant.
And while some critics have disapproved of ABC's using Roberts' health as a promotional tool, the audience has been supportive. Five months to the day since she underwent a transplant to treat myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS, a rare blood disorder, Roberts said, "I keep pinching myself and I realize that this is real. This is really happening. Faith, family and friends have brought me to this moment and I am so full of gratitude."


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I am your typical human. I often do the easiest things first before the more difficult. As I load the photos I have to the albums on my blog, I pick the families for which I have a smaller number. I pick the easiest fruit from the tree.
But I think this is the first instance where I have loaded some family history photos from my mother's side of the tree. Christiana Wilhelmina Knauke is my mother's mother's father's mother. That makes her my Great Great Grandmother. Here is her family. I will not include the Andra line for when I upload those photos later.
Karl Friedrich Knauke
30 Apr 1835 Trachau, Dresden, Saxony
27 Jun 1880 Unknown
26 May 1867 Unknown
Wilhelmina Richter
9 Nov 1837 Lindenburg, Oppach, Bautzen, Saxony
11 Jun 1911 Unknown
Amalia Augusta Knauke
1 Nov 1867 Radebuel, Dresden, Saxony
6 May 1947 Unknown
married Mr. Lippman He was a postal worker who disappeared during WWII
Christiana Wilhelmina Knauke (Great Great Grandmother)
24 Oct 1869 Radebuel, Dresden, Saxony
25 Dec 1957 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
married Friedrich Theodor Andra
married Johann Wendel
immigrated about 1911
Hermann Robert Knauke
22 Jun 1873 Radebuel, Dresden, Saxony
21 Jun 1932 Unknown
married Amalie Martha Richter
Anna Bertha Knauke
9 Mar 1876 Radebuel, Dresden, Saxony
19 Feb 1915 Unknown
married Bruno Kamprath Leuben
Martha Clara Knauke
24 Nov 1878 Radebuel, Dresden, Saxony
12 Aug 1920 Unknown
married Hermann Richard Gorisch
Christiana is the only one who came to the United States. Her husband was killed in a quarry accident. She sent her son to America with LDS missionaries two years before she and the rest of the family went. She moved into a abandoned home near the Jordan River in Salt Lake County. She raised pigeons for food and lived off the land. She later married Mr. Wendel.


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Quarter Finals 2 & 4 – 3 Night Travel Package • RWC 2019, Japan
Quarter Final 2 (Winner of Pool B v Runner-up Pool A)
Quarter Final 4 (Winner of Pool A v Runner-up Pool B)
Quarter Final 2 – Saturday 19 October, 2019
Quarter Final 4 – Sunday 20 October, 2019.
Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Metropolitan (both matches).
Package Includes:
- Three (3) nights in a choice of quality accommodation. – View Hotel Pricing.
- Breakfast daily.
- Category D ticket to both matches. – View Ticket Upgrades – View Stadium Seating Maps.
- Suica Travel Card.
- Official Rugby World Cup 2019 Team Cap.
- Official Rugby World Cup 2019 Pre-Tournament Magazine.
- Lonely Planet Japanese Phrasebook & Dictionary.
- Booking and Ticket Handling Fee.
HIGHLIGHTS: ? 3 nights 4-star Accommodation ? 2 x Category D Ticket (upgrades available) ? Suica Travel Card ? Plus more!
TM © Rugby World Cup Limited 2015
- These prices do not include international flights from Australia (available late 2018).
- Discounts. Small groups of 10 or more must be booked at the same time. Special Offers & Discounts does not apply to hospitality.
- For full Sportsnet Holidays terms and conditions, please click here.
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Shin-Yokohama Standard Room (Double)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Osaki Standard Room (Double)
|Extra Night*
|Keikyu Ex Inn Shinagawa-Station, Tokyo Standard Room
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Yokohama Kannai Standard Room (Double)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Yokohama Koen Standard Room (Double Only)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ariake Standard Room (Double)
|Extra Night*
|Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Standard Room
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Nishi Shinjuku Standard Room (Double)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Shin-Yokohama Standard Room (Twin)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Yokohama Kannai Standard Room (Twin)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ginza Standard Room (Double)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Nishi Shinjuku Standard Room (Twin)
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokyo Ginza Standard Room (Twin)
|Extra Night*
|Tokyo Nihombashi Suitengumae Deluxe Apartment
|Extra Night*
|Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel Superior Twin Room (Twin Only
|Extra Night*
|Tokyo Nihombashi Suitengumae Japanese Deluxe Apartment
|Extra Night*
|Daiwa Roynet Nishi Shinjuku Junior Suite
|Extra Night*
- Quarter Final 2 - Category C $157 AUD per person
- -
- Quarter Final 2 - Category B $315 AUD per person
- -
- Quarter Final 2 - Hospitality (includes Category A) $- AUD per person
- On Application
- Quarter Final 4 - Category C $157 AUD per person
- -
- Quarter Final 4 - Category B $315 AUD per person
- -
- Quarter Final 4 - Hospitality (includes Category A) $- AUD per person
- On Application
- Exclusive Welcome Reception & Match Preview - Quarter Finals $250 AUD per person
- Tonight, gather together with your fellow travellers as we preview the upcoming Quarter Finals.
Joining us this evening will be a Rugby legend special guest who will be giving some great insights into what it's like to take to the field during a Rugby World Cup. You will also have the opportunity to meet & greet the special guest, get yourself a photo and/or an autograph.
A night filled with good food, cold beverages, music and a fantastic atmosphere surrounded by likeminded fans is one not be missed as we head into the tail end of the tournament!
Previous Sportsnet RWC guests have included Tim Horan, Phil Waugh, Justin Marshall, Bob Skinstad and Joe Roff among others.
- Entry & reserved seat
- Interview with a RWC legend
- Preview of the upcoming Quarter Finals
- Photo and autograph opportunities with the special guest
- Dinner & beverage package
- Opportunity to meet other Sportsnet travellers
- Great prizes to be won and more!
Dress Code:
Neat casual - team merchandise encouraged!
- Sportsnet Holidays reserves the right to change the functions time, venue and inclusions at any time.
Q. Is Sportsnet Holidays an Official Travel Agent for Rugby World Cup 2019, Japan?
A. Yes, Sportsnet Holidays (Sportsnet) has been appointed as an "Official Travel Agent" (OTA) for Rugby World Cup 2019, Japan by Sports Travel and Hospitality (STH). The STH has been appointed by Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) to manage and implement the Official Travel and Official Hospitality Programmes for Rugby World Cup 2019, Japan.
Q. Who can Sportsnet Holidays market and sell packages to?
A. Sportsnet has been appointed to market, sell and distribute Official Travel packages for the entire tournament that cater for the varying requirements of the Rugby supporter.
Sportsnet is entitled to market, sell and distribute Official Travel packages to customers located in its Defined Territory (being Australia) as well as anywhere in the Rest of the World excluding other Defined Territories. (See EVENT, What is a Defined Territory?)
A customer must have a billing address which is their permanent and primary residential address in the Territory.
Q. What is a Defined Territory?
A. There are seven Defined Territories including Australia, Argentina, France, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. Rest of the World means worldwide excluding the seven Defined Territories.
Q. What is the date of the event?
A. The six week festival of Rugby featuring top players from all parts of the globe will kick-off on Friday 20 September 2019 at the iconic Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo where host nation Japan will meet Europe 1. The Final will be held at International Stadium, Yokohama on Saturday 2 November 2019.
Q. Where is the event being held?
A. The tournament's 48 matches will be played across twelve venues spread over Japan, providing visitors the perfect opportunity to combine great Rugby action on the field with an amazing culture and travel experience off it.
Q. What are the match kick-off times?
A. The twelve Rugby World Cup 2019 match venues and the daily match schedule were announced in November 2017. The development of this schedule has balanced the considerations of the teams and players, ticketing, match day travel considerations and global broadcast schedules to maximise the global audience for Rugby's pinnacle event.
The full Rugby World Cup 2019 match schedule with kick-off times can be found at:
Q. When do Official Travel packages as part of the Official Travel Programme go on sale?
A. The Official Travel Programme sales can commence in January 2018. Clients who have paid Sportsnet a $50 fully refundable deposit will have first access to tickets and packages followed soon after by the general public. The Official Hospitality Programme will be available from Thursday 1 February 2018.
Q. What types of packages do you offer?
A. We have packages to cater for all needs including the Rugby supporter and corporate incentive and reward market:
Fully Escorted Tours
Match Breaks (tickets & accommodation)
Mix n Match (any match, anywhere)
Flight & Ticket
Q. Will you offer accommodation and tickets for matches not part of your Escorted Tours or Match Breaks?
A. Yes, Sportsnet has access to accommodation and tickets to all matches of Rugby World Cup 2019. Please speak to one of our expert consultants who will be able to Mix n Match any match anywhere with accommodation and/or flights and tailor make a package for you.
Q. Am I allowed to remove any of the inclusions from your packages?
A. This depends on which package you purchase. No element of an Escorted Tour can be removed except the international flights, airport transfers and/or all tickets should one of your party not wish to attend any of the matches included in the tour. Match Breaks and Mix n Match packages require a minimum accommodation and tickets however all other package inclusions can be removed which may provide a small saving. Flight & Ticket packages must include minimum flights and a ticket however all other package inclusions can be removed.
Q. Do your Escorted Tours require minimum numbers to proceed?
A. Yes, all Escorted Tours offered by Sportsnet for Rugby World Cup 2019 require a minimum 30 passengers to proceed. A tour may be cancelled if the number of travellers is less than the minimum number of travellers required. A full refund or transfer to another guaranteed escorted tour and/or package will be available.
Q. Where will the Welcome Receptions & Match Previews and Finals Gala Dinner be held?
A. Venues have not yet been decided at this stage and will be advised closer to the event. You can expect them all to be central and an experience you'll never forget.
Q. Are there any restrictions to how many tickets I am allowed to purchase per match?
A. The number of tickets per match can only be equal to or less than the number of passengers who have booked flights and/or accommodation with Sportsnet in any one booking.
Q. Can we purchase tickets only from you?
A. Under contract with the STH, we cannot sell Rugby World Cup 2019 tickets on their own. (See PACKAGES, What types of packages will you be offering?). Official Hospitality will be available to purchase on its own as of Thursday 1 February 2018.
Q. What standard of tickets do you offer?
A. As part of the Official Travel Programme, Sportsnet has confirmed allotments and access to Category B, C and D tickets for all matches throughout the entire tournament. Category A tickets are only available as part of the Official Hospitality Programme which goes on sale from Thursday 1 February 2018. Category A tickets may become available as part of the Official Travel Programme however this will not be known until closer to the event.
Q. Do you have access to Category A tickets?
A. See TICKETS, What standard of tickets do you offer?
Q. Will the allocation of tickets for OTA's be better than those available in the public ballot?
A. The allocation of tickets for OTA's does sit above the allocation of tickets available through the public ballot, whatever the category. There is a stringent process in place which ensures this is the case. Once the Organising Committee have outlined their match ticket requirements for Media, VIPs and Sponsors, OTA's will be given the next best seats available for both the Official Hospitality and Official Travel Programme, across each of the four categories and better than those available through the general public ballot.
Q. When will we know our exact seat numbers?
A. Although we have confirmed Category B, C and D tickets throughout the entire tournament, we will not know our exact seat numbers until closer to the event.
Q. How do you allocate tickets?
A. The best seats allocated to Sportsnet will be allocated to our customers in order of booking date so the earlier you put down a deposit the better! Please note though, Official Hospitality allocations are based on full payment date, not booking date.
Q. Can I request where I sit in the Category I book?
A. Yes, however please note exact seating areas and numbers are allocated to all OTA's by the STH and are outside our control. We will do our best to accommodate your requests based on the allocations provided and your booking date.
Q. Can I buy a package including accommodation without tickets?
A. Yes.
Q. Are there concession and children's tickets available?
A. Concession and children's tickets are not available to OTA's for this event. There is also no 'babies in arms' policy for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in that any person, no matter their age, will require to purchase a ticket to enter a stadium on match day.
Q. Is there disabled access to the event?
A. Yes, however all requests for disabled seating will be subject to availability.
Q. Can I book different Categories of tickets within the same Escorted Tour?
A. Yes. The Ticket Upgrade Options provided under each Escorted Tour are based on upgrading every match ticket as part of that tour from Category D to Category C or Category B. Should you wish to only upgrade certain matches this is absolutely fine. You will need to speak to a Sportsnet consultant who can work out the price for you.
Q. Can we purchase Official Hospitality from you?
A. Yes, Official Hospitality can be purchased on its own or in conjunction to a Sportsnet Official Travel package from Thursday 1 February 2018.
Once you have made the decision to proceed with a booking including Official Hospitality, Sportsnet will invoice all travel arrangements whereas the STH will invoice you directly for the Official Hospitality portion once booked and confirmed.
Tickets for Official Hospitality will be allocated by the STH in order of full payment, not booking date. That is, the sooner you pay in full, the better chance you have of getting the best tickets in your designated area.
Q. Are there concession and children's tickets available for Official Hospitality?
A. Concession and children's tickets are not available for Official Hospitality.
Q. Are there any age restrictions for Official Hospitality?
There will not be any age restrictions, however, anybody under the age of 20 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult of the age of 20 or over designated by such parent or guardian. All children must have a match and hospitality ticket including babies in arms.
Q. Do the STH payment terms for Official Hospitality differ from the Sportsnet Official Travel Programme?
A. Yes, all Official Hospitality packages will be on a staged payment basis as follows:
In relation to packages ordered between 1 February 2018 and 1 November 2018
– 25% due upon the placing the order
– 30% due on 1 December 2018
– 45% due on 1 May 2019
In relation to packages sold between 1 November 2018 and 1 April 2019
– 55% due upon the placing the order
– 45% due on 1 May 2019
In relation to packages sold after 1 April 2019
– 100% due upon placing the order
All customers will be invoiced in Japanese Yen (JPY) for Official Hospitality.
Q. Can I request a hotel which is not listed on the Sportsnet Holidays website?
A. Only hotels advertised on our website can be purchased unless you have group which requires 5 or more rooms at which point we will try and source your preferred option.
Q. Can I upgrade my room type?
A. Only if the upgrade is listed within our packages or you have a group which requires 5 or more rooms.
Q. Is there a minimum night stay for the package?
A. The minimum night stay will depend on what type of package you purchase. Escorted Tour nights cannot be reduced however on occasion, dependent on the hotel, we may be able to reduce the amount of nights as part of a Match Break. Please speak to your expert consultant for further details. Extra nights can be added to all packages including the start and conclusion of an Escorted Tour.
Q. Do you offer double and triple share options as part of your packages?
A. Unfortunately throughout Japan, most hotels do not offer or have very limited double rooms (2 people, 1 bed) or allow three or more people in a room. The majority of rooms on offer across all packages are either single (1 person, 1 bed) or twin (2 people, 2 beds).
Q. Am I allowed to change the check in and check out dates of your Match Breaks?
A. In most cases, we are committed to the dates of the packages however in some instances we may be able to offer flexibility dependent on the hotel allotment and hotel minimum stay requirement.
Q. I am travelling on my own and cannot afford the single price. Can I share with someone else to take advantage of the twin share price?
A. Yes, as part of our Escorted Tour range only, we are happy to pair you up with someone of the same gender if available. We will put you directly in touch with each other and from there you can make the decision whether you are suitable to share throughout the tour. For single travellers purchasing the twin share option, please note there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms.
Q. Are transfers included from the airport to my hotel? If so, what type?
A. Return arrival and departure airport coach transfers are included in all Escorted Tour programs to and from the city where the first and last nights accommodation is located however please note these will depart at specific times and flights must be booked with Sportsnet.
Should you choose to change your flight arrival or departure dates or arrive or depart at a time that does not marry up with the scheduled escorted tour airport transfers, transfers will not be provided as part of your Escorted Tour package however can be purchased separately. Should you book your own flights to and from Japan, airport transfers will not be provided as part of your Escorted Tour package and cannot be purchased separately.
Should you purchase a Match Break, Mix n Match or Flight & Ticket package, airport transfers are not included however can be added at an additional cost should you book your flights with Sportsnet.
Q. Are transfers included to and from all Welcome Receptions & Match Previews and The Finals Gala Dinner? If so, what type?
A. Yes, return coach transfers are included to and from all Welcome Receptions & Match Previews and The Finals Gala Dinner as part of an Escorted Tour. Should you add one of our functions to a Match Break or purchase the "The Final" Match Break which includes the Finals Gala Dinner, you will be required to make your own way to and from the event.
Q. Are transfers included from my hotel to match days? If so, what type?
A. Yes, return coach and rail transfers (dependent on the match) to match days are included as part of all Escorted Tours. For Match Breaks, a local public transportation card is included. You may be required to top the card up depending on how much you are planning to travel.
Q. What happens if I miss my transfer?
You will be required to make your own way to and from your destination on that particular day at your own cost.
Q. Are flights and compulsory pre-paid airfare taxes included as part of your packages?
A. Group Flights. Yes, confirmed economy class group flights with All Nippon Airways ex Sydney and Singapore Airlines ex Sydney & ex Brisbane, have been included as part of our Escorted Tour range. All other Australian cities to and from Japan are available on a request basis.
Compulsory pre-paid airfare taxes quoted are an estimate only and are subject to change until airline tickets have been paid in full and issued within 11 months of departure.
Non Group Flights
Airfare prices & compulsory pre-paid airfare taxes quoted are an estimate only and are subject to change and availability as international airline tickets can only be booked and issued within 11 months of departure.
In the event airfares are not available at the price quoted at time of booking (approx. October, November or December 2018 dependent on your day of departure and return date to Australia) you will be offered the choice to pay the difference or consider an alternate airline. Exact airline, flight dates and times will be advised at this time. Please advise any preferences in advance.
Full airfare terms and conditions including baggage allowances will be available once flights have been selected 11 months prior to departure.
Q. Will I have the ability to book flights into and out of different Japanese cities?
A. Yes, dependent on the city and airline. Fukuoka, Osaka, Sapporo and Tokyo are the most popular.
Q. Can I upgrade my Escorted Tour or Flight & Ticket flights to business class or first class?
A. Absolutely, business and first class airfare prices to and from Japan will be available approximately 11 months prior to departure in October, November, or December 2018 dependent on your day of departure and return date to Australia. The one exception is All Nippon Airways group flights ex Sydney which are included for all escorted tours. Business class airfare prices can be quoted (on an ad hoc basis), booked and confirmed from the January 2018 on sale date.
Q. I don't wish to fly the airlines you advertise. Will you book me on an alternate airline?
A. Yes, please advise your preferred airline, cabin class, dates and cities at time of booking your package and this will be organised approximately 11 months prior to your departure from Australia.
Q. If internal Japan flights are included as part of an Escorted Tour, am I allowed to book these myself to take advantage of frequent flyer points?
A. No. All internal Japan flights as part of an Escorted Tour must be booked by Sportsnet. Airlines and times will be advised at time of documentation.
Q. Is it possible to upgrade my internal Japan flights included as part of an Escorted Tour to business or first class?
A. No. All internal Japan flights will be economy and cannot be upgraded. Don't be alarmed though, they are all short haul flights!
Q. Are Flight & Ticket packages available from a Rest of the World country excluding other Defined Territories?
A. No, Flight & Ticket packages are only available to those flying from Australia to Japan and returning back to Australia.
Q. Am I allowed to choose an alternative team to the Wallabies for the Official Rugby World Cup 2019 Cap included as part of my package?
A. Yes, you can choose any other participating nation subject to availability.
Q. What is the Official Rugby World Cup 2019 Match Day Dual Tune Socket Radio?
A. The Dual Tune Socket Radio provides the spectator the opportunity to listen to the "Referees" or "Local Broadcast" throughout the match.
Q. Can I remove any of the merchandise from my package and will it save me money?
A. You can remove any of the merchandise options from your package excluding the Escorted Tours. Please note that as we are buying at wholesale prices, the saving will be minimal.
Q. What details do you require to make a booking?
A. All clients are required to complete a Client Information Form on our website https://sportsnetholidays.com/client-information-form/ and pay a 25% deposit to secure your place. We are required by the STH to gather the following information for every person who has purchased a ticket to Rugby World Cup 2019.
Your name as per your passport
Your passport nationality and number
Your residential address
Q. What are the payment terms for the Official Travel Programme?
A. Payment terms are on a staged payment basis however please note, should you purchase Official Hospitality a different staged payment plan applies.
Prior to 30 November 2018
– 25% due within 7 days of booking
– 50% due 30 November 2018
– Final payment due 1 March 2019
From 1 December 2018 but prior to 1 March 2019
– 75% due within 7 days of booking
– Final payment due 1 March 2019
From 2 March 2019
– Full payment due within 7 days of booking
Q. Can you accept one payment on behalf of a group?
A. Yes, we can take one payment on behalf of a group if you are a member of Rugby Club, school group, corporate incentive group, etc.
Do you have any Special Offers & Discounts I can take advantage of?
A. Absolutely we do! Special Offers & Discounts are detailed below. Please note the offers vary for Escorted Tours as compared to Match Breaks, Mix n Match and Flight & Ticket packages.
Escorted Tours
Offer 1 – Save 5% Book and Pay Early and Save
* Book and pay in full same day and prior to Saturday 30 June 2018 for your Rugby World Cup 2019 Escorted Tour and save 5% off the land-only portion of your tour.
Offer 2 – Save 5% Second Tour Discount
* It pays to travel more! Book on two or more different Rugby World Cup 2019 Escorted Tours and save 5% off the land-only portion of your tours.
Offer 3 – Save 5% Big Savings for Small Groups
* Traveling with family and friends is definitely rewarding! Book a group of 10 or more on the same Rugby World Cup 2019 Escorted Tour and save 5% off the land-only portion of your tour.
Please note Second Tour Discount must be the same person travelling on two or more different Escorted Tours and must be booked at the same time. Small groups of 10 or more must be booked at the same time. Special Offers & Discounts does not apply to hospitality. Maximum discount is 5% with only one of Offer 1, 2 or 3 available on any one booking.
Match Breaks / Mix n Match (Any Match, Anywhere)
Offer 1 – Save 5% Big Savings for Small Groups
* Traveling with family and friends is definitely rewarding! Book a group of 10 or more on the same Rugby World Cup 2019 Match Break and save 5%.
Please note small groups of 10 or more must be booked at the same time. Special Offers & Discounts does not apply to hospitality.
Flight & Ticket Packages
Offer 1 – Save 5% Big Savings for Small Groups
* Traveling with family and friends is definitely rewarding! Book a group of 10 or more on the same Rugby World Cup 2019 Flight & Ticket package and save 5% off the land-only portion.
Please note small groups of 10 or more must be booked at the same time. Special Offers & Discounts does not apply to hospitality.
Q. Can we use your packages as a Prize in a Promotion?
A. Under no circumstance and without exception can a Sportsnet Rugby World Cup 2019 package be used as a Prize in a Promotion.
Q. Do I require travel insurance and is it compulsory?
A. Travel insurance is compulsory on all Escorted Tours. Sportsnet Holidays highly recommends QBE Travel Insurance to be purchased at time of booking to cover against loss of deposit and full payment through cancellation, overseas medical, hospital and emergency expenses, dental, loss of luggage and personal items, accidental death, your legal liability, etc. Should you choose not to purchase travel insurance through Sportsnet, proof of policy in writing will be required prior to departure for all Escorted Tour clients.
Once you have purchased your QBE Travel Insurance, you are covered from that day to date of departure against cancellation (see policy for exact details) at no extra cost. Plus once the travel insurance is issued, you are safe from any travel insurance price increases between now and Rugby World Cup 2019. Please speak to one of our expert consultants to help you choose the best travel insurance option for you.
Q. Do I require a valid passport and visa?
A. For the latest passport and visa requirements please visit www.smartraveller.gov.au
Q. Can travel agents and third parties purchase your packages?
A. No, as part of our contract with the STH, all OTA's worldwide cannot sell travel packages including tickets via any travel agent/third party and must deal directly with the consumer. The only exception is when a travel agent is appointed as an Official Sub-Agent of an OTA.
Q. Does Sportsnet pay travel agent commission for a referral?
A. If a travel agent provides Sportsnet with a lead before (not after) a client has contacted Sportsnet direct, their booking will be recognised as a referral and a 5% commission will apply on land only once the booking is paid in full. Please note if a referral does qualify for a Special Offer & Discount, no referral commission will apply. Travel agents will have to invoice Sportsnet for the commission at which point our accounts department will directly deposit the commission into your nominated account.
Q. When will documentation including tickets be available?
A. At this stage, we have not been advised by the STH and RWCL when tickets will be available for distribution. We expect this will occur much closer to the event in 2019.
Q. Is shipping my documents when available for dispatch included?
A. For residents of Australia, shipping is included as part of your package price. If you live internationally outside of Australia (excluding other Defined Territories) shipping is not included and will be at an extra cost dependent on where you reside and the size/weight of the parcel.
Q. Can my documents be made available upon arrival at my hotel in Japan?
A. No. (See DOCUMENTATION, Is shipping my documents when available for dispatch included?)
Q. Does Sportsnet or the STH dispatch documentation for Official Hospitality?
A. The STH will dispatch event documentation for Official Hospitality directly to the customer and not to Sportsnet prior to the event.
Q. Can I extend my trip beyond the event dates?
A. It absolutely is possible to extend your trip beyond the event date. Please speak to one of our expert consultants to help you plan your trip!
Q. What language is predominantly spoken?
A. Japanese
Q. What is the weather generally like at the time of the event?
A. The event is held in Autumn, and weather can be unpredictable but is generally mild, however rain quite common. We suggest to pack clothes that cater for varying temperatures, layered clothing is the best way to go.
Q. Do I need to take specific medical precautions?
A. We highly recommended you contact your local doctor prior to travel. Please also check the following website for any specific medical precautions: www.tmvc.com.au.
Q. What currency do I use?
A. The currency used across Japan is the Japanese Yen (JPY). To find out the latest currency conversion rates please visit – http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter.


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Protesters mass outside Mexico's Senate as legislators debate political reform
Throngs of riot police manned nine-foot metal barricades surrounding the Senate on Friday as legislators inside prepared to tackle the most contentious political issue in decades: the opening of the energy sector to foreign investment.
Protesters crowded outside the Senate barricades, the latest in an unfolding drama this week that has included the sudden stage exit of a major leftist politician because of a heart attack and fierce debate over Mexico's ossified political system.
Legislators in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate are racing against the clock to meet a self-imposed Dec. 15 deadline for passage of several major constitutional changes that would alter both the political system and the energy sector, a pillar of the nation's economy.
As it stands now, the state oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, holds a monopoly on most exploration, production, distribution and sales of crude oil, gasoline, diesel and natural gas.
Senators hustled Friday to iron out differences between the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies over a proposal that would allow mayors and legislators to seek re-election – something that has been prohibited for nearly 100 years. Proponents of the change say said the possibility of re-election would encourage longer-range thinking, discourage corruption and allow politicians to be less beholden to their political parties and more responsive to the people who elect them.
The proposal also would make the nation's attorney general's office independent and give the National Elections Institute a greater role in state elections, not just nationwide ones.
Outside the barricaded Senate, a stroll among hundreds of protesters underscored the discontent many Mexicans feel in their political leaders and their fear that foreign oil companies would reap the lion's share of profits if allowed entry to hunt for oil. Shouts of "The country is not for sale!" rang out.
"I'm full of distrust of those people," said Eduardo Villasenor, a retired chemical engineer, nodding at the Senate building. "They are shameless."
Villasenor is a member of the political movement of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a two-time leftist presidential candidate and visceral opponent to the opening of the energy sector to foreign investment.
Lopez Obrador, however, has been sidelined by a heart attack he suffered Tuesday. The 60-year-old politician remains hospitalized and is likely to undergo intense medical treatment for most of the month.
The faith of Mexicans in their democracy has fallen rapidly, according to the annual Latinobarometro poll taken in 18 countries and released last month. The poll found that this year only 37 percent of Mexicans believe democracy is preferable to any other type of government, down from 40 percent in 2011 and 53 percent in 2003.
The huge barricades that encircle 12 full city blocks around the Senate along the landmark Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City's main boulevard, are emblematic of that loss of faith. Some 750 police in full riot gear staff the barricades.
As he waved a protest banner, striking teacher Raul Ramos said politicians answer to their political parties and special interests rather than to the citizenry.
"They do not take into account what Mexicans think," Ramos said. "They decide things behind our backs."
The political reforms have emerged now because two opposition parties demanded that any discussion of deep changes in the energy sector would be dependent on changes to Mexico's electoral system that would effectively weaken the grip on power of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party.
Some analysts say allowing senators, deputies, mayors and city council members to seek re-election would permit better governance at lower levels.
As it is now, mayors in Mexico's 2,445 or so municipalities can serve only one three-year term. The nation's 128 senators serve only one six-year-term and the 500 deputies are replaced entirely every three years.
Analysts say the current system makes potential politicians beholden to powerful parties so that they can rotate through jobs, encourages corruption among those who view their chance at the trough to be limited, and discourages implementation of long-term development projects that require follow through.
"Without re-election, many of the mayors of whatever party are trying to figure out after about a year and eight months how they can get elected as a state or federal legislator," said Leticia Santin del Rio, a political scientist for the Network of Researchers of Mexican Local Governments, a civil society group.
Moreover, because there isn't an entrenched civil service, many mayors replace most of the senior levels of their city governments upon election.
"There are 50,000 (employees) who are replaced at the local level every year," Santin said, opening the door to an army of newly hired civil servants lacking training.
Plenty of politicians and newspaper columnists do not believe re-election or changes to the voting system will significantly alter the nation's political system.
"The political reform . . . is a fake, a sham, a mockery," said Tatiana Clouthier, a citizen activist from Monterrey, reading a statement from a coalition calling itself #ReformaPoliticaYa, or political reform now.
"This will not change the basics of the Mexican system even one millimeter," politician Jose Elias Romero Apis wrote in the Excelsior newspaper Friday. "It is a reform that has no taste or smell or weight. It's close to absolute nothingness."
If Mexicans do not gain greater faith in their system of elections and politicians, some believe that augurs poorly for future stability and could lead fringe groups to opt for violence.
Outside the Senate chambers, protesters hailed Lopez Obrador, the ailing leftist politician who is widely known by his initials as AMLO, noting that although they believe he was cheated out of victory in his presidential bids in 2006 and 2012, they heed his demands that protests occur peacefully in Mexico.
"AMLO has always said this movement is peaceful," Villasenor said.
"There are people here who think this doesn't do any good," he added. "They believe the movement should use violence."


text:
(Adds comment on pardon, background on case, byline)
By Ian Simpson
WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. soldier convicted of providing secret files to WikiLeaks in the biggest breach of classified materials in the nation's history has asked for a presidential pardon, supporters said on Wednesday.
The request for Chelsea, formerly known as Bradley, Manning, was filed by attorney David Coombs on Tuesday, according to a statement on the Pardon Private Manning website.
"I urge you to consider this matter closely and to take a positive step towards protecting whistleblowers who release information to the media for the public good by either reducing Private Manning's sentence to time served, or by granting him a full pardon," Coombs said in a letter to President Barack Obama via the Justice Department and to Army Secretary John McHugh carried on the website.
The application includes a supporting letter from Amnesty International.
Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, said there was very little chance the Obama administration would grant a pardon, especially with its "full-bore approach" to prosecuting Manning.
"It would make them look quite schizoid if at this point a pardon was granted," she said.
A court-martial convicted Manning, 25, in July of 20 charges, including espionage and theft, for providing more than 700,000 classified files, videos and diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks, a pro-transparency website.
Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Aug. 21. Although the soldier was found not guilty of the most serious charge, aiding the enemy, the sentence was the longest ever handed down for turning over secrets to the media.
The day after sentencing, the soldier issued a statement that said Bradley Manning was a female who wanted to live as a woman named Chelsea.
A psychiatrist at Manning's sentencing testified to having diagnosed the soldier as having gender dysphoria, or wanting to be the opposite sex. Manning's statement said the soldier wanted to undergo female hormone treatment.
The White House has said that a pardon request from Manning would be considered "like any other application."
Obama has issued far fewer pardons than the two previous presidents, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, according to the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney.
Obama has received 1,496 petitions for pardons and granted 2.6 percent of them. Bush granted 7.5 percent of 2,498 pardon petitions, and Clinton approved almost one in five of the 2,001 requests he received.
Although Manning had asked to be referred to by female pronouns, the soldier signed the pardon request "Bradley Manning" and Coombs' letter referred to Manning as "Bradley" and used male pronouns.
Coombs said in a blog post last week that "Bradley Manning" and male pronouns would still be used in some cases. They include references to the trial, legal documents, communication with the government, the petition to the White House and the soldier's mail. (Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Scott Malone and Andrew Hay)


text:
I'll show you "how to draw the Dark Lord" of the Sith as he appeared in the Star Wars films. This tutorial should give you helpful tips and hints on how to draw him for your future Star Wars character drawings. There's an abundant of steps that should definitely help you out. Have fun and enjoy this tutorial. Good luck and don't forget to leave feedback on how you progressed.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


text:
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Steamed Up
15 comments:
In Wednesday night Leicester Mercury there was a report saying that the Council was not going to close the museums or introduce entrance fees, so hopefully the Pumping Station should be safe.
- 10 February 2011 at 18:06
- Hels said...
I was delighted to visit Crossness Pumping Station a while back and although I am not very scientifically minded, it was amazing to see a purely functional building with very a elaborate interior. I created a link to your Abbey Pumping Station for the same reason - amazing Victorian (1891) design.
If the Council closes it down or allows it to be destroyed, future generations should take the council members and individually insert them into the Gimson steam engine.
- 10 February 2011 at 23:08
- Peter Ashley said...
Anon: I do hope the Leicester Mercury report is right, excellent news if it is.
Hels: I must try and get a visit in to Crossness, thankyou for reminding me of it.
- 11 February 2011 at 07:49
- Vinogirl said...
Great pictures.
- 11 February 2011 at 16:45
- Peter Ashley said...
Thankyou Vinogirl. Much appreciated.
- 11 February 2011 at 17:30
- Wartime Housewife said...
That looks wonderful. I'm fired up by many things and engines are one of them. How many machines would one find nowadays that are decorated with acanthus leaves and painted in red and green and gold? Museums like these excite people and inspire the next generation to want to be engineers and scientists. The scrumptious Brian Cox was on tv last night and was explaining that it was stuff like this that inspired him to become a physicist. Government take note.
- 12 February 2011 at 12:08
- Philip Wilkinson said...
Marvellous stuff. What a wonderful collection of lettering on the vehicles, too.
- 12 February 2011 at 22:31
- bikerted said...
Pumping stations still enthral kids of all ages. We are fortunate in Nottingham to have Papplewick Pumping Station, which supplies fresh water to the city still, albeit by modern methods these days. As with Abbey PS it too has open days. These days help to support our heritage and long may they continue to do so.
As you state Peter, the alternative does not bear thinking about.
- 13 February 2011 at 09:48
- Sue said...
Gorgeous colours - reds and browns and golds and greens - my favourite has to be the mobile chip shop - HOT FISH & CHIPS. Mmmmm
- 13 February 2011 at 10:59
- renzo said...
Great photos, Peter. Many, many years ago, when I was an architectural student at Leicester School of Art and Design we had a week long project to measure and draw the then abandoned pumping station. I remember it being a cold, wet week. Wish I still had the drawings.
- 13 February 2011 at 11:10
- Jon Dudley said...
Super stuff Mr.A. Fine signwriting, painted cast iron, spluttering lorries, precision Victorian engineering. Fish and Chips. Light on a dull day...thanks.
- 14 February 2011 at 10:51
- Thud said...
Who needs steam when five a day co ordinators, community outreach officers etc need to be paid for?
- 15 February 2011 at 21:57
My dad has been involved with this place since it began in 1972 and its a serious part of his life. It'd be a sad day if the miopic bureaucrats at the council decide to close its doors on Leicester's industrial past.
- 16 February 2011 at 22:11
- Barrie said...
Cracking photos and a wonderful write up Peter.
Hope you don't mind, but I've linked this post to the Abbey Pumping Station Facebook page.
As Anon says, the council appear to have decided to not close the museums this year. We will have to see what happens in next years round of budget proposals.
Should any Unmitigated England followers make it to an event day at APS please pop along to the chip van, mention this blog and you'll get a "guided tour" of our 1938 Bedford!
- 17 February 2011 at 00:23
- Peter Ashley said...
Thankyou Barrie, and I hope all readers will make time to visit at least once this year. All that Unmitigated Steam and your excellent coal-fired chips!
- 17 February 2011 at 07:37


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Our Partnership
CSB/SJU Together
Together, the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John's University (SJU) form a one-of-a-kind partnership of two top-ranked liberal arts colleges. With a combined enrollment of 4,000 students, CSB/SJU are (by far) the largest liberal arts college in the nation.
CSB was founded in 1913 as a college for women. SJU was founded in 1857 as a college for men. The two college communities have been closely connected since the very beginning. Our formal partnership began over 60 years ago.
Together is Better
Students at CSB/SJU have full access to the campuses, courses, faculty, facilities and programs of two colleges. Together, we offer the opportunities, course selection and expansive curriculum of a large university while retaining the engaging classrooms, close community, and personal attention you'd expect from top liberal arts colleges.
How We Work Together
Together, students take classes on both campuses, eat on both campuses, attend events on both campuses, study on both campuses, and use the athletic facilities on both campuses.
Together, Bennies and Johnnies travel between the two campuses on the LINK. This free and frequent shuttle runs on an easy-to-remember schedule every day of the week, making it simple to get between campuses as needed.
Let's Get Together at Our Place
The best way to experience our one-of-a-kind partnership is to visit and tour both campuses. We hope to welcome you to our community soon!
CSB Campus Photo SJU Campus Photo Area Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take classes at both colleges? In fact, the two colleges share one common curriculum. Classes are coeducational and graduation requirements are the same for both CSB and SJU. Expect your classes to have a similar ratio of women to men as other coed colleges.
Why two colleges? Having been founded as independent colleges, it has made sense to retain our two-college structure within a close partnership. Surveys of graduates overwhelmingly show that our students value our focus on the needs and interests of women and men, and believe the partnership to be of great value.
Where will I live? Women live at CSB and men live at SJU. Our visiting hours are similar to other colleges with residence halls open until midnight on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends.
Can I use the facilities at both colleges? Yep! Libraries, dining facilities, athletic facilities ... they are all used by students from both colleges.
Will I need a car to get between the campuses? Definitely not. While you are welcome to bring a car, very few students actually use them for traveling between campuses. The LINK shuttle service is too convenient. With 30 minutes between classes, there is plenty of time to make the commute.
I'm an athlete, how will this impact me? Each college has its own athletic program and facilities. The CSB Blazers and SJU Johnnies both participate in NCAA Division III and are members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Students from both colleges cheer on Blazers and Johnnies, and admission to athletic events is free for students on both campuses.


text:
by Traci Gray
Before the industrial revolution, fathers often worked side by side with their sons and instructed their children in spiritual values. When industrialization took over the American landscape, fathers left their farms and headed to the factories. Fourteen- to 16-hour workdays set the stage for the absentee father.
Eventually, fathers came to be regarded as merely breadwinners who fulfilled their paternal duties by providing.
But is that image changing again?
Research shows that tweens and teens need the firm leadership a father provides. A child performs better in school if his father takes an interest in his education. Children have more confidence when their fathers spend time with them and show them affection. Kids learn from watching their fathers' decisions and listening to logical explanations.
Work pressures and other commitments may make it easy for some men to feel they don't have the time. However, a 2002 study found that men born after 1965 spent 50 percent more time per workday with their children than boomer fathers (an average of 3.4 hours, versus 2.2 hours). That same year a workplace survey conducted by the Society of Human Resource Management discovered that men ranked the need to balance work and home life higher than their female colleagues.
Involved fathers find the time to attend their children's games and recitals. They pull themselves away from the TV to show their children how to change a tire and balance a checkbook. They set firm limits and encourage their kids to do their best — even when they fail.
Take a look at the questions below.
- What did you need from your father that he gave you?
- What did you need but didn't receive?
- How did his positive input help you to succeed?
- How did the negative aspects possibly set a series of consequences into motion that you may still experience?
The answers to these questions may reveal what your children desperately long for. Now it's up to you to provide it. It may make your pocketbook a little thinner, but the benefits could be priceless.
Originally posted at http://www.family.org/parenting/A000001228.cfm


text: In the fun, fast-paced series PAINTING THE TOWN, best-selling artist Eric Dowdle travels to destinations all across North America - from Plymouth, Massachusetts, San Antonio, Texas and Park City, Utah to Portland, Oregon, Cancun, Mexico, and Vancouver, Canada - in search of the true essence of each place. Dowdle meets the locals, explores their food and culture, tours the attractions and, through some clever "detective work," uncovers unusual pieces of history and quirky unknown facts. His research culminates in one of his signature folk-art paintings reflecting all of his experiences and the individuals he met along the way. Dowdle has created more than 300 paintings and each year sells millions of copies of his folk-art prints and puzzles. He honed his craft in his early 20s while traveling, exploring and painting around the United States and later, Europe, Africa, China and the South Pacific.


text:
Malcolm Margolis
Malcolm Margolis
The formation of Wheel Easy! (Harrogate's CTC section), resulted from the inspiration and hard work of Malcolm Margolis. Where others had tried and failed to re-establish a regular cycling group in Harrogate (the birthplace of the CTC), Malcolm was incredibly successful. Wheel Easy! will celebrate its second anniversary in May 2008.
Forming Wheel Easy! was a natural thing for Malcolm, a committed environmentalist who combines this with a love of cycling. Malcolm realised that most clubs focused on cycling, whereas his approach came from the social value of maximising cycle use, to avoid environmental damage and encourage healthy exercise. Thanks to Malcolm's hard work every Sunday up to 40 cyclists turn up for a selection of super-easy, short, medium and long rides.
Malcolm campaigns passionately to: Improve local cycling routes, work with the Council to run events, implement cycle plans, and encourage more non-cyclists to cycle.
Malcolm's weekly articles ensure cycling gets regular press coverage. He updates the Wheel Easy! website with news, events, rides and route descriptions virtually every day. Malcolm has brought cycling and the environment to the fore in Harrogate and is always thinking of a new project and the next one is for new cyclists. 0-30 miles in three months!


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The Book of Mormon Helps Us Keep Covenants
30 November 2011
As Latter-day Saints we accept a sacred charge when we are baptized, and according to President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, the Book of Mormon is one of the best guides to learn how well we are doing in keeping that charge—and how to do better.
- 30 November 2011
Educate Your Desires, Elder Andersen Counsels
30 November 2011
If we can educate our desires in the right way, we will become "what we want to become and what our Father in Heaven would want us to become," says Elder Neil L. Andersen.
- 30 November 2011
Best Way to Rescue Is to Strengthen Faith in Christ
23 November 2011
Urging priesthood leaders to rescue those who have drifted away from activity in the Church, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that "if we can only strengthen our members' faith in Jesus Christ, we would redeem them and strengthen them more than any other way."
- 23 November 2011
Latter-day Saints Are a Covenant People
16 November 2011
Making and keeping sacred covenants is a precious doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to prophets and apostles who lead the Church. They encourage Church members to understand the covenants they make and remind them that Heavenly Father promises great blessings to those who keep their covenants.
- 16 November 2011
Gratitude Brings a Calming Peace
16 November 2011
"In some quiet way, the expression and feelings of gratitude have a wonderful cleansing or healing nature. Gratitude brings warmth to the giver and the receiver alike," Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said.
- 16 November 2011
Testimonies Grow in Argentina
10 November 2011
While fulfilling assignments in Argentina, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was asked how he personally gained a testimony of the gospel. "That process, for me, was the process most common for everyone," he said. "For some, testimony comes in an instant, like a miracle or an angelic visit. But for me it was incremental. It came over time."
- 10 November 2011
Family Success Comes from Following the Savior
8 November 2011
"We teach throughout the world that if our families will follow the example and the teachings of the Savior of the world, they are more likely to be happy, successful, and people of integrity," Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in Nairobi, Kenya. Earlier, he visited Johannesburg, South Africa, and told members there that they should be good examples to their children.
- 8 November 2011
The One Truth Most Worth Knowing
4 November 2011
"If you have stumbled or even been lost for a time, if you feel that the adversary now holds you captive, you can move forward with faith and not wander to and fro in the world any longer," President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged young adults of the Church. "There are those who stand ready to guide you back to peace and security. … The possibility of this, to me, is the truth most worth knowing."
- 4 November 2011
Become a Light for All to See
2 November 2011
Gain a personal testimony and become a beacon of righteousness, President Thomas S. Monson told students at Brigham Young University on November 1, 2011. He encouraged them to shine the light of the gospel to everyone they encounter.
- 2 November 2011
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text:
Sure, Kevin Mench is available. But before the Jays think about bringing his misshapen feet and his giant cranium and his doucheriffic tats north of the border, maybe we should wait to see if anyone has any reports that they'd like to file this week.
Not that we're making any assumptions. But you know, prudence isn't the worst attribute ever.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
You don't get a giant head like that by consuming too much Lik-a-Maid
5 comments:
- Andrew said...
Let's leave 'em out there so Doc can have a chance to return the favour. One 94 MPH heater to his knee comin' up!
- December 11, 2007 at 11:25 AM
- bdubs said...
wow, babed wire AND an eagle's head, was this guy in Helix?
- December 12, 2007 at 9:37 AM
- Darren Priest said...
Pretty sure it's Lik-M-Aid, but your way sounds like more fun.
- December 12, 2007 at 10:36 AM
- Tao of Stieb said...
Great. Now we've got "Rock You" stuck in our head.
Gimme an "R"! "O"! "C"! "K"!
Whatchya got? "Rock!"
And whatchya gonna do? "Rock You!"
- December 12, 2007 at 1:13 PM
- bdubs said...
well at least its not "Strange Animal" by Gowan
- December 13, 2007 at 9:50 AM
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text:
January 12, 2011
The Honorable Gary Locke
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Mr. Secretary,
The members of the Manufacturing Council are proud to support the passage of the U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement (KORUS). We recognize the importance of this agreement to U.S. manufacturers and encourage the resolution of outstanding fair trade agreements - particularly the current pending agreements with Colombia and Panama. KORUS will create thousands of new manufacturing jobs, further our national goal of doubling exports in five years, and demonstrate that the United States is once again ready to lead on global trade efforts.
In his State of the Union address, President Obama called for doubling U.S. exports over the next five years, supporting millions of U.S. jobs. He cautioned that "if America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores," and pledged to "strengthen our trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea." Ten years ago, the United States was the top exporter to Korea providing one-fifth of all Korean imports; now we are in third place with less than 10% market share.
KORUS would contribute significantly to job growth by increasing exports to one of the United States' largest trading partners. According to a recent study1 by the U.S. Chamber, 345,000 jobs in the United States are at risk if the agreement is not implemented. The U.S. International Trade Commission has estimated that the reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers to U.S. manufactured and agricultural goods under the agreement would increase U.S. exports to Korea by $10 billion to $11 billion. U.S. exporters to Korea currently pay an average 6.2 percent tariff, or nearly $1.3 billion a year, to Korea through tariffs on industrial goods. Korean exporters to the United States currently face an average 2.8 percent tariff. Tariff eliminations and strong transparency obligations will specifically facilitate SME exports.
Failure of Congress to pass this agreement swiftly could put America at a significant competitive disadvantage in Korea, the United States' 7th largest trading partner.2 Exporters from ASEAN countries, Chile and India already benefit from preferential access to the Korean market and the European Union's FTA with Korea goes into effect July 1, 2011.We have already begun to lose exports due to other countries already having agreements with Korea and stand to lose even more of this share with the EU legislation. Thus, we support you and the Administration in urging Congress to move swiftly to pass this legislation to keep exports growing and encourage the creation of new jobs. This holds especially true for states such as: Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California where job losses have been dramatic, and where approximately 25% of all manufacturing jobs depend on trade. Based on previous Trade Agreements, the statistics show growth in exports from manufacturing companies when passed.
More than 27% of all manufacturing workers in Michigan depend on exports for their jobs. A total of 11,796 firms exported goods from Michigan in 2008; of which 10,651 were SMEs, with fewer than 500 employees. SMEs generated 13% of Michigan's total exports of merchandise in 2008.
Recently implemented trade agreements have benefited Michigan. For example, since the U.S.-Singapore trade agreement entry into force in 2004, Michigan's exports to Singapore have grown by 103%.3 This equals to about $506,119,765 out of the $32.7 Billion Michigan exported in 2009.4 Exports of manufactured goods directly support an estimated 270,000 jobs in Michigan. (2008 data are the latest available.) Using the formula where each exporting manufacturing job supports 2.34 other jobs5, over 945,000 jobs depend on exporting.
Ohio was the seventh largest exporter among the 50 states in 2009 with merchandise export shipments worth $34.1 billion in 2009. A total of 13,092 companies exported goods from Ohio in 2008; 11,678 of which were SMEs, amounting to more than 89% of the total exporting firms. Exports of manufactured goods directly support an estimated 362,000 jobs in Ohio. Using the same multiplier as above, an estimated 1,260,000 total jobs are supported by Ohio's exporting manufacturing companies.
Recently implemented trade agreements have benefited Ohio and contributed positively to these employment totals. For example, since the U.S.-Chile trade agreement entry into force in 2004, Ohio's exports to Chile have grown by 68 percent. Since implementation of the U.S.-Singapore trade agreement, the state's exports to Singapore have increased by 79 percent.6
Pennsylvania was the tenth largest exporter among the 50 states in 2009 with merchandise export shipments worth $28.4 billion in 2009. A total of 13,139 companies exported goods from Pennsylvania locations in 2008, with 11,720 of those being SMEs. That again equals 89% of all exporting companies being SMEs.
Exports of manufactured goods directly support an estimated 258,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Recently implemented trade agreements have benefited Pennsylvania. For example, since the U.S.-Chile trade agreement entry into force in 2004, Pennsylvania's exports to Chile have grown by 63%.7
Based on just a look at how these three states depend on manufacturing companies that export, a passed KORUS would add tens of thousands of new jobs not only from manufacturing companies, but the sectors that support them nationwide. KORUS would also open Korea's $560 billion services market to highly competitive American companies, supporting jobs for American workers in sectors ranging from delivery and telecommunications services to education and health care services.
While Trade Agreements should positively impact all parties to the agreement, it is critical that we enter into them only with the assurance and commitment from our government, in writing, to enforce the terms of the agreement in a proactive manner. We note that KORUS is an enforceable, binding agreement with a whole chapter devoted to dispute settlement (i.e. enforcement). The inclusion of this comprehensive enforcement mechanism in the agreement is imperative to its success and this type of serious commitment to enforcement is an integral part of our support for this agreement. The U.S. Government should allocate proper resources to ensure monitoring and enforcing of these provisions. We will insist that the implementing legislation for KORUS ensures aggressive enforcement of the provisions, as well as protections for the continued effectiveness of U.S. trade laws.
As a cross-section of representatives of small, medium and large manufacturing companies from across the country, we stand ready to help educate other manufacturers of the benefits of KORUS and encourage Congress to pass this Trade Agreement. Please use us and our members as resources for this and future manufacturing related issues.
3. Source: Office of Trade and Industry Information, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
4. Source: Office of Trade and Industry Information, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
6. Source: Office of Trade and Industry Information, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce
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$("#navigation").navobile({ cta: "#show-navobile", changeDOM: true })-
St. Norbert Roars Back to Upend Monmouth
From Sports Information Director, October 5, 2013 | Football
by Dan Lukes, firstname.lastname@example.com, (920) 403-4077
DE PERE - St. Norbert College scored the game's final 20 points to charge back and top Monmouth College 22-14 in a Midwest Conference battle at Schneider Stadium.
The Green Knights (4-1, 4-0 MWC) trailed 14-2 in the second quarter and 14-5 at halftime. St. Norbert outscored the Fighting Scots 17-0 in the second half behind a stellar defensive effort that held the visitors to 74 second-half offensive yards.
St. Norbert's offense had an efficient day as well, rolling up a season-high 503 yards of total offense.
The Green Knights got back into the game midway through the third quarter. St. Norbert started a drive at its own 40-yard line, and James Tringali hit Mark Villers for 44 yards to the Monmouth 16. Six plays later, Tringali scored from the 1 to cut the deficit to 14-12.
A 48-yard pass from Tringali to Michael Heim on the second play of the fourth quarter set up St. Norbert first-and-goal at the Monmouth 3, but had to settle for a 20-yard field goal by Randy Hill to take a 15-14 lead with 13:01 left.
Both teams traded possessions before Monmouth advanced to the St. Norbert 43 just inside 9 minutes left to play. Monmouth quarterback Brik Wedekind's pass was hurried and St. Norbert linebacker Matt Petersilka made a diving interception just before the ball hit the turf to give the Green Knights the ball at their own 44.
On third-and-2 from the Monmouth 48, Tringali hit Brian Fliess at about the 20, and Fliess outran a defender for a critical touchdown with 6:28 left and a 22-14 lead.
Monmouth (1-3, 1-2) was forced to punt with 3:45 left, and St. Norbert picked up three first downs to run out the clock.
The Fighting Scots got the early jump, blocking a St. Norbert punt and scoring on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Wedekind to Austin Peterson. The extra point was missed. Two possessions later, Wedekind had a punt blocked and Monmouth kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.
Monmouth pulled ahead 14-2 after recovering a St. Norbert fumble, needing five plays to move 33 yards with Wedekind finding Peterson again for a 4-yard touchdown. Wedekind's two-point pass to Stefan Flynn was good.
Hill connected on a 26-yard field goal with 4:14 left before halftime to cut the deficit to 14-5. Late in the half, St. Norbert had a first-and-goal from the Monmouth 4, but got stopped on the 1-yard line on fourth down.
Tringali posted a career-high 310 yards passing, completing 17 of 29 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown. Brad Boockmeier bulled for 168 yards on 28 carries, and Villers caught eight passes for 129 yards.
The St. Norbert defense held Monmouth to 249 yards of total offense. Petersilka finished with a team-high seven tackles, and also broke up two passes.
Wedekind completed 14 of 28 passes for 114 yards with two touchdowns and one interception Trey Yocum rushed 26 times for 125 yards, while Michael Buehne caught six passes for 59 yards.