text:
Short Course
What you'll love...
Capture memories
Hold on to all the amazing adventures you'll have this summer!
Make summer fun
See the world with a fresh eye through photography!
Connect with your family
Family is everything… use photography to bring everyone closer together!
Learn photography
Finally master your camera. It's a powerful tool and we'll teach you how to use it!
Do you feel like you are falling short when it comes to taking great pictures of your kids? Maybe there are buttons on your camera that are a mystery? Or perhaps you need some help to make your pictures look more creative and less like snapshots?
What if you could get the help, motivation and inspiration you need without going to a local community college or taking a weekend away from your family for a photography seminar? That would be awesome.
The Short Course is designed to give parents a boost in their photography skills in a way that suits busy families. Learn how to capture better pictures of your children with this condensed 8-week course covering key topics. Work at your own pace, share your progress in a private Facebook group with other parents doing the same lessons, and really make the most of your camera!
Summer Course registration is now open! The summer course begins June 12th.
What's included
- 8 photography lessons covering technical and creative concepts to help you take better pictures of your family and master your camera. Lessons are 3 pages long and delivered once a week in PDF format.
- To keep you on track, lessons have suggested assignments for you to complete as well as creative prompts to get you started.
- Membership in a private Facebook group with other parents who are participating in your 8-week session. The group is a great way to share your progress and get feedback from other participants.
- A substantial discount code from MPIX.com for a beautiful album to show off the images you have captured during the course.
- Light
- Composition
- Color
- Framing / understanding Aperture
- Motion / understanding Shutter Speed
- Details, Longshots & Point of View / understanding Manual Mode
- Texture & Pattern
- Candids, Impact & Authenticity
Important dates
The 8-week course is offered several times per year. It is the same course each time. The next course runs:
(Registration opens May 15)
The course is designed for parents using a DSLR, mirrorless, or creative-controlled camera with any type of lens(es). You will practice new techniques by photographing your own children. This course is not for professional photographers. For more info, see the FAQs.
Expert Instruction
Amy and Heidi have taught thousands of parents how to use their cameras while boosting creativity. Their goal is to include as much content as possible in a short amount of time, while keeping everything in a fun, achievable format. You will notice that the lessons become more and more challenging through week 6 with the final two weeks working on topics that "put it all together".
By the end of the course you will feel more confident about how your camera works and your ability to photograph your family in a meaningful and authentic way. Plus, Amy & Heidi will help you every step of the way!


text:
This video covers the basic application layout- the role inspectors play and how to use them, how to create a static UI, fullscreen options, etc. The goal of this video is to give a brief overview of "where things are" and how to interact with them.
Notes and Next Topics:
Workspace Inspector
Your "workspace" is roughly defined as everything VDMX is doing: the current open project file with the files you've imported, your presets, layers, video inputs, plugins, and saved assets. The Workspace Inspector is visible by default and can also be accessed from the "Window" menu.
UI items such as sliders and button are used to receive and send with data from various sources- MIDI, ArtNet, and OSC hardware/software, as well as control data sources created by other plugins and layers within VDMX.
Layers are the basic building block of the video output. Each layer has a source (eg. a movie) and an "FX Chain" which is a series of image filters that are applied to the video stream being produced by the layer's source. After the FX are processed the video stream is composited in the canvas using the layer's size, position, and composition mode.
Workspace presets are to used to save a "snapshot" of the workspace: by default, a preset created via the Workspace Inspector will save the state of every layer, plugin, and UI item that currently exists so they can be recreated (triggered) later. The "Presets" tab of the Workspace Inspector displays the interface for creating, updating, managing, restoring these top-level presets.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
It got really cold this past week and the leaves are already changing like crazy. This can only mean one thing: THANKSGIVING IS COMING!!!! Every fat kids favorite holiday for sure. While trying not to pack on the pounds, this simple vegan recipe is packed with flavor. From the flatbread cooked stove top on the Baking Steel Griddle to the sweet potato and garbanzo bean hash, this recipe is a true knock out.
Vegan Thanksgiving Flatbread Roll-up (makes 4)
4 ea 50 gram pizza dough balls
2 ea sweet potatoes, diced medium
1 can garbanzo beans, drained
1/2 bunch lacinato kale, chiffonade
8 oz cranberry hummus (mix a container of hummus with 1 oz water and 2 oz dried cranberries)
1 ea apple (macintosh), sliced thin
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Dash of cinnamon and chili powder
1. Toss sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans in a bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, chili powder and cinnamon. Spread out in one layer and bake at 400 degrees on top of a Baking Steel for 15 minutes.
2. In the meantime, make your hummus, slice your kale and your apple. Pre-Heat your griddle at medium for about 8-10 minutes.
3. While your griddle is preheating and your veggies roasting, roll out your dough flat and oblong with a rolling pin. Drizzle one side with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place this side down on top of hot griddle and top back side with the same.
4. Flip after 1 minute and cook for an additional minute.
5. To assemble, swipe hummus to coat flatbread. Sprinkle bean and potato mixture across. Drop a good amount of kale on top of that and garnish with some of that awesome sliced apple you hopefully didn't eat. Roll it up and go to town.


text: Reduce Succession Planning Stress Remember that your farm's succession plan is not a one-and-done undertaking While the idea of working on a succession and estate plan for years, even decades, seems daunting, it's much better than the alternative. "A lack of planning will create anxiety and stress you don't need," says Dick Wittman, Idaho farmer and president of Wittman Consulting. "You could even chase off a potential successor." At our Legacy Conference in Kansas City, Mo., farmers (from left) Ken and Mary McCauley of White Cloud, Kan.; Mike John of Huntsville, Mo.; and Buddy and Carolyn Raasch of Liberty, Mo.; shared their first-hand succession planning experiences, including how to decide what is fair versus equal for children. Your farm's succession should start when your potential successors are first entering the workforce. "Ask yourself, 'What is our vision for this farm business beyond the current generation?'" Wittman explains. "How do we set the course for a professionally run business that will attract successors?'" Succession planning is complex, but doable. That's what attendees at our first two-day Legacy Conference, in December in Kansas City, Mo., learned from Wittman and the Farm Journal Legacy Project Advisory Team. The legal side of your succession plan doesn't have to be complicated. "But, you have to do better than, 'I leave everything equally to my children,'" says attorney Polly Dobbs. You must be specific. Dobbs, with Starr Austen and Miller, suggests asking these questions when creating your farm succession plan: What do you think your heirs will fight about? Is co-ownership at the next generation best? Should your children be in business together? Can they get along well enough to split the cash rent? Do you have a child in mind as a management successor? By knowing the answers to these questions, Dobbs says, your lawyer, accountant and other professional advisers can steer you to the right estate planning tools and options. One, often overlooked, estate planning option is gifting assets. "We have many ways to make sure the assets stay intact and within the family," says Paul Neiffer, partner at CliftonLarsonAllen and author of The Farm CPA blog. "Gifting is a powerful tool." The annual tax-free exclusion for gifting in 2015 is $14,000 per donee. "With annual exclusion gifts, it is fairly easy to gift large amounts of value each year, especially the land entity, with no gift tax consequence and still retain all of the lifetime exemption amount," Neiffer says. Despite the complexities, one of the best things about being in a family business is working with people you love, says Carolyn Rodenberg, owner of Alternatives to Conflict. On the other hand, one of the worst things about being in a family business is working with people you love. A common culprit behind conflict or dismay in a family farm business is a communication breakdown. "If you can improve your communication skills, I can almost guarantee you will have a successful business," Rodenberg says. Her advice for improving communication and squashing conflict starts with admitting the conflict exists. Then, you must assess whether the conflict is even worth resolving. "We cannot resolve every little bit of conflict that comes along—we would get nothing else done," she says. If the conflict is worth working out, analyze the source of the conflict. "A lot of times, all you see are the symptoms, not the real problem," Rodenberg explains. "You need to get to the root of the problem." Then, you can apply carefully planned strategies that solve or at least improve communication. Host A Great Family Meeting Families must have a structured and encouraging venue to conduct the many elements and stages of succession planning. In most cases, that is accomplished through regular family meetings. Johnne Syverson, a family business consultant with Transition Point Business Advisors, provides these guidelines to hold organized, focused family meetings: Know in advance what you want to accomplish during the meeting. Make sure the meeting either focuses on the family business or on the business of being a family—but not both at the same meeting. Use a facilitator who is not part of the immediate family to keep the conversation moving and on target. Comfort is a key consideration. Make sure the location is neutral and provides the needed elements (conference table, projector, etc.) Establish ground rules for operating in meetings that everyone agrees on—then stick to them. Prepare a written agenda and let others know their roles. Start and end on time. Use an ice breaker exercise to relax your group and get them laughing. Family meetings are somewhat formal, but they should also have fun elements. Back to news


text:
In a tired hurry through Clifton, NJ I long to stretch my head
through the passenger window and bellow out for you Somewhere in
the belly of that city, you were digesting audibly.
Perhaps, off the sleeping sides of buildings, I would echo. And
inside the chaotic percussion of liquored tongues, a moment of ironic
quiet would resound. The moment, coinciding with my pang'd drive-by,
would allow for a call you thought you heard, but were never too sure.
Your henge'd disposition would hinge on the minutiae of their irises, but
my haunts would stop that absurd eye contacting.
Netcong. Hawthorne. Clifton. Paterson. New York City.
A breezeway of destinations, not one of them.


text:
As an account security measure, you will need to grant access to this browser by entering the special code. You will find it in your e-mail inbox at
Forgot Your Password?
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Complete RU VPN Activated Steam Gift
Available payment methods
Includes 9 items: Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Classic Weapons Pack, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Costume Pack 1, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Echo Six Expansion Pack 1, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Echo Six Expansion Pack 2, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Elite Weapons Pack, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Power Weapons Pack, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Renegade Weapons Pack, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City - Weapon Stash
It's September 1998 and Raccoon City is being consumed by Umbrella's deadly T-virus outbreak. With a cover up required, Umbrella orders an elite squad into Raccoon City to destroy all evidence of the outbreak and eliminate any survivors. Meanwhile, the US Government has quarantined the city and dispatched its own team of elite Spec-Ops soldiers to track down the source of the mysterious outbreak.
Gear up as a member of the Umbrella Security Service and battle against all of the forces at play in Raccoon City. You'll come face-to-face with horrifying Resident Evil enemies like hunters and lickers as you navigate the Raccoon City Streets in search of your targets which include series icons like Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy.
One thing is for sure, in Raccoon City, all roads lead to hell.
- Experience the Fear: Set in the terrifying world of Resident Evil
- Three Corner Conflict: Zombies and Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.Ws) create an unpredictable third force that leaves the battlefield in chaos
- Campaign Mode: Both single player and up to 4 player co-op: You are part of the Umbrella Security Service. Protect the truth behind Raccoon City's downfall by any means necessary
- Competitive Multiplayer: Bring the fight online in 4v4 competitive multiplayer modes such as Team Attack, Biohazard, Survivors, and Heroes Mode
- Define your Play Style: Gain new abilities and skills unique to your playable character as your experience level increases
- International Team Development: a fully loaded, third person co-op / multiplayer shooter developed in collaboration between Capcom Japan development studios and an experienced Western multiplayer specialist studio
- OS: Windows Vista(R)/XP, Windows 7
- Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo 2.4 Ghz or better, AMD Athlon(TM) X2 2.8 Ghz or better
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Hard Disk Space: 8 GB free hard drive space
- Video Card: NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) 8800GTS or better, ATI Radeon(TM) HD 3850 or better
- DirectX®: 9.0c or greater
- Sound: Standard audio device
- Other Requirements: Online play requires software installation of and log-in to Games For Windows - LIVE
"Please remember that we are NOT responsible for any problems that may arise from purchasing and using Steam Gifts. You are doing it at your own risk.
"Please note, that due to recent Valve Steam Gift policy update Steam Gifts for games that are covered by VAC ban program can no longer be added to Inventory. Make sure that you are logged in to the proper account before entering the link as Steam Gifts can be only added to your library or rejected.
How do I use a Steam gift given to me?
- If you do not already have Steam, download and install Steam here. Once you have Steam installed, you will be prompted to create an account or login to an existing Steam account. If you do not have an account, please create one.
- You will receive an e-mail containing a link that will open Steam allowing you to redeem your gift. After clicking the link, you will receive a notification at the top right corner in the Steam client informing that you have a new gift.
If you have any problems regarding activation, please contact us:


text:
For the first time, TurboTax is introducing two campaigns during tax season to reach both English and Spanish audiences.
The campaign will run across broadcast, radio, digital and social media.
Created in partnership with Wieden+Kennedy and multicultural agency Gallegos United, the "There's Nothing To Be Afraid Of" creative addresses the fear of the unknown that stands in the way of people doing their own taxes.
The message raises awareness for TurboTax Live, a new service providing on-demand CPAs and EAs who are available to review, sign and file a tax return.
TV ads like "Closet" and "Noise in the Attic" show things people are inherently afraid of, by playfully showing they really aren't that scary after all. Have a look here.
Campaign ads will appear across "high impact" buys including sports, entertainment and culturally relevant moments, like the Grammys. Radio will be directed solely through digital, including Pandora and Spotify.
There will also be cinema buys before new horror movie releases and six-second horror movie "binge playlists" that are part of a sequential targeting effort on online sites such as Hulu. And there will be social media support with gifs and cinemagraphs.
Meanwhile, the "Hey, At Least Your Taxes Are Free" serves a more light-hearted message by reminding people they can file their taxes for no cost.
"We have been on a multi-year mission to dispel fear and uncertainty that causes people to doubt they can prepare their own tax return," stated Greg Johnson, senior vice president of marketing for Intuit's TurboTax business. "That's why this year we are out with multiple campaigns highlighting different products and offerings that reach Americans at a variety of life stages and tax complexities."
TurboTax is a major advertiser during tax season, having spent $135.22 million on measured media during the first six months of 2017, according to Kantar Media. That was in line with the $130.73 million the firm spent in the prior year period. The company spent a mere $1 million during the six month "off-season" in 2016 for a full-year expenditure total of $131.85 million.


text:
Flashback: NCAA's first Black president
Diane Xavier | 4/3/2014, 5:10 p.m.
The Dallas Examiner
From Bob Kurland to Bill Russell, then on to Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, Tyler Hansbrough and Andrew Wiggins, the torch continues to be passed in the quest for achieving one of college sports most sacred trophies, the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.
Considered to be one of the most popular sporting events in the United States, March Madness takes over the nation each year as college basketball teams compete to make it to the Final Four.
As fans filled out their brackets, coaches planned strategies, and teams battle to advance in the tournament, the popularity of the game continues.
Every decade boasts its own great storylines. That legacy continues today as this year's Final Four candidates; Florida, UCONN, Kentucky and Wisconsin hope to create their own great tale at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington on April 5 and April 7.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament, first introduced in 1939 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, has grown from 32 teams to 68 today.
The popularity of the game has grown so much that the organization credits the majority of its revenue to television and marketing rights fees for the right to broadcast the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
In 2013, the NCAA had a $61 million surplus, of which the majority can be attributed to men's college basketball.
Much of the spark that led to the organization's success is Dr. James Frank, the NCAA's first African American president, who served from 1981 to 1983.
During his term, he made significant contributions that changed the league with reforms such as presiding over the passing of Proposition 48 of the NCAA bylaws, which set eligibility standards for incoming freshman student athletes, requiring student athletes to have a 2.0 minimum GPA, a 700 score on the SAT, and 11 core classes. As a result, graduation rates among student athletes increased.
In 1981, he helped incorporate women's sports into the NCAA. Prior to this, women's college athletics were governed by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics.
He is also credited with emphasizing presidential participation in college athletics at a time when presidents were not active in participating in NCAA meetings.
Of all his achievements, his decision to abolish the NCAA television monopoly might be his greatest legacy. According to Frank, at one time, the NCAA negotiated all of the contracts for the schools. Today, conferences and schools do their own negotiating as a result of his leadership.
"As president, I dealt with some real tough issues," Frank said. "At the time, the NCAA did all the television negotiating and the money was distributed disproportionately between the larger schools and the smaller schools. The big question was property rights. The College Football Association felt that schools and conferences should negotiate their own television contracts and a special NCAA convention was held to resolve the conflict."
Frank said the NCAA today has gotten bigger per school and the biggest change structurally is how the organization is governed.


text:
So, I texted Mr. TMI yesterday while he was at work to see how he was doing. He said "Guess what I'm doing." My response of course is "Working" because he works a lot! I was a bit taken aback with his response "I am working but I am watching porn too." So, the automatic question I ask is "At work??" His response "Yep. I have my personal computer. Don't be jealous." What?!? why in the world would I be jealous?? And why the heck would you tell me that is what you are doing? Buddy, that may be a sign you work too much. I'm just saying. Multi-tasking is great and all but I think he took it a little too far. So, my response to him "Umm I assure you I am not. Work is one place I don't ever want to watch porn. You're so silly." His response. "Um OK then. Well with that comment I think I am going to have to say have a wonderful evening!" What?!? I didn't even say what I wanted to say! And what he deserved to hear. I totally held back! and now I haven't heard from him since. Which is hysterical really. Guess I am getting the big blow-off by "weird guy that watches porn & jerks-off at work." Sure saves me a lot of trouble.... Thanks!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
You're doing what?!? at work?!?
Posted by Samantha at 11:14 PM
0 comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text: Carstea Catalin <carstea.catalin at gmail.com> writes: > I run squid on my freebsd box and i need to know the free memory. > In redhat exist a nice command #free to show the free memory. In > FreeBsd how can i get the same result? top(1) But: have you heard the slogan "free memory is wasted memory"? ;-)


text:
Marc D. Montalvo
President, Principal Consultant
The Northeast region has closely integrated markets, with electricity trade between and among the interconnected New York and New England markets and the Canadian utilities to the north and east.
The region also coordinates on natural gas-electric matters, trades renewable energy credits and CO2 allowances, and has aligned carbon reduction goals.
- New York
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Quebec


text:
Articles written in even well-respected publications
often lead the reader to erroneous conclusions/
generalizations, to wit, all republicans are right-wing
intransigents, it's useless to attempt a meaningful dialogue
on important issues. A similar scenario attends reportage
about democrats, they're all over-spending quasi-socialists.
TV, radio and the web are also happy to exaggerate/
sensationalize, fearing the audience disappears otherwise.
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times said so quite clearly
in his regular column just last week.
But here's hope: why not meet the legislators? In Illinois, they
are far more accessible, willing to entertain a notion,
than one might think. Out of 59 state senators, at least four
are moderate republicans. Recently I've met with them, discussing
my energy concerns. They've thanked me and my friends, listened
to us, seemed to appreciate getting the material we brought them.
Two bills that were worrying were tabled because of these
approaches. This is an amazing lesson in political engagement
and reaching out to those beyond one's comfort zone....a positive
Each of us has more power than we might be prepared to
believe. Take that gamble, reach out to those you ordinarily
assume won't be interested in your positions.
You just might be glad you did, to say nothing of the rest
of us.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Watcher, Cletis, Underground Politics,
Heather, Chili Pepper's Mom, Ms. Klasing,
Kit James, and a few newer ones, please
continue to comment even though Blogger
has removed your photo links to the function.
I wish you all well.
Heather, Chili Pepper's Mom, Ms. Klasing,
Kit James, and a few newer ones, please
continue to comment even though Blogger
has removed your photo links to the function.
I wish you all well.
Posted by amber ladeira at 6:12 PM 4 comments: Links to this post
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Dolly Bag Style M6170 Ivory~ Special Occasion
This dolly bag in duchess satin with bead detail is ideal for any special occasion. The ribbon adds an angelic touch. It can be carried with any type of girl dress, including party dresses, bridesmaid dresses and communion dresses. It adds the perfect touch to any girls dress


text:
lzf: Linkchain 4 Pendant
Following the shape and form of the original link, created in 2007 by Irish designer Ray Power in collaboration with Spanish designer Marivi Calvo, the link chain has been born! This member of the link family has grown, quite considerably so, reaching lengths of up to 172cm. Carrying on Ray's study of form and geometry present in its predecessors, this stack of mobius strips comes in two standard sizes made up of 3 sets and 4 sets of the large link pendant modules. The result is a more powerful version, if that is even possible, of the large link suspension light. Though more statuesque, it loses nothing of its original power, created with great skill, having won the Design Plus Award from Material Vision in 2007.
Wood veneers available in 11 shades.


text:
Kaleidoscope: Diverse YA Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories Sale
Kaleidoscope: Diverse YA Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories is currently on sale for $1.99!
The anthology, edited by Julia Rios and Alisa Krasnostein, includes twenty young adult stories, including one by me. 🙂
Here's the blurb:
What do a disabled superhero, a time-traveling Chinese-American figure skater, and a transgender animal shifter have in common? They're all stars of Kaleidoscope stories!
Kaleidoscope collects fun, edgy, meditative, and hopeful YA science fiction and fantasy with diverse leads. These twenty original stories tell of scary futures, magical adventures, and the joys and heartbreaks of teenage life.
And here's the best review quote I ever read:
"This anthology is perfect for teens who are interested in science fiction and fantasy — but who don't want just stories about white, straight, able-bodied rich kids and their vampire problems." – NPR
You can buy this book on sale at Twelfth Planet Press (all formats) and Amazon.
The sale ends on the 6th April.


text:
Hospitality – Maybe You Have Heard Of It?
Are some hotels just getting sloppy when it comes to delivering strong customer service? Have you fallen into the same trap? Webster's Dictionary defines Hospitality as "the act, practice, or quality of being hospitable; solicitous entertainment of guests." Interestingly, I just came back from two business trips that I took back-to-back where the hospitality and experiences I witnessed were decidedly different in the cities I visited.
Since the country is still paddling around in the murky recession waters, it seems many people still don't know necessarily what to do or think and I am constantly amazed at the wide-ranging treatment guests receive in various markets, even though we constantly hear how tough the business climate is today. Call me jaded or biased but I imagine I will always be called and considered an "East Coast" person, even though for our business and clients we serve allows us to continue to travel and work around the world, plus I have lived in many different areas and now in the Southwest for over 15 years.
Every time I visit New York, it seems like I am home, maybe I am prejudiced or the familiarity, sights, sounds and yes the people make it that way for me. Some people outside of New York look at me oddly when I tell them how hospitable the majority of NYC businesses and people are whenever I visit - they just don't seem to want to believe it! During my most recent trip we arrived at our hotel to find out that they could not find our reservation. The desk clerk was direct but professional and, more than 10 ten minutes looking for the reservation before contacting her supervisor to assist too.
In a polite manner, she asked me to please take a seat in the lobby and she would be with me shortly. There was no attitude or an 'I am too busy to care' vibe, but for sure she understood the meaning of being hospitable. The reservation mix up was resolved and not only did they apologize, but upgraded our rooms for the inconvenience to us.
Additionally, our hotel was overrun with foreign travelers, but even with the language barriers that exist, the hotel staff was helpful and professional at all times to all of the guests. In the mornings and anytime we were in the hallways, we always were greeted by the housekeeping staff with a pleasant smile and a good morning or good afternoon; and this was not a five-star luxury hotel. When we asked for a late checkout (even though the hotel was extremely busy) they accommodated us without a hesitation. Overall, in the city, wherever we went to eat or have a cup of coffee, there were smiles and friendly greetings, especially the night we took a large group to Landmarc Bar & Restaurant at the Time Warner Center, without a reservation, the answer was happy to see you and a warm welcome.
Switching gears and coming back West, I stayed a very new and popular luxury hotel in Las Vegas, one I have to say I was very much looking forward to experiencing. At check-in I was told my room wasn't ready and had to spend some time working with the desk clerk to find an available room of a comparable type. Since we were traveling with a large party of people, we had previously requested of the hotel that we would like to all of our rooms to be together if possible, however that didn't happen at all.
The room itself was very nice and comfortable, unfortunately when we wanted to use the refrigerator we found out that the previous guest had left some items in there that had exploded and made a mess, so we called housekeeping to arrange for it to be cleaned. By the time we checked out three days later, they had yet to come and clean the refrigerator. To compound the situation, housekeeping only made the bed and left us a half service of towels one day and none the next - when I called to try to get things resolved, each time I was told that it would be resolved, which it never was.
On the second day, the phone in the room stopped working, and the only way I found out was that my associates called my cell phone to say they had tried the room with no response. Each time I called either the "Hot Line" or housekeeping, there appeared to be no friendliness or caring in neither the person's voice, nor a reassurance that things might get resolved in the room. No one from management ever called to check into the situation, even though I must have spoken to several supervisors on various occasions. When it was time to check-out I tried to speak to a manager, but was told that they were all too busy, so I told the person handling the waiting line at the front desk about the hotel's mishaps.
She was sympathetic but said she could only see if she could get us a manager to assist, and when it was my turn to finally checkout I then spent the next 20 minutes speaking with the desk clerk about all that had happened. The desk clerk was also sympathetic and did his best to review the account charges and make amends for the situation; however I would have preferred the appropriate service level, as I had expected. He then got into a dialogue about the current situation at the hotel with management, housekeeping and service complaints, before next asking me what I did for a living.
When I told him, he asked that I contact his senior management and let them know about my experiences. It seemed he had worked at several area hotels and was befuddled at the lack of continuity and professionalism at the hotel and said he would like to use my experience at his next shift meeting, with my permission, I of course said yes with one request of my own, that he mention to his managers the following: HOSPITALITY – MAYBE YOU HAVE HEARD OF IT?


text:
The Condo 1X building is made up of 28 floors and is a about a 10 - 15 minute walk from the BTS station at Phrom Phong. If you do not like the idea of walking there is a motor cycle taxi stand right outside the building. The building has a swimming pool, small fitness room, steam room and car parking for the use of residents. The area is covered by 24 hr security staff, key card access and CCTV.
Phrom Phong has everything you need including shopping malls, villa super market, classy restaurants of all types, spas, street food, massage, banks and salons. There is easy access to Rama 4 and Big C / Tesco Lotus and Sukhumvit Road.
This particular unit that is for sale is on the top floor and can be described as a penthouse. The views from the studio are superb as you would expect from such a high floor. The main residents of the building are Westerners, Japanese and Koreans.
The studio is made up of a living area, a well equipped seperate kitchen, and a bathroom. There is also a small balcony.
A viewing is recomended to see the full potential of the area and the studio.
LINE is the best option.
Can't find what you want ? Don't waste your time looking. Let us help.
Call, use LINE or email us with your requirements. Contact details are shown on our contact page.


text:
As a department manager in a company that has been working very closely with Excel for over a year, we had many needs: Design of our wholesale systems, continuous development, and managing its constant attention of inventory. Whenever we needed anything from Excel, there was always someone ready to take the call or promptly answer our emails!
Whenever they had a question, they wouldn't just stop their work and wait for instructions. They were proactive, suggesting solutions, and coming up with new ideas that made our platforms work faster, better, and convert more then we knew could be possible. This means more business, and that's always great!
From our first meeting with them, we knew they were the perfect fit. It felt like working with a partner that truly cares about your requirements and your day to day. Highly recommended for any company, big or small!
We've had a pleasant experience with Lynn and her team. The responses are expedited and also go into detail to explain it in a manner that makes sense for non-technical people. Lynn has been great about quickly understand what is being asked to create.
Working with Lynn and Excel has been a wonderful experience. Although we already knew that creating a new Magento webstore that would seamlessly integrate with Acctivate could be quite a sizable project, we couldn't foresee how complex and extensive it would really be. Sometimes it is difficult for consultants to get into the core of their clients 'businesses, but Lynn really listened and understood all the little subtleties of our way of doing business, what was truly important to us, and translated into our new website. She is always reliable, extremely responsive and gets to the bottom of any problem that needs to be resolved. We are now working on a second website, I will definitely recommend her.
I wanted you to understand how much I truly appreciate you. You have gone above and beyond for us in every way possible. Namely, accepting our challenges as your personal ones, giving us a break on time spent to identify the cause of our troubles, being more than patient with my sketchy team of developers, remembering the names of our staff and referring to them by "Jose" instead of "your warehouse manager" (I don't know how you do that nor why it was so important but it made a difference), always being quick to respond to my needs, and adjusting your busy schedule to work with my developers on their time. I really haven't worked with anyone I've appreciated more. If you ever need a reference from me, please don't hesitate to ask.
We have been extremely pleased with the service received from Lynn and her team at Excel. I especially appreciated that they worked to find a solution to all of our special requests and that their prices are very reasonable. They were very easy to work with and knowledgeable about Magento and ACCTivate. I enjoyed working with Lynn to complete the project and appreciated her flexibility and honesty in all of our dealings.
Excel Software is someone that we've been working with for now over a year, we have found them to be someone that we are able to count on for our web development needs. They have helped us tremendously with thinking things through throughout the development process to try come up with the best solution for our needs, they have been very patient with us and have been available to answer any questions we have had, and have helped us get off the ground and running in a timely manner. Excel is a company that we will continue to use for our web development needs as they continue to grow as they have demonstrated that they are reliable and fair to work with that we can count on.
We have been using software provided by Excel Software Services for over 20 years and have had a very satisfactory experience. Their quick customer service response time and support have far exceeded our expectations. The relationship we have enjoyed with them as been a bonus to the excellent service and support provieded by their entire staff.
I starting working with Excel early 2014. My company was transitioning into incorporating an ecommerce system after just finishing transitioning into a new inventory system called Acctivate by Alterity. The challenge was to integrate both systems to meet our current business needs. To add more difficulty to the project, we also had to figure out how we could integrate QuickBooks as we also wanted to have our systems work together but be managed by different business groups. We tried a few web developers that specialize in magento integration and more time kept adding to the project timeline completion date until we met Lynn from Excel Software.
Lynn was always willing to go above and beyond to meet our needs and would even research other systems in order to help us when the vendor of those system would not offer support. There was no task or issue we came across that they were not able to handle. Responses are always fast and very detailed. I have been in the industry of project managing system integration for companies and in my 10 yrs. experience have never met web developers who care more about their clients and their work than Excel.
If you are currently considering using their services, let me be the first to communicate that there is no one better in the industry. Just let them do their magic and cut your previous project target completion date by a significant margin. Thank you Lynn for all the work you and your team have done for my company.


text:
An investor with a sweet tooth may want to keep an eye on Dunkin' Brands Group (NASDAQ:DNKN). You would think this 63 year-old company would be showing signs of slowing down by now. But Dunkin' Donuts, similar to its competitors Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE:KKD) and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX), continues to rake in impressive growth in sales and profits.
Dunkin' Brands Group reported its third-quarter results on Oct. 24. Total revenue increased 8.6% to $134.3 million. Same-store sales from its U.S. Dunkin' Donuts locations rose 4.2%. Adjusted earnings per share increased 10.8% to $0.41. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share. This puts the annual rate at $0.79 for a modest, but encouraging, yield of over 1.5%.
Dunkin' Donuts added 222 new restaurants in the quarter. It now has over 7,500 Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in the U.S. The company has ample room for growth as there are highly populated cities, towns, and even entire states it has yet to tap into. For example, during the quarter Dunkin' Donuts opened its first location in Denver, Colorado. The company has also begun to sell franchise agreements in California, a region that remains largely untapped. Dunkin' Donuts hopes to open a total of 15,000 restaurants in the U.S.
Dunkin' Donuts saw both increased guest traffic and increased revenue per guest. The company attributed its success to "continued product and marketing innovation" across all categories. It saw strong performance from beverages (mostly coffee varieties), breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, and, of course, donuts.
Conference call
In the call, CEO Nigel Travis noted that it was the 14th quarter in a row of positive same-store sales growth despite what he described as "a fairly difficult environment." He made an interesting comment when he stated, "In certain markets, such as Southeast Asia, we have franchisees who've been in the system for a long time and are very profitable on low average weekly sales. Our goal, therefore, is to get those sales even higher."
This demonstrates the profitability of the Dunkin' Donuts business model. Each restaurant doesn't need a lot of sales to turn a profit due to the exceptionally high margins of its products and its small store footprint. This means much of even a small increase in sales will fall to the bottom line as net income.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts should report its third-quarter results on Dec. 2. In its second-quarter results, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts reported that its revenue increased by 10.4% to $112.7 million. Company same-store sales rose an eye-popping 10%. This was the 19th quarter in a row of same-store sales increasing. Adjusted net income jumped 17.2% to $9.6 million or $0.14 per share. The company guided for this fiscal year in total to show an adjusted EPS increase of 26%-34%.
Starbucks last reported its quarterly results on Oct. 30. Total revenue grew 13% to $3.8 billion. Same-store sales grew by 8%. The past 12 months marked what CEO Howard Schultz described as "by far the best year in Starbucks 42-year-history." CFO Troy Alstead added, "The strong momentum of the fourth quarter gives us further confidence in our robust outlook for fiscal 2014."
Foolish final thoughts
Based on the results of Dunkin' Brands Group, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and Starbucks, clearly good coffee and finger foods are hotter than ever. Even during these slow economic times, consumers have a few bucks to treat themselves. Follow Dunkin' Donuts' expansion plans closely, as they will dictate more than anything else the degree of success for the chain.


text:
Would you like to adopt one of the 100+ permanently disabled birds that live at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary?
Your contribution to the Adopt-A-Bird Program aids us in the care and feeding of our 100+ permanently injured, resident birds. These donations will be applied to off-set our $50,000.00 annual expense for bird food
Not only can you adopt one of our birds for yourself, but you can also adopt a bird as a gift to someone else.
Have Questions regarding our Adopt-A-Bird Program?
Call our Gift Shop at 727-391-6211
or Email the gift shop at:
All birds are $30.00 a month to adopt. You can choose to pay monthly or annually through PayPal.


text:
Rincón de Pepe
This little tapas bar can be found in the old town area around the Paseo de las Fuentes.
It is the perfect place to relax after an afternoon of shopping in the Sant Antoni town centre. It has a great variety of hot and cold tapas, which the chef adds a special touch to.
Label: Specialises in Ibizan tapas and quenching your thirst while you watch the bustling street from an outdoor table.
Estimated Price: Inexpensive to moderate
St/ Sant Mateo, 6
Sant Antoni de Portmany
+34 971 340 697 – www.rincondepepe.net
Other Places
Find our recommended restaurants, shops and spots to visit.View all


text:
Drawnigh, is Ethan Daniel Davidson's latest album since moving back to Detroit after spending years traveling the world. His follow up to Silvertooth proves that he's one of Detroit's finest singer songwriters, lyrically and musically expressive. The nine tracks on the album are spread out like baubles at a bazaar, with Davidson doling them out to listeners in plaintive verse. Collaborations with some of Detroit's finest musicians and troubadours weave a tapestry with Davidson's golden voice threaded throughout. A nostalgic atmosphere envelops Drawnigh, Davidson's lyrics haunted and confessional like a man seeking penance.
In the tradition of Silvertooth, Davidson's return to music after a seven year sabbatical, Drawnigh is unrestricted and free, embracing the pay it forward mentality of give and take and give back again. Like the prodigal son, he returns offering the gift of his songs, vivid memories of experiences, rooms that smell of old books, smoke from oil lamps, and bohemian escapades. All the fears, beliefs, lies, secrets and desires accumulated, observed and turned into emotional verse that blurs the line between personal and universal. Davidson creates an intimacy and connection with his audience that is deepened by the timeless nature of his storytelling.
Ethan Daniel Davidson is that kind of legendary folk singer who supposedly died off a generation ago. He's been all over the country, he knows the words to any song you could request and most importantly, he's a master storyteller.
– Magnet Magazine (2012)


text:
Egypt's Red Sea Riviera: Sun, sea, sand and snorkelling
The wonderful underwater world that lies just off Egypt's fabulous Sharm El Sheikh resort
'Open Sesame!" After a six-month hiatus from the Irish travel logs due to civil unrest in the region, the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh is back in beach holiday business.
The town may be one of the country's most popular getaways, but how does a trip here stack up against the historical lure of Luxor or the epic pull of the Pyramids?
I travelled to the shores of the Sinai Peninsula last summer in the hope of discovering dream deserts, bustling markets and underwater utopias – all in biblical proportions.
A five-hour flight from Dublin, Sharm instantly rewards visitors for making that extra haul east. The Sinai Peninsula is technically the terra of the Middle East rather than Africa, and waking up on the shores of the Red Sea immediately enraptures with an air of Arabia. Date palm trees flicker in the morning zephyr, camels rest along the shore and that mirage of land, shimmying in the horizon? That's the Saudi coast just a few miles across the water.
My friend Carolyn and I were staying in the Coral Sea Waterworld, a calming family resort on Nabq Bay (which would subsequently earn our top marks for its top-notch rooms, staff and baba ghanoush). A dawn dip seemed the most inviting way to shake off the jet lag, and so down along the hotel's jetty we ambled, transposed out over the shimmering shallow blue.
Red Sea resorts are close to one of the world's most impressive coral reefs, but I wasn't expecting the tropical trove to prove such an accessible argosy.
With my first head dunk under the water I was already met by a bobbing clownfish and his radiant posse of nonplussed blue tangs. I'd just submerged into a real-life underwater 'Finding Nemo' – for free. "Fetch me a snorkel!"
Out of the water and in the bustling bazaars, Sharm itself is a modern resort town where market stalls, hustling everything from sea sponges to Converse trainers, sit amid joints of halal Burger Kings and Hard Rock Cafes. The vibe here might lack the mystique of some of the country's old-school souks, but there are still some treasures to unearth.
With its rag-tag facade of spice sacks and bric-a-brac, we were lured into the curiosity shop that was Doctor House on Nabq's El Gharqana alley. Inside, owner Wael, an antique collector and herbalist from Cairo, soon had us draped in traditional garb (think Tommy Cooper fez and harem veils) and sipping on a welcome brew of mint tea as we browsed his wares. This was ultimate Egyptian hospitality away from the ubiquitous upselling (but that didn't stop Carolyn picking up some vintage teapots for a steal).
For many travellers, a resort is only as good as its add-ons, and when it comes to package holiday day-trips, Egypt's excursion menu certainly takes the Palme d'Or. From Sharm, visitors can book day-trips to the likes of Saint Catherine's Monastery in the foothills of Mount Sinai or the Pyramids in Giza to border-hopping visits to either Jerusalem or Jordan up the road. Given the regional unrest during our own stay (last summer), our gallivanting was somewhat curtailed, so we opted for Falcon's Sinai by Starlight (€49) soiree with a local Bedouin community.
After being coached out to the desert, the excursion kicked off, naturally, with an obligatory camel transfer. I'd always vowed to resist tick-the-box tourist excursions, but when it was a case of getting from A to B (B being a traditional Bedouin tent tucked in the valley), what could I do but hoist aboard?
And so, jolted 10 feet into the air, we caravanned off into the desert, flanked by a convoy of armed tourist police in a pick-up truck that only added to the sense of surreal.
Sinai is a traditional stronghold of the historically nomadic Bedouin people, and while now a marginalised minority against the influx of migrant workers from the Nile Delta, community tourism ventures like these are said to bolster the village coffers while also preserving local culture.
After a laid-back desert feast under the marquee's shade, we enjoyed a fireball sunset over the dusty crags of the Sinai before the desert dimmer switch gently illuminated the northern constellations across the skies.
It was then that guide Mohammed began pointing out the likes of the Big Dipper, Scorpius and the North Star as his ruby laser pen darted across the twinkling heavens. Blissfully buoyed by a few days of snorkelling back at the resort, later in the week we made our own Egyptian exodus for the neighbouring water wonderland and overall hippy-hotspot of Dahab.
While Falcon don't organise car hire (due to an unsurprising lack of demand), we sourced a Sixt.com desk at the local Hilton and were soon in possession of a zippy Daewoo and a ludicrously inexpensive tank of petrol.
Despite having heard horror stories of Egyptian drivers, here their honk was worse than their bite, and once beyond the klaxoned chaos of Sharm we were soon funnelling into a one-camel desert highway: turn right for Dahab and left for Cairo and pretty much everywhere else.
The drive north saw us weaving through the stark valleys of the Sinai Mountains; arid, hot and hostile. Although the region is the habitat of an impressive diversity of fauna where scorpions, ibex and even hyenas haunt the hillsides, our transit had more the sense of magnificent lunar abandon. In fact, by the time we reached Dahab two hours later, the sight of the police checkpoint guarding the town offered an almost comforting sign of life.
An indie traveller's oasis, Dahab's main strip was a chilled-out Mecca of quirky inns, lazy hookah cafes and scuba schools, all spilling out upon the shores of Asallah Bay. Following a tip-off from some local instructors, we headed for the town's snorkelling hotspot (outside the Lighthouse Dive Centre) before masking up and diving into our latest great unknown.
A spectacular reef brimming with tropical fish immediately careened off into a startling infinite drop-off. Gulp! We floated around in utter wonder, occasionally negotiating a bed of prickly sea urchins or a gaping moray eel peering out of a crevice.
Amid the Cousteau mise en scene, the shoal of scuba divers gradually ventured down into the depths beneath us, their flippers soon vanishing into the abyss. Egypt had plunged me into a dreamlike underworld of wonder. And Sinai has the reef that just keeps on giving.
Need to know
* Thomas went to Egypt with Falcon Holidays (1850 45 35 45; falconholidays.ie or Falcon Travel shops), which flies from Dublin to Sharm El Sheikh year-round. Seven-night all-inclusive packages with the operator start from €499pps (staying at the three-star St George). All-inclusive stays at Coral Sea Waterworld start from €669pps, while a family waterpark package (two adults plus two children) at the hotel starts from €2,601.
* To up the water adventure ante, Falcon arranges pre-bookable scuba-diving courses (ocean-college.com) from €65 per half-day. Alternatively, simply pick up a snorkel for less than a fiver.
Top tip: Best foot forward
Don't forget your walking shoes. You'll be required to trek for long distances should you be visiting the pyramids and flip-flops just won't cut it.
Weekend Magazine


text:
Connect with Talena
What I Do:
I aim to inspire through fiction, my newsletters, blog, knitting patterns, recipes, and freelance articles. (And my music, too.)
I edit and coach other writers into creating their best work.
I'm a work-from-home mom to four amazing boys. Three grew in my womb, one grew in my heart, but was taken home to heaven in June, 2015.
I cook from scratch, grow as much of my own food as I can, and eat traditional, whole-food style (and recently became dairy intolerant). I believe that giving the body whole-food support can prevent many illnesses.
In my "spare time", I love getting into my garden, taking care of my chickens, cats, and dog, and exploring other hobbies. (Photography, sewing and scrapbooking are favourites.)
Why I Do It:
I believe God put you and me and every other person on this earth for a reason.
I believe that spreading love and kindness is one of the most important things we can do.
I believe that this world can be an amazing, magical place, but we all need to be a part of making the magic happen.
I believe in magic and faeries. I really want to be a mermaid when I grow up.
I believe that you can make a difference in your world today.
My goal is to inspire you to reach higher, try harder, and be better. I want you to inspire, educate, or entertain you with my stories, and usually all three at once. May you be uplifted by visiting me today. Please drop me a note to let me know you were here—I'd love to hear from you!
Talena Winters inspires with stories, knitting, and music. Addicted to tea, chocolate, books, and silver linings. She is the author of The Undine's Tear (due out in May 2019), The Waterboy, Finding Heaven, and The Friday Night Date Dress, has written several award-winning songs, and is lead writer for Move Up magazine. She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.
(Want the long version? See my Media Kit page.)


text:
Martin Livermore of the Scientific Alliance writes....
This week, the Scientific Alliance was very pleased to publish a report on renewable energy, jointly with the Adam Smith Institute. Entitled Renewable Energy – Vision or Mirage?, this sets out to review available renewable energy technologies and analyse what contribution they could realistically make to a secure and affordable future energy supply. It focuses on the UK, but the essential messages are relevant anywhere.
Our main conclusion is that wind power (which is the only technology which could be deployed on a large enough scale to have a chance of meeting the UK government's ambitious targets) cannot fulfil the expectations which policymakers have for it.
The primary objective of the present UK and EU energy policy is to reduce fossil fuel use, and hence also carbon dioxide emissions. This is in an attempt to fulfil the EU 20-20-15 targets: a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and 15% of energy from renewables by 2020. Because, in practice, most of the renewables would be used to generate electricity rather than be used for transport or heating – which together represent about two thirds of our fossil fuel use – the target actually requires a very large switch away from coal and gas in this sector. The challenge is immense.
We are grateful to Karel Beckman for alerting us to a new report by ENTSO, (European association of transmission system operators) which alerts Europe to the risk of a capacity-caused electricity supply shortage in the event of another cold winter. Perhaps it can only be outright supply failures that will alert German voters to the dangers they face if they continue on their present path of accelerating the closure of nuclear power plants while excoriating fossil fuel generation. Their now 20 GW of installed PV will be useless in the coming winter. Cold weather is characterized by extended anticyclones. Fortunately, the UK has time to take stock of what is happening elsewhere in the EU (and nowhere else in the world) of what happens when an advanced economy takes leave of its senses. Karel's blog article appears, alongside many other important and relevant papers and articles at http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagina.php?id=3316
This is a reprint of a newsletter posted on http://www.odac-info.org/
For a number of years there has been an arid debate between economists and geologists about Peak Oil. The geologists maintain that Peak Oil (maximal production) is a geological imperative imposed because reserves are finite even if their exact magnitude is not, and cannot be, known.
In contrast many economists maintain prices will resolve any sustained supply shortfalls by providing incentives to develop more expensive sources or substitutes. The more sanguine economists do concede that the adaptation may be slow, uncomfortable and economically disruptive.
The reality, I believe, is that both groups have part of the answer but that Peak Oil is, in fact, a complex but largely an economically driven phenomenon that is caused because the point is reached when: The cost of incremental supply exceeds the price economies can pay without destroying growth at a given point in time.While hard to definitively prove, there is considerable circumstantial evidence that there is an oil price economies cannot afford without severe negative impacts.
The current failure of most western economies to achieve anything more than minimal growth this year (2011) is most likely because oil prices are already at levels that severely inhibit growth. Indeed, research by energy consultants Douglas-Westwood concludes that oil price spikes of the magnitude seen this year correlate one-for-one with recessions.
Article originaly posted here.
Significant oil tax hikes in the UK North Sea rocked investor confidence. Gareth Evans reports on the reasons behind the drop in investor activity and finds some compelling reasons for recovery despite negative initial reactions to increased taxes.
On 22 March 2011, a Second World War bomb was discovered lying in 300ft of water near the Forties pipeline, some 25 miles east of Peterhead, Scotland. In his budget a day later, many in the industry suggest that UK Chancellor George Osborne set an even larger bomb ticking under the future of North Sea offshore investment.
Unexpected changes in the budget raised the supplementary charge (SC) rate to 32% from 20%, taking the North Sea headline tax rate to 81% from 75% for fields that are subject to petroleum revenue tax, and to 61% from 50% for those that are not. As a final blow, tax relief on decommissioning was pegged at 20%.
We recommend our readers to down-load and read (and comment upon) the current article published by the European Energy Review at http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagina.php?id=2929 Matthew Hulbert's important paper opens up a veritable Pandora's box of disturbing questions with the likelihood that many resulting answers will add to the growing list of no less disturbing "inconvenient truths" kicked off by Mr Hulbert.
Even if there were a scientific basis for doing away with fossil fuels on the highly questionable basis that these can entirely be replaced by so-called "low carbon technologies" (meaning to most "renewables", as new nuclear fights for its political life), the state of development of most of these in terms of supplying reliable and affordable electricity and energy and feed-stocks for manufacturing, transport and heating is, unfortunately, almost devoid of real content.
Even though fossil fuels have increased in price by a factor of roughly ten (oil) and five (internationally traded coal) since 2001, investment in new renewables seems ever more reliant on tax payer or consumer subsidy. The renewable energy industry seems incapable of addressing the extreme intermittency of their resources intelligently. The whole business sometimes seems to be more a moral or religious crusade than a truly serious attempt to address the pressing challenges and problems of the 21st Century. With the greatest respect to the author, he seems to accept that there really is a significant cushion of surplus extraction capacity in Saudi Arabia, while accepting the obvious fact that there practically no such thing in the rest of OPEC. Does this cushion really exist? Because of the intense secrecy surrounding the publication of OPEC's economically recoverable hydrocarbon reserves, OECD energy analysts are reduced to accepting the assertion of this surplus as if it were a verifiable fact. In fact, it is so unverifiable, that energy analysts often write about it in terms more suited to describing a witches brew or a magic potion. Indeed, Saudi Arabia's behaviour throughout this current oil price supply crisis, strongly suggests that, despite its supposed concern over the obviously deleterious economic effects high prices are having its customers, it is not making this supposed surplus capacity available to us, most likely because it cannot. Mr Hulbert is quite right to emphasise the essentially political nature of this current oil supply crisis and the complete helplessness of our politicians and Government bureaucracies in the face of the political developments in MENA and other oil extracting economies. But he does his case no favour by denying intractable and highly inconvenient geological facts. Demand for oil is a prerequisite for economic growth in all industrial economies. While demand for oil continues to grow in Asia, it seems likely that global extraction capacity, at cost and price levels that are affordable to our economies has simply "maxed out". In other words we seem to be on the edge of "affordable peak oil" when depletion rates will exceed affordable and timely hydrocarbon extraction rates. The energy-importing States of the OECD, especially financially enfeebled Europe, simply cannot afford oil at $120/b let alone some of the fantasy prices currently being quoted in even serious financial newspapers and trade journals. We saw that in 2008; one of the consequences of that price spike was catastrophic demand destruction and wide-spread economic ruination. Our enfeebled and debt-laden economies cannot afford the almost certain double-whammy now threatening. To this oil supply crisis, the recent entry of China into the sea-borne coal market underlines the need for the OECD's coal-users and importers to be aware that "unaffordable" coal might be just around the corner. But that will be the subject of another in DimWatt. The flimflam around shale gas (though not in Mr Hulbert's paper) makes no mention of the fact that for the time being and most of the foreseeable future, the USA depends on importing conventional Canadian gas and many of its shale gas properties are losing money. Political concerns, some admittedly spurious, may prevent its development in Europe. Because compressed natural gas can be used as transport fuel and indeed is widely used already as a transport fuel, the small surplus of gas on the global market will be harnessed for transport applications, so re-closing the oil/gas price ratio at its historical level of one. The use of gas in transportation is more likely to raise the value of gas than decrease the price of oil. In the face of these immediate and impending challenges, it is inexplicable, to me at least, that our fading and weak economies in the OECD are led by politicians and bureaucrats still mouthing hysterical concerns over man-made global warming, while comforting themselves with the dangerous illusion that renewables will not only take over the functions presently delivered by fossil fuels but add to our prosperity by creating new industries and "jobs".
Remember Me


text:
Further to this recent post of mine, Gary Kent explains why today's House of Commons debate on recognizing the Kurdish genocide is important.
Halabja. The name of this small Kurdish town used to be a byword for the multiple crimes of a fascist regime - that of Saddam Hussein. Yet a new generation has come to see Iraq mainly through its experience of the intervention in 2003. Halabja and the wider genocide against the Kurds, in addition to Saddam's crimes against the people of the rest of Iraq, have been somewhat lost...
MPs from the right and left of British politics will debate a motion moved by Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, who was born in Iraq of a Kurdish father. They are active members of the all-party parliamentary group on the Kurdistan Region, which has sent several fact-finding delegations to Iraqi Kurdistan and seeks to deepen and broaden the commercial, political and cultural relationship between the Region and the UK, which also has a large Kurdish Diaspora.
The motion formally recognises the genocide against the people of Iraqi Kurdistan and encourages governments, the EU and UN to do likewise. It says that this will enable Kurdish people, many in the UK, to achieve justice for their considerable loss and enable the UK, the home of democracy and freedom, to send out a message of support for international conventions and human rights, which is made even more pressing by the slaughter in Syria and the possible use of its chemical arsenals.


text:
Mike Vick was invited to the Steelers training camp to interview for a job as #2 QB.Then all hell broke out in the media in Pittsburgh, animal rights activists were drulling at the mouth,undercover Pittsburgh racist were screaming for a lynching, all because the man wants to work.Many Steelers fans have been mad as hell since,Super Bowl winning Coach Tombin was selected by the Rooney Family to be the third coach ever.Animal right activists still think he should be in prison or dead! Never mind that I hear no one calling for star QB Big Bens head,how soon people forget about his deviant behavior with young girl's a few years back! Bigmac
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Vick ,Animal lovers ,Bad recipe!
Posted by BigmacInPittsburgh at 8:01 PM
3 comments:
- Kavierer Loopjers said...
In this post is contain more impressive content. In your idea is really great. The Essay writing service reviews is wonderful writing company.
- September 3, 2015 at 5:14 AM
- Reggie said...
The truth is, that if this experiment with our beloved Steelers had worked; and when Big Ben went down that Michael Vick could have done all the heavy lifting......that he clearly can't do these days........then things might have been vastly different for Michael.
A few touchdowns might have made things look vastly different.
- November 19, 2015 at 7:17 PM
- Scott Porter said...
It is really great to be with nature. Things are really great when we are connected with the universe and the earth.
Scott Porter (kitchen remodeler)
- September 6, 2018 at 12:30 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Mark's Fall 2017 Promotion - 10,000 SCENE Points Prize and 50,000 SCENE Points Grand Prize Draw
*Rules and Regulations
The Contest is sponsored by Mark's Work Wearhouse Ltd. (the " Contest Sponsor"). The Contest shall be administered by SCENE LP on behalf of Contest Sponsor.
CONTEST PERIOD: Contest opens on August 23, 2017 and closes on October 2, 2017 (the "Contest Period").
Who Can Enter
The Contest is open to SCENE members who are legal residents of Canada, excluding Quebec, who are 14 years of age or older at the time of entry. You are not eligible to enter if you are (or you live with) an employee, officer, director, representative, agent, consultant or supplier of (i) the Contest Sponsor and/or SCENE LP, (ii) or any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, franchisees or licensees. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws and is void where prohibited by law.
How to Enter
1. During the Contest Period, all members who purchase a pair of jeans at Mark's will receive a PIN Code for 500 bonus SCENE points (the "PIN Code"). By entering their SCENE membership number online at the applicable website and redeeming the PIN Code during the Contest Period, he/she will automatically into the Contest. Each entrant will receive one (1) entry into the Contest, to a maximum of 4 PIN cards per entrant.
2. No Purchase Method: Send an email to email@example.com containing your full name, telephone number, SCENE card number and a unique and original essay of a minimum 50 words (the "Essay") on why you should win 10,000 SCENE Points. There is a limit of one (1) no purchase entry per unique and original Essay, as determined by the Contest Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. Furthermore, there is a limit of four (4) no purchase entries during the Contest Period.
3. You must be a SCENE member to enter. Membership is absolutely free and no purchase is required in order to become a Member. To enroll, you must be a legal resident of Canada, with a valid Canadian address, a valid email address and be 14 years of age or order. To become a Member, simply complete a SCENE Program online enrollment membership form available at www.scene.ca accurately and completely.
4. Entries that do not contain a valid email address will be void. Entries that contain false, misleading or inappropriate information and any entrant that, in the Contest Sponsor's sole discretion, believes the Entrant is or has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, use of multiple mice or other fraudulent, deceptive or unfair playing practices (including, without limitation, any Entries generated by script, macro, robotic, programmed, or any other automated means). Entries generated by script, macro, robotic, programmed, or any other automated means are prohibited and will automatically be disqualified. Entries must be received within the Contest Period. Entries received after the Contest Period closes will not be accepted.
5. By entering the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and Regulations and all decisions of the Contest Sponsor.
6. All entries become the property of the Contest Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged.
7. The Contest Sponsor will not be responsible for an entrant's inability to submit a Contest entry due to any hardware or software malfunction, internet service delay or interruption, inability to access the Contest URL, or any combination thereof. Further, The Contest Sponsor shall not be responsible for Contest entries that are incomplete, illegible, incorrect, lost, misdirected or delayed.
How to Win
8. The odds of winning will depend upon the number of eligible entries received.
9. At the conclusion of the Contest Period, the potential winner will be selected by random draw from all eligible entries (the "Selected Entrant") on or approximately October 17, 2017 ("Draw Date").
10. The Contest Sponsor will verify the Selected Entrant's eligibility and the Selected Entrant will be notified. If the Selected Entrant does not meet all eligibility requirements for the Contest, the entry is void or becomes disqualified, and then an alternate Selected Entrant will be drawn from all remaining Contest entries.
11. The Selected Entrant eligible to win will be contacted by SCENE LP via the e-mail address connected to their SCENE membership number for further communication (the "Notification"), whereby each Selected Entrant will be required to successfully answer a mathematical skill-testing question and sign a release form in order to be declared a winner. Once a Selected Entrant is confirmed to be an eligible winner, the Prize will be deposited into their SCENE account. The Selected Entrant will be contacted by the Contest Sponsor by email.
12. If the Selected Entrant does not respond to the Notification within forty-eight (48) hours, that Selected Entrant will be automatically disqualified and an alternate Selected Entrant will be selected and contacted.
13. Any Notification made that is returned as undeliverable may result in disqualification at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsor.
14. To be declared a Prize winner and recipient of a Prize (as defined below) the Selected Entrant must first (a) sign a declaration confirming compliance with these Rules and Regulations and acceptance of the Prize as awarded, (b) sign and return, within the time stipulated, a waiver and release of the Contest Sponsor, SCENE LP, and each of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, volunteers, governors, employees, agents, representatives, parents, successors, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, related entities, partners, partnerships, suppliers of prizes, licensees, and licensors (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any liability in connection with this Contest and, (c) correctly answer, unaided, a time-limited skill testing mathematical question to be administered by SCENE LP.
15. Selected Entrants may also be required to submit valid proof of identity.
16. By accepting a Prize, the Contest winner authorizes the Contest Sponsor to broadcast, publish and disseminate his/her name, City of residence, photograph, likeness, sobriquet and voice, in connection with any further publicity carried out in connection with this Contest, with no additional compensation to the Contest winner beyond the awarding of the Prize.
17. Two prizes (each a "Prize") will be awarded.
18. Prize A) The prize is 10 giveaways of 10,000 SCENE points. Approximate total retail value of each 10,000 SCENE points Prize is $100 CAD.
Prize B) The prize is a draw to win one giveaway of 50,000 SCENE points. Approximate total retail value of the Prize is $500 CAD.
The Prizes must be accepted as awarded and are not transferable, assignable or convertible to cash. Prize(s) are non-transferable and no substitution will be made unless Contest Sponsor, in their sole discretion, determines otherwise. Contest Sponsor reserve the right to substitute a prize, or a portion thereof, for one of equal or greater value should it become unavailable for any reason. Winners are responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. All prize details are at Contest Sponsors' sole discretion. Limit: One (1) prize per person.
19. If the Selected Entrant: (a) fails to correctly answer the skill-testing question; (b) fails to respond within the specified time; and/or (c) cannot accept the Prize as awarded for any reason; then he/she will be disqualified (and will forfeit all rights to the Prize) and the Contest Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to randomly select an alternate eligible entrant from among the remaining eligible entries received during the Contest Period (in which case the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to such new Selected Entrant).
Disclaimer and Liability Exclusion
20. Neither Contest Sponsor nor SCENE LP are responsible for late, lost, incomplete, illegible or misdirected entries or for any failure of the web site during the Contest; for any technical malfunction or other problems relating to the telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment or software, failed network connections, failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions, online failures or communication failures other circumstances affecting, disrupting or corrupting the Contest in any manner, including without limitation, receipt of entries, entrants' ability to participate in the Contest, prize notification or entrant response to the notification, for any reason including, but not limited to, technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site, or any combination of the foregoing. Further, neither the Contest Sponsor nor SCENE LP are responsible for any damage to entrants' or third parties' computer occasioned by participation in the Contest or by downloading any information necessary to participate in the Contest.
21. By entering the Contest, entrants agree that the Released Parties shall not be liable for losses or injuries of any kind resulting from participation in the Contest or acceptance, possession or use of any Prize awarded and entrants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless the Released parties and their respective subsidiaries, parent company, affiliates, and all of their respective employees, directors, officers, and agents, for all claims or damages arising out of the entrant's participation in the Contest or the acceptance or use of a Prize awarded therein.
22. Neither Contest Sponsor nor SCENE LP make any warranty, guarantee or representation of any kind concerning the Prize and disclaims any implied warranties.
23. The Contest Sponsor reserves the right to substitute the Prize (or portion thereof) without notice for alternate prize or prizes of equal or greater value. Prize must be accepted as awarded and cannot be exchanged or returned for cash.
24. The Contest Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, amend or extend this Contest or modify the Rules and Regulations at any time without notice and shall have no liability to anyone, including entrants, for the cancellation or termination of the Contest.
25. The personal information provided by entrants to enter the Contest will be (i) collected by or on behalf of the Contest Sponsor, (ii) used only to administer the Contest, contact Selected Entrants, verify eligibility of the Selected Entrants and (iii) accessible only to those employees of SCENE LP and will not be disclosed or sold to any other third parties.
26. By entering this Contest, each entrant consents to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information for the purposes and in the manner described herein.
27. For more information about the Contest Sponsor's commitment to your privacy please review the privacy policies online. You can also contact us or otherwise communicate your privacy concerns by emailing us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
General Conditions
28. All decisions of the Contest Sponsor are final and binding on all entrants without right of appeal.
29. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these Rules and Regulations and disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest-related materials, including, but not limited to: the Entry, website and/or point of sale, television, print or online advertising; the terms and conditions of these Rules and Regulations shall prevail, govern and control.
30. As a condition of participating in the Contest, except where prohibited by law, each entrant agrees that any dispute or cause of action arising out of or connected with the Contest shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action proceeding, and exclusively before a court located in the province of Alberta and that the court shall apply the laws of the province of Alberta doctrines of conflict of law and that you agree to be subject to personal jurisdiction in the province of Alberta. Further, each entrant agrees to waive all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including legal costs or attorneys' fees, other than the entrant's out-of-pocket expenses associated with entering the Contest.
31. In the event of a dispute, online entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the person who is assigned an email address by an internet provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational institute etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. If the identity of an online entrant is disputed, the authorized account holder associated with the email account at the time of entry will be deemed to be the entrant. An entrant may be required to provide the Contest Sponsor with proof that she or he is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the winning entry.


text:
Arsenal close on Nigerian youngsters Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze
By Aidan Magee
Last Updated: 12/01/16 7:17pm
Arsenal are closing in on the signings of Nigeria U17 players Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze, Sky sources understand.
A host of Europe's top clubs have been tracking Nwakali and Chukwueze after they impressed in helping Nigeria win last year's FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.
The Gunners look to have won the race to sign them, despite Nwakali's brother Chidiebere playing for Manchester City.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger remains optimistic he will complete the signing of Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny this week but a double deal for Nwakali and Chukwueze would offer a possible further boost.
Watch Stoke v Arsenal on this week's Super Sunday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 at 4pm, after Liverpool v Manchester United.


text:
Resource & Mobilization Staff
I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home with God loving and fearing parents. I was exposed to the Gospel by them since birth and at age ten I was formally presented the Gospel. I knew then that my sin separated me from God and that I needed Christ blood to cover me yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I was baptized in the church, and that is when my story begins. I recognize that I am a sinner by nature, but God has greatly spared me and acted much like a "gutter-guard" in many areas in my life. It wasn't until college that I started to grow in my relationship with Christ.
It was Andy Hardin who took the time needed to invest in me as a man and help me grow in my understanding of the Gospel. Andy discipled me, along with a group of fellow fraternity brothers. It was in my one-on-one time with Andy that I began to admit deep, festering sin that I had never dealt with before. I grew immeasurable as a man because of how Andy laid his life out and showed us how he related to his family, acted as a father, and was a servant of God. Andy helped me recognize my spiritual gifts of faith, exhortation and teaching, and then showed me how to use them to glorify the Lord.
Now, through prayer and faith, I look forward to serving as a 'Resource Staff' to our ministry in central Kentucky, where I hope to use my skills to Gods full glory on the college campus.
God has shown me that my life is no longer mine to live, but His to use.


text:
Infrastructure & Investment Conference.
The 7th annual Infrastructure Investment World Europe is Europe's longest running and most comprehensive infrastructure conference. It is a three-day strategic conference and exhibition and Europe's largest infrastructure gathering for LPs. The conference features the world's leading infrastructure funds and investors examining infrastructure as an asset class. The event is organized annually by Terrapinn at the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Chelsea, London, UK.
Infrastructure Investment World Europe is known as the largest infrastructure conference which brings all the infrastructure funds, investors and financiers together under one roof. Every year more than 60 speakers address over 300 delegates through workshops, case studies, keynote presentations. The conference provides an unrivalled and cost-effective sales and marketing solution that works throughout the year & provides new contacts and great exposure.
Terrapinn Infrastructure Investment World Europe brings together Pension fund investors, Infrastructure funds, Fundraisers, Project finance advisers, Investment banks, Lawyers, Private equity funds, Insurance companies, Hedge funds, Pension fund consultants, Ratings agencies, Developers to discuss infrastructure investment opportunities in the region.
Come to Infrastructure Investment World Europe and learn: How future government spending and the advent of dedicated infra banks will impact infrastructure investment across Europe; How EU governments are facilitating private investment into infrastructure and what opportunities it presents for pension funds; How to assess the increasing importance of the development banks for infrastructure investing; What strategies are best suited for small, medium or big LPs looking to invest in infrastructure; The viability of infrastructure debt as an asset class for pension funds.
London, UK
Click here to read more on the UK (the hosting country).
Official website:
Other resources:


text:
Wound Wash Vashe Wound Solution - Dermal Wound Cleanser
Average Customer Rating(5 ratings)
Featured Customer ReviewI soak 2x2s in vashe and put it on the wound until the next dressing change [ read more ]By Orangewolfe from Billings, MT
- Other Options
- Tweet
- Set Up Auto Re-Order (details)
Vashe Wound Wash Vashe Wound Solution - Dermal Wound Cleanser
- Biocompatible, safe, effective, natural
- Mimics the normal pH of human skin
- Hypochlorous acid acts as a preservative that inhibits microbial contamination within the solution
- Cleared for use on acute and chronic lesions
- Helps to accomplish the goals of wound bed preparation
- Non-cytotoxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing, no oral toxicity
- No clinical contraindications for use
- Moistens and lubricates absorbent wound dressings
- Proprietary formulation
Product Information Documents:
Vashe Wound Wash Vashe Wound Solution - Dermal Wound Cleanser
Download SDS Vashe.pdf.
Download Vashe-Wound-Cleansing-Final.pdf.
Product Overview
Vashe Wound Wash Vashe Wound Solution - Dermal Wound Cleanser
Vashe Wound Therapy Wound Cleanser
AllegroMedical.com offers Vashe Wound Therapy a dermal cleansing solution designed to mimic the normal pH of human skin, keeping it safe for patients, clinicians and the environment while accomplishing the goals of wound bed preparation.
Vashe Wound Therapy Solution is best used for cleansing, irrigating, moistening and debriding acute and chronic dermal lesions, including:
- Stage I-IV pressure ulcers
- Stasis ulcers
- Diabetic ulcers
- Post-surgical wounds
- First- and second-degree burns
- Minor abrasions of the skin
In addition, Vashe Wound Therapy Solution is used to moisten and lubricate absorbent wound dressings such as Drawtex Hydroconductive Wound Dressing. This product has a two year shelf life from date on the bottle. Once opened, product has a life of 30 days.
Place Your Order Here
Vashe Wound Wash Vashe Wound Solution - Dermal Wound Cleanser
Wound Wash Vashe Wound Solution - Dermal Wound Cleanser Reviews Summary
You have already voted for this. Thank you
You cannot vote for your own question or answer. Thank you
Wound Wash Vashe Wound Solution - Dermal Wound Cleanser
Ask the community about this product and get answers. Share your knowledge and advice. Learn More about Q&A.
4 Questions | 2 Answers
Can I use this over sutures to prevent infection and aid in the healing process? Or, is it necessary?
Asked on Jul 18, 2016 12:02:04 PM by Max
Yeah, good question!
(1) Yes - (0) No
Report as inappropriate
Can Vashe be used for a bladder irrigation. I am allergis to Gentamycin and have been told this product helps with UTIs.
Asked on Aug 20, 2015 6:49:01 AM by Marilyn
Yeah, good question!
(4) Yes - (0) No
Report as inappropriate
Can this be used on animals?
Asked on Oct 21, 2013 5:30:07 PM by Scubacoz
Yeah, good question!
(1) Yes - (1) No
Report as inappropriate
Does anyone know if this would be beneficial to use on a 4.6 year old open wound ? I have been left with a non healing continuous draining wound after using a wound vacuum system for 1 year. I have had 16 total spinal surgeries, from 1998 to 2008. Including trying skin graphing,tissue expanders and Hyperbaric therapy without success. At present all I do is clean the area with plain soap and water and change the gauze dressing every day.The wound consists of continuous draining 2 holes and a small horizontal area in between the 2 holes that connects the 2 holes across the lower spine. Any info would help. Thanks for your time
Asked on Oct 21, 2013 2:13:51 PM by Donna
Yeah, good question!
(9) Yes - (1) No
Report as inappropriate
Know the answer? Answer this question
2 answers
It is PH balanced so it brings the PH of the skin to normal. I had a wound on a diabetic patient that wound not heal for 3 months and when I started using the Vashe wound cleanser the Patients wound started closing within a two weeks. I wound think you have nothing to lose in trying it. It is better than Soap and Water.
Answered on Oct 30, 2014 12:11:23 AM by KH from Wyoming
This answer was helpful!
(5) Yes - (2) No
Report as inappropriate
For unhealing open wound, my dr had me saturate cloth with Vasche and lay over open wound for 30 minutes, twice daily. Then I alternated saturating large adhearing bandage one day and affixing it, next day with bacitracin. White blood cell count slightly elevated - put on antibiotic. Healed well, finally! Hope this helps.
Answered on Aug 29, 2015 4:56:30 AM by Katie from Iowa
This answer was helpful!
(4) Yes - (0) No
Report as inappropriate
Part Number(s): 730 2054, 730 2053, 730 2055
Mfg Part Number(s): 00312, 00313, 00314
Scrip Part Number(s): 730 2053, 730 2055, 730 2054
Because our price on this item is lower than the manufacturer's suggested retail price, the manufacturer does not allow us to show you our price until you place the item in your shopping cart. Retailers like Allegro Medical have the legal right to sell products at prices we set. However, adding the item to your cart allows us to show you our lower price consistent with our promise of always offering you the lowest possible prices on the widest selection of medical supplies, medical equipment and life enhancing products.
Adding this item to your shopping cart won't require you to buy it. However, our prices do change. If you decide to purchase this item now you are guaranteed the price now displayed in your shopping cart. Complete your purchase by clicking on the "checkout" button or simply remove the product from your cart if you decide not to make your purchase at this time.


text:
Today I tried out two new forms of transport in Jerusalem. One is indeed new to the city – Jerusalem's new light railway, which opened to the public ten days ago, after years of controversy and seemingly endless delays, and any number of questions about its positive or negative effect on Jerusalem transport and commerce.
But since the light railway doesn't come anywhere near our part of Jerusalem, first I took a bus to the center of town. Now, I may indeed drive a car and rarely take buses, but it's not as rare an event as all that. What makes it noteworthy is that I took an Arab bus, one that has been more or less passing my front door for many years, but one I have never thought to make use of. It all started with a house-swap: my husband and I swapped houses for a couple of weeks this summer, exchanging our Jerusalem apartment for a cottage in the Correze district in France. When I returned home a few days ago, I found that my French visitor had left behind a map of the Arab bus lines. I'd never seen one before, and it made me think. A couple of weeks before I left for my holiday, one of my Palestinian friends remarked in passing that she never took Egged buses (the regular, "Jewish" lines that most Israelis use), because she doesn't feel safe in them. I was astonished – such a possibility had never occurred to me. On the other hand, I am fully aware that there is a network of Arab buses running along the main road next to our house, that the vast majority of Israeli Jews barely notice, let alone ride on. The fact that our French visitor was questioned by the security guards at the airport about the Arab bus ticket in her wallet is an indication of just how separate the bus systems are. Armed with a bus map, I felt it was time to give it a go.
When I got to my local bus stop, for the first time I examined it a little more carefully. On a separate sign (in Hebrew and Arabic), it listed two buses that I now knew to be Arab buses. When one came along, I got on, paid my (cheaper) fare, and sat down. Other than a couple of glances, possibly triggered by my sleeveless top, nobody seemed bothered by my presence. The bus moved quickly, as few people were getting on and off in the mainly Jewish areas we were passing. I reached the Jaffa Gate within 10 minutes (having told my French visitor that there was no direct bus to the Old City from our house!). A triumph!
Now it was time to take the light railway. I wanted to take it in the direction that would take me through a mixture of Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods. A young boy at the rail stop gave me leaflets with a map in Hebrew, and then in Arabic when I requested one (and on the way home I found one in English too). All the signage was in all 3 languages. I noticed that whereas the Hebrew version names Jewish neighborhoods, it ignores the existence of Palestinian neighbourhoods. Other than 3 stops in purely Palestinian areas, all other stops have Jewish names – such as "Shimon HaTzaddik," right next to a municipality sign for the area called Sheikh Jarrach. The Arabic version of the map doesn't include neighborhood names at all. Likewise, the Hebrew version lists in great detail the bus routes that connect to the light railway system, but simply reads "East Jerusalem lines" at the relevant Palestinian stops.
Putting all that to one side for a moment, and ignoring the frequent technical difficulties and delays, it was fascinating watching the interaction of people who are not used to rubbing shoulders in such a completely normal way. Jewish children staring wide-eyed as we entered a Palestinian neighborhood they have never been in, though they live two minutes away. A crowd of headscarved women, some Jewish and some Muslim. Tentative conversations breaking out over mutual complaints at the delays.
On the whole the Jewish and Arab adults and children looked at each other with a degree of mutual suspicion and distrust. On the other hand, there was a moment of real coexistence when a couple of toddlers shared the universal language of Bamba, too young to have learned fear. Perhaps this new form of transport will create a point of contact, somewhere where Jews and Arabs can learn to see each other as normal human beings.
On the way home I walk down to Jaffa Gate again to take a bus home. It's a stop which doesn't serve regular Egged buses, and there's nowhere to sit and no shade. It's hot. Only one bus seems to be listed, though my map suggests there should be another one. After quite a long wait, a mini-van bus approaches. I ask one of the young men waiting for it and he confirms that it goes past my house. I get on, and another young man insists on giving me his seat. This bus isn't even listed on the Arab bus map but I've seen lots of them around. Once again, I feel perfectly comfortable, though I notice that in both directions I've chosen to speak English, leaving open the question as to whether I'm Israeli or a tourist.
I don't know whether the Palestinians riding their separate bus system would welcome me using their buses – would it be taken as a sign of coexistence and tolerance or a sign of oppression and occupation? I don't know. All I know is that the separate systems have been created because of our underlying fear of each other. I'm by no means impervious to fear, just willing to put it aside in order to push the boundaries a little. I believe that only by overcoming some of our fears can we learn to inhabit the same public space and live alongside one another in the city we must learn to share.


text:
Side Dish Challenge: Corn with Sage-Tomato Butter
How can you really dress up corn? I like Old Bay on my corn, but I wanted to incorporate some great fall flavors into this dish. For one of the Elite Eight side dish winner, I decided to upgrade the butter that goes into the corn. The great thing is, you can use this compound butter on just about anything you slather deliciousness on!
What You'll Need:
- 2-lb. bag frozen corn
- 1 stick softened butter
- 2 sage leaves
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1. Heat corn over medium-high heat with a small amount of liquid in the pot. I like using milk, but you can use water and then drain later. Hell, cook it in tequila! ;-)
2. In a food processor, mix butter, sage, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and cayenne power. Shape into a log and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. When corn is piping hot, transfer to a serving dish, and swirl in about 2-3 tbsp. of butter.
Enjoy! (And enjoy on some biscuits, too!)