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"Informing the Ordinary with the
Extraordinary Insights of the Tradition"
"An egg, a shank bone, four cups of wine, an unfilled cup — simple items which only man can hallow, informing the ordinary with the extraordinary insights of the tradition" — Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis (z"l) – When Jews Eat History," Rabbi's Altar Ego/VBS SHALOM
At the Passover Seder, Jews are invited to "eat history and drink theology. "* On the Seder plate are symbols linking the participants to the Exodus. The challenge for modern-day Jews is to bring the Haggadah to life, to invigorate the evenings' rituals with questions and new observances, to update the ancient symbols with modern-day relevance.
Rabbi Schulweis added his own insights and interpretations to the tradition, some of which are listed below to inform preparations for the holiday.
Adding to Hasidic observance, he taught that, with the communal filling of the Cup of Elijah near Seder's end, Jews take on the responsibility of dedicating themselves to the Passover of the future, turning "belief into behavior, "** helping those in need move from darkness to light, from bondage to freedom.
May your Seder be rich with family and friends, food and melody, replete with new ritual and robust discussion.
— Chag Pesach Sameach —
from The Harold M. Schulweis Institute
*from"Today's Exodus, Today's Miracle," Sh'ma, May 2, 1986
** from "Al Keyn" (Therefore)
Reflections on Passover from the Works
of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis (z"l)
The Uniqueness of Judaism: The Master Story – Passover (audio lecture)
Understanding the "radical, revolutionary, philosophical, deeply spiritual character of Passover" and its profound influence on social ethics
PASSOVER: When Jews Eat History
A brief overview of the significance of the symbols on the Seder plate
No Blessing over the Broken Matzah
Understanding yachatz, the broken matzah and the link to the promise of the future
PASSOVER: The Festival of Interdependence
Explaining a mystic dimension of the Seder and the Hasidic practice regarding the Cup of Elijah
Post-Seder Reflections
The importance of asking questions and inclusion of non-Jews and non-practicing Jews at the Seder, an answer to why we are told not to "abhor" our former taskmasters, the Egyptians and why we recite Chatzi Hallel
Welcoming the Stranger (sermon audio)
(text transcription)
Remembering that we were slaves in Egypt and the imperative to welcome the stranger: "Judaism is one continuous struggle against amnesia. Judaism is a recognition that if you forget your suffering, something snaps in you, and the Jewish connection is broken."
The Passover Table: Thinking and Feeling the Haggadah
Linking the human struggle for freedom to the individual's drive for meaning in life through mature love : Erich Fromm and Viktor Frankl


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Month: April 2014
April 22, 2014
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Please use the contact form below to arrange your free no obligation consultation at the YMCA or over the phone.
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- This event has passed.
Fri, August 11|10:30am - 11:00am
These story times are designed primarily for children and will introduce a different nature-themed book each week. During most of the story times, a puppet, live animal or enrichment items will be included to enhance the experience. These programs should last approximately 30-45 minutes depending on the book covered.


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Slovenia to submit privatization plan in 14 days: PM
Slovenia's government will submit to parliament in 14 days a proposal for the privatization of state companies, and one of the country's ailing banks may be among the first to be sold, Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek said on Friday.
Bratusek, who took office on March 20, said her government would send a 'stability program' to Slovenia's European Union partners in Brussels by May 9, as the tiny state races to avert the need for financial help.
Continue Reading Below
Large amounts of bad loans in Slovenia's banking sector have raised concerns in the markets that the country may be the next in line after Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece to require a euro zone bailout.
(Reporting by Marja Novak; Writing by Matt Robinson)


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TROY – Troy firefighters were dispatched to a grass fire at the Miami County Park District's Hobart Urban Nature Preserve on Sunday afternoon.
The 911 call was received around 5:30 and firefighters arrived to find a several-hundred-foot diameter area in flames.
Troy's engine and tanker were working to put out the flames and additional grass trucks from Casstown and Covington were called in for mutual aide.
In all, an estimated 2-4 acres of grass burned before the fire was extinguished. The fire was contained to the southeast corner of the park.
Dan Weaver of the Miami County Park District noted that the natural fire breaks built into the park did their job by not allowing the fire to jump from the grass area of the park to nearby residential areas.
Firefighters have not determined a cause of the fire. They were on the scene for about one hour.


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What Is Going On?
The captions are mildly amusing, but what is going on? My guess is that this is an imitation of some style of conversation they see in their environment, e.g., perhaps the way their parents argue, and that what amuses them is when the other really gets some gesture correct.
But then the leg lifting is left unexplained, because who lifts their leg like that when they argue?


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The Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans in collaboration with the Minnesota Humanities Center will fund arts and cultural heritage programming to educate, highlight, and promote understanding of the arts and cultural heritage of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) for all Minnesotans.
In 2007, the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) conducted an environmental scan of early learning opportunities for children in southern Minnesota. It became apparent that the region creates few opportunities for children to engage in self-directed learning experiences in social settings; in particular, opportunities that create access to arts, culture, and heritage. This is still true today.
The Council on Black Minnesotans in collaboration with the Minnesota Humanities Center will conduct approximately six statewide community forums.
The Arts and Access Programs included two major new initiatives: 1. New arts and access programming at Minnesota Children's Museum-Rochester; and 2. Creativity Jam Exhibit, which engaged Minnesota children and families in a changing line-up of large-scale creative arts projects and loose parts play at the Minnesota Children's Museum's flagship downtown Saint Paul site.
The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council in collaboration with the Minnesota Humanities Center will extend and deepen the ongoing partnership around the Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations exhibition, supporting host sites through December 2012.


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Enjoy a delightful day packed full of delicious treats at World Food Festival at The Heart on Saturday 30th May. You'll discover over 40 speciality World Food stalls, plus live cooking demonstrations from the experts, food tasting a-plenty and competitions galore throughout the mall. From delectable cheeses, perfect pasta sauces and cheekily moreish churros to a variety of Vietnamese dishes, gorgeous Greek delicacies, Turkish delights, captivating Caribbean cuisine and scrumptiously tempting cakes. You'll be sure to find something to tantalise even the most discerning palette. Don't miss our Kids' Club, Cake-Off competition, cookery masterclasses and much, much more!
Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter and be the first to know about events, promotions, competitions and more.


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With Simon Li, you can expect quality leather and genuine comfort with each unique piece of furniture. The Simon Li brand began in 1997 in Shanghai, China, molding itself around the idea that luxurious leather furniture should be made with a durable foundation. From power recliners and sectionals, to loveseats and more, Simon Li furniture is structured around quality and executed by expert craftsmanship.
Led by a team of leather engineers, Simon Li furniture is made with some of the finest cowhide leather using the top-most layer. After the top layer—also known as the top grain—is processed, it becomes a smoother, softer version of itself and is used to upholster various pieces within the Simon Li collection of furniture. Set into a groundwork of furniture grade solid wood and high quality plywood, Simon Li furniture is sure to make a great lasting asset to any home setting. Supporting a simply sleek design, Simon Li offers refreshing home looks that reflect a sense of classic style. Each piece of Simon Li furniture is extraordinary, and come in rich shades of neutrals like traditional browns, brandy, stone, and black.
When looking for premium leather furniture for your dream home, you can start your search with us at Texas Furniture Hut. Visit us in store to get a firsthand look at the various collections offered featuring Simon Li designs.


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This is an imagined book cover, created with two merged royalty free images. The main typeface is Caslon.
Contact me if this image would be suitable for your novel (title and author changed of course) and if you'd like to use this design. Costs vary depending on whether it's an ebook or paperback but around £80 ($100) is a good guide.
Short of an idea for your novel? Browse these imagined book covers and strap lines for ideas.


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The Chrome Coffee Table from Morgan is a great example of high quality British manufacturing. Built to exacting standards and with a wide range of top surface finishes, the Chrome coffee table offers incredible quality at an affordable price.
|500 mm
|315 mm
|1000 mm
Katerina Zachariades
5 Years
Wellworking are always happy to provide quotes for those customers buying Morgan products for companies or projects. For a no obligation quote please contact our Commercial Projects Team with your requirements.


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Team BetterWorks has been hard at work this fall, meeting amazing HR and organizational leaders across the country. I've been privileged to speak at a number of these industry events. Interestingly, each topic was surfaced from actual customers conversations our team had behind the scenes. As an HR practitioner, I know there's no better way to address HR's biggest challenges than through the power of group thinking, sharing and genuine conversations.
If you are in the HR or people operations fields, I highly recommend signing up to attend SHRM, HR Tech, CEB Reimagine HR and the NeuroLeadership Summit next year. Here's a recap of the three big trends we unpacked from our event circuit this fall… and the BetterWorks Team plans to continue the dialogue around each of these topics with customers and the HR community.
Feedback gives businesses a competitive advantage. At SHRM Nashville, I presented on How to Embrace the Future of Feedback at Work. We've learned from data and experiences, that feedback, and driving a workplace committed to continuous learning opportunities, enables us to attract, hire and maximize talent. Employees are truly our greatest assets. Now that we know more about the integral role feedback plays in keeping our people engaged and motivated, it's a missed opportunity if we don't give employees and managers a way to provide ongoing feedback. Welcome to the new era of HR 2.0.
We need to steer the hyper-connected, digital workforce. We're all first-hand witnesses to the role technology and innovation has played on our workforce in the last decade. Yet until recently, workplaces have been slow to adopt HR technologies that support a digital-first workforce. Leading organizations are leveraging emerging technologies and connected data to maximize employee potential and productivity. Beachbody's Cody Kreek and I took the stage at HR Tech in Las Vegas to discuss Beachbody's performance management overhaul, and how embracing digital connectivity enabled the team to realign and maximize potential.
Empathy and productivity go hand-in-hand. At CEB Reimagine HR in Washington D.C., I offered my thoughts on how to "Drive a High-Performance Organization with Empathy at the Core." Through modern and continuous performance management we have the power to connect our employees to purpose, ensure they know how they are valued, have empathy for their challenges and demonstrate active care about their development. Continuous Performance Management (CPM) is the secret ingredient to empowering a workforce and embedding workplace culture–and when paired with empathy, CPM results in maximum productivity.
We also joined HR leaders at the NeuroLeadership Summit to discuss the intersection of business and science, and the future of work, and on December 6, 2017 we'll be leading a roundtable discussion at the Evanta CHRO Summit in NYC on "Innovations in Continuous Performance Management." It's not too late to join John Brothers (Walmart and BetterWorks Advisor), Dympna Purtill (Marubeni-Itochu Steel America), Mary George Opperman (Cornell University) and Jessica Mandler (New York Jets) as they discuss changing the performance management landscape and their personal approaches to retaining, developing and inspiring employees (click here!)
The past few months were busy to say the least– but also exciting, productive and insightful. It's always a privilege to connect in-person with the HR community to stay on top of the latest trends and challenges. Our team is committed to producing the world's leading continuous performance management software, and we couldn't do it without the mindshare of other HR advisors, practitioners and leaders.


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Cop: So what was your name again?
Ven: Ventrovius
Cop: Ok… How do you spell that?
Ven: J-O-H-N
Cop: Very funny. What's your last name, Ventrovius?
Ven: That is my last name. It's my only name.
Cop: Right. What's the name on your license? Your birth certificate?
Ven: I don't have either.
Cop: Ok… Let's just skip the formalities for now… Can you tell me what you were doing in a cave in the middle of Mr. Beshida's ranch?
Ven: Sleeping.
Cop: So you're homeless, or what?
Ven: At the moment I suppose you could say that I'm homeless. I doubt very much that my last home is still standing.
Cop: Why wouldn't it be?
Ven: It's been a rather long time without being cared for.
Cop: Why leave it?
Ven: I no longer felt at home there. I wasn't welcome.
Cop: Why not?
Ven: I'm a somewhat unsavory sort, and that annoys most folk.
Cop: You're a criminal? Is that why you aren't giving me your real name?
Ven: I am giving you my real name. I have no reason not to. But no, you will not find me in any of your records.
Cop: So you're a criminal.
Ven: Not one of yours.
Cop: Then whose? Where are you from, Ventro… Ventruv… Ventrov…
Ven: Call me "Ven" if you'd like, officer.
Cop: Ven… where are you from?
Ven: Originally a small village that no longer exists.
Cop: Village? You're from some third world country?
Ven: Not as you know it, no.
Cop: Ok… let's try something different… How did you get into Mr. Beshida's cave?
Ven: I was put there… Imprisoned…
Cop: Who put you there?
Ven: An angry mob that disapproved of my… methods.
Cop: Methods of doing what?
Ven: Everything really. Most notably how I was influencing their princess, however.
Cop: Princess?
Ven: Yes. Princess Evanam, third daughter of King Cardoren of Beshida.
Cop: Mr. Beshida's relation?
Ven: Doubtful. This occurred several thousand years ago, before the last fall of man.
Cop: Right…
Ven: It's likely that the name carried down in some form, however. Possibly a descendant of the warriors assigned to guard my tomb.
Cop: Right… your tomb…
Ven: Obviously I'm not dead, though, so tomb isn't really an appropriate term.
Cop: Let's move on, shall we? What do you do for a living, Ven? You seem to be an intelligent sort. Been to school? Have a career?
Ven: I'm a necromancer. I've held various positions on the side… Advisor, Tutor, Exorcist… but mostly I'm a necromancer. I learned my trade from many others that came before me.
Cop: Is this some kind of cult?
Ven: Hahaha… no, officer, I'm afraid not. Cults are for frightened and easily influenced people looking for an easy way to solve their petty little problems.
Cop: Indeed… Tell me again how you ended up in Mr. Beshida's cave, Ven.
Ven: The people of Beshida grew fearful of the influence I had over their young princess. They didn't see learning necromancy as a suitably… princesslike… endeavor. I was declared a scourge upon the land, and the king had me condemned. They decided to bury me alive in that cave.
Cop: …
Ven: If you would like to know specifically how I got there… I was escorted with a full detachment of the kingdom's best warriors, a score of priests of the White God, and even more old women spitting curses. I was brought through the town, to the cave, which was at that time an opening in a gentle hillside. I was left to walk in on my own, and the entrance was caved in and sealed by divine magics.
Cop: I see… you know, I'll play along… How did you survive the time you were sealed in the cave?
Ven: Sleeping, obviously. While I am unaging, I do need to eat and drink and breathe, just like any living being. But I am also the most gifted necromancer that has ever lived, and I have power over life and death. I placed myself into a deep sleep, intending to let centuries pass while I slept… and hopefully I wouldn't dream…
Cop: Ok, so you were in a sort of… coma, or something… and then the alarm clock went off and you woke up yesterday afternoon?
Ven: I was awakened once before that, during the destruction of mankind's last age. I decided to go back to sleep.
Cop: Understandable… So then you next woke up yesterday.
Ven: Yes.
Cop: And you decided that you wanted breakfast, and butchered one of Mr. Beshida's chickens?
Ven: I was very hungry.
Cop: Obviously. You'd been asleep a few thousand years, right?
Ven: I haven't figured out exactly how long, but it was at least that, yes.
Cop: So you woke up, killed a chicken, and ate it raw?
Ven: Not one of my most appealing moments, but I was VERY hungry. I do much prefer my food cooked, I assure you, but I needed the blood. Blood is life, and I had drained my powers considerably keeping myself alive.
Cop: I see. Because you're a necromancer.
Ven: Well, yes. I wouldn't be able to do so if I weren't, now would I?
Cop: I suppose not… So, you eat a chicken-
Ven: Actually I just drank the blood, I didn't eat the flesh.
Cop: Right… So, you drink the blood of a chicken, and then you break into Mr. Beshida's house.
Ven: My clothes were somewhat tattered, and I wanted something to eat that wasn't raw chicken.
Cop: As would any decent necromancer.
Ven: Well, any civilized necromancer.
Cop: Tell me, Ven, what are you doing here?
Ven: I haven't decided yet.
Cop: So you came to town and, for lack of anything better to do, broke into Mr. Beshida's ranch and drank the blood of one of his chickens.
Ven: I woke up there, officer. I didn't exactly choose who lived above my tomb when I woke up.
Cop: Have you ever been in a mental institution, Ven? Some kind of hospital?
Ven: You think I'm insane.
Cop: I think that you are confused, or lying.
Ven: Let me show you something, officer…
Cop: What are you going to do? Raise my dead grandmother from the grave? Haha!
Ven: Not quite.
Cop: What is that?
Ven: Your death, officer.
Cop: What in the hell are you talking about? What IS that?
Ven: That… is how you are going to die. It's a simple spell really.
Cop: How did you do that?
Ven: I told you… I'm the most gifted necromancer that has ever lived. I have power over life and death. Yours is but a small thing…


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Loft Extension
This client got in touch with us in July 2016, and after having a consultation, communicated to our project workers how they desire both a single storey side as well as a rear extension. Upon this, we were able to provide our client with a quote, which the client was happy to accept, to which our specialist workers began developing designs for the project. After formulating a design that captures the vision of the client, which the client happily approved of, we were then given planning permission and building approval, enabling our workers to start the project. After organised and quality execution of service, we were able to materialise the desired outcome for the client, including the installation of Dormer windows (as requested); this not only was able to provide natural light to the area, but also enabled a more spacious layout to the loft extension. Our client was very pleased with our quality service and was eager to use their new loft extension.
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A reported tentative deal between the U.S. and the incoming Mexican government on asylum requests by migrants would be a victory for the Trump administration and the American people if it is finalized.
According to a Washington Post story published Saturday, the Trump administration and the incoming Mexican government have tentatively agreed that migrants from south of the U.S. border will wait in Mexico for their American asylum requests to be ruled on, rather than being allowed to wait in the U.S.
However, The Associated Press later quoted Mexico's incoming interior minister, Olga Sanchez, as saying: "There is no agreement of any sort between the incoming Mexican government and the U.S. government."
Since the Washington Post report says the agreement with the administration of Mexican President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador is not final and might still collapse, the comments by Sanchez do not necessarily run counter to the Post story. The Post said its report was based on accounts from Mexican government officials and senior members of López Obrador's transition team.
Hopefully, a final agreement will reached soon after López Obrador takes office Dec. 1.
The White House did not comment on the Washington Post story Saturday.
But President Trump said in two tweets Saturday night: "Migrants at the Southern Border will not be allowed into the United States until their claims are individually approved in court. We only will allow those who come into our Country legally. Other than that our very strong policy is Catch and Detain. No 'Releasing' into the U.S… All will stay in Mexico. If for any reason it becomes necessary, we will CLOSE our Southern Border. There is no way that the United States will, after decades of abuse, put up with this costly and dangerous situation anymore!"
If an agreement like the one described by the Post is finalized, President Trump will have made major progress in his efforts to stem the tide of illegal immigrants on our southern border and strengthen our national security.
And the adoption of such an agreement would show that once again – facing a challenged that has prompted other presidents and politicians to throw up their hands and say nothing can be done – President Trump will have proven himself to the master dealmaker.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have a responsibility to support the president's actions to secure our borders, because they have a duty to protect the American people and enforce our laws. And one of the first steps they should take is to provide funding for a border wall that is vital for our security. Defending America should not be a partisan issue.
Right now, growing numbers of migrants are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, and many are applying for asylum because they know they will be able to live in the U.S. for years while their asylum requests are processed. U.S. immigration courts have an incredible backlog of more than 750,000 cases, accounting for the long delay in reaching decisions on asylum requests.
In October the U.S. Border Patrol apprehended more than 60,000 migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. without authorization – the highest number in any month since President Trump has taken office.
Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have a responsibility to support the president's actions to secure our borders, because they have a duty to protect the American people and enforce our laws.
Many migrants awaiting asylum hearings in the U.S. never show up for their court dates. And the longer they stay in the U.S., the more sympathy they draw in the media and from many compassionate Americans. When the migrants have children in the U.S. the children are automatically American citizens, and their parents often argue that they must stay in America to care for the children.
For years, elites in both political parties have ignored the illegal immigration crisis growing on America's southern border.
Republicans did nothing about the issue because many businesses and farmers supporting the GOP were happy to have a source of cheap labor to pick crops, work in factories, and hold many unskilled jobs. A steady supply of illegal immigrant labor kept wages low for these jobs – cutting costs for employers but hurting American workers, particularly those who never went on to college or have not graduated from high school.
Democrats encouraged a porous southern border because they saw migrants and their American-born children as a source of future political support. The Democrats want a pathway to citizenship for the illegal immigrants so they can become Democratic voters in a few years – and some Democrats even argue that non-citizens ought to be able to vote in U.S. elections.
Now our generosity as a country is being taken advantage of daily by thousands of Central Americans who are being guided by well-funded nonprofits to gain entry into America.
The U.S. welcomes more immigrants than any country in the world, but in recent years our compassion has opened the door to waves of criminals entering America, alongside other migrants who want to work hard – and do no one any harm – in order to build better lives for their families. Unfortunately, it's often impossible to know which migrants are entering to do us harm.
Donald Trump was elected president by campaigning on the promise to build a wall to secure our southern border. He understands – as do millions of American voters – that a country without borders is not a country.
One of the first and most important components of a nation-state is strong borders with a definitive delineation of where its own nation's sovereignty begins and ends. Unfortunately, this is now a point of disagreement between our two major political parties.
Candidate Trump won states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and North Carolina in a stunning fashion in the 2016 presidential election, with a crackdown on illegal immigration being his central theme. Yet Republicans in Congress have been reluctant to fund the construction of a border wall Trump promised to build.
Senate Republicans especially have failed time and time again to appropriate the funding needed to build the border wall to defend our country from the flow of drugs, illegal guns, gang members and other illegal immigrants.
This is why in recent weeks you have seen the president mobilize the military to help construct a barbed wire barrier to make it much more difficult for illegal immigrants to cross our border. That's an important step to begin the process of sealing off our border, but hardly enough to stop the southern border penetration that threatens our country.
Here are some eye-opening figures regarding the threat open borders pose on our country:
The annual cost of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. each year is about $115 billion in benefits and services, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform. American taxpayers pay an extraordinary amount to fund benefits.
Thousands of children are trafficked across the border every year. This is one of the most horrific practices that still exists to this day. Our porous borders are a dream come true for the evil and immoral child sex trafficking industry.
The U.S. Border Patrol has seen a 72 percent increase in heroin seizures in the last year. A majority of the fentanyl in America comes across the southern border.
President Trump has taken numerous actions to protect our borders. The tentative agreement reported by The Washington Post is just the latest. You can be sure the president he will do whatever else he can to defend our country. He deserves the support of us all.
Source: FoxNews


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Take a look at the American Enterprise Institute's interactive map of "Global Business in Iran": <www.aei.org/IranInteractive/>. Impressions that many have to the contrary, Russian business transactions with Iran are apparently in the same league as those of Canadian and American businesses. Russia's interests in Iran are more geopolitical than economic.
After looking at the map, click on "Analysis," and then click on "Bilateral Trade Ranking, by $ Amount of Business Transactions, 2000-Present." The main business partners with Iran are China (44.45% of the total)* and India (34.97% of the total), which are way ahead of France, Germany, and Italy.
If the AEI's research is accurate, whether Iran can survive economic sanctions depends a lot on China and India.
* See, also, Paulo Prada and Betsy McKay, "Trading Outcry Intensifies: Firms Face More Calls to Cut Ties With Censured Nations," Wall Street Journal 27 March 2007.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Global Business in Iran
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Hello Everyone!
My super hilarious, beautiful and talented friend, Sarah Swinwood, has a dream. She would love to make a short comedy film in Peru called 'Miss Canada'. She just needs a little help in realizing her dream.
The Indiegogo fundraiser for this project is here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/miss-canada#gallery
If you can, please help her to fulfill her dream.
Sending you lots of love and wishing your dreams come true, Sarah!
Much love,


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23 Jun Travel Portrait Photography with the Fuji X100S
Posted at 14:23h in travel, travel camera, x100s 0 Comments
In 2015 I traveled to Thailand, Morocco and Indonesia. I was looking for a camera to travel with and decided to buy the Fuji x100s as my companion. The camera has many benefits for traveling, a few of them I will point out in this article. But the main purpose of this article is not to glorify this great camera for traveling and street photography, but to give you some advice on how to take good travel photography pictures of people. Not in terms of photography techniques but rather from the human side, to discover a country and their people via photography – and how that leads to get some great travel portrait photography.


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This was on page 2 of the Sunday Times (London) on 30 January 2011 with an explanatory graphic along with a photo of a cute seal pup. Their newspaper is behind a paywall so I cannot provide a URL.
Harp Seals have become the first mammals know to have suffered mass mortality as a consequence of climate change with at least 500,000 pups having drowned because of shrinking ice levels.
Warmer waters in the seal's main birthing areas in the north Atlantic last year prevented ice flows from reaching their normal size and stopped the formation of pack ice, which suppresses waves and offers shelter from wind. It meant that in stormy conditions the pups were either pitched into the sea as the floes were tossed around or washed away by large waves.
I don't know what to think about this, yet.


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Candy Soil manufactures a range of quality landscaping soils and plant growth materials at our fully licensed processing facility in Ipswich. The business was established in 1996 and has grown to be one of the major composting and soil processing operators in Queensland. Candy Soil is a major supplier to Retail Landscape Yards and Landscape Contractors in South-east Queensland.
Our blended soil product range is extensive and covers most gardening and landscaping requirements. Our most popular soils include:
A full range of our products and helpful hints on how to select the correct product for your use can be found on our PRODUCT PAGE


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Yesterday, Cambridge, MA-based Aileron Therapeutics announced that a collaboration it had formed with European drug giant Roche in 2010 has been expanded. The companies, which have been working together on two programs focused on turning Aileron's "stapled peptide" technology into cancer treatments, have now added a third program focused on inflammatory diseases. The financial details weren't disclosed, but the original agreement was already quite lucrative for Aileron: Roche vowed $25 million to the biotech over the first two years of the partnership. And Aileron is eligible for up to $1.1 billion in milestone payments—one of which it said yesterday it recently received.
Stapled peptides are fragments of proteins that are linked in a way that's designed to stabilize them, so they don't degrade too quickly in the body. And rather than attaching to targets on the surface of cells—like many drugs do—Aileron's compounds are designed to penetrate cell's outer membranes so they can more effectively hit disease targets.
Aileron CEO Joseph Yanchik believes Roche's support will be vital to advancing the entire field of stapled peptides. "Until a year ago, all discussion about stapled peptides as a drug platform was coming out of the academic world and our presentations," he says. "People wanted to see a large pharma company, with all its skepticism, believing it could have success with this technology. This is the first validation that stapled peptides are valuable."
Aileron has taken a deliberately slow approach to proving out the idea of stapled peptides and finding the right partner to take it forward. The company was founded in 2005 on technology developed by a Harvard chemist and two biologists from Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The basic concept is to combine the best properties of conventional, small-molecule chemical drugs with large-molecule protein drugs in a way that eliminates the shortcomings of both. "Small molecules can't occupy the whole surface of cells," says Steven Kafka, Aileron's chief operating officer and chief financial officer. "Large molecules can't actually get inside of cells." Plus most proteins unravel in the body and are chewed up by enzymes within minutes, rendering them useless as therapies.
So Aileron's scientists have spent much of the last five years figuring out how to staple peptides—fragments of proteins—together so they're not only resistant to degradation, but they're also effective at penetrating cell membranes and binding to disease targets within those cells. "This is a difficult thing to do because you improve one property and end up losing another," says Tomi Sawyer, Aileron's chief scientific officer. "We're able to break through that threshold to get bothpotency and favorable properties," such as minimal side effects, he says. The ability to get protein-based drugs into cells, he adds, expands the potential opportunities for combating diseases "exponentially."
At first, though, it seemed that to achieve the right potency, stapled-peptide drugs would have to be administered once a day by IV, says Yanchik. "That works in oncology. But other diseases? Forget it." So Aileron's scientists worked hard to improve the amount of time the molecules stay active in the body before degrading. "We've gotten half lives to one week and beyond," Yanchik says. That's vital for treating patients with inflammatory diseases, because they often have to take drugs chronically, for years on end. Once Roche saw the half-life improvement, Yanchik says, "We were able to convince them that this was applicable to inflammatory diseases."
Last year, Aileron moved its staff of 40 to an office on Albany Street that's designed to facilitate open interactions between biologists and chemists. The scientists work together in a sprawling lab, with wall-to-wall windows facing the outside. "Typically labs have the chemistry department sitting over here and the biology department over there, or maybe in an entirely different building," Kafka said while taking Xconomy on a tour of Aileron in September. "What we've tried to create is a place where a biologist finishes an experiment, has an insight, and can turn around and talk to the chemist who designed the molecule in the first place."
"There's lots of interaction among the staff," adds Sawyer. "It's really a pleasant and productive place to come to work. You don't feel like you're stuck in a cave somewhere." And because all the scientific disciplines are together in one building, he says, the company is able to move quickly from concept to finished molecule.
Aileron raised $40 million in a 2009 Series D financing round that brought its total funding to $60 million. The Series D included a syndicate of Big Pharma venture capital units. Among them were the VC arms of GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, and Roche. Yanchik says Aileron started talking to Roche's R&D folks first, and later was introduced to the Roche venture fund. About a year after Roche made the investment, the company's R&D folks stepped up with a separate drug-development deal.
Yanchik says Aileron's management team spent many months picking the right partner. "Too often a biotech company is reduced to being a contract-research organization, and that's usually the beginning of the end," he says. "We wanted to be an equal partner." Roche has afforded Aileron that opportunity, as well as sharing its expertise in protein biology, oncology, and developing drugs across "diverse modalities," Yanchik says.
Aileron has a big list of goals it hopes to achieve over the next year. Yanchik says the company plans to start disclosing the exact disease targets it's working on and to publish results of its research. The company also hopes to hit at least one more milestone in the Roche development deal, and to lock up a second partnership with another drug company. "We did one partnership and focused on making it work," Yanchik says. "We've had to be patient, but we think it's paying off. This technology is becoming ripe."


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Spanish pussies
Spanish pussies. Coñitos españoles para mirar y saborear.
Spanish pussies. Coñitos españoles para mirar y saborear.
Carolina Abril has given a heater of yours, and to quench their thirst for sex call Orchard home and places an order of cucumbers and carrots, so you can imagine what he has in mind. Friendly Orchard is soon put him all kinds of fruit on her pussy to end naturally with your cock stuck in the pussy of his client.
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Anyone to see it all?


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Yay! May Day and the Experiment of Teaching Justice – "Debts" and Humanities First Hybrid
Dear Earthlings–
Rejoice with me! Today, May 5th, 2016, I found out the requirement has been waived. My two first hybrid sessions of H-Humanities 3112, Humanities and Love, are now being offered to all interested UPRM students. I hear they filled up in a flash. They'll start in August. I'm really happy to offer this service and learning opportunity to students who love to learn online. Yay!
Read more about the saga below:
Today, April 30th, 2016, marks the first anniversary of my lynching by the Department of Humanities at UPRM. That was really a very traumatic time. I felt so bad I wanted to retire. What was the big fight about? Teaching in a part-online modality called "hybrid." The gory details are in two affidavits filed with the authorities of the campus.
A year later, my priority proposal has been approved of. Woooow! It's H-Humanities 3112, from early modern to present time, with a focus on love. The historical content– all freshly produced from what I call a public-private alliance between my 3WayKiss non-profit and the UPR–is all online. It's now a gift to the creative commons for those who believe in knowledge as love. Enjoy it here!
The Department even listened to the Proposal for Revitalization I designed, called "Action." The Prezi I made for the occasion is really fun. You can watch it here: it's public. Colleagues listened carefully and a bunch of intelligent questions came after. What a great sign! The gift economy is rich with imagination, and I do hope new life emanates from this proposal study.
However, as it turns out there is still a caveat. Apparently, the Office of Academic Affairs now wants me to run a human experiment with my newly approved hybrid modality. I think it's a bad idea, and have expressed such. Why? Well, for any given course, a presential session must run parallel to any hybrid one. That's for purposes of comparison, authorities claim. But the reality is that when teaching in a hybrid modality, to keep comparable standards and obtain comparable results, one must run a much more complex battery of tests and exams. Memorization is not what does it. Appropriate online tests are designed to train students in activating their minds and in thinking about what they're studying. The tests are super time consuming and could never be run in class. They really engage students who love to learn online.
So basically the human experiment Academic Affairs recommends is on in which one has to treat one group different from the other. Now, I've never cared to be known as an easy-A professor. But there hasn't been a time when students have not found me to be very competent and just. The hybrid modality I designed intended to alleviate their experience of learning in a degraded environments like our building, infested by dirty air-conditioner filters, fungi, asbestos and rats. Something from which they suffered just as much as I did.
Now, if I did what Admins recommend, I would probably risk my reputation as both competent and just, while I would also lose the best students' trust. What's more, this human experiment would probably result in turning young minds off the desire to learn that spontaneously arises from their loving, enchanted minds. Ouch!
One can certainly tell that the rules for online teaching modalities have NOT been designed by those familiar with the practice. I can very well teach all my H-Huma 3112 sessions as hybrid next semester. Students will be delighted, and that's why I asked.
In a Puerto Rico crumbling under a debt much of which was fraudulently acquired, one would hope that common sense would prevail. There's plenty of past and future session in the conventional style for comparison. Wouldn't this be a great time to support one another, and make the best of what little we have left?
May Day tomorrow is a time when we the people of the island prepare for gathering in front of the Capitol, in San Juan, to reclaim our right to be treated like citizens. I have my body sign ready. It says: The people of Puerto Rico negotiate the debt. Yes, the people and the land count. More than whatever mess was engineered by financial capital and is now called "debt."
A public university has the responsibility of behaving in ways that honor its commitment to knowledge, impartiality, and justice. Beyond any ill fated or poorly conceived regulations. I hope the Admins in question model this with their practice. My right to be a teacher that's competent and just is sacrosanct.
I have a request out to the Dean of Academic Affairs. I hope the response comes fast. Citizenship is a way of being one acquires when one stands by the principle that the laws and rules are made for the people and not vice versa. Let's practice that now!


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A doctor who had done abortions explains why he stopped:
"And I just decided it's not worth it to do, because I have had such terribly strong feelings that it's turned me off. I feel that I am destroying life. I feel that I'm actually killing them."
Magda Denes, In Necessity and Sorrow (New York: Basic Books, Inc., 1976), p. 144
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Cheater got cheated
It was six years ago... I met my kind of a girl in college.. I was Instantly attracted to her and so as she.. We spoke a lot spent lot of time together.. (I was definitly not looking for a relationship with her, i was just looking for s**) When i got too close she confessed to me that she already have a boy friend.. I was relieved thinking that she will never trap me emotionally.. I continued with her.. At one stage we started having s** and it turned regular.. I used to go her home 3 times a week and have s** all day.. Her parents will not be at home most of the time.. I was enjoying every moment i spent with her. I know i am doing a terrible thing by stealing someone's girl friend, but i never worried about him. All i want is s**. Suddenly she started avoiding me. She wont pick my call or give a call back.. When i asked, she told me that i was just using her for s** and i am a bad person. At that point i realised that i fell deep into her and i was really in love with her.. Her boy friend came to know about us. He read the sluttery text msgs i sent her. They fought, he got depressed and took treatment. I was trying hard to get her back.. Spent lot of time and effort to gain her trust and i finally in won.. She started comjng back to me( may be her bf fights with her a alot because she cheated on him with me) we got so close.. S** was great that before.. It was mixed with love and emotion.. I was in heaven.. Karma is a b****.. i came to know that she was having an affair with another person other than her bf.. I was broke.. But continued with her.. As time passes i lost feelings for her.. I moved to USA.. She got married to the other person whom she cheated me with.. I got married to a lovely women.. I STILL BLEED IN MY HEART WHEN I THINK ABOUT HER BF.. I did a terrible thing to him.. I got the taste of my own medicine..


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After a slight stumble against Arizona last weekend, the Cal softball team has taken the first steps to getting its season back on its previous track. The upcoming series against Oregon will be an important indicator of whether the Bears have really regained their momentum.
Cal will play the No. 8 Ducks (31-9, 8-5 in the Pac-12) in a three-game series at Howe Field in Eugene, Ore., beginning Friday at 6 p.m. and concluding Sunday. It will be the Bear's fifth conference series, following a series in which the Bears dropped only their second loss of the season. Oregon will serve as Cal's fourth conference series against a ranked opponent.
"We dropped a game on Saturday, but then we came back and won after," said senior outfielder Jamia Reid. "We had a better mindset then and are looking to take that mindset into Oregon this weekend."
Though the Bears (40-2, 11-1) had previously swept their series against No. 9 Stanford and No. 3 Washington, the No. 13 Wildcats proved to be more of a challenge. After narrowly winning the first game with two scores off of Arizona errors, Cal dropped the second game, giving the squad only its second loss of the season. Despite that disappointment, the Bears came back the next day with a 6-0 win to snag the series from the Wildcats. Despite suffering a loss, Cal preserved its No. 1 rank.
"We lost this weekend and we learned, and now we are looking to come together as a team and take our knowledge and passion into our next game, and that's what is important for us," Reid said.
The tie-breaking win against the Wildcats on Sunday was the first step of the Bears' recovery after incurring an uncharacteristic loss. Shortly thereafter they shut out a Santa Clara in a single midweek game.
Cal bested the Broncos 10-2 in just five innings, with ace Valerie Arioto holding onto a no-hitter until the last inning and striking out a season-high 13.
The Bears are looking to take that momentum into their Oregon series to prove that the Arizona loss was not a season-altering mishap. Oregon currently stands in third place in the Pac-12 and is coming off of a sweep against in-state foe Portland State. While the Ducks maintain an impressive rank, they have only won one conference series outright, which they accomplished against last-place Utah.
Oregon has only ever swept a series against the Bears once, which they accomplished two years ago. Last year, they avenged the losses with a series sweep of their own.
The series comes at a crucial crossroads for the Bears as they make the transition into the second half of conference play. The Pac-12 is the nation's most competitive conference, featuring six of the country's top 15 teams.
"I expect everyone to come out strong, and playing these strong teams is going to make us better now so that we learn from our mistakes and gain experience that will make us better in the postseason, better in the end when it really matters," Reid said.


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This is for the gamer-lovers. Subway Surfers is no more a new game to android, iOS and BB 10 geeks as almost 90% of them have it installed on their device. Despite the fact that we love playing it again and again, some might have just try to search maybe there is a PC version of the game.
Today, I want to use this medium to let you know Subway Surfers game is now available on PC without the need for any emulators like Bluestacks or other. Also, there's no cost attached as it's actually free just like that of its mobile version.
Features of Subway Surfers For PC
==> No need for android emulators or third-party apps
==> You control using mouse and keyboard
==> Compatible with all PCs running Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10.
Unlike the android and iOS app which has a higher file size, the PC version is quite small. It's just about 23MB hence you shouldn't be bothered about data or space. Just download, install, launch and follow the on screen instructions because setting your preferred pixels is important before playing the game on your PC.
Download Link ==> Here


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So you are going to the local pet store and you see a cute little puppy. SO CUTE and you can't resist, you buy the dog and they become part of your family.
Fast forward 5-9 years. Now it's time to sell your house house! You interview Realtors and hire one (probably if you are like most consumers, you hire the agent that tells you the highest price and who has the least amount of experience). The Realtor who LOVED your Basset Hound or Lab.
The house will never sell for top dollar. NEVER.
The bottom line is this. Pet odor is not escapable (unless you have a Poodle and if you get a dog, that is the ONLY breed that does not have a smell, but that will not eliminate the poop in your yard).
Now let me get one thing straight, I love dogs and I own one myself. HOWEVER, if you think you can own a dog and it not cost you value when you sell you have another thing coming.
Picture this: A buyer is looking at houses in a community. All things being equal, the "pet" home will inevitably sell for less. The poop smell in the yard will turn off the prospective buyer. The dirty baseboard will turn off the buyer. The dog smell, the one YOU don't notice because YOU are used to it, will turn the buyer off.
Pets are a HUGE responsibility. If you own a dog, keep it clean. Pick up the waste from your yard, ALL of it. Train your dog. Ask friends for their HONEST opinion on the smell. Notice your home and take special care to not let the dog damage anything. DON'T HAVE CARPET because ONE urine accident that goes undetected with add more "funk" to the air and you will not notice it, visitors to your house WILL. If you own a cat, change the litter box two ways, often and frequent.
Not doing the above will cost you BIG BUCKS when you sell your home….. guaranteed! For more information, go to http://www.headofrealestate.com
ASK THE REALTOR TO BE HONEST and to make recommendations. Then do what they say and spend the money to eliminate the signs of "pethood" so you can minimize the impact. I have sold homes that had absolutely ZERO signs of pets when in fact they had more than one dog! It takes work to make it so but all things being equal, the million dollar home WITH the Lab with very careful and aware owners will sell for 5% to 10% less than the dogless home. That is just the truth.
Filed under: EXIT, Exit Foundations, Housing, Mortgage, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Realtor, Tampa, Tampa Bay, tampa real estate, Uncategorized, Vince Arcuri, vincent arcuri | Tagged: cats, dog crap, dog poop, dog urine, dogs, eliminate pet smells, litter box smell, moving with a pet, pet odor, pets and houses, selling with a dog, unpleasant odor when selling | Leave a comment »


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See where the stars ended up last night.
- Luke Russert hung out with cops at Dubliners then weigh-in on LeBron James' future. "For me: 1 title in Cleveland is worth more than 4 in NYC. Long live the Rust Belt!" he tweeted [RussertXM_NBC]
- Makeda Saggau-Sackey laid out her summer plans after crying over Dell's death on "Private Practice" [GlamazonDiaries]
- Shana Glickfield drank to democracy [dcconcierge]
- Betsy Lowther picked up pizza at Vapiano ahead of her early morning departure [msspinach]


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Next year, don't be alarmed if you see 30 brightly coloured 'horses' catching the train in Sydney's CBD. It'll just be Nick Cave. More specifically, it will be Heard.Syd, a major artwork from Cave which will see 60 dancers donning equine costumes and heading for Cityrail.
It's all part of Carriageworks director Lisa Havilah's plan to keep the cultural institution's momentum going as it enters its fifth year under her directorship.
She needn't worry. Building on the success of 2015, which has seen audiences increase by almost half, the 2016 program boasts 54 projects featuring 470 artists including in-demand K-Pop bands, extraordinary Ghanian artist El Anatsui, choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, Austrian guitarist and electronic musician Fennesz and photographers Tracey Moffatt and the late Michael Riley.
In a nod to Sydney's diversity there are multiple festivals being celebrated, from Chinese New Year (the band Boyfriend) to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras (Day for Night, a 24-hour installation by leading queer artists), Stephanie Rosenthal's provocative Biennale of Sydney and the annual festivals of fashion and food that are Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and Rootstock Sydney.
"We've always worked really hard to stay true to the context of our location," Havilah says. "This is a building where 6,000 people used to work every day. It was one of the first places to employ Aboriginal people on an equal basis, and one of the first places a lot of new migrants worked in when they arrived in Australia,".
New partnerships in 2016 include a collaboration with MONA FOMA and French artist Mathieu Briand, whose spiral record-player installation encourages people to live mix and cut a vinyl record. The Sydney Writers' Festival will be represented by New York Times best-selling author and journalist Simon Winchester and Scot Andrew O'Hagan, who will speak outside the traditional festival circuit. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has also been commissioned to create new works from Australian and international composers.
Carriageworks has nurtured new pieces from its resident companies Force Majeure (Off the Record, the first work under new artistic director Michelle Micich); Sydney Chamber Opera's astonishing adaptation of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, and Performance Space.
"The scale keeps on growing but we've retained the commitment to providing pathways for new works and remaining fully integrated into the cultural life of the city," Havilah says.


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Shopping is Hopping on the High Seas on Queen Mary 2On April 4, 2011, we received this communication from Queen Mary 2 Shops: Perfume Offer: Buy 200 ml of Fragrance and receive 10% off your total purchase while stocks last (Excludes Channel). This is just an example of the many communications we received from the shops onboard.
The notice on the Diamond Presentation "The Story" Come and learn about this magical and beautiful gemstone in a short but informative presentation, from the mining and cutting to the polishing and the grading came on the same day. Learn how to shop for diamonds Presented by the Onboard Jewellers Tuesday, April 5th, The Chart Room, Deck 3 10:15 am.
The above are only samples of what you can shop for on Queen Mary 2. But first let's have some historical background on this type of shopping first, shall we? We will have a glimpse of how it evolved and what it was like for our predecessors.
Bouquets and HaircutThe first groups of Cunard passengers, the very first generation that is, had to pack everything that they needed for the whole voyage so if it is a world cruise, it would be quite a pile of luggage. The piles grew so large that some had to be labelled they were not wanted on voyage and had to be dispatched to the hold.
The first shop onboard was the barber's which was introduced by the Collins line in 1850. The Collins line is Samuel Cunard's competitor and the barber's became a fixture on the ship where men could gather to gossip. The women had to wait longer for their beauty parlour.
The men could lie back and relax for the Mauritania (recorded as having been completed by May, 1939) was the world's first liner to offer a hydrologically operated barber's chair for the customers. The men could choose while being shaved to be horizontally watching the ceiling.
Thus began the transformation of the main hall in the ships making it look more like London's Burlington Arcade. This is in line with what the Cunard's publicity materials promised in terms of pleasures on the Queen Mary. "There will be no monotony such at once characterized a journey at sea." So now there are separate beauty and barber's shops on board.
With the growth of leisure travel, shopping became an important part of the Cunard experience growing along with the increase of leisure travel. With the world voyage having more ports to visit and the shopping arcade on board, passengers found it necessary to shop for more luggage to pack in their purchases before disembarkation day.
Regent Street at SeaAs early as the first Queen Mary, there already existed a "chic shopping centre" located on the Promenade Deck. It was situated between the first and second funnel hatches. It got so that the shopping centre was named as Regent Street by both crew and passengers alike after the celebrated London luxury shopping location.
Onboard, the stylish surroundings harmonized the gifts on display. In the early days, there was a huge fountain and fresh flowers to help put passengers in the right frame of mind to spend. They even had deep leather sofas to sit on when the shopping became tiring. And the adjacent bar is there where one could order a drink.
It is just as well that they have shops on board because with a long world voyage, one could run out of necessities like scented soaps and cigars. The passengers could order flowers for loved ones or to advance a romance on board. Speaking of which, there is a flower shop in Queen Mary 2 which offers the following:
We were encouraged to say it with flowers for they are the best gift bringing joy to the heart and laughter to the soul.
Tropical Exotica comes in $75, $100, $150Elegant European Vase comes in $55, $85, $100 Roses come in $65 for a dozen, $35 for halfGarden Bouquet comes in $25, $40, $60Cheers Basket comes in $35, $45, $55Sail Away Bouquet comes in $40, $45, $55
Please indicate your selection. This order form can be given to your Stateroom Steward/ess or the Pursers Office or call the Florist on ext. 20657. Minimum 24 hour for delivery.
One could look through the best sellers in W. H. Smith's. One could even try an elegant menswear at Austin Reed's or if not in the mood to buy clothes, there are all kinds of souvenirs. In the olden days, a large plaque of Queen Mary seemed to oversee these purchases. It was appropriate for after all the ship was named after her.
He Liked the Print so Much He Bought the OriginalCalifornian railroad magnate, H. E. Huntington and his wife Arabella reserved the Aquitania's Gainsborough Suite on a trip to Europe. The private dining room of this suite had a reproduction of the most renowned painting by Thomas Gainsborough, a British artist. It was the 'Blue Boy' (said to be an angry reply to Reynold's rule to use blue only as an accent in paintings).
Huntington wanted to buy the original so when he was entertaining Lord Duveen, the British art dealer to dinner, he mentioned his interest to buy the original. Duveen valued the painting at $600,000.00. When Huntington said he might pay that much, Lord Duveen approached the Duke of Westminster, the painting's owner, who agreed to sell it.
Huntington ended up buying the "Blue Boy" in 1921 for $728,000.00 which broke the records for the price of a painting. It was heartbreaking for the Britons to see the painting go across the Atlantic Ocean. When the railway mogul checked out his purchase, he was concerned that it was a lot greener than the one on the Aquitania but after it was cleaned, he was satisfied. It now hangs as star piece in the Huntington's Library collection at San Marino, California.
Dream Shopping ListWhen F. Scott Fitzgerald won fortune and fame for 'The Great Gatsby', his novel in 1925, he dreamed up his shopping list with Zelda, his wife. And what did they have in their dream shopping list? A second-hand luxury touring car, a Picasso picture, dress "as green as wet fresh paint" and two first class tickets on the Aquitania.
By Royal AppointmentCunard chose In 1929, Austin Reed, the men's outfitters in London to open a shop on the Aquitania (launched on April 21, 1913 was so attractive it was nicknamed Ship Beautiful). This was followed by concessions on the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary. No wonder the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were regular shoppers on board. Ray Milland was also photographed inspecting the cloth for a new tweed jacket.
Shop Till You DropYou can literally shop till you drop because the promenade is full of shops. In 1998, a passenger on QE2, Colin Cameron, said' "The Royal Promenade is shops, shops, and more shops. I've never seen so many shops aboard a ship."
Queen Mary 2 Onboard BoutiquesAssistant Shop Manager, Jason Dias, kindly supplied us with information on the shopping offerings onboard. The shops are located on Deck 3 of the Grand Lobby. There you can find the jewellery and watch store, Chopard, Swarovski, Fashion, Fragrance, Logo, Ladies Casual and European Stores.
They sell a wide range of goods onboard including perfumes, high fashion, fine jewellery, duty free, and a small range of toiletries. They have something for everyone onboard from Queen Mary fridge magnets to the exclusive Chopard watch that was made especially for the Queen Mary 2 by Chopard.
Chopard is delighted to announce this creation of that watch for Queen Mary 2. The watch case is crafted in stainless steel design that incorporates a moving representation of the ship set with black and white diamonds on the hull and with red enamel for her funnel. It is only available in the ship from the Chopard Boutique in the Grand Lobby.
They have quite a collection of the Essence of Beauty by the Diamonds of Russia and are pleased to share with the guests the magnificent splendour of their diamond jewellery and years of experience from the country which is considered the world's authority on diamond mining, selecting and polishing.
Onofrio D'Oro, creator of custom design award winning jewellery and hand carved one-of-a-kind masterpieces all inspired by nature, had a Trunk Show Event during our World Voyage. He honed his art at Tiffany and Co. where he worked with Paloma Picasso and as well completed a period at Cartier as one of their artisan goldsmiths.
Dyach Tanzanite is also available at onboard jewellery store. Tanzanite's colour is a kaleidoscope of blue and violet infused with the mystery of Africa. Dyach Tanzanite discovered the finest quality tanzanite rough in African soil then expertly cut it to bring out the mystical beauty and radiance that captivated the hearts of millions.
There is a Hermes Paris store aboard Queen Mary 2 that is proud to say they have one thousand and one mysteries of silk, lace, leather and metal showing enigmas of form and miracles of colour. These are created by talent and craftsmanship that grew together to harness a material and master a technique.
They have a team of experienced staff who are hired for their knowledge. In the jewellery store, for instance, they have two jewelers and a watch specialist. We talked to the specialist and we knew right away his credential is up to par because he recognized our watches that are not really common.
They did have designer watches by Guess, Fossil, and Rotary which are at great tax and duty free prices. They also have premier designer watches including Gucci. Michele, Hermes, Tag Heuer, Raymund Weil, and Baume & Mercier all discounted at 30%.
On sea days, the boutiques are open from 10 am to 10 pm while on port days they are open after we set sail until 11 pm. The assistant manager said that working in the boutiques involves a lot of interaction with the guests. All get to pass through the stores and every time, the employees make sure they uphold Cunard's White Star service standards at all times.
In one of our visits at the shops, we saw people looking around, checking out the specials. In the nearby casino, some were trying out their luck while the elevators hum quietly spitting people out and gathering some in to take them to different decks of their choice.
There are presentations on what to look for when buying jewellery like the one on 'The Art of Buying Colour Gemstones' which was hosted by guest Jeweller on board, Ivana Slobodnik who gave us more insights on the key points to look for when buying color gemstones.
There was a presentation on Tanzanite Seminar at the Chart Room where we learned about the magical and beautiful gemstone with the resident jeweller Samantha Wardle. Then the guests were invited to view the sparkling range on board.
The Tanzanite Seminar was shown again on April 11 by the resident jeweller Jenny Goodall but this time, the unveiling of the range was accompanied by a glass of champagne. This was followed by a Tantalizing Tanzanite Sale on hundreds of pieces at 25% discount.
Here's another presentation, a Jewellery Double Bill. One is on birthstones where the guests were encouraged to view the collection at the Jewellery Store. The other one is on 'Gemstones of the Sea' with Gemologist Pamela Regan-Fox, from GogoAnna. She presented the treasures of the sea from colourful coral to stunning South Sea pearls.
There was another Jewellery Double Bill the first one of which was presented by the resident jeweller Jitender Bhatia on the 'The Gemstone of Eternal Fire' and another one on 'Gemstones Around the World'. We learned the mystery of rubies and how to take care of them. Master goldsmith Onofrio (awarded Buyers Choice two years in a row) presented how jewellery is made from a design to a finished product. We checked out his collections including the antique watches.
They had a perfume party in one of the Mayfair Shops. They have exclusive perfume sets. The guests were encouraged to see the Top 10 ranges for men and women and to have a spray and a sniff and to pick up a brand new fragrance.
They did have a dazzling jewellery sale and black and white diamonds offered on the tables just outside the shops. They had a spectacular range of sterling silver and Baltic Amber from all over the world. There were designer bags straight from the catwalk and designer glasses galore including Gucci, Prada, Dior and Ray Ban.
Mayfair Shops also had an exclusive on Chopard 'The Story' presented by Chopard expert Rosana Davies. The guests learned the origin of the brands and how their watches and fine jewellery now adorn world wide celebrities. They announced an End of the World Voyage Sale with all the perfumes, high end watches and logo clothing at amazing prices.
A Watch Seminar was held where Raj the resident watch specialist talked on the history of watches, how they have evolved through time from the basic pocket watch to the modern day radio-controlled watch. This was followed by a Tanzanite Presentation accompanied by a cheeky glass of champagne.
The Mayfair Shops had a Stirling Silver Bonanza featuring sterling silver jewellery at its best. The spectacular range from around the world was offered at up to 50% discount. The Baltic Amber Bazaar was on at the same time where they had some beautiful Valerio necklaces, bracelets and rings.
Towards the end, Mayfair Shops had a buy-one-get-one free on the Queen Mary 2 branded merchandise.
There was an H. Stern Store onboard. H. Stern is the largest Brazilian producer and seller of emeralds, topazes, amethysts, aquamarines, and tourmalines and is one of the top five rated jewellery houses in the world. They select the gemstones using the highest international standard and further enhance them through exclusive, modern and innovative designs.
H. Stern had a fashion show where they show cased their Sapphire Watch Collection which are hand-polished, exclusive and essential, but thanks, no thanks. We think we will stick with our Patek Phillips. What interested us more was their Stars Collection (rich in diamonds and brings the stars from the sky) to celebrate the company's 60th birthday.
The Fireworks Collection of 18k gold set with champagne, cognac and white diamonds is just as captivating. Then they have their Drop Collection where nature is recreated in drops of diamonds, a delicate and feminine design that is distinguished by its natural form.
H. Stern also featured their Zephyr Collection. There were three inspirations for this collection which makes the pieces unforgettable. What are they? Sailing boats, women in contact with nature and hair blown by the wind. They also had a Rainbow Collection featuring the most alluring coloured gemstones that are always stylish, versatile and timeless.
They also have a collection of Brazilian flowers. Like a floral spring, this collection brings one the best colours of Brazilian gemstones. They also showcased their Snowflake Collection that includes white, champagne, and cognac diamonds inspired by nature's beauty.
H. Stern's Paola Collection features geometric shapes suggesting movement, dynamism, energy, set in polished white gold with pave set of diamonds. The Feathers Collection has thousands of feathers in yellow gold reproduced in magical precision. This collection is not only to be seen but also touched.
H. Sterns' Filament collection features bars of yellow or white gold that run loose on gold chains. They think of this as the second skin of the woman. The Guliana Collection is set with pave diamonds, a style to suit a modern woman. Their Moonlight Collection is inspired by the glow of the moon. The moonlight jewels feature antique cut gems set in 18 K noble gold.
The Drops Collection is nature recreated in drops of diamonds, a delicate and feminine design that is distinguished by its natural form. They also have the fluid gold collection that features versatile three-meter strand that can be worn as a necklace, choker or several graduated bracelets.
There was a scrapbook challenge where the guests were asked to come along with their memories of the World Voyage. Freddie from the Entertainment Staff assisted and this session would continue throughout the voyage. For help, there are kits and journals from $8.50 that will make this keepsake a treasure to take home.
The big promotion countdown is still on. Designer bags were on sale on March 14 while at H. Stern, they featured their Sun and Moon Collection. It comes in a design of rays where one-half is set with diamonds while the other is polished gold.
There was also a GogoAnna Guest Fashion Show where fellow guests strut their stuff . They were adorned by the stunning and elegant jewellery brought on board by the guest jewellers on board. Afterwards one could go to the jewellery store to catch a closer look at these treasures.
There was a Jewellery Double Bill one of which was a diamond presentation on "The Story" by resident jeweller Jennifer Goodall. The second was headed by H. Stern Manager where the audience found out why a jewellery adorns top celebrities in events like the Oscars.
The shops at Queen Mary 2 are duty free and our research shows their prices are competitive. They are closed though while in port due to international regulations. But one can wait till the last days. That's when you get worthwhile discounts.
Book Shop and LibraryThis library and bookshop is the largest floating bookshop in the world with 9,000 hardbacks and counting, 500 paperbacks, 200 audio books and 100 CD ROMs. There are two full-time librarians from Ocean Books. Gaynor Van Deventer is the Bookshop Manager. She's an amazing person who is a qualified full time librarian and dedicated to the credo QM2 expected of her employees. When we wanted to purchase a book that they did not have in the Book Shop and Library, she went out of her way to find it for us and we were in the middle of the sea!
Well anyway her persistence paid off for when we were docked near Queen Elizabeth somewhere in one of the ports. She went over there to check out their supply of books and she found what we were looking for. We bought it of course!
We were amazed at the superb display of 8000 books in this floating library. And they come in different languages. They also have a large selection of magazines and you can read them there while sitting on comfortable leather sofas and armchairs.
The library had some timely offerings like 'Learn All About Wine'. Since we've just been to Australian Vineyards, now the library just had to tell us about the beautifully illustrated book "Wines of the World" which is packed with information on its region.
We were reminded to return library books before disembarking and not to take any books out of the ship (Duh, that's an unwritten law, isn't it?) We guess some people don't return books and for this we were reminded of someone saying, "Thieves don't go on vacation."
It also reminded us of a library who threatened a borrower of jail time after exasperating effort of trying to get the books back! Now we're glad the library is instituting a new rule that the cost of book not returned will be added to the borrower's board account.
We tried to borrow a book that was available in the QM2 library but is nowhere to be found so when we got to Auckland, we bought such a small book for over $30. We didn't know at that time that books are more expensive in New Zealand.
There's a Queen Mary 2 Book Club where once in a while, fellow guests meet to have a lively discussion of the book they just read. One such book was Cath Staincliffe's 'The Kindest Thing'. It is a moving story of a woman's choice to help end her beloved husband's life. Is this murder?
The library is also a great place to learn a new language. They have a selection of learning aids in Italian, German, Spanish and French. They even have a digital phrase book for the iPod for Mandarin Chinese. That's great because while we already have the Spanish and French aids at home, we really have to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese now that we live in the Toronto area where the many Chinese residents speak to us in Mandarin! It's embarrassing because all we know is zǎo shàng hǎo. So that's the next project on queue.
The library recommended something easy and light to carry souvenir of the ship with lots of photographs of both the interior and exterior with full explanation. It is in the form of a CD, a book on disk, with 248 pages of full colour photos.
'Flags of the World' is a reference book recommended by the Book Shop & Library. This guide provides a concise, up-to-date coverage of every country in the world, giving the history, meaning and symbolism of national flags.
There is a Berlitz pocket guide packed with all the information we need while in Japan, one of the most intriguing countries in the world. It is a country of astonishing contrasts from the rice farmers to subway millions and Zen Buddhist monks.
There are also useful tips and guidelines in the Berlitz Nile Cruising pocket guide which is available at the Book Shop. Visitors have cruised the Nile since the Roman times, intrigued by the dusty remains of an ancient civilization. Here's the chance to get the perfect combination of history, culture and adventure.
There is a fascinating Book of Comparisons available in the library. Here are samples: QM2 is longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall; as powerful as three Boeing 747s and in her lifetime will travel the equivalent of twelve times to the moon and back!
For a souvenir or a gift for someone, the Book Shop has playing cards showing Queen Mary 2, Cunard's distinctive funnel, the Bow or the Crest, as well as Art Deco Image of the Three Queens. Bridge sets were also available and guests were reminded that these are light and easy to carry.
World Voyage Memorabilia 2011 including World Voyage Poster, bookmarks, postcards, greeting cards with the three Queens in New York and pens and pencils are offered for sale. You can even wrap your purchase in Queen Mary 2 wrapping paper.
The Bookshop and Library has small story books. One who has a special interest on a subject, could go and indulge himself in one of the small story books. Examples of what are available are The Hercules Story, The Tornado Story, The Shuttle Story as well as The Concorde Story.
Commodore Bernard Warner was on hand in the Bookshop to sign any memorabilia bought plus one could find out the Commodore's "My Favourite Place on Earth". He had another signing for Queen Mary 2 books. This is one thing we feel so bad to have missed. Oh well, there would be another world cruise on the horizon for us.
There are interesting puzzles for sale here. Among them is the 1000 piece Ocean Greats and the take home statistics of the nine most famous ships shown on the box. One can also choose from the various ship's images and of course the children's puzzles are available as well.
The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruise Ships and Cruising 2011 was made available at the Bookshop. It is the 26th Anniversary Edition of the Berlitz Guide. The book is an independent hard-hitting review based on experience and not just hearsay.
Just before Barcelona. The Book Shop and Library had the handy-to-use maps with choices of either a durable flexi-map or the Berlitz pop-up pocket map guide that one can open, unfold and explore. This way, we can make most of what Barcelona can offer.
Part III - Life on the Ocean Wave
A. Food, Glorious Food - For People Who Love to Eat
B. Exercise - Be Kind to Your Heart
C. Drinking the Bubbly on QM2
D. Entertainment
E. Children on Board
F. Lecture Enrichment Programs
G. Shopping is Hopping on the High Seas
H. Pets Onboard - Man's Best Friends
G. Pets Onboard - Man's Best Friends
Having the pet on board is not a surprise judging from what one sees around. The national obsession to look after one's pets has grown through the recession and no wonder for the pet grooming industry has mirrored that of the people grooming industry.
We walked around the ship and saw the dogs as they were taken for a walk on Deck 12. They were so cute they reminded us of our grandchildren Mikey and Sarah' dogs, Abby and Sophie. So looking at those dogs brought back memories and it was puppy love all over again.
Q: Are there any pet-friendly cruises? Cunard Line is the only cruise line that allows you to take your dog or cat with you.
A: Cunard's Queen Mary 2 is the only ship that allows pets (other than service dogs) onboard, but only on transatlantic sailings between Southampton and New York. (There were pets on board though in this world cruise.) The "Pets on Deck" package provides first-class kennel accommodations and services to dogs and cats.
A kennel master oversees the 12 kennels along with the care, feeding and walking of pets. Pet owners are encouraged to visit as often as they like and have access to the kennels and designated indoor and outdoor walking areas. Pets are not allowed in passenger staterooms.
Cats and dogs receive a gift pack which has a QM2 logo: coat, a name tag, Frisbee, food dish and scoop. They also get a portrait with the pet owners, a personalized cruise card and a cruising certificate. Also they get all kinds of toys and premium pet foods. The cats get cat posts and scratchers.
Pet passage is not cheap. Reservations for the kennel are made at the time of booking and range from $300 to $500 per pet.
There are requirements to have the pets on board. Here are the eastbound requirements: The cat or dog must have been (in the order of the list)
1. fitted with a microchip
2. vaccinated against rabies
3. satisfactorily blood tested (will not become valid for entry to the UK for six calendar months from the date the blood sample was taken in Section V)
4. issued with an official Veterinary Certificate (Regulation (EC) No 998/2003) or official PET PASSPORT
5. treated against ticks and tapeworm not less than 24 hours or more than 48 hours before check-in and issued with an official certificate of treatment
Failure to complete the above requirements in order will result in your pet being denied boarding.
The westbound requirements are that the cat or dog must have been:1. issued a current Health Certificate (The health certificate shall show that the dog or cat was examined by a veterinarian within 30 days of entry of the dog or cat into the State of New York.)
2. rabies vaccinated within 12 months to 14 days prior to entry into the State of New York
Please be advised if you plan on re-entering the UK, you must adhere to the pet Travel Scheme and a 6-month probation period is required.
General Information:Animals Accepted - Dogs and Cats only - no birdsAnimals are not permitted in guest staterooms nor public areasThere is no veterinarian onboard.The Kennel is located on Deck 12, Aft.
Visiting Hours may vary but are usually as follows:The Kennel man is off between 11:30 am and 3 pm11:00 am to 12:00 pm3:00 pm to 5:00 pmYou can beep him on his working hours on #488.Phone number: 29627
Kennel Measurements:6 upper Kennels (27" H, 30" , 35.5" D) $300 USD for Each KennelWeight Restriction 25 lbs or less
6 lower Kennels (36" H, 30", 35.5" D) $500 USD for Each KennelWeight Restriction 26 lbs or more
2 kennels may be opened up to accommodate larger animals. Guests will be charged per kennel.
Pet Measurements should be as follows:Pet Height (from floor to shoulder)Pet Width (from tip of nose to base of tail)Pet Weight in poundsPet Age at time of sailing
G. Shopping is Hopping on QM2
H. Pets on Board, man's Best Friends
I. Safety On Board
H. Safety On BoardSafety on board was very much on Queen Mary 2's mind. From time to time, we think with every segment, they hold not only fire drill but also a marine safety open session. This is where they show the modern safety equipment up close and meet the ship's Safety Team.
The business of security at QM2 is clear. It is readiness and an inflexible position when it comes to safety for all. So all are safe in any storm and crisis for readiness is the security's top game. They thought ahead of any disaster and if it did happen, they have a plan. This provides flawless peace of mind for both passengers and crew alike.
Safety on board is so embedded with Queen Mary 2 that all just have to cooperate. The Safety Officer and the deck Petty Officers were on hand to explain and demonstrate the equipment. And best of all, they answered any questions we had on the Marine Safety.
As for the valuables, we had a small personal safe in the stateroom so we were able to keep some there. In addition to this some other stuff could be kept in the safety deposit box in the purser's office. This service is available during the cruise.
On March 31, we noted one or two security crews looking out of verandas with binoculars. Security is more visible in the ship on those days. Safety Chief Officer James Griffiths, Bsc (Hons) MNI agreed to talk to us about safety procedures on board. He was so kind to send us the training manuals that detail the information on life saving appliances, emergency equipment and instructions on their use.
We were also able to learn about the muster list to ensure that the life-saving and fire appliances are in good working order as well as the emergency plan. It felt good to know that all on board would be accommodated in the 22 life boats that has room for 150 people each to a total of 3300 and the 60 life crafts with room for 37 people each to a total of 2220 lives.
The safety officers on Queen Mary 2 are really serious about the safety and security on board. They have clear-cut instructions on drills, watertight doors, raising the alarm, fire and fire fighting, emergency signals, life jackets, lifebuoys, thermal protective aids, immersion suits in the survival craft.
They have everything covered including how much water (3 liters per person) and food (1000kj carbohydrates per person) are in a lifeboat. There are complete instructions on the use of life rafts and their equipment (even what to do when the raft is punctured), electronic aids and pyrotechnics.
Boy, oh boy, one can't help but feel safe here even in worst case scenario for Queen Mary 2 has thought of everything. All one has to do is listen and cooperate because they have everything covered. From survival questions on how much food and water to use (none, only to the sick or injured), how to eat the fish safely that you may catch (make sure there is enough water available to digest it) and everything else are all covered.
There are instructions on how to collect rainwater, not to allow people to swim despite the hot weather in some areas due to being weak from lack of food, the raft may drift away and there maybe dangerous marine life at sea, and what to do when a helicopter lowers a rescue harness to the lifeboats.
There are safety questions and answers that all members of the ship's company should understand to increase the onboard Safety Organization from what to do upon the sounding of the alarm, the assembly stations, all the way to how to abandon the ship, the evacuation ladders and the correct way to enter the water.
Safety in the Tenders As for ship to shore launches, we preferred the ship to be along side instead of at anchor but sometimes there was no choice and we just had to live with it. Mostly the sea was calm and so the tender experience was uneventful. But we had to watch it when at one time, the sea was choppy and the transfer bordered on exciting and challenging to somewhat worrying. There was no need to worry however for we were in the capable hands of the staff.
Whenever we were taken ashore using the ship's tenders, we were urged to . please read the tender safety notice at the head of the gangway and know the contents of the emergency instructions notice pasted on the cab of each tender. We were advised not to smoke whilst in the tenders and that, to avoid risk of injury, we must keep our hands and arms off the side of the tender as it comes alongside the ship or wharf.
It is important to follow the instructions given by crew members and that we remain seated while in the tenders. We are not to get in or out of the tenders until instructed to do so by the ship's staff. For safety reasons, guests in wheelchairs need to be able to step out of their wheelchair in order to board the tender, but the crew can offer assistance to those guests.
Guests in wheelchairs should use the tender lounge at Stairway B, as this is the only tender lounge with accessibility to the tender via a lift. This is good because it levelled the playing field so that every guest felt he had a place.
Your Health and Safety Ashore
The following are just a few points to keep in mind regarding enhanced awareness of health and safety while ashore:
* Minimise outward signs of wealth by reducing the wearing of jewellery and watches.
* Carry minimal amounts of cash.
* Whenever possible, walk in groups.
* Be aware of tricks involving a stranger noticing a mark or spot on your clothing, or any other good Samaritan gesture, and trying to assist you in removing the mark.
* If you are in the unfortunate position of being targeted by a criminal, avoid any resistance.
* Be aware that pickpockets operate in all of the high volume tourist attractions, as well as at bus stops and other public places.
* Check purchases before leaving a shop.
* Protect your face and other exposed areas with the use of a sun screen.
In addition to the shipboard facilities on Queen Mary 2 that include Currency Exchange Bank, Beauty Salon, 22 lifts, dry cleaning, valet and a florist. best of all, it is our kind of ship, a green ship that is the most environmentally friendly ship in the world.
The ship is coated with TBT-free paint using the type of paint that is safe for the marine environment. Refrigeration-wise, it has exceeded international requirements with zero ozone depletion and almost zero global warning potential.
Queen Mary 2's treatment of waste water exceeds most current surface water legislation in the US and Europe. The same is true with the bilge water and oily sludge treatment, wet food waste system, dry waste incineration and power generation plant.
H. Pets on Board, Man's Best Friends
J. Canyon Ranch Spa Club on QM2
J. Canyon Ranch Spa Club on QM2
Health Spa and Beauty Services are provided by the Canyon Ranch Spa which occupies 20,000 square feet organized in two decks. There are well-being treatments provided including skin treatments and many massages. It is a place of calmness and serenity.
A whirlpool, a 30 X 15 - foot mixed thalassotheraphy pool with airbed recliner lounges, neck fountains and a deluge waterfall and thermal suite featuring a herbal sauna with aromatic steam rooms, saunas and a Rasul treatment (a Canyon Ranch Signature treatment derived from an old cleansing ritual in the Middle East which is a medicinal mud and steam therapy that takes place in an ornately tiled steam chamber) are all available. There are 24 body and skincare treatment rooms. The daily charge is waived if one buys a treatment.
Canyon Ranch Spa has so much to offer. They have an array of beauty shops services and body-pampering treatments. No wonder for this is in keeping with the increase in the awareness of the importance of well-being and the body beautiful. The certified instructors conduct group and private yoga and tai chi classes.
The beauty salon offers a full menu of services for skin and hair using their own skin care products called Living Essentials which you can also buy. It is wise to book early though for they have only six chairs for hairdressing. The Canyon Ranch Spa is operated as a concession and has 51 employees in their staff.
This spa has a gym that appears to be more equipped than the ones on shore. They have exercise machines with state-of-the-art equipments that pump the muscles and strengthen the body. Of course they have treadmills (better than what we have at home), bicycles, rowing machines and free weights (50 pieces of cardio and weight training equipment better than the five-pounder we use at home, don't laugh for it's better than nothing).
One treatment is the Reiki which can help maintain health and well-being while enjoying the voyage. This is the ancient Japanese healing technique that affects the physical, mental and emotional health. The benefits of Reiki include:
Boosts the body's immune systemReduces stress and increases vitalityRelaxes the body and calms the mindReleases and calms emotionsEffective in the treatment of chronic diseaseHalves healing time of illness, disease, injury and post-op
With the above we were tempted to get a complimentary consultation with Reiki Master on board by the name of Hayley Wills at the Canyon Ranch Spa Club on Deck 7. They even had a Reiki Lecture in the Bulgaria Tender Lounge. Sometimes all it takes is to give ourselves a break.
There are days when we get so busy taking care of others that we forget to take care of ourselves. That's not good so we should go ahead and take a break before the world comes tumbling down. Enjoy our friends like we do at our Line Dancing Club and neighbours as well. We go out to lunches and we play scrabble with a 90-year old neighbour, Rose, who keeps her body and brain active. That's what we want to be when we grow up.
That is why age is not such a big deal with us. We live in a gated community where the average age we were told was 85. No wonder our 90 year old friends, Bob and Rose, told us we were kids when we started living there. It is sometimes worrisome though to observe our middle getting thicker, but hey, no one is perfect. We still tell each other to age gracefully.
There is also a "Euphoria Treatment" at the Canyon Ranch Spa which is a bath, facial and scalp massage. This is followed by a body massage. The prices of the treatments are slightly down when we are at port. So if you are on a saving mood you can opt for this treatment while at port.
Canyon Ranch Spa had a lecture on 'New Year, New Look' by Canyon Ranch hair stylist and make-up artist, Ruan le Roux. He presented Hourglass Cosmetics with cutting edge products, savvy application skill and a few quick tricks that will make you look as if you had a facelift, non-surgical of course.
Regarding the Canyon Ranch Gym, guests were reminded that for their own comfort and safety, correct attire must be worn at the gym at all times. Sandals or any footwear other than running shoes are not to be worn when using the equipment. Cooperation on this matter is appreciated.
There were other Canyon Ranch Spa lectures like the 'Discover Your Best Hair Ever!' with hairstylist, Ludivine Soulard and 'Reiki - The Life Force Healing' with Ruan le Roux and Hayley Wills, Reiki specialist. Both were held at the Bulgaria Room.
Canyon Ranch Spa Therapist, Tamara Meyer, presented 'Healthier Skin for a Lifetime' where she gave expert tips and professional advice on skin care. Chiropractor Jason Scott discussed neck and back pain while skin care therapist Carla Van Niekerk presented the answer to the anti-aging and acne concerns.
K. Medical Matters
To remain healthy and strong, it is essential to maintain a lifestyle of eating right and moving more. In addition, thinking positively at all times is vital to achieve optimum health but it is practical and realistic to know what to expect in case of medical and emergency situations.
Thus we were satisfied to know that QM2 has what it takes to meet and cope with any situations pertaining to health. From the information we gathered, it is comforting to know that there are full-time qualified physicians and nurses on board.
The medical office is open daily and as well, they have 24-hour emergency coverage. Fees for the medical services are charged to the ship board account with an itemized statement to present to the insurance company. In this connection, make sure that the insurance company is acceptable outside the country of origin. If not, it is wise to obtain additional health coverage for the duration of the trip.
During the world cruise, Roger had the pleasure of meeting the physician-in-charge. He made it clear that the onboard medical network is not organized to give comprehensive and continuing intervention. As a whole though, they have standard and modern diagnostic capability and up-to-date laboratory equipments.
The surrounding at the QM2 Medical Centre is well organized, very clean with limited number of beds. Any patient who requires more specialized treatment will be referred to the nearest hospital although this medical centre is directly linked to a fully accredited hospital and can avail their services of the qualified surgical/medical staff, if needed, via telecommunication.
Principal Medical Officer: Dr. Martin CarrollAfter qualifying from Bristol, in the west of England, Dr. Carroll spent 16 years in the Royal Air Force doing anaesthetics and intensive care, followed by general practice and aviation medicine. He went to Falkland Islands just after the conflict in 1982 and spent several years working with British Special Forces, then finished by being in charge of the teams evacuating British casualties from front line field hospitals back to Cyprus and then on to UK during the Gulf War in 1991.
When he was leaving RAF, he saw an ad that QE2 needs a doctor, 151 days leave. Thinking that someone needs help in drinking the champagne and eating the caviar, he volunteered leaving the Air Force on Friday and joining QE2 the following Monday on a Norway Cruise in 1991. Since then he has been with Cunard's Princess, Countess and Dynasty as well as Caronia, Seabourns' Pride and Sun, along with Grand Coral, Sapphire and Sea Princesses not forgetting Oriana.
Most of his time has been spent on QE2 which was his second home, but he was fortunate to be on the start up team of Queen Mary 2 going to the shipyard in St. Nazaire for the final two months of the build. The maiden voyage was the highlight of his career at sea, but it was overtaken by the final voyage to Dubai of QE2 in November 2008.
He met his wife Ann on Cunard Countess and they live in rural Cambridgeshire where they spend a lot of time dog walking. His two older children have long left the nest; his younger sons Cameron and Archie are 13 and 9. Both are football, cricket and golf crazy, energetic and very frequent cruisers. Martin plays golf whenever he can which is irritatingly infrequently nowadays but by travelling the ship it does mean he plays on some of the nicest courses around the world.
He still enjoys the unpredictability of medicine at sea, as well as socializing with the guests. The motto of the doctor's dinner table is "Stuff the arteries". Relax when you are on board, your cardiologist is at home and can't see you eating the dessert.