text:
Top Climate Scientists Speak Out About The SatelliteGate Scandal
August 17, 2010: John O'Sullivan / Canada Free Press – August 16, 2010
US Government admits global warming satellite sensors are "degraded" – temperatures may be out by 10-15 degrees. Now five satellites are in controversy.
Top scientists speak out, in an escalating row now being dubbed 'Satellitegate' as further evidence proves that NOAA knew of these faults for years.
Both world renowned top climate scientists and even prior released governmental reports now cite underfunding and misallocation as the trigger for spiraling satellite data calamities. Key flaws with five satellites undermines all global data.
Most disturbing of all is that it took publication of my article last week to persuade the authorities to withdraw the errant NOAA-16 satellite from service. But as Dr. John Christy indicates, the real Satellitegate is not about one satellite. The scandal is endemic with comparable flaws across the entire network; the scandal is also that it took a tip-off from a member of the public and the widespread broadcast of my article before one of the offending junk boxes, NOAA-16, got taken down. Readers who missed the details when this sensational story first broke can see here at Climatedepot.com.
NOAA's chief Program Administrator, Chuck Pistis, at first disingenuously tried to discredit my report and whitewash the matter with disinformation. Indeed, we may have a smoking gun of a cover up when we contrast and compare latest announcements with the offending satellite's AVHRR Subsystem Summary.
The official summary shows no report of any 'sensor degradation' since its launch in September 2000. Yet on the advice of top climate scientists, I'm reliably informed that such failures were made known to NOAA years ago. Nonetheless, the U.S. agency continued to sell its flawed data products to numerous international institutions without making it public that satellite sensors were "degraded" and unreliable for assessing climate change.
NOAA-16 had been commissioned as a polar-orbiting satellite featuring AMSU, AVHRR and High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) measuring instrumentation which were discovered by a member of the public last week to have suffered catastrophic failure. Dr John Christy drew my attention to specific concomitant flaws he had uncovered and reported with the AMSU years ago.
NOAA In Fear Of Rush Of International Lawsuits?
The snuffed out satellite had been run continuously up until being taken offline soon after my article went viral (August 10, 2010) in which I exposed the full extent of how seriously degraded it's sensors were. The automatic readings had been contaminated by hundreds, if not thousands, of false and absurdly high temperature readings, some as high as 612 degrees Fahrenheit (boiling point of water is 212 F.). We now know NOAA was aware of these outrageous anomalies at least since 2006 but they were not remedied (see below).
Worryingly, as to how many of its users (mostly international meteorologists and climate researchers) were affected has not been revealed by NOAA. But we know the automated numbers were sold throughout the world and it's readings of land and ocean temperatures have been used by climate scientists in their models since the satellite's launch in September 2000. As a consequence and without full disclosure by NOAA, it is feared innumerable scientific studies about rising global temperatures are now rendered entirely invalid.
It is open to speculation whether NOAA may have been hesitant to admit to long standing faults for fear of a rash of lawsuits from its customers, mainly national governments and university research institutes. Based on such data most scientists agree that our planet may have warmed by 0.6 degrees Centigrade during the 20th century (with a margin of error of 0.5C degrees – but this error margin now looks way off).
From analysis of the bogus online temperature data before NOAA removed it from view, it may be determined that almost all the false temperature readings were far in excess of expected averages – many by a factor of four or five – almost none of the bogus temperatures were lower than average.
US Government Foresaw Satelligate Failures Mounting
But it wasn't just a handful of skeptical climatologists sounding the alarm. The National Academy of Sciences, in its 2007 455-page report concluded that because of degradation in the U.S. satellite network, the country's ability to monitor the climate and severe weather was "at great risk."
By coincidence, in the same week my article led to the shut down of NOAA-16, Susan Bohan published her excellent article here in which she exposes the broader systemic failures in the wider satellite network. Among the calamities Bohan reported, "the satellite, Landsat 7, is broken. And it's emblematic of the nation's battered satellite environmental monitoring program."
The term 'satelligate' was coined by the CO2insanity.com blog after it diligently picked up on the piece.
At Least Five Climate Measuring Satellites Compromised
Crucially, Bohan's article wasn't based on any so-called unsubstantiated 'big oil' funded skeptic disinformation plot, a dying urban myth anyway, but on a US Government Accountability Office report (GAO). GAO concedes that nine new climate instruments on the latest generation of satellites were canceled or their capabilities scaled back in 2006. GAO is the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress.
As a consequence at least five such satellite programs have been identified as being either degraded or seriously compromised:
- Landsat 7 (currently in orbit) is broken leaving data gaps. Scientists do not get all the information they should.
- NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite) will not have any sensors that measure the sun's energy output on the 2nd and 4th satellites.
- GOES-R (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R Series) has had 14 sensors cancelled. No data for cloud base height, ozone layer, ocean color, ocean turbidity and cloud imagery, snow cover, etc. Effectively neutered.
- No sensor for movement of greenhouse gases and pollutants. No sensor to monitor temperature changes on Earth over time. (NOAA didn't even bother to try to get the funding to keep the eliminated sensors!).
- The sensor to measure how Earth's temperature reacts to changes in Solar energy was cancelled by the Obama Administration at the end of June 2010.
Perhaps its no accident that the current head of NOAA, Dr. Jane Lubchenco and hand picked by President Barack Obama, declared that her agency would play its role in developing a green economy.
Thus, despite the US Government spending in excess of $80 billion in climate research, a failure to allocate sufficient funds to the satellite program has now resulted in serious damage to the credibility of the entire data set (note: the cost of a typical NOAA satellite is around $11 million and the network recoups the US government millions by selling data worldwide).
Evidence From Climate Experts Points To Conspiracy To Deceive
Dr. Roy Spencer commented, "Obviously, whatever happened to NOAA-16 AVHRR (or the software) introduced HUGE errors. We always had trouble with NOAA-16 AMSU, and dropped it long ago. It had calibration drifts that made it unsuitable for climate monitoring."
Dr. Christy particularly addressed faults exclusively with the AMSU instrumentation and not problems with the AVHRR system. He advised me, "We spent a lot of time in 2006 trying to deal with the issues of NOAA-16, but the errors were so erratic, we ended up eliminating it as one of the backbones of our dataset."
As many such analysts have long been advising, these failures go way beyond the shockingly absurd numbers of 604 degrees recorded at Egg harbor, Wisconsin.
Dr. Timothy Ball, climate consultant to the military and lead author of a new book debunking the greenhouse gas theory observes, "At best the entire incident indicates gross incompetence, at worst it indicates a deliberate attempt to create a temperature record that suits the political message of the day."
Mainstream Media Turn Blind Eye To Another 'Gate' Scandal
In 2006 Christy and Spencer had sought to complete a technical analysis on NOAA-16's AMSU, but Christy reveals that it, "was very tedious and we chased a lot of rabbits that turned out to be dead ends."
Such appalling facts just don't appear in the 'on message' mainstream media and all the while researchers have been struggling in vain to keep pace with the ever-increasing numbers gap due to ongoing sensor degradation. For example, each month Dr. Christy works with Dr. Spencer trying to piece together the faltering patchwork of global temperature datasets given by a total of eleven instruments flying on eleven different satellites since 1979.
Over such a long time period it has been suggested that cosmic rays or particle impacts may be deteriorating the highly sensitive instrumentation on board the crafts. Spencer publishes his findings on his blog while a fuller assessment of the satellite problems found by Dr. Christy is found here.
Will Systemic Measuring Failures Cost Even More Lives?
Respected internationally for his world leading weather forecasts, Piers Corbyn, of Weatheraction.com is another expert lamenting the scandalous failures in the satellite network.
Piers thundered on the Climate Realists blog, "This revelation further confirms something I and Tom Harris said on Russia Today TV Feb (5th) 2010 namely that WE JUST DO NOT reliably KNOW what world temperatures are and have been doing over the last decade or century."
Corbyn had correctly forecast this summer's West Russia heatwave and a general increase in VERY extreme events (evidenced by Pakistan & China's horrendous floods and "super cold" in parts of the Southern hemisphere) weeks and months in advance.
A Growing List Of Global Warming Satellite Measuring Failures
Satelligate points to yet another infuriating government cover up of fudged global warming numbers. Despite the clamor for years from scientists from all sides of the global warming debate for more transparency and better access to such data, zealous gatekeepers within NASA and Britain's CRU have refused such requests and unlawfully defied Freedom of Information (FOIA) demands.
As indicated on WattsUpWithThat such errors and deficiencies along with plain old-fashioned data fraud have long been swept under the carpet with ever more lives put at risk. Indeed, public confidence in the reliability of official warnings of apocalyptic doom from purveyors of NOAA's trumpeted fake data has been met with increasing cynicism. A growing number of taxpayers are voicing opposition to the zealous rush towards crippling tax hikes dismantling first world standards of living without first having ascertained the proper facts.
Questions NOAA Refuses To Answer
In light of concerns that NOAA has officially admitted to only withdrawing "images" from its archives without confirming all bogus data has also been dumped, I posed the following and yet unanswered questions to NOAA's Dr. Jane Lubchenco:
- What steps have you taken to ascertain the scope and extent of this data error and what action will be taken to avoid further recurrence?
- Have you identified whether these temperature anomalies impact other data sets and findings; in particular does this undermine in any way the credibility of official government statements already made about climatic changes, and if so by how much?
Until Lubchenco comes clean, I fear we may be witnessing another 'Phil Jones' in the making. For without full transparency and frank answers, then the endless media hype about the dangers from the so-called 'greenhouse gas theory' remains just that—hype.
The Great Global Warming Swindle
Global Warming Or Global Governance?
The Tonka Report Editor's Note: I mentioned these newest revelations of the man-made global warming scam to a co-worker. One young lady who over heard our conversation literally said in disgust (exasperation?), "I don't want to hear about this!" I should add that she also worked on the Obama campaign for President here in Chicago. The truth is a mighty hammer when you're the nail living a lie being hammered into reality! – SJH
Link to original article below…
Written by Steven John Hibbs
August 17, 2010 at 12:42 am
Posted in Agenda 21, Big Brother, Big Oil, Civil Rights, COINTELPRO, Communism, Conspiracy, Corruption, Deception, Disinformation, Documentary, Economy, Education, Environmentalism, Eugenics, Fascism, Federal Reserve, Freedom, Genocide, Geo-Politics, Global Banking, Global Warming / Climate Change, Government, Great Lakes, Health, History, IMF, IPCC, Law and Justice, Media, NASA, Nature, New World Order, NOAA, Obama, Obama Regime, Orwellian, Planet Earth, Police State, Propaganda, Psyops, Science / Technology, Slavery, Socialism, Sovereignty, Space / Universe, U.S. Constitution, U.S. News, Video, World Bank, World Disasters, World Government, World News


text: Size Option : H 2'1x W 1'4 x D 1'8 Warranty 10 Years Matrial Galvanised Steel Overview: Why bother carrying heavy bunches of paper around, when your drawer unit can move to where you can comfortably be seated while doing your work. Now, that's what we call smart! As Smart as can be Your Panajoy Pedestal has been designed using minimum screws so that there's no losing and searching for screws during assembling and disassembling. The top two drawers are interchangeable, hence there's no confusi

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Renaissance Leather
Our Show Schedule
Terence Plunkett, principle artisan of Renaissance Leather, has been in the trade since 1968, with retail stores and wholesale operations in Connecticut and Bar Harbor, Maine before joining the Colorado Renaissance Festival in 1995. Starting out with a line of leather goods geared toward the every day crowd, he quickly developed a line of belts, bags and accessories for the costumed patrons of the fairs. Adding the Texas, Michigan and Minnesota Renaissance Festivals over the next few years, and with the addition of assistant artisans, Ian Hawkins and Travis Butterworth, we have established ourselves as a distinctive presence on the Renaissance Festival circuit and on the web, reinterpreting traditional craft techniques to produce leather goods of the highest quality of design, materials and workmanship.
Please peruse our site or come visit one of our shows, we welcome all comments and questions.
Scarborough Renaissance Festival
Holly Field, Shoppe #16 Center Esplanade
April 6th - May 27th, 2019
Colorado Renaissance Festival Booth #94
June 15th - Aug 4th, 2019
Michigan Renaissance Festival Booth #133
August 17th - Sept 29th, including Labor Day and Sept 27th
Minnesota Renaissance Festival Booth #743
August 17th - Sept 29th, including Labor Day and Sept 27th
Texas Renaissance Festival Booth #263
October 5th - December 1st, including Black Friday


text: DigitalIf True, the Ceglia Case Could Rewrite Part of Facebook's Early HistoryBy Eric Eldon|July 21, 2010 ShareBy Eric Eldon|July 21, 2010 ShareThe first few years of Facebook's existence has already been closely scrutinized in court and in the media. This fall, there's even a feature-length movie coming out about one version. The common theme is that, during late 2003 and early 2004, founder Mark Zuckerberg was both working on his own Facebook precursor sites while talking or even working with rivals. But now all of those stories could be getting updated, if claims in a new court case against Facebook turn out to be true.During his sophomore year at Harvard, in late 2003, Zuckerberg became famous for launching a site called Facemash. A college version of Hot or Not, it scraped students' names and photos from university sources, then asked students to rank each others' photos for attractiveness.Aaron Greenspan, meanwhile, had launched a student web portal of sorts called houseSYSTEM, that he says he discussed with Zuckerberg in great detail over the course of the fall. By the end of the year, Zuckerberg was also doing contract work for HarvardConnection, a site intended to serve as a student portal, per an oral contract agreement. Greenspan has up to this point laid claim to the earliest date, having launched his houseSYSTEM site on August 1st of that year.The new court case implies that Zuckerberg was actually working on "The Face Book" back in the spring of 2003, apparently before any of the others.A wood-pellet company owner named Paul Ceglia is suing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in New York federal court, claiming that the two had an agreement whereby Ceglia would get a large ownership portion of a Zuckerberg project called "The Face Book." The two signed the agreement on April 28, 2003.Ceglia was a designer at the time, looking for Zuckerberg's help on a separate project, and happened to sign on for a good chunk of Facebook stock as part of a contractor agreement. Or so the story went in New York today, as Bloomberg reports:[Ceglia lawyer Terrence Connors] told the judge that Ceglia was a Web designer trying to develop a project called "StreetFax" in the spring of 2003. Ceglia's plan was to put millions of photos of streets into a database and charge insurers money to access it."What he needed was a coder," Connors told the judge.Ceglia solicited bids to do the work. The lowest bidder was Zuckerberg, then a Harvard freshman. Zuckerberg said he would do the job for $1,000, Connors said."But I've got a project of my own," Connors said Zuckerberg told his client. "I'm developing an online yearbook for Harvard kids now, but I'm thinking of expanding it."The contract was intended to cover the coding work on StreetFax and Ceglia's investment in Zuckerberg's "fledgling project," Connors said. "Who knew then that it would turn into what it is today?"VentureBeat has taken a closer look at the documents submitted by Ceglia. Although riddled with typos, and in parts not clearly phrased — it refers to Ceglia being granted ownership of the software language that Zuckerberg was to use, for example, rather than the code — it would give him most of Facebook's shares. From VentureBeat:The contract itself says that Ceglia agreed to pay Zuckerberg $1,000 for StreetFax and $1,000 for another project called PageBook. The contract also mentions an expanded project called The Facebook to be completed by January 2004, saying "an additional 1% interest in the business will be due the buyer for each day the website is delayed from that date."Ceglia attached a $1,000 receipt from his checkbook, dated six months after the contract, as evidence that he paid Zuckerberg for his work. But it wasn't the full $2,000 amount and the agreement doesn't describe what happens if there is a default.Facebook, for its part, has not yet completely denied the specific claims. In court, one of the company's lawyers confirmed that Zuckerberg did have a contract with Ceglia, but also said that there are "many substantial questions surrounding the authenticity" of the particular document provided by Ceglia, and was "unsure" such as whether Zuckerberg had actually signed it.The company's general statement on Ceglia's claim sounds confident, in any case: "We believe this suit is completely frivolous and we will fight it vigorously."Whether or not the document is real, Ceglia's case has other problems, beyond some of vague phrasing. For example, his claim is more than six years old, seemingly disqualifying it under New York's statute of limitations. And his document oddly has Zuckerberg using the term "Facebook" nine months before Zuckerberg actively began using the term. Legal experts have noted both as major issues. And Ceglia himself has been in trouble with the law recently, getting arrested for failure to fulfill wood pellet orders after having taken their money — maybe he was just having business problems, but the timing makes his Facebook suit (and character) look more suspicious.Given the many frivolous lawsuits brought against major companies, only to be summarily dismissed, one wouldn't be surprised to see the judge relegate Ceglia's claims to the same category. But if the document does somehow turn out to be authentic, Facebook's legal team will no doubt contest its language, the time-lapse, and anything else it can find, and look for a quick settlement. We have a hard time seeing Ceglia's desired outcome — 84% ownership of Facebook — ever happening.And, if the claim is found true, there's another twist coming: the Harvard Connection (now ConnectU) team and Greenspan will need to explain how Zuckerberg was working on his idea many months before they say he stole it from them. Sure, ConnectU's long-running lawsuit is mostly done, and Greenspan has moved on to other projects, but ConnectU's version of events appears slated for a retelling in The Social Network, the new movie coming out on October 1st of this year. The new headlines about the Celia case — which, to our knowledge is not addressed in the movie — might confuse the movie's plot, or at least its audiences.If Ceglia's case turns out to be somewhat true, but not true enough to give Ceglia anything like the stock he wants, the result could be an odd sort of public relations win for Facebook.Pages: 1 2 Sharehttp://adweek.it/2jJZ5EV copy Adweek Adweek


text:
Mick McCarthy making Roger Johnson our new captain is for me the best news we have had as Wolves fans since we signed the player.
Johnson has already captained former sides Wycombe and Cardiff, and with his natural leadership skills already shining through the decision seems a sensible one.
McCarthy has always sung the praises of Karl Henry so this decision may not have come easily for him; the move may be one of the most important of our pre-season.
It may have been close on two years ago when Mick basically said that if Henry is fit he plays- as team and club captain he was practically guaranteed a place in the starting line-up week in, week out but that very luxury appears no more.
Henry was clearly proud of his roots, proud of the shirt, proud of leading out Wolverhampton Wanderers. We all like a traditional tough tackling midfielder and Henry had the attributes; somewhere at the start of last season however he lost sight of what he was trying to achieve and the outcome was not to the benefit of himself or his team.
Already under the media glare from the Newcastle and Fulham games, Henry chose a trip to Wigan to launch a diabolical tackle that could easily have ended a players career. He was sent off and we lost to one of the sides we knew would be in or around us.
Henry waited until the end of the season to admit his game had changed as a result and we collectively suffered for it. Sadly, he appeared to relish the bad boy image he was been painted as.
This proved no more obvious in our greatest hour of need. With our survival hopes falling apart on the last day at home to Blackburn, Henry, already on a booking raised his hands to another player and should have been sent off. What would have happened to us then I prefer not to imagine. His reaction to being called over by the ref was his usual smirk.
His game has suffered as result of his arrogance, and I am glad that Mick has stepped in with a strong decision.
Some fans are complaining that Johnson has only just arrived and think the job should have gone to someone else. I think his recent arrival puts him in better stead rather than promoting from within, so to speak.
The bonus news is that if Johson is not up for the job, Stephen Ward is ready to step up.
On a post card…
Wolves New Captain
Mick McCarthy making Roger Johnson our new captain is for me the best news we have had as Wolves fans since we signed the player.


text:
Many cities and counties make property line information available free online. Aggregators such as NETRonline and SearchSystems keep updated listings of links for public records. Not all government offices offer detailed information online, but private companies do not offer property records for free.
Property lines are maintained by county or city clerks, and many municipalities have digitized their records using geographic information systems software. Often, counties maintain a dedicated mapping office that offers online services, including searchable property maps and satellite imagery. When they do not have online services, clerks' offices provide copies of plat maps that indicate property lines.


text:
History of the Bloody Point Lighthouse
The Bloody Point Lighthouse, located at the southern tip of Daufuskie Island, has an uncommon story rich in history and duty. It all began in 1882 when the U.S. Government paid $425 for land to place the Bloody Point Light. This included a front-range lighthouse and a rear range light tower.
Visit the Lighthouse
The Lighthouse, designed by John Doyle who was also the first lighthouse keeper, was built on the ocean in 1883 to light the southern end of Daufuskie Island. It is a two-story building with the front light located in a small dormer window with a brass stand and wind-up clockwork to turn the light. There was also a rear range light tower. This lighthouse allowed a ship to safely enter the channel when it lined up the front-range light with the rear range light. The placement of these range lights was very important in the early days to ensure safe passage into and out of the busy port of Savannah.
The Bloody Point Lighthouse is very unique because it looks nothing like a typical lighthouse at all. In fact, the two-story structure is the same design as the keepers' houses at the Tybee Island Light with the exception of the addition of a large dormer jutting out from the roof of Bloody Point where the light was kept. At night the dormer window opened, exposing a fixed reflector lens that shone in the direction of the other positioning light, transforming this normal-looking house into a lighthouse.
This lighthouse on Daufuskie Island was named for the Indian battles that took place there in the early 1700s. The light guided ships into the Savannah River Channel from 1883 to 1922. During its lifetime, the Bloody Point Light has had to be relocated inland several times due to erosion and the shoreline receding. In fact, a team of mules and oxen moved the lighthouse by dragging it over timbered logs to its present location to save it from erosion.
During the 1950s, the oil house was converted to a small winery by Papy Burn, the last assistant keeper, who lived there for forty years. He fermented bananas, plums, grapes, and anything he could find to make small amounts of wine for his friends. Since then the oil house has been known as "the winery" to everyone on Daufuskie Island and still bears a sign that says Silver Dew Winery today.
We recently acquired Bloody Point Lighthouse and Silver Dew Winery, and are excited to say that the most historic landmarks on the island are now open to the public.
In an effort to show people more of the history of the island, indigo, Sea Island Cotton, Carolina Gold rice, and a vineyard with Scuppernong grapes has been planted and the quaint winery is up and running. The lighthouse itself is now a museum and gift shop, and features one of the best preserved Batou Indian canoes.


text:
Posted on January 25, 1999 in Washington Watch
The Israeli elections are an issue of great concern in the United States, engaging policy makers and important segments of the American Jewish community.
For U.S. policy-makers the elections pose a serious dilemma, because as the campaign in Israel heats up, the Middle East peace process has been put on the back burner. This displeases the Clinton Administration both because they invested significant political capital in attempting to put the process back on track and because they are acutely aware of the dangers posed by a stalled peace.
Although he signed the agreement at Wye, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appeared to have little interest in seeing the agreement implemented. No sooner had he returned to Israel upon completing the negotiations with the United States and the Palestinian Authority, than he began to add new conditions to and reinterpret the pact unilaterally.
Despite Netanyahu's rhetorical prevarications (as in "If the Palestinians will implement, I'll implement") no one in Israel or in the Untied States seriously believes him anymore. In fact, as if to make clear his refusal to implement the pact's most basic provisions, i.e. Israel's withdrawal from additional West Bank land, Netanyahu's election campaign has unfurled a new slogan for use against his Labor Party opponent Ehud Barak–"Barak will hand over, Likud will keep".
In the face of this blatant obstructionism, the United States appears to be in a quandary. On the one hand, it is no secret that the Untied States would prefer to see a new government elected in Israel, one that is committed to a comprehensive peace. There is, however, an obvious hesitation in making this preference public for fear that it will backfire and be used to incite Likud supporters.
Those in the United States who express this view point out two additional concerns. In 1996 the Clinton Administration showed preference for Labor's Peres over Netanyahu. They fear that not only did their intrusion into Israeli politics backfire, but it has also made the past two-and-one-half years of dealing with Netanyahu more difficult. Then, there is the issue of domestic U.S. politics. American Jewish public opinion, while strongly supportive of the Administration's peace efforts, is not of one mind in the matter of the U.S. publicly attacking the government in Israel. And the Republican majority in Congress has been especially clear about its support for Likud and its leader. That Republican majority and a number of Democrats as well would not hesitate, if pushed, to pass hostile legislation making the Administration's Middle East diplomacy even more difficult than it already is.
Despite this quandary, the Administration has not hesitated to make its views known. While in Israel and Palestine, President Clinton was confronted at each turn by Netanyahu's anti-peace rhetoric. In each instance, Clinton, while refusing to respond in kind, did make a determined effort to firmly and pointedly reassert the fundamental principles underlying the peace process.
When, a few weeks ago, the Israeli Ambassador to Washington published an editorial denouncing the Palestinians for their failure to comply with the terms of the Wye Accords, he was rather sternly rebuked by the State Department's Spokesperson Jamie Rubin. Rubin, in no uncertain terms, stated that it is the Palestinians who have implemented most of what is required of them and Israel who has not fulfilled its obligations.
And just last week, Vice President Al Gore, one of Israel's strongest supporters, gave an exceptionally balanced presentation of the Administration's goals in the Middle East peace process in a speech to a pro-Labor Party American Jewish organization. The speech, which was criticized by a pro-Likud U.S. group for its "implicit criticism" of the Netanyahu government's policy, stated clearly that Wye must be implemented in full by both parties, "with no new conditions".
Together with these policy statements there are also other actions being pursued by the Administration designed to move the process forward during the Israeli election. A State Department team has just returned from a visit to the region where they made clear that they expect movement to continue on all phases of the agreement. Early next month the U.S.-Palestinian bilateral commission will meet in Washington to further cement ties and advance Palestinian economic and political concerns.
And the Administration is actively pushing for congressional passage of a supplementary aid package to Israel and the Palestinian Authority–that, it insists, at this point, will only be made available to the party or parties that implement their obligations outlined in the Wye Accord.
It is not only the Administration that is engaged. The American Jewish community is involved in activities related to the Israeli election as well.
For example, as in the past few elections, major American Jewish donors have played a significant role in funding Israeli candidates. In 1996, for example, more than $8 million was sent from U.S. Jewish donors to Israeli parties and their candidates. This year, the amounts may be higher despite a new Israeli law that was designed to limit such outside funding.
Irving Moskowitz, the notorious right-wing provocateur (infamous for funding the tunnel opening and Ras al Amoud settlement) just visited Israel with a group of wealthy extremist U.S. Jews to pledge financial backing to hard-line candidates who oppose concessions to the Palestinians. Benny Begin, son of the former Prime Minister, has reportedly received $1 million from Moskowitz to fund his right-wing challenge to Netanyahu.
Next week, the new Israeli centrist party leader Amnon Shahak will be in the United States, ostensibly to speak to a few policy groups, but in reality to raise money for his campaign.
If U.S. money will fund the campaigns, then U.S. strategists will be directing them. Netanyahu has already retained his electoral guru Arthur Finklestein, a New York Republican who has managed a number of leading U.S. Republican campaigns. Labor's Barak has hired James Carville and Stanley Greenburg–the U.S. team that played a role in President Clinton's 1992 victory. It is interesting to note that in a weird chain of events in the past few weeks the offices of five of Barak's campaign aids in Israel have been subjected to mysterious break-ins and robberies. During the same period, on two occasions, Stanley Greenburg's Washington offices' were also broken into. All that was reported stolen in both instances were materials relating to the Barak campaign. In Israel this is being reported as a "Watergate"-style affair–referring to the similarity between these bizarre break-ins and the 1972 Nixon campaign break-ins of the Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate Building in Washington.
In all of these ways there is a significant U.S. involvement attempting to shape the outcome of this year's Israeli elections. The outcome of this election could be, of course, quite serious for the future of peace in the region. Hence the intense involvement of so many.
However, whether or not the outcome of the election will be positive or decisive given the fragmentation of Israeli politics and the intense discussions in Israeli society is another matter–one to be explored in a future article.
For comments or information, contact email@example.com powered by Disqus


text:
Selenium vs QTP comparison - let's imagine that QA Tester has been assigned to compare Selenium vs QTP as a part of evaluation of test automation tools mainly from the perspective of maintenance, training and supportability.
The price of HP QTP could be an issues for some companies, unfortunately the company has to spend almost $10,000 dollars per floating QTP license. In the same time HP QTP license price may be not an issues for the start up company which just got the new round of money from the venture capitalist or for investment banks where managers want to invest only in the brand name tools. On the other side Selenium is completely free open source test automation tool. It means if QA Testers wants to add Selenium to skill set, the tester may just download Selenium for free, download manual and start exploring the functionality of a test automation tools. The same approach would not be productive with HP QTP download, the free trial version of QuickTest Pro requires tedious registration, works only for 30 days which is often not enough for extensive evaluation by the team. Even after the company paid the hefty price for HP QTP license it would require perplexing installation and configuration of the QTP license server, especially in the case when QA manager wants to take of advantage of QTP floating licenses and share them with the offshore testing team.
Some QA manager may wrongly assume that the team will get good return of investment by getting official technical support from HP for QTP. Unfortunately in many cases it is easier and faster to get QTP question answered and problem solved with a help of huge community of users and forums. If QA Team finds any problems using Selenium, there are several places where they can search for help for example active official user group Selenium. There are also several companies that can provide hands-on, expert support with Selenium tool.
HP QTP training on the various topics is available from HP Software Education Services and the current price is $3750 for five days course called QuickTest Professional 10: Essentials. There are also several companies and individuals who can provide QTP training and education for more affordable price. Selenium training covering fundamentals and advanced Selenium features is available from various companies in the form of offsite or onsite training and usually prices around $750 for two days course.
While considering one test automation tool over another the team should figure out who will develop, maintain and support test cases. Selenium will be an advantage, if software developers will take ownership of creating and maintening test cases, if the testing outside of the browser is out of scope, if you have tight budget. HP QTP could fit your team, if you have money to spend, QA tester will develop and maintain test cases and testing will be outside of the web browser.
There are variety of great books for Selenium and HP QTP suitable for beginners and experts. You could check the detailed books reviews at Best Books for Selenium and Best Books for HP QTP pages.
Here QA Tester can find Selenium interview questions with examples. I started to put together and continuously update interview question for Selenium WebDriver test automation tool. This Interview questions were asked during real QA interviews for Selenium QA Automation Engineer position in the leading companies. I believe that any QA Engineer, no matter seasoned one or novice one, would greatly benefits from this collection Selenium interview questions and tips. If you are plan to attend an interview you need to know the answers on these questions by heart. I provided answers on several technical interview questions, but you have to think how you would personally answer these questions. Finally, I would ask anyone of you to provide answers on unanswered Selenium interview question, so we all would benefit from this knowledge sharing and it would help us to land on Selenium QA Automation Engineer job and work successfully. If you were asked the interview question that is not in the list, post it with your answer.


text: Cooking Back Then Cooking for six people, chocolate oatmeal cookies had to be made in double batches! Cooking in the nearly century old house. Many people who visited would say it felt like being in their grandma's house. I was really fine with that. Homemade pizza night Share this:ShareEmailTweetShare on Tumblr


text:
Sri Lanka is an exciting and uncrowded surfing destination and on our most recent trip there, we were pleasantly surprised by numerous things. Good waves, friendly people, more than affordable prices and whole-year-round surfing potential were just a few of them.
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, home to some 20 million people, is a small island country roughly of the size of Tasmania. Nestled in the Indian Ocean south of India, its climate is tropical and while north and the mountainous centre are pretty wet, the south gets a good share of sun and dry weather, mainly between November and March. The south is also the place to go surfing, with plenty of good spots around Hikkaduwa, Galle, Arugam Bay and Weligama. Little known fact: Arugam Bay in the south-east coast of Sri Lanka is on the list of top-10 spots to surf in the world!
There are 2 main surfing areas on Sri Lanka's coast and 2 main seasons: Between November and April, we definitely recommend you to go to the south-west coastline around Hikkaduwa, about 100 kms south from the capital Colombo. The area around this old town offers a good range of 3-6ft waves, both left- and right-handed. Moreover, in your spare time, you can indulge yourself in Ayurvedic spa treatments, snorkelling, diving and excursions to an old historical town of Galle to see the Dutch Fort, take a train tour to Matara or go fishing to Ahangama.
The swell in this area is pretty consistent during the season and offers options for all levels of surfers. The waves are fun & mellow, although sometimes a bit fickle. The main break called Main Reef offers A-shaped waves and you can ride them both ways. For relaxed surfing, Beach Break offers decent left- and right-handers for beginners, while Benny's and Inside Reef are more intense and challenging left-handers. Drifters Beach hotel is right at the beach, offering clean air-conditioned accommodation, beach restaurant and tours in the area, including surf transfers. The hotel is close to all shops and nightclubs, but still far enough to give you a good night's sleep. The owner Latih has been in tourism industry for over 10 years and also owns a travel company, so besides the accommodation, you can also get a good local information and transfers if required. Eco Point Lodge is a great eco-friendly surf project that offers lovely accommodation in mango wood cabanas, surfing and cooking classes and excursions. By staying there, you will support the local tsunami regeneration projects, where at least 10% of the profits each month go.
The best place in Sri Lanka for surfing between May to November is around Arugam Bay – about 300 kms from the capital Colombo. The morning off-shore winds bring good swells and right-hand point breaks dominate the bay. Three of the point breaks, The Point, Pottuvil Point and Crocodile Rock, are all within a short 30-min tuk tuk ride from town. You have a bit more choice if you are willing to travel up to 1½ hrs by road or by boat.
Arugam Bay Surf Breaks:
- Your main surf spot at Arugam Bay is The Point – a right-hand reef break and therefore produces the biggest waves and is most consistent. It that delivers long, 2-6ft long rides – you can get rides of 400 to 500 meters if you are lucky. It is not a high performance wave but you can get a tube on some days.
- Pottuvil Point is bit further up north from Arugam bay, so it does not attract much crowd but does please you with its long rides, sometimes up to 700m if everything connects. Although the waves would be a feet or two smaller than at The Point, rides can be up to double length.
- Smallest of the three points is the Crocodile Rock – a beautiful beach with great conditions for beginners and intermediates.
- Baby Point: Kind of an un-fitting name because it can be a real fun wave. Inside the bay, they get a seasonal sand bar which produces perfect waves for beginners a people who like to cruise. The length & quality of this point depends on the movement of the sand. Normally, the sand gets good in the start of June, but that depends on the arrival of the first bigger swells of the season as they shift the sand.
- Right in front of the Stardust Hotel, about 150 meters out in the bay, there is a rock in the water which produces the only left-hander in the area (Madam's Slap). If the swell is big enough, it hits the rock and a pretty gnarly left hand slap jumps up. They had some pros there last year and they pulled into some stand up barrels.
- Okanda – picks up the swell; second best after the main point.
- Lighthouse.
- Komari.
- Whisky Point.
- Elephant Rock.
- Peanut Farm.
The nice thing about the area that most beaches are really deserted and it is likely to find a wave for yourself. Although the main break gets quiet crowded in July and August, you can have good fun if you go to the smaller waves mentioned above.
The points are all accessible by tuk tuk rides of 15-50 minutes and some lie close to beautiful Hindu temples and it is likely to see wild elephants on your way to a surf.
Western-owned Stardust Hotel offers quality accommodation in Beach Cabanas and Luxury rooms (designed by Danish owner Merete Scheller and completed recently by local craftsmen ) and it lies right at the beach. The packages include Colombo International Airport transfers (if needed) and breakfast, a dinner in their excellent restaurant is optional and can also be included.
Mambo Surf Camp offer a surf guesthouse-style accommodation in 10 well-sized rooms, including a few that have been recently built. Some have balconies facing the ocean so you can watch and enjoy the beautiful sunset from your room! All rooms are cleaned every day.
Offering quality waves, Sri Lanka's south and southeast coastline is a heaven for surfers and caters predominately for adventure travellers with budget or mid-range expectations. If you are looking for an unspoiled destination without 5-star resorts that has abundance of national parks, photo opportunities, historical sites and good waves the whole year round, Sri Lanka is the place to visit.
To enquire about your next surf holiday in Sri Lanka, beat the crowds and surf the breaks that are only now starting to appear on the surfers'map (and deservingly so!), please call us on 1300 00WAVE to speak with one of our friendly consultants or click here to send us an e-mail!


text:
Loreto (or Conchó) was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula. It served as the capital of Las Californias from 1697 to 1777, and is the current seat of the municipality of Loreto in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. The city of 14,724 people (2010 census) is located on the coast of the Sea of Cortés, about 350 km (220 mi) north of the state capital, La Paz.
The town was founded in 1697 by Jesuit missionaries, who found a steady spring of fresh water on this site, as the Misión Nuestra Señora de Loreto. The town served as the capital of the province of Las Californias from its founding until the capital was moved to Monterey on February 3, 1777. The town then became the headquarters for the Lieutenant Governor of California Viejo (later the province of Baja California).
The city is now a tourist resort, catering mostly to U.S. travelers, with daily flights from the U.S. state of California to Loreto International Airport. Many American tourists enjoy fishing in "pangas" for "dorado" (Mahi-mahi or Dolphin Fish). Local restaurants will willingly prepare the daily catch of the tourists. Loreto has an excellent museum that coexists alongside the historic, but still active, parish. Loreto has active sister city relationships with Hermosa Beach and Cerritos, California, USA.


text:
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IKEA has pulled the plug. Incandescent lights are out.* As of January 4, 2011, IKEA US stores no longer stock or sell these traditional bulbs. Ahead of the upcoming legislation – The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 that will phase out all incandescent light bulbs by 2012-2014 (2) - IKEA has now made these lights a thing of the past. As a result, IKEA is now the first major retailer to stop the sale of incandescent lights.
Switch Off. Switch Over. IKEA made the announcement back in late Spring that starting August 2010, IKEA would begin to phase out selling incandescent light bulbs with a January 2011 stop date. Focusing on a comprehensive range of effective energy saving bulbs, IKEA currently offers: the popular compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) - many of which have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ENERGY STAR® label, as well as a full range of LED lamps that are 70% more efficient than incandescents. IKEA's offering also includes Halogen lamps which consume 30% less energy than traditional incandescents and are a great 'white light' alternative. The halogen range also includes a halogen retrofit bulb which can be used in a standard light socket. IKEA also offers solar powered lamps including the SUNNAN desk lamp and the 'SOLVINDEN' range of outdoor lights.
"IKEA is committed to integrating sustainable practices into our range and business practices. As the largest home furnishings store, we are constantly looking at ways to help support our customers with every day environmentally responsible solutions that will improve their lives. Eliminating incandescents is just one simple way for IKEA customers to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases," commented Mike Ward, US IKEA President.
What do consumers think about this phase out, upcoming government legislation and more? IKEA wanted to know. Here are the results of the IKEA lighting survey, conducted by telephone in December 2010 by Harris Interactive among 1,011 US adults. (3)
- Changing light bulbs in home to energy saving lights. Nearly two-thirds (59%) of Americans have changed majority of light bulbs in their homes to energy saving lights. Women (63%) are more likely to have changed their bulbs than men (55%).
- Awareness of US Legislation; The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 which will mandate more efficient light bulbs by 2012-2014. More than half (61%) of Americans are not aware of the legislation to phase out incandescent light bulbs. And 84% of people, ages 18-24, are not aware of the legislation.
- Concern for energy saving lights. More than two-thirds (67%) of Americans care about using energy saving lights. And more than half (56%) of Americans are ready to switch to energy saving lights.
- Saving money. Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) Americans believe that using energy saving lights will save them money.
- Disposal of old bulbs. 62% of Americans are not concerned about disposal of old bulbs.
- Environmental Practice. 81% of Americans say that using energy saving lights is a good environmental practice.
Light color and intensity concern. Only 14% of Americans are
"very concerned" about light color, in regards to the change from
incandescent to energy saving lights in their homes. 51% of Americans
are "not at all concerned" about light color. More than half (61%) of
Americans are not concerned about light intensity, in regards to the
change from incandescent to energy saving lights in their homes.
73% of Americans are not concerned about being able to dim the lights with energy saving lights. In regard to the change from incandescent to energy saving lights, more than half (56%) of Americans are not concerned about the bulb not being able to fit in their regular light fixtures.
"We are pleased to have IKEA as both a retail and lighting partner with ENERGY STAR, says Alex Baker (ENERGY STAR Lighting Program Manager, EPA).Their commitment to qualify their IKEA brand CFLs and promote energy-efficient lighting helps save their customers' energy and money, while making an important difference in the fight against climate change."
From 2001- 2007, IKEA was the first and only retailer offering its customers an environmentally safe recycling program for CFLs. In fiscal 2006 year, IKEA recycled 126,722 CFLs. The IKEA stop sale of all incandescent light bulbs is just one of many sustainable initiatives that IKEA has taken. The IKEA Sustainability Report clearly outlines many other programs and actions that IKEA has and will take to lessen the company's impact on the environment and be a responsible global citizen.
Clearly, Thomas Edison's incandescent light bulb discovery was a landmark 19th century invention. But times have changed. New discoveries prevail. And everyday sustainability practices are important to IKEA customers. People are questioning old habits and creating new lifestyles with a charge to be environmentally responsible - everyday in some simple way. Whether it be great home furnishing solutions or sustainable practices, IKEA is dedicated to helping its customers improve their everyday lives.
Did You Know?
IKEA offers lighting solutions that are more efficient and have less negative impact on the environment.
- CFLs last from 6-10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs (6000 - 10,000 vs. 1,000 hours) and use 80% less energy. Due to this lower energy use, they can save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime. (EnergyStar.gov)
- If every American household replaced 1 incandescent bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified CFL bulb, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for 1 year. (EnergyStar.gov)
- IKEA supports the recycling of all mercury containing CFL light bulbs through the take back recycle bins at all IKEA stores.
- According to 18seconds.org, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a CFL, we would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than two million cars. And families would save more than $600 million in annual energy costs. The average American family spends $1,900 on energy bills each year. (green.yahoo.com/18seconds)
- Lighting expenses account for almost 25% of electricity costs of customers' homes. (EnergyStar.gov). Halogen bulbs use 30% less energy and last 2-4 times longer than conventional bulbs. (IKEA Group). IKEA LED lights use 70% less energy and burn at least 20 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb. (IKEA Group)
About IKEA:
IKEA, the world's leading home furnishings company, was founded in 1943 in Sweden. Since then, IKEA has offered home furnishings and accessories of great design and quality with functional living solutions at everyday low prices. Currently there are more than 300 IKEA stores in 37 countries, including 49 in North America (11 in Canada; 37 in the US; 1 in the Dominican Republic). IKEA has six distribution centers in North America, with a manufacturing facility in Danville, VA. IKEA has been named to Business Week's List of The Best Global Brands (August 7, 2006) for four consecutive years and Business Week's List of the Top 2009 Twenty Best Companies for Leadership (February 2010). TIME Magazine (May 2009) listed IKEA as one of the top 8 most global eco conscious companies. Greenopia (Dec. 2010) listed IKEA as the only larger retailer with a perfect 'sustainability' score. IKEA incorporates environmentally friendly efforts into day-to-day business and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment including UNICEF, Save the Children and American Forests. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to www.IKEA-usa.com and also learn more about IKEA environmental and social responsibility actions and programs. Also visit www.Facebook.com/IKEAUSA.
* While IKEA has phased out all Incandescent light bulbs, IKEA will continue to sell two styles of 25 watt chandelier bulbs. This falls under the guidelines of The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.
(2) The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires that all general purpose light bulbs be 30% more energy efficient (similar to current halogen lamps) than current incandescent bulbs by 2012 to 2014. The bulbs that are exempt from the government ban are reflector bulbs, appliance lamps, 3 way and candelabra bulbs.
(3) This survey was conducted by phone by Harris Interactive in the US on behalf of IKEA US from December 1-5, 2010 among 1,011 adults ages 18 and older. Results were weighted to reflect the US adult population. For complete survey methodology, including weight variables, please contact IKEA Corporate PR.
Hi-resolution jpegs available upon request


text:
SPNI was founded in 1953 by a small group of teachers, scientists and kibbutzniks who were attempting to save the Hula Wetlands. Although the draining of the Hula swamps could not be stopped at the time, the Government finally acknowledged the validity of the protesters' claims 40 years later when, in the mid-1990s, part of the Hula valley was re-flooded and returned to its original state.
Over fifty years later, SPNI is still blazing the trail for nature and the environment in Israel. As the oldest, largest and most beloved environmental organization in Israel today, SPNI is more determined than ever to guard Israel's scant open spaces, protect its coasts and beaches, and promote sustainable development in order to preserve the country's natural resources for future generations.


text:
- Description
Basic Information About Wood Stoves
Wood stoves have the ability to heat a space with simple materials like firewood and newspaper. They vary greatly in size, and can even be used for cooking or as a central point for a rooms decor. Wood stoves like the US Stove 3000 are known to be safer for the environment and more energy efficient than oil and gas. Before you buy choose from wood stoves for heating, study all the information about the basic functions of these products.
Benefits Of Wood Stoves
Using a wood stove like the US Stove 3000 is a very cost efficient way to keep your home warm during the colder months. Wood is a resource that is much less expensive than the oil or gas that is used to run a traditional furnace. Heating with wood allows for a quicker warming of your home than other heating options, and wood burns in such a way that your home will stay warm for almost ten hours with only five or six logs. An additional benefit is that wood can be stored on your property for several months and still burn well enough to heat your home.
Functions Of Wood Stoves
Although wood stoves look pretty when placed in a room, their main function is to heat a living or work area inside a home. Wood stoves heat while producing a minimal amount of smoke, and maintain a consistent warm temperature throughout the heated area. Include a large pot of water and a few drops of oil into your wood stove and you have created a humidifier to act as a natural air freshener when the stove is in use.
Wood Stoves Are For Every Home
When placed and installed correctly, wood stoves like the US stove 3000 can provide heat for a large section of your home. With a wood stove, you can add the coziness of the product along with the efficiency of the heating method to meet all your goals. A wood stove is a good investment for any homeowner who is interested in saving money and becoming more energy efficient while still comfortably providing heat for the home.
Explore our complete assortment of wood stoves for heating.
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Features Installation materials are NOT included (i.e., floor protector, chimney connector, thimble, radiation shield, flue, etc.)
Firebrick lined for long life and combustion efficiency
Quiet 150 CFM blower included
Firebox: 3.0 cubic feet
6" flue collar- heavy duty cast iron
EPA Certified in all states
Air wash glass keeps door window clean so you can see the warm glow of the fire
Large viewing window
Washington state approved
Mobile home approved
Large ash pan with cast iron ash plug
Manufacturer Warranty
1 year on electrical
3 year on firebox
Product Manual Key Specs Item# 3000 Ship Weight 375.00 lbs. Product Type Wood Stove Heating Capability (sq. ft.) Up to 3,000 BTU Output Up to 123,000 Fuel Type Wood Max. Log Size Accepted (L in.) 21 Depth W/ blower(in.) 33.5 Depth W/out blower(in.) 29.5 Width (in.) 27 Height (in.) 30
- Reviews
Please wait...


text:
Re-do search in this area
La Sierra Community Center
Carmichael, CA
Event Center, Community Center
Starting from $1,055 to $4,002 for 50 guests
Tucked away in the town of Carmichael on Engle Road, the La Sierra Community Center offers a versatile backdrop for your wedding day without breaking the bank! At once elegant and affordable, this lovely community center can be crafted into the space you have always dreamed of for one of the most im...
Showing other similar Wedding Venues Venues in Northern California
The Mountain Terrace
Woodside, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Event Center, Park/Garden, Mountain, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoor
Starting from $6,018 to $28,363 for 50 guests
Follow a tree-lined, winding road leading to The Mountain Terrace. You will have exclusive use of our entire property for your event. Your guests will enjoy our sunny meadow and surround redwoods, as well as the stunning view of the bay, and then come inside to our antique, solid oak bar and dining ...
Vintners Inn
Santa Rosa, CA
Winery/Vineyard, Event Center, Ballrooms, Bed & Breakfast/Inn, Outdoor
Starting from $11,328 to $19,952 for 50 guests
Surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens and framed by 200 acres of lush vineyards, Vintners Inn offers a unique setting that highlights Sonoma's natural beauty. The Inn is an intimate boutique style hotel with a Tuscan flavor. Stroll past the elegant marble fountain and under the 35-foot bell tow...
The San Francisco Mint
San Francisco, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Historic/Landmark Building, Event Center, Ballrooms, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoo...
Starting from $18,498 to $29,181 for 50 guests
Create your own family history as you start your new life in a place rich with a unique history all its own. Located just a coin's toss from Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco, The San Francisco Mint is classical revivalist venue that has been renovated to accommodate modern event productions ...
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club
San Jose, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Golf Course, Outdoor
Starting from $6,875 to $12,626 for 50 guests
Our unique setting is ideal for any type of wedding you envision. Our outdoor patio is beautifully landscaped, with lush greenery and white roses, with bistro lights strung above and rolling hills as your backdrop; it is truly an unforgettable canvas for a ceremony or cocktail hour. Our indoor recep...
Willow Heights Mansion
Morgan Hill, CA
Winery/Vineyard, Mansion, Private Estate, Ballrooms, Outdoor, Modern
Starting from $10,578 to $18,979 for 50 guests
From the moment your guests arrive at the Willow Heights Mansion they will know that it is one of the world's most enchanting settings. The Willow Heights Mansion is a unique oasis where friends and family can gather in a relaxed and private setting and enjoy the exclusive use of this private mansio...
Corinthian Grand Ballroom
San Jose, CA
Historic/Landmark Building, Event Center, Ballrooms, Vintage/Rustic
The Corinthian Grand Ballroom, Located in Downtown San Jose, is the premiere location for your wedding ceremony & reception. With our team of lighting, decorating, and catering partners – your event is sure to be amazing. The Corinthian Grand Ballroom is Silicon Valley's most elegant and historic pr...
Tsakopoulos Library Galleria
Sacramento, CA
Historic/Landmark Building, Museum/Gallery
Starting from $6,410 to $14,078 for 100 guests
Settled in downtown Sacramento, the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria opened in 1992 as a premier event space offering an unparalleled combination of style and space. A taste of history is experienced as the couple enter through the Old Foyer of the original 1918 Library building. The five-story atrium i...
Fairview Metropolitan
Oakland, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Golf Course, Outdoor
Starting from $5,837 to $9,870 for 50 guests
Our ceremony and receptions venue at Fairview Metropolitan overlooks the award winning rolling green hills of an Audubon Sanctuary. Conveniently located near the Oakland Airport and just minutes from the water, your wedding day exudes northern California elegance at Metropolitan. Be escorted down th...
The Meritage Resort and Spa
Napa, CA
Winery/Vineyard, Hotel/Resort, Ballrooms, Outdoor
Starting from $18,695 to $23,697 for 50 guests
Set against the rolling vineyards of California's Wine Country, The Meritage Resort and Spa illuminates with gracious hospitality, unrivaled luxury, culinary excellence, and a Napa Valley experience that you and your guests will never forget. Enjoy specialty cocktails by expert mixologists on the o...
Mountain House Estate
Cloverdale, CA
Private Estate, Barn/Farm/Ranch, Park/Garden, Mountain, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoor
Starting from $8,945 to $12,610 for 50 guests
Located in the beautiful northern California wine region, Mountain House Estate boasts gorgeous indoor and outdoor event spaces that will make your wedding shine. Prepare for your wedding in the the elegant and chic Oasis, with ravishing chandelier and comfy seating, and for your partner, we have Th...
Club Los Meganos
Brentwood, CA
Winery/Vineyard, Event Center, Private Club, Park/Garden, Outdoor
Starting from $10,836 to $21,713 for 50 guests
With breathtaking vistas of Mount Diablo and the surrounding vineyards, the Club Los Meganos venue is an impressive wedding location found in Brentwood, California. Whether it's an intimate affair or a blowout celebration, this venue's settings can accommodate the special day you have always envisio...
Brownstone Gardens
Oakley, CA
Event Center, Park/Garden, Outdoor
Starting from $10,118 to $21,578 for 75 guests
Located just outside downtown Oakley in Contra Costa County, Brownstone Gardens is an elegant venue with a unique outdoor garden setting that exudes a rarefied ambiance. With hundreds of new plants being added each year, the colors surrounding you will take your breath away. Welcome breezes rustle t...
Fairview Sonoma County
Rohnert Park, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Event Center, Golf Course, Park/Garden, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoor
Starting from $4,770 to $8,481 for 50 guests
Fairview Sonoma County gives your wedding guests unparalleled access to beautiful California wine country. Just over an hour north of the Golden Gate Bridge and less than 10 minutes from Santa Rosa, the Reception Hall provides an unforgettable setting for your special day. Walk down the aisle to say...
TPC Stonebrae Country Club
Hayward, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Golf Course, City/Skyline View, Ballrooms, Outdoor, Modern
Starting from $7,085 to $19,893 for 50 guests
Think breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay Area, clear and sunny skies, beautiful weather, and you've got TPC Stonebrae Country Club, tucked into the rolling hills of Hayward. The club is home to the golf course that hosts the Web.com Ellie Mae Classic. With its 75-mile wide view of the Bay, ...
The Citizen Hotel
Sacramento, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Historic/Landmark Building, Hotel/Resort, Ballrooms
Starting from $19,314 to $26,203 for 50 guests
Providing soon-to-be-couples with a unique combination of historic charm and sleek modern amenities, The Citizen Hotel brings a new kind of luxury wedding venue to downtown Sacramento. Known for being unexpectedly elegant, this stunning wedding ceremony and reception space is ideal for both local co...
Sequoyah Country Club
Oakland, CA
Private Club, Golf Course, Outdoor
Starting from $4,831 to $13,059 for 50 guests
Since 1913, the rolling hills and statuesque trees have provided a picturesque backdrop for the Sequoyah Country Club. With such stunning greens and elegant style, the venue has been a popular choice for weddings and celebrations of all types. The glorious Sequoyah Clubhouse, with its high beam ceil...
Gardener Ranch
Carmel Valley, CA
Barn/Farm/Ranch, Park/Garden, Mountain, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoor
Starting from $12,190 to $14,829 for 50 guests
Nestled along the pristine Carmel River banks, Gardener Ranch weaves an elegant, rustic atmosphere idyllic for outdoor weddings. The pale wooden fixtures and magical tree canopy produce a simple fairy-tale getaway, while the dependable sunshine and low humidity ensures a day to remember. The landsca...
Eagle Ridge by Wedgewood Weddings
Gilroy, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Private Club, Golf Course, Park/Garden, Ballrooms, Outdoor
Starting from $4,249 to $13,118 for 50 guests
In Gilroy, California is the elegant wedding venue Eagle Ridge by Wedding Weddings. This exquisite wedding venue in the Monterey Colonial style is an enchanting location for your wedding day. Exchange vows surrounded by slender cypress trees under the elegant white pergola. In the sunlight lounge wi...
Sequoia Mansion by Wedgewood Weddings
Placerville, CA
Historic/Landmark Building, Mansion, Private Estate, Ballrooms, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoor
Starting from $5,071 to $12,797 for 50 guests
Have your wedding at a unique estate that features a whimsical, Victorian exterior along with a modern, sophisticated interior! This quiet, secluded setting will amaze you in all directions. Enjoy immaculate features like a 19th-century fireplace, a charismatic parlor, a stately built-in bar, and tw...
White Horse Inn River Terrace
Three Rivers, CA
Event Center, Bed & Breakfast/Inn, Outdoor
Starting from $4,548 to $8,148 for 50 guests
The White Horse Inn River Terrace is nestled along the Kaweah River in Three Rivers. With its spectacular views and peaceful surroundings, this venue is a special place to celebrate your new life together. Along the River Terrace surrounded by nature's beauty is the perfect place to exchange your "I...
Hotel Nia, Autograph Collection
Menlo Park, CA
Hotel/Resort, Event Center, City/Skyline View, Ballrooms, Outdoor, Modern
Starting from $13,110 to $26,766 for 50 guests
Conveniently located in Menlo Park, California, Hotel Nia is the perfect place to host your upcoming wedding celebration! Part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, this upscale hotel offers delicious cuisine, unrivaled service, and over 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. Its Brilli...
Walnut Creek Marriott
Walnut Creek, CA
Hotel/Resort, Event Center, Ballrooms, Modern
Starting from $4,860 to $6,325 for 50 guests
Celebrate your once in a lifetime event at the Walnut Creek Marriott! Featuring 19,705 square feet of beautiful event space, including two elegant ballrooms, this upscale hotel can accommodate intimate gatherings, elaborate receptions, and everything in between. Invite up to 500 friends and family m...
Canyon View
San Ramon, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Event Center, Outdoor
Starting from $7,324 to $12,201 for 50 guests
The San Ramon venue is welcoming with neutral colors and hedges at the entrance. Inside, the neutral colors are offset by a white ceiling with dark, cherry colored wood beams that create parallel lines across the outside edge of the room. Perched on the hillside, large windows allow sweeping vistas ...
Orchard Creek Lodge
Lincoln, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Hotel/Resort, Bed & Breakfast/Inn, Outdoor
Starting from $5,849 to $15,102 for 100 guests
Create a celebration that is a reflection of you at Orchard Creek Lodge. Romantic with plenty of large open spaces, Orchard Creek Lodge offers a variety of settings for your ceremony and reception. If you prefer an elegant indoor ceremony with the soft lighting of chandeliers or an impressive recept...
Evergreen Lodge
Groveland, CA
Historic/Landmark Building, Hotel/Resort, Park/Garden, Bed & Breakfast/Inn, Mountain, Vintage/Rustic...
Starting from $10,144 to $18,510 for 120 guests
Described by Frommer's Guide as "The Classic Yosemite Experience," the Evergreen Lodge is an idyllic hideaway for couples seeking a fun, nature-oriented wedding in a warm and relaxed mountain setting. Just a few hours drive from the San Francisco Bay Area on the most direct route into Yosemite, the ...
Retreat to the Farm
Walnut Grove, CA
Winery/Vineyard, Private Estate, Barn/Farm/Ranch, Park/Garden, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoor
Starting from $8,529 to $11,413 for 50 guests
The Farm is a dreamy slice of California paradise, sitting on Grand Island in the San Francisco Bay Delta. The old-world farmhouse, extensive lawns, and long country lane speak to its Gold-Rush days, while the beautiful estate and farmland attest to the current function organic farm and vineyard. Th...
San Francisco Design Center Galleria
San Francisco, CA
Historic/Landmark Building, Event Center, Modern
Starting from $15,490 to $20,246 for 50 guests
Located in San Francisco's hip design district, the Galleria is known as one of the Bay Area's best places to celebrate. The venue features a spectacular four-story atrium that includes a retractable skylight, which opens to the stars. With its professional stage, exposed brick walls, hardwood dance...
Domenico Winery
San Carlos, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Winery/Vineyard, Event Center, Loft, Ballrooms
Starting from $9,943 to $22,718 for 50 guests
Located in the heart of the Bay Area on the San Francisco Peninsula, we offer the beauty and ambiance of a working winery without the drive to Napa or Sonoma. Our 7,500 square foot urban winery – complete with hundreds of wine barrels, a 30-foot black granite bar, and a 16-foot solid pine gatheri...
Red Barn Ranch
Hopland, CA
Barn/Farm/Ranch, Vintage/Rustic, Outdoor
Starting from $10,427 to $12,445 for 50 guests
This charming, family-run venue is nestled in the foothills south of Hopland, just a few miles from Highway 101. It sits on 100 acres of rolling hills dotted with centuries-old oak trees, and features a babbling creek, turtle pond, gardens, a small vineyard, and its postcard-perfect namesake red bar...
The Club at Pasadera
Monterey, CA
Hotel/Resort, Event Center, Private Club, Golf Course, Ballrooms, Outdoor
Starting from $9,644 to $19,092 for 50 guests
The romantic atmosphere at The Club at Pasadera fosters the ideal environment for a truly special moment in your lifetime. The ornate charm and elegant, old-world Spanish décor are paramount to the club's distinctive hacienda setting, whether it's for an intimate or large elaborate celebration. The ...
Aracely Cafe & Event Center
San Francisco, CA
Banquet Hall/Restaurant, Park/Garden, City/Skyline View, Outdoor
Starting from $6,464 to $15,743 for 50 guests
Located in arguably one of the most romantic destinations in San Francisco, Aracely Cafe rests serenely on Treasure Island. Both refined and casual, this wedding venue is the ideal site for a couple who wants to make their guests feel at home. Not too fancy, but still beautiful, the spacious venue e...
Saratoga Springs
Saratoga, CA
Park/Garden, Outdoor
Starting from $4,259 to $11,981 for 50 guests
Saratoga Springs offers a spectacular natural outdoor wedding venue. Fresh air, running water, soaring redwoods and mature vegetation provide a stunning backdrop for your unforgettable ceremony and reception. Nestled in the hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, just two miles from downtown Saratoga, th...
Walnut Creek Historical Society - Shadel...
Walnut Creek, CA
Museum/Gallery, Park/Garden, Outdoor
Starting from $2,349 to $6,195 for 50 guests
Let the quaint and charming aura of the Shadelands Ranch's grounds set the perfect atmosphere for your wedding! The beautifully maintained landscaping surrounds the historical Penniman house and the picturesque rosebush-surrounded gazebo provides a gorgeous, romantic setting for your outdoor wedding...
Granite Bay Golf Club
Granite Bay, CA
Private Club, Golf Course, Park/Garden, Ballrooms, Outdoor, Modern
Starting from $3,096 to $7,602 for 50 guests
Nestled between Roseville and Folsom, Granite Bay Golf Club is a hidden gem where country club sophistication and culinary excellence blend together to create an extraordinary venue that is unparalleled. Surrounded by a breathtakingly beautiful 18-hole golf course, Granite Bay offers the ameniti...


text:
Service Beyond Self: Empowering The Next Generation of Leaders
With your help, we empower:
- Active duty service members
- Veterans
- Military spouses
Thanks to you, Tillman Scholars are making an impact in the United States and around the world.
What makes a Tillman Scholar?
Tillman Scholars have served their country and believe their best years of service are ahead of them. They are committed to strengthening communities at home and around the world.
Scholars are chosen based on their:
- Service: Dedication to service beyond self in and out of uniform
- Scholarship: A lifelong learner, passionate about intellectual growth
- Humble Leadership: Selflessly committed to leading by example
- Impact: Determined to unite others and advance ideas that change the world
Tillman Scholars carry on Pat's legacy and are making an impact with effects that will ripple outwards for years to come.
"To err on the side of passion is human and right and the only way I'll live."
Every year, the Pat Tillman Foundation receives thousands of applications from remarkable service members, veterans and military spouses nationwide. We choose up to 60 individuals who are looking to change lives, one by one, on the ground.
Jonathan Yellowhair
Marine Corps
Working to develop an all-encompassing mental health trauma center directly on the Navajo Nation land.
Matt Rosebaugh
Creating a coalition of advocates who generate opportunity for the underserved and underprivileged populations of Columbus, Ohio through social ventures, entrepreneurship and community engagement.
Elizabeth Burgin
Military Spouse
Leading research and writing efforts to develop counselor-specific competencies for military mental health care and military-focused adaptations to evidence-based treatments, with a focus on play therapy.
The Tillman Scholar Network
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we made a $1.2 million lifetime commitment to the 2019 Class of Tillman Scholars. Sixty scholars were selected from a pool of approximately 2,300 applicants.
Tillman Scholars
Average GPA
Universities and Growing
Graduation Rate
"I will work to protect the most vulnerable people in society by upholding the rule of law and helping to rebuild fragile communities as they emerge from the snare of conflict."


text:
Dr. Priyadarshi Ranjan
UroSurgeon, Chandigarh
MBBS, MS, M.Ch
- Website : http://www.kidneysurgeon.in
Kidney Transplantation
Uro Oncology
- Kidney Cancer
- Kidney Stones
- Kidney Obstructions
- Laparoscopic Kidney Surgery
- Retroperitoneoscopic Kidney Surgery
- Laparoscopic Kidney Donor Surgery
- Endoscopic Kidney Surgery
MBBS, 1996, King George's Medical College, Lucknow, India
MS (Surgery), King George Medical University, Lucknow, India
M.Ch ( Urology), PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
Practice Information
Patient Experience
Your participation in the survey will help other patients make informed decisions. You will also be helping Dr. Priyadarshi Ranjan and his staff know how they are doing and how they can improve their services.
How was your experience with Dr. Priyadarshi Ranjan?
Help other patients, and let the doctor know how he's doing
Achievements & Contributions
- Thirty-five international publications and two books in Urology and Kidney Transplantation
- Urological Society of India- Life Member
- Indian Society of Organ Transplantation- Life Member
- Association of Surgeons of India- Life Member


text:
Numbers, Information and Complexityedited by
Ingo Althöfer
Friedrich-Schiller Universität Jena, Fakultät für Mathematik und Informatik, Germany
Ning Cai
School of Computing, National University of Singapore
Gunter Dueck
IBM Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
Levon Khachatrian
Fakultät Mathematik, Universität Bielefeld, Germany
Mark S. Pinsker
Institute for Problems of Information Transmission, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
Andras Sárkozy
Eotvos Loránd University, Dept. of Algebra and Number Theory, Budapest, Hungary
Ingo Wegener
Universität Dortmund, Germany
Zhen Zhang
Communications Science Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
Numbers, Information and Complexity is a collection of about 50 articles in honour of Rudolf Ahlswede. His main areas of research are represented in the three sections, `Numbers and Combinations', `Information Theory (Channels and Networks, Combinatorial and Algebraic Coding, Cryptology, with the related fields Data Compression, Entropy Theory, Symbolic Dynamics, Probability and Statistics)', and `Complexity'.
Special attention was paid to the interplay between the fields. Surveys on topics of current interest are included as well as new research results.
The book features surveys on Combinatorics about topics such as intersection
theorems, which are not yet covered in textbooks, several contributions
by leading experts in data compression, and relations to Natural Sciences
are discussed.
February 2000, 672 pp.


text:
If you're just tuning in, for the rest of the week I am sharing the work of 6 artists I chose to mutli-page feature as a co-curator of the new Curvy book releasing at the Semi Permanent conference this week. It was a very hard choice to narrow down many of the spectacular illustrator gals I know, but I hope you agree when I say I think I made the right choices (please share your comments below). Let me introduce you to Eirian Chapman -when choosing my artists I wanted to express the variety of different styles and mediums that female commercial artists work in, in the hope that young female illustrators could be inspired to step out of the girl drawing girl norm (of which yes I am guilty), and experiment with different subject matter and techniques. I admire Eirian for her bold use of colour and vector, the way she occasionally uses humour and sexuality in her work and also how hilarious she is in real life, unexpected with her quiet demeanor, but laugh out loud funny once she warms to you. Have a read of our interview below.
How did your career and life in art begin?
My first exposure to illustrations was through picture books as a child - the darker the theme the better. I liked unsolved-mysteries books with dodgy illustrations, mythology books accompanied by etchings and I especially loved Raymond Briggs graphic novels - When the Wind Blows and Fungus the Bogeyman. I was terrified I would wake up with a large boil on my neck and know that I had been visited in the night by a bogeyman (hopefully Fungus himself).
I enjoyed the experience of losing myself in the illustrations and I guess that's why I liked drawing. In terms of making it a career, I enrolled in the Communication Design degree at RMIT in Melbourne in the hopes of making a living from my drawing. I worked in a corporate design studio and left after three years to start my freelance career as a graphic artist.
What motivates and drives you to be creative?
Getting away from the computer, packing a tent in the car and driving to a national park always helps to put me back in the mood to be creative. Going for long walks and listening to music are a great way to get the creative juices flowing.
How do you come up with concepts for your work?
I'm interested in mythologies, characters and stories. Coming from a design background, everything I do involves a lot of brainstorming, researching and sketching before attempting the finished piece. All my works come from a desire to simplify shapes into almost logo-like symbols. Communication is paramount, but I like hidden messages.
What is one piece of advice you wish you were given?
Working as a commercial illustrator is not always about being creative. It's also about owning your own business and managing it well so that you are able to live off your work. Saving and budgeting is very important, as there will be periods when work is scarce.
Where do you see yourself creatively in the next 5 years? What sort of projects would you like to be working on?
I'm not a big fan of planning ahead. I prefer to let life take its course and see where it goes. If I end up living in a tree house with many pets and endless art supplies, I won't be disappointed.
In the future, living as a nomad tree lady, I hope to work on many large-scale pieces of work, painting murals on the walls of my tree house in bright colours to warn away enemies trying to steal my food supplies.
The Curvy book releases at Semi Permanent this week and can also be ordered online here


text:
Go Back
Go To Articles Directory Home Page
To get the current article, - See Below (at the bottom of the page) -.
For top news titles, see below.
Web sites and videos listed in this page are frequently updated.
If you find that this page is useful (quality of web sites, images and videos, ...), you can add it to your favorites.
Bookmark Page !
Being Prepared On The Mountain Bike Trail
Before you go mountain biking, be sure to bring along some standard items each time to avoid problems. It is essential that you have tools, supplies, food and water. Since you won't want to carry any extra weight, only take what you need. With careful planning you can be prepared with a minimum of items.
About the Author: For more articles on mountain bike maintenance and repair point your browser to www.mountain-bikes-biking.com


text:
STK Party Brunch II
September 13, 2016 by Shruti Shah
There's something about birthdays. You either love them or you hate them. I fall somewhere in between. My mood towards my birthday is directly correlated to the age I'm turning. This year, 29 was not on my mind. I stayed in town and decided to keep it intimate with my best gal pals. Since it fell on a Sunday, a party brunch only seemed natural. I read previously that HBIC Becca once celebrated her birthday at STK. So when STK graciously invited us in to try their revamped menu, I thought "Sure, why not?"
As soon we were seated, our server immediately poured four glasses of Prosecco without us even having to ask. He informed us there was a drag show that would begin later on. STK has a drag brunch with live performances and a DJ spinning beats on the fourth Sunday of each month. We just happened to be there for it. This, coupled with the bottomless drinks, made it sure to be an experience.
We ordered a few starters to share amongst the table. STK is known for its impressive meats, but half of our group was vegetarian and vegan. I took a few Snapchat selfies while waiting for our appetizers and was pleasantly surprised to discover that STK has its own geofilter. As I'm a Snapchat addict, this was the icing on the (birthday) cake for me! This is appropriate, as STK is certainly a destination. The fireplace, illuminated bar, and booths facing out into the restaurant provide a sexy backdrop.
First up, the fresh fruit board, granola, and chopped salad arrived first.The fruit board consisted of a mixture of melons and assorted berries. It was certainly fresh and hydrating to say the least. The granola was decent as well. The chopped salad was a solid option to start, as it's fairly light. Golden beets, green beans, carrots, and olives provided a nice color and variety against the greens. Unlike my outfit preferences, I prefer my salad under-dressed as opposed to overdressed. So, I was pleased to find the veggies weren't drowning in dressing.
Kara and Manisha tried the crispy rock shrimp. The deep fried shrimp looked beautiful and both gals agreed that this was a winner. Kara noted the crispiness was enjoyable and shrimp tasted fresh. Manisha thought the spicy sauce gave it a nice kick, too. I observed both of them fighting for the last bite.
We noticed the whole restaurant filling up and the music becoming louder. When we first walked in around noon, it was fairly desolate so the party was certainly about to begin. This meant we needed to pick up the pace on our drinks. You can add bottomless drinks to brunch for just $20 and switch between Prosecco, mimosas, Bellinis or Bloody Marys. We appreciated being able to change it up and switched to Bellini and Bloody Marys. Our server was attentive and made sure we were never with an empty glass throughout our meal.
Our brunch entrees came out at once. It was overwhelming to look at considering we were changing into our swimsuits after. The drag show was also starting. Periodically a drag queen would come out during our meal and channel a specific musical artist. It was remarkable and entertaining. The whole restaurant was captivated by the performances.
Since we were at STK, Kara had to go with the steak and eggs. She liked how the eggs were fluffy and light which complimented the steak nicely. It was cooked exactly the way she asked for it. I binged on her garlic fries which were addicting. I was also thankful that I didn't have to stop since I wasn't planning on kissing anyone.
Sonal, my adorable vegan friend, and I split the brioche French toast. I recently learned she cheats with pancakes and French toast—which contain eggs, for those non-vegans out there. I traded her my blueberries for her strawberries. I tend to discriminate against certain berries and blueberries are one of them. That said, the French toast was to die for. It was just sweet enough to balance my bittersweet coffee. It wasn't heavy and melted in your mouth.
While we didn't order the special brisket sandwich, the chef wanted us to try it so he sent it on over. I was only able to contribute to eating the fries. Both Kara and Manisha enjoyed the sandwich and said the brisket was cooked appropriately. The sandwich was served in the classic fashion, topped with shoestring style onion rings Kara described it as a flavor party in your mouth, with a great combination of textures.
We heard there was a mystery item on the menu—so of course we had to find out. Turns out it was a fried chicken funnel cake and our jaws dropped. This was one of their favorite dishes, and for good reason! The fried chicken was seasoned well and the funnel cake was an innovative twist compared to waffles. I snuck a piece of the funnel cake and it was delicious!
The dance floor opened up and our host called up the birthday guests to strut down a runway. I did my due diligence and struck a pose with my birthday counterparts. This certainly livened up the party even more. And I was happy to have some liquid courage. Lastly, my friends surprised me with a chocolate chip cookie concoction. The warm chocolate chip cookie was warm, moist, and served hot—and topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and complete with a candle.
Overall, this drag brunch at STK was a welcome change from the usual brunches in D.C. It didn't just feel like an occasion, but more of a celebration. It was a wonderful start to a fun-filled day.
The Bitches Say: A+ for fantastic food, a festive atmosphere, and exceptional service.
1250 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
STK serves brunch on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This restaurant has closed as of March 2017.


text:
Elliptical Machines – Best Fitness Equipment To Use
Doing workouts and exercises are one of the favorite activities of millions of people. If you are also one of them then you may know that there are various types of fitness equipment available in the market. All of these equipment or machines are not suitable for your needs but have their own importance. Most of the people prefer to choose the option of elliptical machines instead of other heavy or bulky machines. You can also buy this machine for the home use and there are lots of advantages that it can give you. You can find more information in wikipedia.
Choosing a bad quality machine is not good because it can also create some health-related issues in future or fall you into a troublesome situation. There are lots of risks present while using the bad quality machine and it can also affect your health.
Choose the right model
There are many people who are not paying attention while buying the elliptical machines from the market and this is not good. They should always put their best possible efforts for finding the best elliptical under 1000 that can suit their needs. Before going to look for the machines available in the market, people should consider their needs. With the help of this, they can know what machine is best for them and they can buy it and enjoy numerous benefits. These machines come in the variations of different sizes or features so you should check them all out to pick the right one.
Moving further, choosing a right model is also important and it will help you to do workouts in an easy manner. Seniors can also use this machine and lose weight, there are many other kinds of workouts that they can do with these machines and get success in attaining their fitness goals.


text:
Naperville, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/03/2014 -- Reportstack, provider of premium market research reports announces the addition of Total S.A., Company Intelligence Report market report to its offering
Total S.A., Company Intelligence Report
Total S.A. (Total) is an integrated oil and gas company, involved in multiple businesses such as the exploration, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), refining, marketing and the trading and shipping of crude oil and petroleum products. Total is also involved in power generation and renewable energy sectors and it holds equity stakes in coal mines. The companys business is divided into three segments; upstream, refining & chemicals and supply & marketing.
The upstream segment includes exploration and production (E&P) operations, primarily located in Africa (Nigeria, Angola, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Libya, Algeria and Cameroon), Asia/Far East (Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Brunei), North America (Canada and the US), the Middle East (Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Yemen, Oman, Iran and Syria), South America (Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Trinidad & Tobago and Colombia) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Russia). This segment also includes the gas and power division of the company, which handles the transport, trading and marketing activities for natural gas, LNG and electricity. Total is engaged in the shipping and trading of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), production, trading and marketing of coal and generation of power from power plants based on natural gas/renewable energy. It is also involved in various research and development (R&D) activities for alternate energy sources, such as solar energy, biofuels, nuclear energy, energy storage, carbon capture/storage and gas technologies.
- Key Highlights: This section provides detailed analysis on the companys overall oil and gas value chain, new projects, growth opportunities, new ventures, assets performance, Capex funding, geographical results of oil and gas operations.
- Goals and Strategies: This section provides the upcoming goals and strategies of the company. The section mainly goals and strategies followed by the company in order to meet its upcoming goals.
- SWOT: The reports SWOT section provides the internal strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of company to reflect its strategic positions in the market.
- Production and Development Overview: This section highlights the companys crude oil and natural gas production forecast from its legacy and upcoming assets by region and commodity mix for next five years. The report also covers the detailed information and analysis on the companys producing and development assets.
- Exploration: This section includes detailed explanation and analysis on the companys exploration assets resulted due to new discoveries, new drilling and other activities.
- M&A trends: This section mainly provides information and analysis on the companys recent assets transactions, joint ventures, acquisition, and divestment activities during the last one year. This section highlights the companys status as a buyer or seller during the analyzed period.
- Financial Forecast and Valuation: This section highlights the detailed financial statement forecast for next five years. With the financial statement forecast, this section also provides intrinsic value of the company by using Net Asset Valuation method.
- Peer Group Analysis: This section compares the companys performance with its peer group on the basis of share prices, financial ratios, operational and financial parameters and other related parameters.
- Financial and Operational Metrics: This section covers the companys historical performance on several financial and operational parameters such as Production and Reserves, Reserves Replacement, Costs Incurred, Acreage, Wells, F&D Costs, Oil and Gas Revenue and Expenses etc.
Reasons to buy
The report will enhance the decision-making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner. It will allow you to -
- Provide detailed analysis to those who are interested in knowing the companies existing and future business strategies.
- Provide in-depth analysis on the companies E&P profiles along with the exploration and M&A updates.
- Provide valuable insights to those who are tracking oil and gas markets and wants to know the intrinsic value of the companies.
- Use the analysis for strategy and planning, M&A identifications, and competitor analysis.
To view the table of contents for this market research report please visit
Roger Campbell
United States
Ph: 888-789-6604