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Anyway today is the last day of the crèche so yesterday I popped along with some little chocolate thank-yous:
I'm majorly into rainbows at the moment so that was my inspiration. I cut the Crumb Cake flaps with the Top Note die on my beloved Big Shot. It's projects like this where you're making multiples that the Big Shot comes into it's own.
Then I stamped in the same colour ink using the swirly stamp in Baroque Motifs and used Early Espresso for the Thanks sentiment.
The flowers were punched out from mainly the DSP colour stacks. These are fantastic value as each double-sided 12x12 sheet works out at just 36p each!!! If you haven't got a stack or two in your life you really should!
For the flower centres I punched a 1" circle in a co-ordinating colour and pushed a clear rhinestone brad through. Oh yes, to make the petals antique-y I sprayed them with water and crunched them in my hand. When they dry they keep their shape.
These bag toppers fit the medium cello bags PERFECTLY and with a little sticky strip they're super secure. I filled mine with Revels but they are a good size for all sorts of things, edible or not!
The ladies really liked them and I hope it let them know how much I appreciated how wonderfully they looked after Munchkin.
If you'd like to order any if the products I've used or from the UK Stampin Up! catalogue why not drop me an email: email@example.com
Today Munchkin and I are off on holiday to visit relatives in France. Poor hubby and lodger had to stay behind but I'm sure they'll have a great time eating junk and watching violent films and sports non-stop!
Hopefully I'll still be blogging this week so stay tuned!


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An Art Director at a computer magazine I used to illustrate for, suddenly said at a storyboard meeting after a year of co-operation: "For this articale we need a serious picture, so we can not use an illustration by you." It had been okey if she had said: " For this articale we need a photograph with a serious feeling" but instead she said: "-so we can not use an illustration by you, becouse illustration is not serious, therefore I need a photo of a sound mixing table instead". What?! - She said What?! That said that a mixing table would be more serious than an illustration got me to humble say: "ok, but of course I DONT agree at all that an illustration can not be serious". A mixing table?....
There is numerous of articales with "serious" subject matters that are daily portrait with illustrations. Just look at a magazine like WIRED. Illustrations are frequently used for "serious" articales.
The excellent articale about Joe Sacco in the Swedish magazine "Bild & Bubbla" that writes about cartoon is a very good example. If you read swedish you can read a sample with pictures of the article by clicking here >> (or search the internet and magazines).
Joe Sacco is interesting in the way that he uses the medium of cartoons and drawings as a journalistic way of expression. See his "report" on Palestine for example. I would like to do something like this myself.
Of course there is a lot of editors, art directors and alike that DO see the potential and seriousness of using illustations, this specific art director is just an individual. The contrast between her view and Joe Sacco is interesting though. There are numerous of examples when photographes are much more suiteable than an illustration, no question about it, but in my eyes an illustration, a drawing can be serious.
For example, when Colin Powell, ex. USA minister of foreign affairs, stood infront of the world press and TV cameras and behind him having Picassos large painting "Guernica", covered by a blue cloth at the very UN building in New York, and had to justify the invasion of Irak is a strong example of this.
Read about Picassos "Guernica" here >>
Stefan Lindblad

subset: commoncrawl


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I agree with Manchester. I have found that when others publish my RSS feeds, it helps to bring more traffic to my sites.
Feed Informer Support
How to block a site from using my feed?49 posts
Surely getting your feed out there can only be good for your website as it will not only spread the word about your site but you will get the backlinks so you get better page rank, or am I missing something?
I thought it was a good thing too.
thanks this was very helpful. I was looking for a way to do this, glad that I found it
I suppose the problem is that someone is using your rss feed in an autoblog.
I'm saying this because obviously someone can copy your content by just reading the posts on your websites, but auto-blogging is sort of an automated (and continuous) theft of content, so it's far more annoying.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no way to block a specific site from using your feed: the only choice would be to stop your feed altogether, but as many people said here, this is not so good for you site in terms of promotion.
Maybe you can consider adding a final line to all your posts saying that you own the copyright of that content, and that publishing that content on different websites is totally unauthorized.
IMO the threat from autoblogging is minimal now that google and other search engines have mechanisms in place to prevent article spinning. For my personal blog I'm even notified when someone has copied one of my blogs.
Does it matter as long as they link back to you? Google can tell who posted first
I want to allow only some specific sites to use my feeds, who i can do this?
rachelrupp if you only want specific sites to use your feed then keep your feed path private with these site owners. Alternatively restrict which IP addresses are permitted to access your feed.
Thanks for the above answer on keeping specific feed paths private, I also wanted an answer.
My understanding is, that the more RSS feeds you get, the more backlinks you receive. So I can't imagine this should be a problem wherever the feeds come from. Google won't penalise you for too many backlinks :-)
It is a good thing if someone is using your RSS feed. You are getting free syndication of your content and it is making whatever is broadcast over your RSS feed more popular.
heh, you can try just put in your deny IP list
I concur with concord depending on who your website host is. Just log in and block the rss feed in the IP deny panel.
Great forum!!! I have learned a lot here. Now I know what to do.
I agree that you won't be affected with what others do with your feed. Also, for bloggers, there are great plugins that automatically create and submit your blog feeds to dozens of RSS Feed Aggregators, the mpment you publish.
Personally, I am using one of those plugins and it is just awesome! It has helped me create sufficient backlinks to rank on Google page one. on several blogs.
Haha, why is it a bad thing?! o_0
i agree it's a good thing. but one question: how about spam blogs scraping your content through your feed but remove links back to your site?
are you saying that there are autoblogging tools that can scrape your content and remove the links from the posts ?
now that's scary ...
Hi guys, so wait is there an answer to this b/c I also have a problems with jerks scraping my content. I think they are going off my feed and then somehow drilling into my site to steal my content. I know which sites / blogs they are, would like to block them. Not sure if that is a feature of this product or if I have to do it outside this product. any help would be great!
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What you will see here are some of what I consider to be the more important or interesting steps involved in handcrafting my 3/4 tang knives and sheaths. To watch a short video showing the basics of how we build our full tang knives, go to our Home page and scroll to the bottom of the page.
Some steps are probably common to many custom knife makers, and some may be a bit more unique to my shop. And, I acknowledge that there is often more than one way to accomplish a given task. I do what I have found works well for me with the tools that I have.
As any craftsman can attest to, methods develop and change over time, and it is important to continue learning daily. I think this is part of what keeps me engaged and interested. There's always room to learn more and increase one's skills.
If you can, take time and browse through these pages to get a feel for what goes into my knives. And, if you have comments or questions about any of this, please feel free to contact me for more information.
These photos are divided into three "albums", any of which you can access by placing your cursor over the round button in the centre, below the picture.
© 2016 Paul E. Beebe - All Rights Reserved


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The building is home to USFSP's Kate Tiedemann College of Business, one of the few business schools worldwide to have earned AACSB accreditation in both business and accounting. Its online MBA program is ranked among the nation's top 18 online programs by U.S. News & World Report.
"The LEED Gold awarded to Lynn Pippenger Hall is a testimony to the sustainable design of the building and a reaffirmation of our values and commitment to the environment," said Sridhar Sundaram, dean of the Kate Tiedemann College of Business.
The Science and Technology building at USFSP was the first to earn LEED Gold certification in the USF System in 2010. The University Student Center received LEED Gold certification in 2014.
LEED provides a framework for healthy, efficient and cost-saving green buildings. Projects pursuing certification earn points for attributes such as energy use and air quality. Based on the number of points earn, a building is given a rating level of Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.


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Frič is a Czechized German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Nord (French pronunciation: [nɔʁ]; English: North; Dutch: Noorderdepartement) is a department in the far north of France. It was created from the western halves of the historical counties of Flanders and Hainaut, and the Bishopric of Cambrai. The modern coat of arms was inherited from the County of Flanders.
Nord is the country's most populous department. It also contains the metropolitan region of Lille, the fifth-largest urban area in France after Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse. Within the department is located the only portion in France where the Dutch dialect of French Flemish is still spoken (along with French) as a native language.
Nord was one of the original 83 departments that were created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was made up of three regions: parts of the Counties of Flanders and Hainaut, and the Bishopric of Cambrai, which were ceded to France in successive treaties (1659, 1668, and 1678).
During the 4th and 5th centuries, the Roman practice of coopting Germanic tribes to provide military and defense services along the route from Boulogne to Cologne created a Germanic-Romance linguistic border in the region that persisted until the 8th century. Saxon colonization into the region from the 5th to the 8th centuries likely extended the linguistic border somewhat south so that by the 9th century most inhabitants north of Lille spoke a dialect of Old Dutch, while the inhabitants to the south spoke a variety of Romance dialects.
The Nord Aviation N 500 Cadet was a single-seat VTOL research aircraft built by Nord Aviation in 1967.
A model kit presenting the concept was first shown at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget in 1965. The aircraft was driven by two ducted fans, with three blades per fan, mounted on short wings that were able to pivot between providing vertical and horizontal thrust.
Two prototypes were constructed, one making its first (tethered) flight in July 1968.
General characteristics
The Nord 1500 Griffon was an experimental ramjet-powered fighter aircraft designed and built in the mid-1950s by French state-owned aircraft manufacturer Nord Aviation. It was part of a series of competing programs to fill a French air force specification for a Mach 2 fighter.
Design of the Griffon originated in a late 1940s requirement for a high speed interceptor. Engineers at Arsenal de l'Aéronautique instigated studies into swept and delta wings using supersonic gliders, the Arsenal 1301 and Arsenal 2301. Results from these flight tests favoured the delta configuration, which was incorporated into design studies using a variety of power-plants. By this time Arsenal had been privatised as SFECMAS - Société Française d'Etude et de Construction de Matériel Aéronautiques Spéciaux. Powered by a large ramjet with turbojet sustainer, the Griffon was renamed from the SFECMAS 1500 Guépard (Cheetah) after SFECMAS was merged with SNCAN to form Nord Aviation.
"Music" is a 2001 hit single by Erick Sermon featuring archived vocals from Marvin Gaye.
The song was thought of by Sermon after buying a copy of Gaye's Midnight Love and the Sexual Healing Sessions album, which overlook some of the original album's earlier mixes. After listening to an outtake of Gaye's 1982 album track, "Turn On Some Music" (titled "I've Got My Music" in its initial version), Sermon decided to mix the vocals (done in a cappella) and add it into his own song. The result was similar to Natalie Cole's interpolation of her father, jazz great Nat "King" Cole's hit, "Unforgettable" revisioned as a duet. The hip hop and soul duet featuring the two veteran performers was released as the leading song of the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence & Danny DeVito comedy, "What's the Worst That Could Happen?" The song became a runaway success rising to #2 on Billboard's R&B chart and was #1 on the rap charts. It also registered at #21 pop giving Sermon his highest-charted single on the pop charts as a solo artist and giving Gaye his first posthumous hit in 10 years following 1991's R&B-charted single, "My Last Chance" also bringing Gaye his 41st top 40 pop hit. There is also a version that's played on Adult R&B stations that removes Erick Sermon's rap verses. The song was featured in the 2011 Matthew McConaughey film The Lincoln Lawyer.
Music is the fourth album and first album on J Records by hip hop artist Erick Sermon. It was received well critically and commercially. Its success was fueled by its title track "Music" which sampled vocals from Marvin Gaye and in terms of chart position is Sermon's most popular song, peaking at #22, along with inclusion on the soundtrack of the Martin Lawrence/Danny DeVito film What's the Worst That Could Happen?; the music video for the song featured scenes from the film intermixed with clips of Gaye performing in archived music videos and music programs. "Music" propelled the album to reach #33 on The Billboard 200 chart making it Sermon's second most popular solo album.
Come Thru
Music (foaled 1810) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1813. Music's success in the Guineas was the only win in a seven race career and gave her owner George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton the first of twenty classic wins. Music was sold and exported to Ireland at the end of her three-year-old season.
Music was a bay mare bred by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton at his stud at Euston Hall in Suffolk. On the third Duke's death in 1811 ownership of the stud and the yearling filly passed to his son George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton. Her dam, Woodbine was a half-sister to the good broodmare Hornby Lass and herself produced several other winners including the 1815 Oaks winner Minuet. Music was sired by the 1790 Epsom Derby winner Waxy, who became an influential and important stallion, siring two additional Oaks winners and four winners of the Derby. Grafton sent the filly to be trained at Newmarket by Robert Robson, the so-called "Emperor of Trainers".


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Medical Malpractice
No Financial Recovery For You, No Legal FeeRequest Your Free Consultation
North Carolina Medical Malpractice Lawyers Talk Health Care Bill Hospital Responsibility
One focus the health care bill has is lowering readmission rates – the rate at which discharged patients return for more care within 30 days. Health care advocates say high readmission rates are a red flag that patients aren't receiving proper care the first time around.
Hospitals could also be fined by the government for preventable medical errors and medical harm. Hospitals who report low rates of medical harm, such as preventable infections, will get more financial support. Beginning in 2012, those with high rates of medical errors will receive less Medicare support, and Medicare will cease paying for preventable hospital readmissions.
While hospitals are not happy with these new regulations, health care patients and consumers can hopefully look forward to better care, fewer medical mistakes, and more thorough examinations. Hopefully, when federal money is on the line, hospital will take care to take better care.


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Everyone visiting Athens wants to climb the Acropolis. That amazing citadel at the heart of the city with the remains of spectacular temples, the most well known of which is the Parthenon. Tickets for the Acropolis can be booked in advance, online as a single entry or a combination ticket that included other ancient sites. Skip-the-line tickets and a variety of guided walking tours are also available.
Athens has some spectacular archaeological sites and museums, right in the heart of the city. And many of these charge an entry fee. The most popular site is the Acropolis, for which a ticket, including the North and South Slopes costs 20 Euros (reduced to €10 during winter). For those wishing to visit the Acropolis and some of the other sites there is a multi-site ticket that costs €30 (there is no winter reduction for the special, combined ticket). The ticket is valid for five consecutive days. This ticket gives access to the Acropolis and six of the other must see archaeological sites in Athens, including the Ancient Agora, Hadrian's Library and the Roman Agora. Read on for more details and information about buying these tickets.
Information in this article was last updated on 30 December 2018
Price of Tickets for the Acropolis Only
The one site in Athens everyone wants to see, and with good reason, is the Acropolis.
From 1 April to 31 October, Summer Tickets Cost €20 per adult.
From 1 November to 31 March, the price is discounted by 50%, Winter Ticket Cost €10 per adult.
Children under 18 (with proof of ID), students and others (scroll down for the full list) pay €10 for their tickets in summer (discounted to €5 during winter). Entry to the Acropolis not only gives you access to the ancient Citadel (where you can see the Parthenon and the Erechtheion) but also the North and South slopes, where you can look into the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and explore the Theatre of Dionysus – amongst other features.
Read on for more information about buying tickets for and visiting the Acropolis, or follow this link for information about the best guided tours and skip-the-line tickets for the Acropolis >>
Multi-site or Combination Ticket
If you are also going to be visiting some of the other main archaeology sites in Athens, then I recommend getting yourself a Combined or Special Package Ticket. This is an 'official' ticket – in that it is produced and sold by the Greek Ministry of Culture, the body that manages these sites. For this reason the ticket is only available for purchase at the entrance to each of the participating sites, or on the Ministry of Culture and Sports's website (link below).
The cost of the special package ticket,
per person, is:
€30 for the multi-ticket,
all year round (there is no winter discount)
all year round (there is no winter discount)
If you buy the combo ticket at the Acropolis, this is what you get (ticket is pictured to the right of the photograph). The other sites then stamp the back of the ticket – as you are only allowed in each of the participating sites (listed at the bottom of the ticket and on this page) once over 5 consecutive days. If you buy your ticket at one of the other sites, you still get the old ticket, a central image with stubs that are removed at each site you visit.
For €30 ticket-holders get entry to the Acropolis (the Parthenon and the Erechtheion) with its North and South Slopes, as well as some of the other main archaeological sites in Athens (such as Hadrian's Library, the Ancient Agora, the Roman Agora, Archaeological Site of Lykeion, see full details below). There are museums in the Ancient Agora and the Kerameikos cemetery, and these are included in the entrance ticket for these sites.
Acropolis Museum
The special ticket does NOT include the Acropolis Museum, or any other museum in Athens. But, again the entry fees to these museums is not too expensive. Click here to buy Skip-the-Line Tickets for the Acropolis Museum >>
Please note:
If you want to visit one or more of the associated sites, and are not visiting the Acropolis, there are individual entry tickets for these sites (prices and other details for each are below). If you do not intend to visit the Acropolis, but do want to visit all other sites – you would save 8€ by buying a multi-ticket.
Winter Prices
To make entry to the archaeological sites cheaper for local residents, the Greek government recently passed a law by which entry to all sites and museums run by the Ministry of Culture would be reduced by 50% during winter (i.e. 1 November to 31 March). This does not apply to the combined or multi-ticket, which remains €30 throughout the year. Consequently, during winter it is cheaper to buy your tickets individually at the ticket office to each site than purchase a multi-ticket.
Who Qualifies for Free/Reduced Entry?
A number of people qualify for a 50% reduction/free admission, so be sure to have valid ID/passport/student ID if you are:
Reduced Entry
► Students of Universities and Higher Education and Technological Institutions from non-EU countries
► Seniors citizens 65 years and older from Greece and EU Member States
► Parent chaperones on educational visits of primary education schools
Free Entry
► Children under 18 years of age
► Students of Universities and Higher Education and Technological Institutions of EU countries
► Teaching staff accompanying pupils/students at all educational levels
► Unemployed people with valid unemployment card
► Disabled persons (minimum degree of disability: 67%) and their assistants
► Journalists
► Members of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece, as well as equivalent bodies of other EU countries
► Tourist guides
► Holders of an ICOM-ICOMOS membership card
► Members of Associations of Friends of Greek Museums and Archaeological Sites
► Official guests of the Greek State
Please Note:
If you are booking online (a step-by-step account is given below) and are eligible for a reduced or free ticket, make this choice while booking your ticket. A voucher will be sent via e-mail. Take this voucher to the ticket office of the site you are visiting, and with proof of eligibility you will be given your ticket.
Free Entry for All
During designated Open Days all visitors have free access to all archaeological sites, monuments and museums in Greece. These days are: 6 March (Melina Mercouri Rememberance Day), 18 April (International Monuments Day), 18 May (International Museums Day), the last weekend of September (European Heritage Days), 28 October (Oxi Day), the first Sunday of each month from November 1st to March 31st.
No way to book online – just show up. Top Tip: go very early or late. There are always a lot of people taking advantage of the free entry.
Opening Hours for the Acropolis and other sites:
During summer months (starting 1 April) the archaeological sites are open daily from 8:00 am until 19:00 pm. During the winter months between 8:00 am and 17:00 pm.
Where to buy tickets for the Acropolis?
The main ticket office for the Acropolis is below the main entrance to the Acropolis itself (ie to the west, marked with a yellow pin on the map below). During winter months queues at the Acropolis are not big, you will probably wait at most 20 to 30 minutes at busier times and on the weekends. During summer, it is another story – so follow these tips if you want to avoid the 2-hour plus queues.
This is also where you can purchase the special package ticket. But bear in mind that the special ticket is also on sale at the entrances to each of the participating archaeology sites. So in summer, if you want to avoid the queues at the Acropolis ticket office, go to one of the other sites listed below (there are never long queues at these sites). Buy the special ticket there, you will pay the same price, ie. €30. You will then be able to enter that site and visit the Acropolis when it suits you, without having to wait in any queues. Once purchased, the multi-site ticket is valid for five days.
Can I Buy a ticket for the Acropolis online, in advance?
Yes, it is now possible to buy tickets online for the Acropolis, both single entry tickets and combination tickets.
Visit the official e-ticketing service of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.
Please note: it is not yet possible to buy tickets for visits from 1 April 2019 onwards. This is because the current, winter prices for individual site entries (not the combined ticket) are different to the summer price (1 April to 31 October 2019). How far in advance this will change, I do not know but will try and find out and/or keep an eye on this. You can buy tickets now for dates up to an including 31 March 2019.
The following is a step-by-step guide through the process, taking you from the Greek language landing page to the final page in the process.
Step One: click on the EN to change the website to English.
Step Three: click on the white arrow in the location box, and then click on ATTICA.
Step Five: a SELECT THE DATE box will appear bottom left, click the box to open the calendar. Choose your date.
Step Seven: this is where you choose the type of ticket you want, and how many. Take note of the restrictions below the box.
Step Two: Click on the Visitors banner.
Step Four: a box to the right will open that allows you to choose the site you want to visit. Click ACROPOLIS AND SLOPES.
Step Six: the option to choose a time will appear below the calendar. You need to choose the correct date, but not the correct time. Then click continue.
Are There Long Queues at the Acropolis?
Queue at the Acropolis ticket office, around 9.35 am on 27 April 2018.
Queue at the main entrance to the Acropolis, around 9.30 am on 27 April 2018.
How to Avoid the Queues/Skip-the-Line Tickets
Buying your tickets online does not give you any special privileges – you join the queue along with everyone else to enter the site. At some of the smaller sites, the queues might not be that long. At the Acropolis, however, the queues can be long – and not only just during the summer months. You can either avoid these queues by taking a guided tour or buy a skip-the-line ticket.
Guided Walking Tours of the Acropolis
For €39 you can buy a ticket for the Acropolis and a Welcome talk online. This ticket includes entry to the Acropolis, allows you to skip any queues, and a 30 minute introductory talk by a local guide. After the talk skip any queues and enjoy one of the most amazing archaeological sites in Europe! This is a very popular tour and is often sold out well in advance.
If you want more than a 30 minute talk, it is possible to choose from a number of tours (they vary in length, and what sites are included on the tour). Taking these does allow you to skip the lines, but entry fees are not included (the reason being some people might already have a multi-site pass, or be eligible for discounts). For example, a two hour afternoon guided tour of the Acropolis costs €32.
By far one of the most popular tickets, and I think the best value and so the tour I recommend for throughout the year is the five hour tour of Athens, the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum. For only €68 you get a guided tour (available in English, Spanish and Italian) with an actual person not an audio-guide, of Athens (visiting the Panathinaikos Stadium, the Royal gardens and the former Royal Palace), the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum. Entries to both the Acropolis and the museum are included in the price of the tour (€68)! And, this certified walking tour can be booked online here.
With a choice of over 60 ticket and guided tour options, see our recommendations the Best Acropolis Tours and Skip-the-Line Tickets.
Buying Skip-the-Line Tickets for the Acropolis
For an additional cost of €8, you can buy a skip-the-line ticket that comes with an audio tour of the Acropolis. All you need in addition is your own smartphone, with headphones. You get to avoid any queues, and an audio tour of the Acropolis with supporting information and an interactive map that you can access without requiring an internet connection. This is available for both Android and iOS devices, but only available in English.
Click here for More Information & Further Details >>
Are Athens City Passes Worth it?
There are a couple of city passes available. Full disclosure: I have not tried and tested any of these. But just doing the maths, none of them add up for me. First, most attractions are already quite cheap. Second, and more importantly, you would be hard pushed to do everything, or enough, in the time allotted before you start making a savings. Because of the 50% reduction in ticket prices during winter, I would not even consider these passes from 1 November to 31 March.
There is the Athens Museum Unlimited Pass, which gives you three days access to 15 different museums and galleries, including the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum. Others include the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Museum of Islamic Art. For only €55- I think that is a bargain! Follow this link for More Details and to Book Online.
The Greek capital has so much more to offer visitors than spectacular ancient ruins. As a start, there are over 70 museums and art galleries, catering to all ages and interests. But, besides ancient history and culture, Athens has a lot to offer visitors who know what they are looking for.
Get More Information and Many More Tips in the Athens City Guide >>
Sites Included in the Special Package Ticket
The Acropolis
The sacred rock in the city of modern day Athens is one of the most well known archaeological sites in the World, and the most visited attraction in Athens. For ancient Athenians, it was the most important religious centre. Although occupied since the Neolithic, it was not until the 11th century BC that the Acropolis became the home of the cult of Athena. The monuments we visit today are much more recent, dating to the 5th century when Athens was at the height of its power. There are a number of religious buildings on top of the Acropolis, the most iconic of which is the Parthenon. The other well known structure is the Erechtheion.
Single Entry: €20 (reduced €10)
North & South Slope of the Acropolis
While most visitors to the Acropolis head straight for the top, there is much to see on the Northern and Southern Slopes of the Acropolis. The buildings on the slopes of the Acropolis reflect the religious and cultural importance this area had in Athens during the Archaic and Classical periods. Besides the relatively well preserved Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Theatre of Dionysus, both slopes have a number of sanctuaries, churches and sacred caves. There are two separate entrances, the two slopes are joined by the Ancient Peripatos Street, so both the north and south slope count as a single site.
Entry to the North and South Slopes is included with entry to the Acropolis, ie €20 (reduced €10)
Ancient Agora
For Athenians, the Agora was not just a market place where they came daily to buy food and goods, it was also the political and judicial centre of the city. There are remains of many ancient temples, but it is the exceptionally well-preserved Temple of Hephaistos that catches everyone's eye. The reason it is has survived so well is because it became a church in the 7th century AD. There are great views over the Agora to the Acropolis from the temple. The Entry to the Agora includes entry to the Museum of the Ancient Agora – housed in the restored Stoa of Attalos, which has a vast and impressive collection of artefacts.
Single Entry: €8 (reduced 4€)
Hadrian's Library
Built in 132 Ad, Hadrian's Library was a gift from the Roman Emperor Hadrian, hence its name, to the people of Athens. Hadrian was an ardent cultural Hellenophile, and he did much to leave his mark here. Today we enter the site from the west at the imposing Pentelic marble façade, with its monumental Corinthian propylon, or gateway. The library was a rectangular peristyle structure with an interior courtyard, 122 by 82 metres. The 'library' where the papyrus books were stored were on the eastern side. A small onsite exhibition room houses a colossal statue of Nike and some other artefacts recovered.
Single Entry: €4 (reduced €2)
Roman Agora
Not far from the Ancient Agora is the 1st century BC Roman Agora. An inscription on site lists Augustus and Julius Caesar as donors for its construction, don't miss this on your way in. The agora was a large courtyard surrounded by stoas, shops and other commercial buildings. Just beyond the agora, but within the boundary of the site as it is today are the remains of the public toilets and the octagonal Tower of the Winds, built for astronomical purposes housing a hydraulic clock. The tower has some exquisite carvings that depict the 'eight winds'.
Single Entry: 8€ (reduced €4)
On the northwestern fringes of the ancient city of Athens is Kerameikos. As the name suggests this was an area that was once inhabited by potters. But it is also the site of the oldest and largest Attic cemetery. Walls surround an enormous archaeological site that has a wide range of ancient funerary monuments and structures, from a tumulus mound to family tombs and individual columns. On site, and included in the entry fee is the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos. The museum houses the artefacts recovered from archaeological excavations, and are displayed to show the changing funerary practices in ancient Athens.
Single Entry: €8 (reduced €4)
The main attraction of the Olympieon is the colossal Temple of Olympian Zeus – one of the largest temples in the ancient world. Despite its size, you can not gaze at this monument through the fence, you have to stand at the foot of these massive columns (16 of the 104 are still standing) to appreciate just how big they are. Beyond the area of the enormous temple are the the remains of other urban structures, including a Roman bath house, various residences, a 5th century basilica, and remnants of the city's fortification wall. Just outside the site, next to one of the busiest streets in Athens is Hadrian's Arch.
Single Entry: €6 (reduced €3)
The Archaeological Site of Lykeion
During recent rescue excavations the remains of an ancient palaestra were discovered. This was the legendary Gymnasium of Lykeion (Lyceum). Historical sources suggest this area was an idyllic grove, it is best known to us as the location of Aristotle's school of philosophy. The name comes from the sanctuary of Apollo Lykeios, which was built sometime before the gymnasium. But sadly this temple was not found during the archaeological investigation of this site. For visitors today a surface area of 0.25 hectares (50 x 48 m.) has been exposed, revealing part of the palaestra where athletes trained in wrestling and boxing.
Single Entry: €4 (reduced €2)
Unless you have mobility issues, if you are relatively fit, all of the sites are within walking distance of each other. The Olympieon is the only site on the south side of the Acropolis away from the Acropolis. But, it is not that far from the Acropolis Museum – which is just opposite the entrance to the South Slopes of the Acropolis and the Theatre of Dionysios. All the other sites are to the north of the Acropolis. And all but the cemetery site of Kerameikos are close to each other. Kerameikos is not that far to walk from the Thesseio Metro Station.
Being in the centre of Athens, there are many restaurants and cafés, as well as street vendors selling refreshments, close to the sites – and not all seem to be taking advantage of tourists.
Pressed for time? If you are relatively fit I suppose you could visit all sites in one day, but it would be a long day and a bit of a rush. But it would be a great day!
Activities, Guided Tours & Other Things to Do in Athens
While getting yourself to all of the above archaeological sites is easy and straightforward, sometimes, just sometimes a guided tour is a great idea. And of course there is so much more to see and do in Athens than this list of amazing sites. There is the obvious option of a half-day sightseeing tour of the highlights of Athens, morning or afternoon – you choose. For something really different see the Acropolis of Athens by Segway on a 2-hour tour, led by a local guide! Or experience the beauty of Athens by night with dinner and folklore show. Escape the city for a peaceful break and a luxury, day cruise with lunch. If gastronomy is your thing, treat yourself to a Greek Food and Wine Tasting, or go one step further with a Greek Cooking Class in an Athens Taverna. These are just a few of the many activities available to visitors, just have a look at this more complete list of things to do in Athens, which includes some great ideas for day-trips out of the city.
Archaeology Travel Tip – Accommodation in Athens
During my stay in Athens, I was a guest of the 4* Herodion Hotel. The view on to the Acropolis from the roof top terrace (on which meals are served) and bedrooms on the northern side of the hotel is any archaeology traveller's dream! After a day walking the streets of this ancient city, getting into bed and dozing off with a light up Parthenon in sight is quite magical. The hotel is literally a stone's throw from the Acropolis Museum, so take advantage of the late night openings. The Herodion is also ideally situated for easy, walking access to all the best sites and museums in central Athens, and the metro for those that are further away. Their in-house map of the city centre is one of the best I saw.


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Finding the right storage unit size can be difficult if you've never used storage before. Here at DanCal Storage in Medina, we've tried to make your life a little easier by offering a free online storage calculator.
Simply select the items you wish to store and watch the virtual unit adjust automatically. If you have any further questions on sizing, don't hesitate to call and speak to one of our friendly storage professionals.


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I've definitely fallen off the wagon in regards to blogging, as has Belle (who's already home adapting to 'freezing' temperatures in Cleveland), but as my semester in Copenhagen winds down and everyone here starts to get sentimental and reflective, I thought I'd jump on that band wagon.
In two weeks I'll be back in Dayton, with no clear idea of if or when I'll return to Copenhagen, and I'm not sure I can really put into words what I've learned while abroad and how it will change my life in the states. But in true Danish fashion, undefinable concepts can make all the difference towards life happiness.
Denmark is the home of 'hygge', which I've mentioned before but never really appreciated until recently. Way back in January and February, when it was freezing here and only light 5 or 6 hours a day, I thought lighting a few candles was hyggeligt. But experiencing hygge is so much more than candles-it's built into Danish culture and lifestyles as something important that all Danes make time for in their lives.
Hygge is largely about time-or, in the eyes of most Americans, wasting it. A hyggeligt time might be a winter night wrapped up in a blanket and reading your favorite book for hours on end without worrying about that paper due tomorrow. In the summer, it might be sitting outside, surrounded by friends and listening to music and just talking and catching up for hours on end. It could be a dinner out where you put away your phone, order your favorite meal, and talk with your friend or date without rushing to get to the next course or get the check to go home. Hygge is about setting away time for you-to do what makes you happy and keeps you sane without worrying about what you should be doing.
Americans, you've probably experienced hygge before-you just had no idea what it was or how important it really was to you. Getting lost in your favorite show on Netflix with your best friend can be hyggeligt, as can a homemade family dinner after a long, busy week. But the difference in other countries compared to Denmark is that no one recognizes hygge when it comes around, so they have no idea how much it is worth in life.
Americans are always on the move-anyone at CWRU or any university can attest to that. If you're not studying or writing a paper or in class, you're volunteering or grabbing a quick dinner with friends or working or doing something for your parents. When you have downtime, you feel out of place-I've definitely been that person. When I am sitting around at Case and not doing anything, I'm sure there's something I should be doing-why not pick up an extra shift or start tutoring or study more or get started on research applications months in advance? There has to be something productive I should be doing.
Danes would disagree. The best time of the day for Danes are those moments when there's nothing else to do-they make time for it in their daily routine because they recognize the worth of having nothing to do and enjoying it. Whether it's with candles and family and blankets in the winter or relaxing with a beer on the lawn of Rosenborg Castle when
it's warm, Danes understand the value of slowing down and just enjoying life for a little bit each week.
My conclusions? Hygge makes people happy.
It works for the Danes, why can't it work for Americans too?
I've made several promises to myself as I think about leaving regarding making time for hygge when I go back to the States, and I thought over-stressed Americans might appreciate a big of Danish insight from the happiest country in the world.
A (temporary) Dane's guide to hygge:
- SLOW THE HECK DOWN. Powerwalking to the library won't make you learn more once you get there. Impatiently flagging down a waiter because you finished dinner 2 minutes ago and still don't have a check won't ruin your night. Texting your project group while listening in class and editing a paper all at once may be impressive multitasking, but it's not necessary. I promise, you'll get it done.
- Make time for what you genuinely enjoy doing-no string's attached. Don't claim you love studying just so you can spend all day prepping for a math final. Go get hot chocolate and watch the Cleveland Polar Vortex for a while-snow can be pretty if you relax a bit. Read a book-for fun. GASP you can still do that if it's not school related? Even watching a guilty-pleasure TV show on Netflix is hyggeligt if it makes you happy and you're perfectly content doing it-Vampire Diaries, I'm looking at you.
- Have a meal European style. Most European cafes and restaurants don't offer coffee to go or boxes for leftovers for a reason-when you get a cappuccino or a fancy baguette sandwich at a cafe in Paris, you're meant to enjoy it. Go to your favorite restaurant and don't rush through it-phones away, no time restrictions, nothing. Enjoy the food and
your company, people watch, and just enjoy having legitimate free time.
- Leave time in your weekly schedule to unwind. Take a yoga class. Take a nap. Call your mom. But whatever you do, scheduling yourself with back to back class and study sessions and work and planned social time probably stresses you out more than organizing your life. Sometimes, a little disorder is the best medicine.
- Enjoy every situation you find yourself in. I've found that one of my most hyggeligt times of the day is when I bike to and from class every day. Sure, I have to do it to get to class and go home, but I bike for an hour or so every day past major Danish landmarks in a quaint and cozy city that's different every single day. That's hyggeligt. I bet your walk to class or observing the people around you while waiting in line at Starbucks can be just as hyggelight if you let it.
- Light some candles. Ok, I know I said that candles don't make a situation hyggeligt, but c'mon now. Candles make every setting a bit more cozy.
I can't really see myself having much more time or content to blog about in the next two weeks with finals and getting ready to go home, so I thought this would be a nice sign off for me, with some good old-fashioned life lessons from the Danes. Now go take some time for hygge!


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Listed below is a selection of properties we currently have available.
We often sell properties privately, so do get in touch to let us know what properties you are looking for.
We also act for purchasers of rural property, so if you are looking for land, farms or an estate we may be able to help you find and buy your ideal property.
£600 per calendar month (Subject to Contract)
Timber clad, steel portal frame barn, ideal for storage or workshop (60ft x 40ft approx)
£300 per calendar month (Subject to Contract)
Little Bentley, Colchester
Hemingstone, Ipswich
Guide Price £795,000
Established fruit storage and distribution site with adjoining orchard/amenity land – about 14 acres
Commercial Development North East Essex
Under Offer
The site comprises approximately 26.5 acres of farmland and is cleared and level for the majority of the site but slopes down towards Holland Brook, which runs along the southern boundary of the site.
16.88 Acres Thorrington / Great Bentley
Sold - Similar Properties Required
The property totals just under 17 acres, currently set to grass and forming 2 fields. The northern field, No. 2447 amounts to approx. 3.01 hectares/7.44 acres. The southern field, No. 3230 total approx. 3.82 hectares/9.44 acres, giving a total for the whole of approx. 16.88 acres. Although the land has been down to grass for […]
18.5 Acres Land at Brightlingsea, Essex
Sold - Similar Properties Required
The land totals approximately 18.50 acres and includes 2 fields of grass together with an area of saltings and creeks to the south which border the tidal Brightlingsea Creek. Access is taken from Freelands, a road leading east from Robinson Road with access found on the northern boundary leading to a livestock holding pen allowing […]
Assington, Sudbury – LET – Similar Properties Required
A secure 2,150 sq ft workshop / storage facility located on the outskirts of Assington, Sudbury CO10 5NE. The premises consists of two equal sized bays each with individual personnel and 4.6m high roller shutter doors. Access to the building is via a concrete pad off the adjacent highway. Each bay is approximately 1,075 sq […]


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This is easy, cheesy, carby lusciousness . . . 20 minutes to put together and you're crockin'. This was adapted from a recipe in Better Homes & Gardens magazine.2 19-oz. cans cannellini beans 1 19-oz. can garbanzo or fava beans 1/4 cup purchased basil pesto 1 medium onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1-1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning, crushed 1 16-oz. pkg. refrigerated cooked plain polenta cut in 1/2-inch-thick slices 1 large tomato, thinly sliced 1 8-oz. pkg. shredded Italian cheese blend (2 cups) 2 c. fresh spinach 1 c. torn radicchio
1. Rinse and drain beans. In large bowl combine beans, 2 tablespoons of the pesto, the onion, garlic and Italian seasoning.
2. In a slow cooker, layer half of bean mixture, half of polenta, and half of cheese. Add the remaining beans and polenta. Cover and cook on the low heat setting 4-6 hours or on the high heat setting 2-2-1/2 hours. Add the tomato, remaining cheese, spinach, and radicchio. Combine the remaining pesto and 1 tablespoon water. Drizzle the pesto mixture on casserole. Let stand, uncovered, 5 minutes.
Makes 8 servings.


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The Cat in the Hat is a dark ride at Universal's Islands of Adventure park, located in the island of Seuss Landing. Based on Dr. Seuss' hit book, it is the island's most popular attraction.
DescriptionThis ride, described as a sort of "tilt-a-whirl" meets [Disney's] "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride", takes you through the story of the book. With visually enticing scenes and sets, the ride rarely deviates from the plot. Though, some impressive audio-animatronics, computer generated graphics, and spinning cars are added in.
While being extremely whimsical, "Cat in the Hat" includes plenty of references and details in the ride. Seats for the ride are couches and, if you look, you might even catch a truffula tree.


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The Annual Sports Service in Magheracross Parish Church, Ballinamallard, Clogher Diocese, takes place on Sunday, 18th February 2018, at 7pm in association with Ballinamallard United FC. Sports fans and participants from across the county and beyond are welcome.
Contact Details
For further information please contact:
Mr Brian Donaldson
Diocesan Communications Officer, Clogher 07708 869823


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Job Description
The main purpose of the role is to provide a point of contact for internal and external customers, and provide a first contact resolution where applicable. The role is responsible for controlling incident management for high priority incidents out of core business hours, and the role will cover the early and late shifts on the Service Desk
* Providing the single point of contact for all new incidents and queries via phone, email and fax. All contact to the Service Desk will be logged using the company's Service Management tool
* Providing a Service Desk function for internal and external customers covering a variety of services that are provided by the business
* Providing first contact resolution when and where appropriate to customers
* Assigning incidents and queries to the correct resolver groups if they cannot be fixed first time and managing them through their lifecycle
* Incident Management for high priority incidents out of core business hours. This will include such activities as:
- Major incident identification and recording
- Manage the escalations and communications of all incidents including major incidents
- Ensure that high priority incidents are actioned within SLA
* Responsible for quality checking to ensure sufficient information to provide updates to customers during the incident lifecycle and on completion of an incident
Key competencies
The typical competencies we look for include:
Commercial awareness
Career motivation
Decision making
Results orientation
Problem Solving
* A very high level of accuracy
* Experience of a Customer Services environment
* Good verbal and written communication
* Knowledge of Microsoft Applications and good general computer skills


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Shamans of Peru
Every desert Shaman, especially the Nazca desert. It can be opened and flying over her amazing lines, and walking through it, meeting the sunset and sunrise, which we did.
Dip and zavorozhennye.
Sunset we waited right at Aqueducto (mysterious large stone spirals down into the earth and connecting under a thick layer of soil with each other with stone passage, through which flows an underground river, built by the Nazca civilization and which are no less mystic than her pictures). Here we come another day to pass the final ritual of renewal and zakovorotny. It is, as always, was great. All participants underwent the ritual of "transition" in this underground river among aqueductal. Someone afraid, someone came to the brink of visions, many joined the memory of their birth and associated difficulties, everyone has their own, someone almost got stuck. Almost everyone at some critical moment arose the idea and the urge – do not go better but we found the strength to go forward to a new life. Interestingly, between some of the spirals a very small distance, just a few metres away, and to go under not so long. But, while there, under the ground, completely disabled sense of time and extent of space,as well as the personality and rational mind and it seems that going very long. And at some point, a crisis occurs: — "And, suddenly will never be released", and I want to go back, though it is also scary as to turn, often, does not work. But, overcoming himself, go further, and suddenly the front starts to Brezice light, and it gives so much hope and joy as new life. Continue reading
How to recognize and treat coronavirus in cats?
Coronaviruses are very common pathogens of quite serious diseases (unfortunately, often with fatal outcome) in animals. Coronavirus in cats is known for two diseases that cause these viruses: feline infectious peritonitis and feline coronavirus enteritis. Coronavirus enteritis (feline enteric coronavirus, FECV) and infectious peritonitis virus (feline infectious peritonitis virus FIPV), as we know, are related strains of the same virus. Man they are completely harmless.
FECV infects most often the mucous membrane of the small intestine of cats and can cause diarrhea, diarrhea. Most perceive this virus kittens after one or two months of life. The disease usually starts with vomiting, then in diarrhoea, which lasts 2-4 days, after which recovery occurs. But long cats remain a carrier of the virus, which comes out with faeces and can infect other animal, especially if they have a common toilet.
In veterinary clinics and laboratories identified a sufficient number of techniques to study and identify KVK infection:
IHA and ELISA blood, serum or plasma – determining the presence of antibodies to this virus. The analysis gives a positive result in the presence in the body of pathogens, but it will not give information about where to find this virus, and it can be kishechnike in the soft tissues. Continue reading
Method of healing – healing music
Interview with healer, head of the Center of traditional folk medicine and musical therapy in St. Petersburg . a student of the famous musical of the from many settlements of the Russian Federation Finishing Martha Mikhailovna. She will tell about his method of healing, in which an important role is healing music. -Martha M., how did you become a healer?
-I was seriously ill. The doctors discharged me from the hospital as hopeless sick, and I wasn't even 50 years. Right after that I saw a Picture of from many settlements of the Russian Federation and a short note about him in the newspaper. And the next year I was fortunate to see him a healing session. His music has made on me an indelible impression. And then I became his student.
-What happened to your disease?
-The disease has receded. I felt in me join forces. Opened my healing abilities, and I began to treat people. The basis of my method of treatment is spirituality. And that's the basis for any healer.
In the center of a lot of Photographs taken, obviously, during the medico-ethnographic expeditions from many settlements of the Russian Federation? What is the purpose of these trips? Continue reading


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Dunlop Grandtrek PT2
A new chapter in 4WD tyre development
Dunlop has launched the Grandtrek PT2, a Japanese-engineered tyre that provides superior quietness and comfort levels for SUV and 4x4 vehicles.
The Dunlop Grandtrek PT2 has been manufactured for use on-road and therefore best suits the four wheel drive owner who enjoys a quiet, smooth cruise along the highway.
As Dunlop Brand Manager, Melissa Tilley explains, Dunlop's extensive racing experience has led to innovative technologies for tyres designed for everyday motoring: Dunlop's history is rich with important innovations that have improved the driving experience for everybody on the road and in the Grandtrek PT2, Dunlop has reacted to the shift in consumer demand for 4WD vehicles that operate primarily on the road."
The Dunlop Grandtrek PT2 has four key characteristics which focus on comfort, quietness, high speed stability and wet performance for the driver. The tyre was developed to improve noise and ride comfort by optimising block rigidity and reducing irregular wear. The tread pattern helps further reduce the noise of the tyre and large tie bars provide smooth and quiet contact with the road.
To improve high speed stability the Grandtrek PT2 was developed with one centre straight rib intended to improve tracking, which allows the vehicle to travel in a precise straight line, a round block intended to improve cornering and an improved contact pressure distribution with the road for better steering response and stability.
To improve performance in the wet, the tyre has wide straight circumferential grooves intended to provide room for tread to absorb and repel water, which helps minimise aquaplaning providing better grip on wet roads. The tyre also contains a silica tread compound which allows better braking and grip in wet and dry conditions.
"Over the past 120 years, Dunlop's impressive innovation and motor sport track records have ensured that it continues to enjoy an excellent reputation across the globe," explains Tilley.
"The company's objective remains to continuously produce better products to enhance the performance of vehicles and the driving experience of its drivers. In the Dunlop Grandtrek PT2 we have a tyre that lives up to that claim."


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Coffee and meetings go together. As our workplace management solution integrates with your corporate authentication, your staff can save their default catering preferences in their account and make one tap orders when booking the room or when in the room.
Furthermore, ACAEngine can manage simple catering menus with live alerts to the kitchen or retail café. Make orders from any of the digital touch-points: room booking panels, control panels, staff app or room booking page.
The lines between workplace, retail, entertainment venue and residential are blurring. We can take your smart workplace app and integrate it into the community around you.
By adding payments to your corporate authentication, you can make one tap purchases in any of your buildings retail stores or perhaps offer laundry drop-off / pickup services to the smart lockers in your building. Payments can happen in the background automatically.


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Cisco Partners Welcome SMB-Sized VOIP SystemBy Jessica Davis | Print
Desktop-as-a-Service Designed for Any Cloud ? Nutanix Frame
VARs at the Cisco Partner Summit say the new system is priced for small businesses.LAS VEGASWhile his small business customers may not have been clamoring to try IP telephonyif they even know what it isStuart Raburn, president of VAR Teklinks, said that he has been at a loss for what phone system to suggest if their current system needs replacing.
The Cisco VAR, based in Homewood, Ala., has wanted to offer customers a VOIP (voice over IP) system, but the pricing levels were "embarrassing" for small businesses, and the proposals he put together were "laughable," Raburn said. The problem was in the pricing.
While Cisco began building and offering products for the small and mid size business space three years ago, the products had not come down in price enough to be approachable for small businesses.
But the new system Cisco announced here at the Cisco Partner Summit on April 3, the Unified Communications 500 and some companion expansion products, are generating some excitement with Raburn and other partners. He estimates it will cost about $400 or so a seat compared to the $800 to $1,000 a seat he was seeing with Cisco's previous systems.
This fills a void for Raburn's business of 85 employees, which serves small businesses in Mississippi and Alabama. Telephony was a hole in his company's coverage.
The new product and price strategy was by design at Cisco, according to Andrew Sage, senior director of worldwide channels marketing.
"We priced it for the SMB market," Sage said, estimating that the suite of products around the UC500 would cost small businesses about $600 to $700 per seat.
That's in contrast to the predecessor product, Call Manager Express, which Sage says was aimed more at the mid-market.
In building the new product set for the small business market, Cisco also focused on making it easier to install, manage and use, executives said. And while partners did not believe claims of having the system running 15 minutes after it came out of the box, they were excited about the prospect of an easy-to-install VOIP system.
Pat Scheckel, senior director of products and solutions at Berbee, a recent CDW acquisition, said that much of the work of installing a new IP telephony system came at the planning stage before installation would ever begin.
Teklink's Raburn noted that the level of difficulty in installing and managing such systems had grown exponentially in recent years, creating another barrier of entry for VARs serving small businesses. So the new system offered some promise for resolving those issues too, he said.
It's something that partners want to find out about.
"We may have underestimated the demand for demo units," said Wendy Bahr, senior director of commercial channels at Cisco, talking about partner interest in the line of products around and including the UC 500. The products will begin to ship on June 1 and VARs can place orders on May 15.
What Partners Need to Know About HP, ...In the channel, HP, Inc. is a storied vendor that has relationships...
Watch Now


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Identity and Participation in Culturally Diverse Societies: A Multidisciplinary Perspective
Identity and Participation in Culturally Diverse Societies: A Multidisciplinary Perspective
ISBN: 978-1-444-35181-1 July 2011 Wiley-Blackwell 400 Pages
DescriptionIdentity and Participation in Culturally Diverse Societies presents an original discussion in an edited volume of how the links between identity, political participation, radicalization, and integration can provide a scientific understanding of the complex issue of coexistence between groups in culturally diverse societies.
- Offers a scientific understanding of the complex issue of coexistence between groups in culturally diverse societies
- Utilizes original theory which combines social psychology, sociology, and political science
- Includes an original and extensive discussion of combining the concepts of identity and diversity
- Innovatively and engagingly employs the latest research and state-of-the-art theory
Introduction (Xenia Chryssochoou, Assaad E. Azzi, Bert Klandermans, and Bernd Simon).
Part I Development, (Re)Construction, and Expression of Collective Identities (Xenia Chryssochoou).
1 The Role of Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Class in Shaping Greek American Identity, 1890–1927: A Historical Analysis (Yannis G. S. Papadopoulos).
2 Religious Identity and Socio-Political Participation: Muslim Minorities in Western Europe (Maykel Verkuyten).
3 The Bicultural Identity Performance of Immigrants (Shaun Wiley and Kay Deaux).
4 Perceptions of (In)compatibility between Identities and Participation in the National Polity of People belonging to Ethnic Minorities (Xenia Chryssochoou and Evanthia Lyons).
Part II Collective Identity and Political Participation (Bernd Simon).
5 Winners and Losers in the Europeanization of Public Policy Debates: Empowering the Already Powerful? (Ruud Koopmans and Paul Statham).
6 New Ways of Understanding Migrant Integration in Europe (P. R. Ireland).
7 Collective Identity and Political Engagement (Bernd Simon).
8 Collective Identity, Political Participation, and the Making of the Social Self (Stephen Reicher and John Drury).
Part III Radicalization (Bert Klandermans).
9 Radicalization (Jacquelien van Stekelenburg and Bert Klandermans).
10 Citizenship Regimes and Identity Strategies Among Young Muslims in Europe (Catarina Kinnvall and Paul Nesbitt-Larking).
11 Going All the Way: Politicization and Radicalization of the Hofstad Network in the Netherlands (Martijn de Koning and Roel Meijer).
12 Trajectories of Ideologies and Action in US Organized Racism (Kathleen M. Blee).
13 No Radicalization without Identification: How Ethnic Dutch and Dutch Muslim Web Forums Radicalize Over Time (Jacquelien van Stekelenburg, Dirk Oegema, and Bert Klandermans).
Part IV Integration (Assaad E. Azzi).
14 Immigrant Acculturation: Psychological and Social Adaptations (John W. Berry).
15 Ethnic Social Networks, Social Capital, and Political Participation of Immigrants (Dirk Jacobs and Jean Tillie).
16 Naturalization as Boundary Crossing: Evidence from Labor Migrants in Germany (Claudia Diehl and Michael Blohm).
17 Confronting the Past to Create a Better Future: The Antecedents and Benefits of Intergroup Forgiveness (Nyla R. Branscombe and Tracey Cronin).
Conclusion: From Identity and Participation to Integration or Radicalization: A Critical Appraisal (Assaad E. Azzi).
Name Index.
Subject Index.
"This new collection uses an innovative blend of sociology, psychology and political science to outline current academic thinking about belonging and political action. Sweeping through discussions about how identity is formed, how it links to political participation, and when and why groups choose to integrate or radicalise, this book outlines the life-course of European political life." Runny Meade Bulletin, Autumn 2011


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Amitabh Bachchan Loves To Play God
Amitabh Bachchan tells Salman Khan of what were the problems created by him and how can he fails to understand the common problem.
Film – God Tussi Great Ho
Music – Sajid-Wajid
Actor – Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan & Sohail Khan
Produced by – Afzal Khan & Sohail Khan
Directed by - Rumi Jaffrey
To watch more log on to http://www.erosnow.com/
For all the updates on our movies and more:


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The US is reportedly expected to impose sanctions on over two dozen Iranian entities following the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile test this week, in a move that could come as soon as Friday. The fresh sanctions would be introduced in a way that would not violate the 2015 nuclear agreement that lifted international punitive measures on Tehran in exchange
for curbing its nuclear program. A source familiar with the issue told Reuters on Thursday that 17 Iranian entities have been "designated" by the US for activities related to ballistic missile development and launches and another eight were marked for terror-related activities. READ MORE


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Hey folks,
Great news! Kev has been nominated for a Visit England Tourism Superstar Award… cue a trip to London a couple of weeks ago! Kev had to do a short film, along with the rest of the top ten finalists. To vote for Kev you have to scroll to the bottom of the page, below the image of last years winner, Lilian from Durham Cathedral.
Please VOTE for Kev here!
Kev looked rather resplendent walking around in his kit… although we thought security around London might not allow for a dagger and sword, so we left them at home. The security guards were fabulous and very jovial! As to be expected the hospitality at Visit Britain HQ was wonderful!
We used the opportunity to catch up with friends and had a fabulous time (thank you Y&B for letting us stay)! Their five year old daughter was most pleased to have a " warrior" in her home, and she even put on her princess dress to pose with him for a photograph!
All in a days work for our Kev!
Thank you to Visit Northumberland for all their support!


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If you fall into the camp of Londoners who are far to be busy to be be fit, then you might want to readjust your approach and take a look at Zip Fit Club. Expert personal trainers who offer fun, full-body workouts in time restrictive sessions.
The Zip Fit concept is all about exercise efficiency. Packing in as much as possible into a personal one-to-one 30 minute session so that, thanks to the moves, fresh air and short-but-powerful workouts, you'll burn fat (continuing to zap calories for up to 24 hours post workout), let off steam and shape up.
So, let's talk Gucci yoga mats, hunting for single men in the park plus some serious fitness tete-a-tete, with the very personal trainer, Zip Fit founder Christopher Smith.
How many weeks/ months will it take to see effective results. You will never see results immediately and any trainer who tells you that is telling you a little porky. Our bodies need a number of weeks to neurologically adapt to new stimulus and bring about a response. If you come along to no more than x 3 sessions per week for 5 weeks and beyond, you will see some great results. All ability levels are catered for and our groups are small, so you will never get lost in the crowd.
We've gotten quite into our protein shakes. What are the benefits for women? Most of the women we train do not consume enough protein for fear of bulking up. What you all need to know is that protein is needed for the growth, formation and repair of body cells. Regular exercisers need more protein to compensate for the increased muscle breakdown that occurs during and after intense exercise. They are an essential part of healthy diet.
Zip Fit Tip – skip buying the expensive post exercise drink and consume 500ml of semi skimmed milk post workout. The carb and protein mix in milk makes for a perfect recovery drink.
Is it true that workouts have to be longer than 35 minutes to burn fat? This is another old age myth about exercise. You must think about calories in and calories out when considering fat loss. Yes it's true that we burn a higher percentage of fat at a lower intensity, but if you burn more calories over a shorter period of time the actual amount of fat metabolised will be greater. If that makes sense!
Bikini body in 2 weeks! That's what we all want, really. So what's the best exercise and diet for that beach body? If it was only that simple! But you can go some way towards changes to your body right now. The Monkey March is a whole body workout all packaged up in to one exercise. Squat, crawl out on your hands to a push up position, complete x 1 push up, crawl back in and stand up. Repeat until you reach overload (the maximum amount of reps you can do with good technique).
We keep hearing that bodies are made in the kitchen! Why do I need to join a gym or have a pt then? There is an element of this that is true and we shouldn't underestimate how effective the right food plan can be. However, we need to remember that exercise and movement is fundamental to what makes us human. We need exercise to release stress, anxiety, develop motor skills, balance and co-ordination. A mixture of cardio and resistance keeps our bones dense, our muscles strong and heart and respiratory system functioning efficiently. Do we need any more reasons to drop the chocolate bar, do up our laces and get moving?
No pain. No gain. An overused, fitness jab don't you think? Absolutely! At Zip Fit we aim to get the most out of you, but do it using a scientific approach. The amount of times I see people slogging it out at the gym or in the parks and getting it all wrong is incredible.
Pop along to Zip Fit and learn how to exercise the right way. I know, often, personal training sessions can be expensive, but are you not worth the investment? It will save you a fortune in the long run and will make your future workouts far more effective.
Are your sessions lunch time specific? What if I want to work out, at or during happy hour? You have just given me an idea for a Zip Fit social! Ha! Our product is mainly geared towards the busy city worker, but Zip Fit have just obtained a licence to run group exercise in Hyde Park and so we are now running Tuesday and Thursday evening classes too.
What dietary advice or support do u offer? We have just introduced a 28 day nutrition plan that we are encouraging our members to use. It has been designed to zap some unwanted fat and getting our members in to some good eating habits.
Do you have group sessions? If so; are there a lot of single men in these groups? Zip Fit's group sessions are growing in popularity, so if you want to meet some fresh faces and step away from the norm then we are the outdoor fitness company for you.
Apart from this season's must-have trainers (we're eyeing up the new Nike Free Bionics) and the ultimate in yoga mats, what else do I need to bring to the sessions? Ha! For now it's just a case of turning up in appropriate sportswear, with a smile on your face and a willingness to listen and learn.
Can I Tweet, Instagram, Flickr during the sessions?! I'd like to see you try! Our workouts are fun, fast blasts of exercise. There's barely time to think (not even about shopping) let alone type out a text message. I might allow it if your tweeting 'Zip Fit is the new craze in London for all switched on office workers' but even that I'd rather you did post-session rather than mid.


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By Kingsley Omonobi
ABUJA — The Nigeria Police Force, weekend, dispatched over 100 senior police officers to the United States of America to attend the 116th Annual Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), holding in Denver, Colorado, USA.
Leading the team are three Deputy Inspectors-General of Police: DIG Israel Ajao (Head of Force, Criminal Investigation Department); DIG Udom Ekpoudom (Head of Logistics Department) and DIG Olusegun Efuntayo (Head of Research and Planning Department). The IACP is an international body drawing membership from law enforcement practitioners across the globe.
According to a statement signed by the force Public Relations Officer, ACP Emmanuel Ojukwu, the conference which commenced on 3rd October, 2009 will end on the 7th October 2009.
The conference itinerary includes educative interactive sessions on wide issues of law enforcement, such as race and ethnic relations, international humanitarian law, human rights, media relations, crime scene management, police leadership, policing emerging democracies and community policing.
Experts from all walks of life will impact on participants, policing the down-trodden, vulnerable persons and urban spaces, as well as conflict resolution and crisis management. Apart from the educative sessions, participants are to be exposed to modern policing technology.
"The large presence of Nigeria Police represents a demonstration of the commitment and determination of the IGP to improve on the capacity building and competencies of officers for a better service delivery to Nigerians,†he said.


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EIII project News
European Internet Inclusion Initiative project – April 16 , 2015
Accessibility evaluation of 30 European websites
The first evaluation of 30 European websites is now available. The data is provided as a proof of concept and to collect input on the user interface. This is the first in a series of announcements of test results. For the coming results we will add new websites and include results from new tests.
The purpose
This first evaluation is carried out to demonstrate that the automated accessibility evaluation software works as intended, and to allow for your input on the user interface. In this first communication the website score is presented.
Further details of the results behind the score is available through the reporting interface. For example for a page on the European Parliament. Please note that this is a preliminary version of the reporting tool which will yet be refined.
The score
Web sites often have a large number of pages. The EIII evaluation does not test all web pages in a site. Instead a random sample of up to 600 pages is used.
The score computation is based on the results for the individual WCAG 2.0 Success Criteria. A higher number means a better score. If the automatic tests detected a lot of potential accessibility problems, the score will be lower.
A score of 100 does not necessarily mean that the web site is fully accessible. The score is produced automatically and there are a number of important tests that cannot be covered by automated testing.
The tests of this evaluation
The tests used for the evaluation are based on WCAG 2.0 and designed to uncover possible barriers for people with disabilities. They are a combination of tests specified by the W3C community Auto-WCAG and tests earlier developed for the Tingtun Accessibility Checker.
This evaluation covers 53 tests with 133 test outcomes. Further tests will be added for subsequent announcements of evaluation results.
The next accessibility benchmarking list coming 15. May
This evaluation will cover about 10 sites from each European member states and all details of the individual test results will be made available online together with the full description of the tests.
For the next evaluation we will also include a selection of sites suggested by users. Please suggest your sites before 24. April and we will try to include them for the upcoming benchmarking list. Go to our contact page to suggest sites.
Try out our accessibility search
The EIII will provide both data from evaluations and targeted information from a tailored search functionality with support for search of FAQ records and definitions of terms related to accessibility. The following examples illustrate how this works.
- General Search for WCAG
- FAQ search for WCAG (add "?" after the search term)
- Definition search for WCAG (add "!" after the search term)


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- openDemocracy
- oDR
- oD-UK
- oD 50.50
- democraciaAbierta
- Shine A Light
- Transformation
- More
A dissident in the USSR, a dissident in Putin's Russia
"It is time to stop this histrionic snivelling about the feelings of veterans who are insulted by criticism of the Soviet regime", the former anti Soviet dissident, Alexander Podrabinek wrote in his blog, prompting a furore on the Russian blogosphere. His opponents responded with threats and his supporters have expressed their fears for his safety.The official Russian media has remained silent.
Kazakhstan: warm up for the OSCE
In 2010, Kazakhstan takes over the chair of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Increasingly strident attempts to muzzle independent voices in the Kazakh media suggests how the government is preparing itself, says Irada Huseinova
The Khodorkovsky-Ulitskaya correspondence
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, sits in prison. Ludmila Ulitskaya, one of Russia's finest novelists, started writing to him. The two have never met, but their correspondence, just published by Novaya Gazeta, is making waves. The novelist asks questions he has probably never been asked before. Khodorkovsky answers with astonishing frankness. The letters make gripping reading.
Freedom for Sale
Round the world, people appear willing to give up their freedoms in return for the promise of prosperity or security. But why? John Kampfner explores this in his new book Freedom for Sale. One of the countries he studied was Russia
Zugdidi: Will I ever go back?
Zugdidi fountain, with streams of water spouting up into the air from paving stones painted in the colours of the Georgian flag.
Last year openDemocracy Russia editor Zygmunt Dzieciolowski travelled in Georgia and Abkhazia. In Zugdidi he met Georgian refugees from Abkhazia with one question uppermost in their minds - would they ever be able to go back?
Natalya Estemirova: kidnapped and murdered
On 15 July the body of human rights activist Natalya Estremirova was dumped in a wood in Ingushetia. This obituary appeared today on our partner site www.polit.ru
The Vyatlag Archipelago
Penal colonies are still holding thousands of prisoners in the Kirov Oblast, reports Ekaterina Lushnikova in this latest in our series of Letters from Russia
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev on trial - again
Few believed that a second Khodorkovsky trial would actually happen, but it is. Maryana Torocheshnikova is sitting through the surreal twists and turns
Letters from Russia: Lipetsk ! You can get a life – in spite of everything!
Life may be hard and is often unfair, says our correspondent from Lipetsk, but people manage, in spite of the crisis and all the other problems.
A sunny Mayday in Izhevsk
Letters from Russia:
It is rare that we hear voices from cities in Russia other than Moscow and St. Petersburg. Much of the political and cultural life of the country is indeed concentrated in those two urban centres. But that other Russia of the provinces, which Russians themselves call the 'glubinka', is a hugely significant factor and not just because of its rich mineral resources. The very fact of its vastness is a determining factor on the country's politics and culture. openDemocracy Russia and our patner Russian site www.polit.ru will be running a regular series of letters to the outside world from regional journalists, from Sakhalin in the east to Kaliningrad in the west. We have asked our authors to focus on the daily life of their neighbours, friends and colleagues, to tell us how they are feeling during this global crisis. We want to hear about their concerns and priorities. We want to share their dreams. We will hear how people are coping with hardships of daily life; how their lives are affected by corruption, how they feel about their government and the future of their country.
Let us start in the Western Urals city of Izhevsk…
Editors of openDemocracy Russia, Editor of polit.ru
How do people spend a sunny public May holiday in the provincial city of Izhevsk ? Nadezhda Gladysh sets out with her collie dog Greg to find out
Ending Chechnya's counterterrorism operation - or not
On 16 April the KTO, Chechnya's counterterrorism operation, was declared over. But Human Rights Watch's Tanya Lokshina is not celebrating. She is too busy documenting the ongoing disappearances and punishment being inflicted on the lives of ordinary Chechens
Not quite white: an educated gastarbeiter in Moscow
Educated gastarbeiters in Moscow may not sleep under lorries, but they are subject to prejudice and potential harassment, says Irada Huseinova
Blog for democracy, from the streets of Moldova
This impassioned blog comes from the streets of Moldova's capital. Natalia Morar is one of the young people who sparked the mass demonstrations against recent elections which returned the communists to power.
Undefended - Russia's migrant workers
As Russia plunges into recession, its vast migrant workforce faces mounting abuse, reveals an important new report from Human Rights Watch
Diary of an Uzbek Gastarbeiter
Once a physics teacher in Uzbekistan, Shukhrat has to work as a builder in Russia to keep his family alive. He has been robbed, cheated, almost burned to death deliberately. Welcome to the life of a migrant worker..
Markelov: A Hero of our Time
Human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov was gunned down on a Moscow street in January. His friend, a leading light in Memorial, remembers him
Battle for Russia's past
The raid by on Memorial's offices in St Petersburg in December 2008 has far wider ramifications for Russia's identity and history. What action have the courts taken? And what was the real purpose of the raid?
Politkovskaya's murder: solved or fudged?
The trial of the alleged killers of Anna Politkovskaya, murdered in October 2006, has been underway in Moscow since November 2008. In this revealing account of the trial so far, Maryana Torocheshnikova considers whether those responsible have walked free.
(This article was first published 29 January 2009)
Murder, Moscow-style
Lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova who were gunned down on 19 January 2009 in the centre of Moscow shared a passion for justice. Baburova is the 4th journalist on the Novaya Gazeta to be murdered. This article comes from Novaya gazeta
The Embrace of Stalinism
Why is Russia romanticising the memory of Stalinism, enquires Memorial's founder Arseny Roginsky, when its defining feature was the use of terror?
Eleven hard disks
What exactly was confiscated when the Prosecutor's Office in St Petersburg raided the premises of the human rights organisation Memorial on 4 December 2008? Tatyana Kosinova itemises the material , which includes Memorial's massive project for a Virtual Gulag Museum
Memorial: the making of an activist
The human rights organisation Memorial has representatives all over Russia and neighbouring countries. How do ordinary people become human rights advocates? And how do they work with the European Court of Human Rights? Dokka was head official of his village in Chechnya when he became involved, during Russia's first war against Chechnya. This is his remarkable, typical, story.
Russia: raid on Memorial HQ
Yesterday, 4 November, armed police raided the Petersburg offices of Russia's leading human rights organisation Memorial. Why did they do it? And what does it portend?
South Ossetia: fear and loathing in the buffer zone
In the buffer zone between South Ossetia and Georgia, the August war had continued by other means, reports this representative of the Russian human rights organization the Demos Centre. When the looting and destruction ended, the kidnapping and hostage taking began.
South Ossetia: aftermath of war
Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch revisits Tskhinvali following the August attack by Georgian troops to find the locals re-building, and Russian troops digging in


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Staging For a Spring Market
1. Remove all out of season decorations.
2. Remove all interior portable heaters.
3. Air out the home.
4. Manicure lawns and gardens, and power wash decks and walkways.
5.Add colorful seasonal plants to garden beds and planters.
6.Clean windows inside and out.
7. Add outdoor furniture to patios and decks.
8. To ensure your home is move in ready make the necessary repairs & upgrades.
9. To visually increase the size of your home and increase storage space remove all unnecessary items from the floor, closets, cupboards and drawers. Pack and remove all excess and out of season items from the home to an off-site storage. Example: Seldom used small kitchen appliances, baking dishes, extra linens, winter coats, boots, etc.
10. Clean, clean, clean!


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Large Animal Care
At Bell Veterinary Hospital, we recognize that animal companions come in all shapes, sizes and species. In addition to treating small household pets. we may also be able to provide care for the larger animals in your life.
Please contact us today to learn more about our large animal medical care services.


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Lives refer to a character's life-count, and coincides with a boss-character's armor. Though each playable-character has a set amount of Lives at the start of every stage, it is possible to receive Extensions by raising the score-count.
If a playable-character is hit by a bullet during Sugar Rush mode, he will be forced out and the Sugar Level will be reset to 0. He will not lose a Life, but due to the loss of sugar, everything around him will move much faster until the Sugar Level is back to 100. If a playable-character is hit by a bullet when he is not in Sugar Rush mode, he will lose one Life, and a layer of clothes will be destroyed as well. The game is over when a playable-character loses all his Lives.
A boss-character's Lives decrease when a playable-character performs an Armor Break to finish off the boss' Attack Pattern, destroying their armor and anything else inside the Magic Circle. The number of armors destroyed will change the story as well as the CGs unlocked.


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|John HAMMOND
John HAMMOND 2
John was the eldest son: his father settled land and property in Binscombe, Godalming and Compton on him for his marriage to Alice Mellersh in 1592. They had one son John (qv), baptised in Guildford, but Alice died soon afterwards. John snr's second wife was Alice Harding; they also had children but little is known about them apart from their entries in the Godalming baptism register. John snr was listed as a billman in the Surrey Musters of 1592 and 1596. His son Richard may have been the Rich Hammond who was a member of Capt Quennell's troop that was disbanded in 1642 i.e. a Royalist supporter.
John married Alice MELLERSH on 24 Jan 1592 in St Peter and St Paul, Godalming, Surrey.1 (Alice MELLERSH was born Of in Farncombe, Surrey,3 died Of in Binscombe, Surrey 4 and was buried on 5 May 1595 in St Peter and St Paul, Godalming, Surrey 1.)
John next married Alice HARDING on 7 Feb 1597 in St Peter and St Paul, Godalming, Surrey.1
1 Church Register, Transcript of Godalming 1582-1688 (1904), Surrey County RO.
2 Deed, Feoffment dated 22-6-1588, Surrey County RO ref G108/10.
3 Deed, Feoffment dated 5-1-1592, Surrey County RO ref LM/348/221.
Church Register, Transcript of Godalming 1582-1688 (1904), Surrey County RO (burial).
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Saturday, September 24, 2011
Review: Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison
But even the best of magic has a way of going awry—and Izzie finds she's accidentally fallen in love with Tristan herself. And that's a problem. First of all, there's Mark. Second, Tristan comes with baggage—like the supernatural creatures that keep attacking whenever he's with Izzie, and the fact that he comes from the place where Izzie's father was killed, years ago, by an enormous, evil serpent that's still around—and it knows Izzie is out there.
Like Mettie Ivie Harrison's The Princess and the Hound, praised by Orson Scott Card as "powerful, surprising, moving, and deep—a classic," Tris and Izzie rings the changes on a timeless legend, this time in a contemporary high school setting. (summary from Goodreads)
A modern and magical retelling of the German folktale, Tristan & Isolde, Harrison's Tris & Izzie unfortunately does not live up to it's potential.
Izzie has known her whole life that magic exists, and tells no one but her best friend, Branna, the truth. Her mother is a witch who concocts potions to help people in her work as a paramedic, and her father, who died when Izzie was a toddler, was also magical. Izzie has always been told that she was born without any magical abilities and she relishes her ordinary life with her normal, popular boyfriend, Mark. But when Tristan, a gorgeous transfer from another school, arrives, Izzie's life takes a turn from the normal. Determined to see Branna as happy as she is, and in an attempt to ignore her own attraction to Tristan, Izzie steals what she believes to be a love philtre from her mother's cabinet and has Tristan unknowingly drink it. Instead of Branna also drinking it, however, Izzie impulsively does so. She knows there's no countering a love philtre, but Izzie desperately continues to fight her feelings for Tristan and make things work with Mark. But when magical and deadly creatures show up to kill Izzie she has more than the consequences of the supposed love philtre to deal with. She must face truths long hidden for her protection - about her actual magical abilities, about how her father really died, about where Tristan actually comes from, and about the evil serpent, Gurmun, who is not simply a nightmare of Izzie's, but a powerful creature intent on killing her and enslaving the world.
I truly hoped I would enjoy Tris & Izzie, despite the many negative reviews I'd read. Honestly, because of those reviews I did have fairly low expectations going in. Still, I'd fallen in love with that cover and as a modern retelling of such a tragic love story, I really thought it would be a book for me. Unfortunately that just wasn't the case. I almost didn't finish reading this one but, eternally hopeful, I pushed through to the end, though it never lived up to its potential. And Tris & Izzie did have potential.
I liked the ideas behind the story. That magic secretly existed, and in many forms, was interesting. Izzie's mother, as a witch for example, could create potions, whereas Tristan's magic lay in metals, and Izzie's and her father's in the elements. There were also some seriously cool creatures, like trolls, fairies, dragons, etc, but these were only minimally touched on. Gurmun himself, a monstrous and ancient evil serpent, had the makings of something huge but fell into the stereotypical bad guy trap, ending up nowhere near as scary or as effective as I think Harrison set out to have him. Big Bad 101, my slithering friend - less chatter. Even the main characters fell a little flat. Tristan never developed beyond a sword-toting, old world feeling warrior with one purpose in life - to protect the damsel - and Izzie herself was never depicted as being powerful enough to explain why Gurmun was so determined to hunt her down. I kept waiting for her to to grow out of her naivete, harness her abilities and learn how to use her magic to it's fullest...and kept on waiting. Instead Harrison neatly and quickly wrapped the story with a bit of luck and winging it. Everything that felt like it had the possibility of more unfortunately just kept falling short. Including the once epic romance of Tristan and Isolde that fizzled here. I can't believe in a love just because there's attraction and the author says it's there. I need to feel it, but in actuality I felt very little throughout this book.
Tris & Izzie was ultimately a quick read, and I think that might have been part of the problem. There was just too much, too fast, and many of the plot lines felt forced and without coherent development - just like it's characters and romance. It was as if their purpose was simply to provide drama but there was never any actual building up to it. The only surprises were how many times Izzie thoughtlessly changed her mind. Every shocking twist was instead glaringly obvious before it was revealed and so the story plodded along despite how much Harrison tried to fit into it.
Overall, Tris & Izzie was a disappointing read for me. I'd hoped to like it but I simply could not connect with any of the characters or the story as a whole. Everything that held some sort of intrigue never became more than that.
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Published date: 11 October 2011
Pages: 262
Format: e-Galley
Many thanks to EgmontUSA and NetGalley for providing me a copy in return for my honest review.
Challenge: Vacation Reads - Curvenal. A hidden and magical town full of mythical creatures? I could enjoy a vacation there...especially now that it's destroying evil has been booted!
4 comments:
I keep checking reviews of this one, hoping I'll find a reviewer who liked it. But nope, never happens. I'm glad you pointed out what was good about it, but it still sounds like one to miss. I love the Tristan and Isolde myth and would love to read a good retelling of it.ReplyDelete
@TG I'm so sad that I didn't like this one, I really wanted to! The concept is great, but unfortunately it just didn't work out. I had such high hopes for a good retelling too. Maybe someday soon! :-)ReplyDelete
Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
Only one owl - ouch. I have this one from NetGalley and feel obligated to read it and give it a chance. But negative review after review really leave me with low expectations, not unlike yourself going into this one.ReplyDelete
Part of the draw for me now is to read it just so I can see what stinks so badly about it. (Hee Hee)
@Gina @ My Precious I felt so bad not liking this one, even after having low expectations! I just couldn't take it seriously, you know?ReplyDelete
I'm interested to hear what you think about it. Who knows, maybe you'll like it! I'm sure I did read a review that gave it 4 or 5 stars, but I can't remember where...so there's a chance. :-D


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WINTER PARK — When city employee Martin ''Marty'' Detuccio was charged last week with grand theft, Winter Park police confiscated his car as part of their investigation.
The vehicle, a 1983 four-door Dodge Diplomat, should have looked familiar.
It used to be theirs. Detuccio bought the police car from the city in March for $1,160. His was the highest of four sealed bids submitted to the city.