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Missouri Travel Guides
Missouri spotlight
Staying in Kansas City - From Luxury Hotels to Cost-Effective Inns
Accommodation for visitors to Kansas City is mainly provided by modern chain hotels. You'll find spacious, elegant options in and around the centre of the city, close to major attractions like 18th & Vine District and Country Club Plaza. You won't be as close to the action if you cross over into Kansas, but you'll have several budget-friendly chains to choose from.View full guide
Where to Stay in Branson - From Downtown Hotels to Lakeside Luxury
Whether it's a cozy cabin in the woods, a room in the heart of the city, or a relaxing spot near the water, Branson provides a wide range of options. Lakeside resorts afford Ozark Mountain views and close proximity to the area's many water sport activities, while accommodations along the main strip are a great choice if you're looking to stay close to the city's shows and attractions.
Shopping in Kansas City - From Historic Malls to Trendy Districts
You'll be able to see how sophistication and a Midwestern sensibility coexist in Kansas City by doing a little shopping. There are plenty of neighbourhoods where you can browse through high-end fashion and accessories stores stocked with designer labels. These upscale blocks are balanced by historic districts which are now hubs for people looking for quirky boutiques and local goods.
Exploring Kansas City - Elegant Fountains, Live Music, and Smoky Barbecue
Kansas City is practically built for fans of American music and cuisine. But the sounds of jazz and the taste of barbecue are far from the city's only sources of intrigue. A drive along one of KC's wide boulevards could lead you to a family-friendly museum, a boutique-lined shopping district, or past elaborate fountains.
Jazz, Barbecue, and Culture - Your Guide to Kansas City, the Paris of the Plains
Kansas City is "America's heartland" at its most sophisticated. It's a city of wide boulevards and majestic fountains. Foodies are lured here by the call of the city's smoky, sauce-slathered barbecue. Music lovers come to catch the be-bopping rhythms of its legendary jazz scene. Families also flock to KC, thanks to the city's commitment to providing culture and fun for all ages.
Historic Springfield Combines Old World Charm With Outdoor Excitement
Springfield, a gateway to Missouri's rugged Ozark Mountains, is a vibrant hub that offers cosmopolitan culture in a warm, small town environment. theatre productions and art galleries are plentiful, as are music festivals - October's Jazz & Roots Fest is a must. You can swim, kayak, and raft in crystal clear lakes, while over 7,500 miles of shoreline make fishing or sunbathing an ideal afternoon pursuit.
Shopping in Branson - Original Rustic Finds and Southern Fashion
Branson's retail scene has its fair share of larger retailers and malls, but handicrafts made by local artisans make a strong showing as well. If you're on the lookout for imported brand name fashions, outdoor gear and sporting equipment, or a distinctive piece of jewelry created by a seasoned artist, this Ozark Mountains destination has got you covered.
Branson's Down-Home Star Attractions - Big Shows and The Great Outdoors
Known for its family-friendly entertainment, Branson offers visitors an impressive variety of ways to have fun, from catching a lively variety show to zip lining over verdant cliffs. The Ozark Mountain city is home to more than 50 theatres that stage live music and comedy, as well as theme parks, museums, and outdoor activities that take advantage of the area's natural splendor.
Live Music, Woodland and Lakes - A City Guide to Branson
Often considered a mini version of Las Vegas with none of the decadence, Branson prides itself on its family-focused entertainment and natural beauty. The musicians who have opened their own namesake theatres here helped grow this small Ozark Mountain city into the tourist destination it is today, while the city's gorgeous wooded areas and lakes add to its family-friendly appeal.
Jazz Clubs, Casinos, and Bars - A Look at Kansas City's Nightlife
Nightlife in Kansas City is an intriguing mix of history, legendary music, and modern-day revelry. You'll find plenty of after-dark activities to enjoy all over the city. From grooving to the sounds of live bebop and jazz to pursuing Lady Luck at a bank of slot machines, you won't find it difficult to fill your evenings.
Family Fun in Kansas City - Farm Animals, Parks, and Interactive Museums
Family is a big deal in the Kansas City area and there are plenty of wholesome activities on offer alongside its jazz clubs, barbecue restaurants, and high-end shopping experiences. Interactive science exhibits, exhilarating roller coasters, and close encounters with the animal kingdom provide lots of fun for little ones in the city and its neighbouring suburbs.
Arts and Culture in Kansas City - From Contemporary Galleries to Military Museums
One of the reasons Kansas City is known as "The Paris of the Plains" is because its cultural scene is so strong. The city's elaborately sculpted fountains are a public symbol of its appreciation for the arts. You can also explore acclaimed museums devoted to military history, admire modern art, and wander through hip neighbourhoods with independent galleries.
Nightlife and Entertainment in Branson - Music Lounges, Sports Bars, and Movie Theaters
Considering its predisposition for family-friendly entertainment, it may come as a surprise that Branson's nightlife options for grownups are varied and exciting. Night owls can enjoy the city's watering holes where cocktails and beers are the perfect accompaniment to live music and dancing. You can also hit up a karaoke bar or opt for a visual thrill ride at one of the city's modern movie theatres.
From Theater Lights to Natural Sights - Branson Is Fun For the Family
Branson offers a virtual embarrassment of family-friendly fun that will thrill members of all generations. As well as its lineup of musical performances geared towards kids, you can choose from spending the afternoon at an amusement or water park, museum, or zoo. To top it all off, its diverse landscape offers scores of activities for family members of all ages and activity levels on area lakes and wooded trails.
Branson Arts and Culture - Live Music, Museums, and Spiritual Sites
Music is the cornerstone of Branson, and its more than 50 theatres prove it. All along the strip, music halls beckon visitors with bright signs and world-class acts. The city's myriad museums celebrate both American history and pop culture, while Branson's deep religious roots are reflected in spiritual venues that offer solace as well as architectural magnificence.
Barbecue, Burnt Ends, and Beyond - Dining Out in Kansas City
Foodies from all over the world come to Kansas City for a taste of its legendary barbecue. The city is well-prepared for this massive influx of meat eaters - there are about 90 eateries devoted to the cuisine, not including suburban restaurants. If you want a break from barbecue, neighbourhoods like downtown and Country Club Plaza offer steakhouses and upscale restaurants.
Where to Eat in Branson - From Barbecue to Fine Dining
For a small city, Branson has more than its fair share of restaurants. Dining choices abound, ranging from well-known national chains to family-run favorites that specialize in local dishes. Visitors can expect to find many casual eateries that cater to large groups, as well as fancier fare, with prices to match, in romantic locales.
Travel Tips - Enjoy Midwestern hospitality on your Kansas City Vacation
Kansas City's allure as a travel destination tends to be linked to its groundbreaking jazz music and mouthwatering barbecue. Visitors who come to KC for food and music will discover the city's passion for public art and beauty too, especially as they make their way downtown. They'll also experience a pleasant dose of Midwestern hospitality.
Useful Travel Tips - A Guide to Visiting Branson
Branson, a small city in southern Missouri's Ozark Mountains, offers an abundance of attractions including a daily lineup of live music entertainment, amusement and water parks, and outdoor activities on the area's lakes and trails. A decidedly family-friendly destination, tourists are openly welcomed and appreciated by Branson's hospitality and service industry professionals. If you're travelling with children, look out for discounted tickets for families at area attractions.
A St. Louis travel guide – children's museums and late-night blues at the gateway to the American West
Begin your St. Louis vacation beneath the iconic Gateway Arch and discover a diverse city of Lewis and Clark, beer brewing, inexpensive family attractions and art of every ilk. Book a St. Louis hotel and let the adventure begin.
Where to Stay in St. Louis – a neighborhood guide
St. Louis has character and style in spades, and that's reflected in its diverse districts and its range of hotels. From glittering palaces on the vibrant riverside area of Downtown, to budget hotels in the busy commercial district of Westport, St. Louis has something for every budget. Just like its shopping scene, it also has a good proportion of independent hotels to rival the big names, so enjoy finding your spot in this exuberant city.
St. Louis Shopping Guide – where and what to shop and buy
Shopping in St. Louis is a constantly surprising experience. For market lovers and vintage hunters, the whole city is a playground of independent shops, creative collectives, and arty boutiques. Big brands and top designer labels can be found too, but generally they're kept safely contained in the large, glitzy malls, while the streets of St. Louis are wild with specialty shops and start-ups. Indulge your curiosity and come bargain hunting in this feisty city.
What to See and Do in St. Louis – a guide to notable attractions and landmarks
Beneath the grandeur of Gateway Arch, St. Louis is a hugely attractive and culturally diverse city. It's proud of its frontier heritage, but playful with its museums. It's a passionate sports city and an old romantic. Look at St. Louis from a different angle, and a new facet sparkles. Best of all, many of its top attractions are free or cheap to visit, so you can have a packed city break on a small budget.
Where to Eat in St. Louis – a food and dining guide
A cuisine built on soul food and heavily influenced by the dishes early immigrants from Italy and Asia brought with them, St Louis sure tastes good. Neighborhoods are practically marked out by the dishes they serve up – The Hill is pure-blood Italian, while South Grand is a melting pot of ethnic restaurants, and Midtown is Midwestern comfort food. Forget the diet, loosen your belt and get ready to try all of St Louis' smoking flavors.
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A few weeks ago I wrote about my experience using an HP Mini netbook - well in this follow up article describes how I reduced the power consumption on this device with some fairly basic steps.
I started from a fresh clean install of Ubuntu Karmic 9.10 (32 bit) and pulled in all the latest updates. I then installed powertop using:
apt-get install powertop
Then I unplugged the power and let powertop run for 10 minutes to settle in and then noted that ACPI power estimate was ~13.0W.
My first saving was to totally disable Bluetooth - wireless power savings are a good way of saving power. I don't use Bluetooth at all and to save memory from the driver being loaded I blacklisted the btusb module by adding btusb to /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf (this is rather a heavy handed approach!). I then rebooted and re-measured the power consumption - down to 9.7W.
My next tweak was to enable laptop mode. To do this, edit /etc/default/acpi-support and set ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE=true. Not sure if this is a big win for devices with SSD like my netbook, I believe one will see a bigger power saving with HDD based devices using this setting.
I noted that powertop was informing me to use usbcore.autosuspend=1 and disable hal polling, so I'd thought I'd follow it's wisdom and make these tweaks.
I edited /etc/default/grub and changed the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT setting by adding usbcore.autosuspend=1, and then ran sudo update-grub to update /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
Next I ran:
sudo hal-disable-polling --device /dev/sdb
..for some reason /dev/sdb was being polled and I don't require this overhead for some auto sensing functionality.
I rebooted and remeasured the power consumption - down to 8.7W. Not bad.
Next I totally disabled compiz and turned my display brightness down - this saved 0.3W, bringing the the system down to a reasonable 8.4W. I'm not sure if the compiz savings were much, but if I can save the GPU work by turning off compositing then that must save some power.
My final tweak was to disable the Gnome terminal cursor from flashing - this saves 2 wakeups a second (not much!). To disable the cursor blink for the Default profile I ran gconf-editor and set /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/cursor_blink_mode to off. This saving is negligible, but makes me feel good to know I've saved two wakeups a second :-)
So now my machine was in a usable state, and down to 8.4W. I could tweak my access point to reduce the number of beacon intervals to save Wifi wakeups, but that's going a little too far, even for me! I then wondered much power Wifi was using, so I disabled it and after 15 minutes my system dropped down to 7.3W. This is good to know but a little pointless for my normal work pattern when I need net access - it is a netbook after all!
I'm sure I can save a little more power, but for now it's a good win for a little amount of work. I'm open to any suggestions on how to save more power. Please let me know!

subset: commoncrawl


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The government's foreclosure relief program just isn't working.
That was the assessment Thursday of two reports from government watchdogs and a panel of witnesses at a congressional hearing trying to find out why the Obama administration is falling far short of its goal of preventing millions of Americans from losing their homes.
Treasury officials at the hearing acknowledged problems in the year-old mortgage-modification program and announced changes designed to address issues that have limited its effectiveness. Only 170,000 homeowners have completed the process to get their monthly payments reduced out of 1.1 million who began it over the past year.
A failure of the government's latest effort to stem the tide of foreclosures would threaten more than the roughly 8 million homeowners at risk of losing their homes in the next two years, according to John Taylor, president of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.
"If we have another 8 million homes to go into foreclosure it will have a devastating effect on our economy, and job losses will continue to rise," Taylor told the House Committee of Government Oversight and Reform.
Three years after the housing bubble burst, the number of homeowners falling behind on their mortgages continues to rise. A separate report Thursday from U.S. banking regulators showed that the number of seriously delinquent mortgages jumped in the fourth quarter, led by a sharp increase among the most creditworthy borrowers. Some 13.6 percent of all homeowners with mortgages — more than one in seven — are behind in their payments, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. It was the seventh consecutive quarterly rise.
A Treasury official at Thursday's hearing acknowledged that the government's Home Affordable Modification Program had encountered a series of unforeseen roadblocks. But he also announced changes designed to speed the modification of loans to more affordable terms.
"We've been learning as we went along," said Assistant Treasury Secretary Herbert Allison Jr. "We want to continue to improve this program."
The HAMP program is designed to head off foreclosures by lowering borrowers' monthly payments through a series of voluntary concessions from lenders. Guidelines call for cutting mortgage rates to as little as 2 percent for five years, with the difference subsidized by the government, and extending the loan's term to 40 years. More than 100 lenders have agreed to follow the guidelines, but the decision to modify an individual loan is entirely up to the lender or investors holding the mortgage.
The program has been riddled with problems from the beginning, drawing fire from homeowners, housing counselors, consumer advocates and attorneys working with borrowers. Many report long wait times getting through to lenders, multiple requests for paperwork, lost documents and little or no explanation when applications are denied.
The Treasury also said it will make changes in response to one of the most frustrating complaints. In many cases, lenders are moving to foreclose on a property — even after homeowners get approved for loan modification.
"The new guidelines will make clear that if the homeowner enters into a fully verified modification plan, all pending foreclosure actions must be stopped," Allison told the congressional panel.
But such changes have been a major source of "confusion and delay," according to a report from Neil Barofsky, the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, who testified Thursday. He criticized the Treasury for not setting clear targets for how many homeowners are expected to get help under the $75 billion program.
"We believe it is unacceptable that one year into the program Treasury has yet to identify its goals," he said.
The program also has yet to tackle the issue of millions of homeowners who have second mortgages that must also be modified to make their first mortgage affordable. A year into the program, those guidelines still have not been established, according to Gene Dodaro, acting comptroller general of the Government Accountability Office, which issued a report Thursday critical of HAMP.
"A lot of program details aren't very clear yet," Dodaro told the panel. "Until the details are established (mortgage) servicers are going to be reluctant, understandably, to sign up for the program."
Housing counselors and attorneys say those servicers — companies that handle mortgage payments on behalf of lenders — have been slow to add enough staff to cope with the flood of calls and mail from distressed homeowners. Allison acknowledged the bottleneck.
"I'm not cutting them any slack but they've had to get up to speed and they've had teething problems along the way," he said. "All of us know we have more to do, and they have more to do."
Members of the panel told of constituents who have faced numerous hurdles trying to get their mortgages modified. Reps. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., and Diane Watson, D-Calif., expressed concerns about what they said was a disproportionately higher foreclosure rate for African-Americans than for whites.
"We have a dual system of mortgage finance in this country — one for whites and one for blacks," Taylor said. "Black and brown communities were targeted by subprime lenders after banks had closed their branches in those."
Allison said the current disparity in foreclosure rates between blacks and whites is a reflection of "widespread predatory lending practices during the the mid-part of the decade."
"The damage already exists," he said. "And we want to make sure that in our program there is no discrimination as people are considered for modifications."
Pressed for details about what measures are being taken, Allison said the Treasury is collecting data on the modification program and will "confront servicers" if they are discriminating against homeowners.
Despite the changes, Dodaro told the panel Congress should "explore some other alternatives." But it will also have to consider how to continue to work with families who have already signed up with the HAMP program.
"You have 800,000 people in trial modifications that have to be dealt with equitably," Dodaro said.
But members of the the panel also noted the risk of continuing to promote a program that is falling short of its goals.
"We are ourselves setting up for failure," said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif. "The program doesn't work."


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A resident of the Kidane Mehret Children's Home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, studies.
(photo: John E. Kozar)
It's a fair question any donor might ask: "Where does my money go?" Well, this Friday, we offer a few answers. Here are five things that happen when you give to CNEWA:
Your gift ends up on the table of a family fleeing the violence of Syria.
About 240 Christian families have fled the embattled city of Homs, as the situation deteriorates by the day. A parish priest and religious sisters are sheltering them away from the violence. But for as little as $108, @VVVV-1 — aid that offers food and medicine to people in dire need right now.
It ends up helping support a sister in India.
Maybe she's a novice, prayerfully awaiting her final vows. Maybe she's working with orphans and needs textbooks or supplies. A gift from you will go into her hands, and be an investment in a more hope-filled future. In 2011, your generous gifts sponsored the formation of 507 novices studying in India! And for the next 60 days, one of our benefactors has agreed to match any gifts to sisters, dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000. Such a deal!
It will give schoolbooks and a warm meal to a child orphaned by AIDS.
Countless children have been left abandoned or alone by disease or war. CNEWA helps provide them with hope, and a future. Maybe it's medical care. Maybe it's food or shelter. Whatever the circumstances, @VVVV-2
It helps bring an end to conflict by actually getting people to talk to one another.
Part of CNEWA's mandate by the Holy Father is to encourage ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Your gift can support local churches in CNEWA's world, bolstering their good works, building bridges and fostering understanding and closer ties with all believers.
Maybe best of all: somebody, somewhere, will pray for you.
And who doesn't need prayers? All the people you help, and even the Holy Father himself, will raise grateful prayers to God for you. Also, on Christmas Eve, Msgr. John E. Kozar, CNEWA's president, will travel to Bethlehem on your behalf and celebrate Midnight Mass at the Basilica of the Nativity for your special intentions.
Giving to CNEWA is an investment in a better, more peaceful world. We connect you to your brothers and sisters in need. Together, we build the church, alleviate poverty, encourage dialogue, affirm human dignity and inspire hope.


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What exactly is WAR?
Let me begin by stating that I do not believe that Wins Above Replacement is a be-all and end-all statistic. I do, however, believe that along with OPS+, it is the single best measurement of a player's value and performance, taking into account batting, baserunning, and defense. The following will examine how WAR is calculated to help determine its importance in making baseball decisions – whether they be in the front office of a MLB club or your high school pal's fantasy keeper league.
WAR is statistical formula made up of several variables which churns out a single number to represent a player's value to his team. The exact formula for WAR varies, as there are two main versions used – Baseball-Reference WAR (rWAR) and FanGraphs' WAR (fWAR). In our case, we'll examine Baseball-Reference.com WAR. The key to WAR is runs; Runs Above Average (RAA) is converted to Wins Above Average via the PythagenPat win-loss estimator. More often than not ten runs equates to one win, however, some small variations may occur. But before your head starts spinning, remember that wins are wins. A club's total WAR, when adjusted for the replacement level, will closely mimic the actual win total of the team.
But what exactly is a replacement? Contrary to popular belief, the term replacement does not refer to your average Major Leaguer. Instead, it attempts to encapsulate a player stuck in baseball limbo – somewhere between AAA and the fictitious AAAA, not quite ready for The Show. According to Baseball-Reference, "Average players are relatively rare and can be expensive to acquire. Average players don't make the league minimum." A replacement player is just that – a stop gag. Each offseason teams spend millions on over-priced 'average' players. When speaking of WAR, the comparison is between Player X and the common, readily-available minor league journeyman. Replacement level equates to a .320 winning percentage. The 875 wins above replacement each year in the MLB [30 x 162 x (.500-.320)] are distributed between pitchers and position players. In conjunction with free agent salaries from the past four years, 41% of the runs are given to pitchers; hitters subsequently receive 59%. Over 650 plate appearances, players replacing league-average starters would deduct twenty runs from their team; these runs are known as the Replacement Level multiplier. For further comparison, a team comprised strictly of replacement players would win approximately 52 games in the regular season. This factor is adjusted for each league, as the AL has defeated the NL during Interleague play in eight consecutive seasons dating back to 2004.
Defense plays a large role in WAR, so naturally the statistic is calculated differently for position players and pitchers. First, let's look at Position Player WAR. For fielders, WAR consists of batting runs, baserunning runs, fielding runs, runs added/lost due to grounding into double plays, and positional adjustments. Each category is extremely comprehensive. Batting runs account for pre-DH seasons, estimated caught stealing totals, infield singles, strikeouts, Reached On Error, and more. Baserunning runs are more than just SB and CS; getting from 1st to 3rd on a single, scoring on a grounder, tagging up, and other key baserunning occurrences all factor in. Perhaps the most complicated and debated aspect of WAR is the value of fielding. I'm of the belief that defense is half the game, but others disagree.
Since its development in 2003, Baseball Info Solutions Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) has been the default measurement for fielding runs. For seasons prior to '03 (where observational data is non-existant), WAR used Sean Smith's Total Zone Rating (TZR). However DRS has become "the most sophisticated public system available," according to Baseball-Reference. Even baseball purists must appreciate the breadth and scope of DRS, which factors in dozens of potential plays (blocking a ball in the dirt, robbing a homerun, misplaying the outfield wall…) as well as a fielder's range based on batted ball velocity, an outfielder's arm strength based on the number of runners he allowed to advance, an infielders double play conversion rate, fielding success on bunts, stolen base conversion rate, and even pitch framing and game management for catchers. An overlooked factor of WAR is GIDP, or Grounded Into Double Play. Left-handed hitters such as Ichiro can fly out of the batter's box and be half-way down the line in the blink of an eye. This gives lefties a decidedly large advantage over right-handed hitters. Beating out a potential double play takes skill and hustle. On average, the difference between avoiding and grounding into a double play is .44 runs (Baseball-Reference).
Finally, we reach positional adjustments. Teams are willing to sacrifice offense at key defensive positions such as shortstop and catcher, as demonstrated by this chart. To level the playing field, rWAR adds/subtracts runs based on your primary position. Catchers receive the biggest boost, earning ten runs, or roughly one win, per 1,350 innings played (9 innings multiplied by 150 games). On the contrary, a Designated Hitter sees fifteen runs disappear from his WAR due to his lack of defending. Shortstops are awarded 7.5 runs while second basemen only gain three. Despite corner outfielders subtracting 7.5, center fielders claim an extra 2.5 runs. On the corners of the diamond, third basemen add two runs while first basemen are helplessly left watching a full victory vanish from their WAR. Not fair you say? Statistics would say otherwise.
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Calculating Pitcher WAR can be just as, if not more, complex than Position Player WAR. Despite the simplicity of Runs Allowed and Innings Pitched, Pitcher WAR becomes complicated when trying to determine how an average pitcher would handle certain situations. One key which calls for adjustments is the level of opposition. Remember that Giants' pitchers never had to face Barry Bonds the year he amassed a ridiculous .609 On-Base Percentage. Interleague play muddles up the conversation even more, as away games are not counted. Baseball-Reference believes that "including nine games the Red Sox don't have a DH will skew their offensive averages lower when most pitchers are facing them with a DH." Makes sense to me, so I'll allow it.
This brings us to Defense-Independent Pitching Stats, more commonly known as DIPS. Within this statistic lies yet another heated debate. Should pitchers be punished for defensive errors made by their teammates? WAR is attempting to "measure the value of the recorded performance–not it's repeatability," so Baseball-Reference.com does take into account defense in some ways. Relievers and starters have significantly different ERA's in today's game, causing rWAR to adjust accordingly. Bullpen relievers became a vital part of game management in the 1960's. From 1960-1973, rWAR sets a difference of .0583 runs/game less given up by relievers. From '74 on, when managers started utilizing their 'pens in a more modern fashion, the difference increases to .1125 runs/game. Also taken into account are park factors – vital for pitchers playing in the odd-ball NL West, a division with some of the very best and worst hitter's parks in the league. Park factors are calculated using data from the three previous seasons. It is generally accepted that late innings have a higher impact on the outcome of a ballgame. To account for this a leverage multiplier is used. The average leverage is 1.0, however closers often approach averages of 2.0, while mop-up guys might check in at 0.7. This metric "is applied only for relief innings and the leverage we use in the leverage at the beginning of the pitcher's outing. This way a bad pitcher can't bump up his leverage by walking the bases loaded and striking out the side every time" (Baseball-Reference).
Complex enough for you? WAR attempts to leave no stone unturned, that's why to me it's the best measure of a player's value.
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Still confused? Click here for a comparison chart on the different versions of WAR. Also, check out the all-time career leaders for WAR.
This post is written in honor of my roommate and great friend, Lucas Gilles, the biggest anti-WAR advocate I know.


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Please fill in the form below and we will contact you to arrange your first visit to the school.
I would like to arrange an appointment to visit the school, meet the school director and have my child's level of English assessed.
Samu started attending ESB 6 months ago. He was a complete beginner at the time. Now he speaks in sentences and has a vocabulary of several hundred words. In six months he's made incredible progress, while also having fun and making new friends.
Orsolya (mother of Samu)
"Our daughter was a little shy when joining ESB, having had very basic English – but she liked the classes from the first moment. After 5 months she is making steady progress and starts to be able to express herself. ESB seems to create good motivation for them and the various activities built around the themes covered keep the children's interest."
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Hi everyone, my name is Denise and I live in Johannesburg, South Africa with my husband Andre. I work as an office manager and play action netball. I started scrapbooking in High School and my crafting evolved into altered items when I started making "keepsake boxes" as gifts for baby showers and birthdays. I find it very satisfying to present handmade gifts to friends and family. My creativity often gets boosted by my best friend, Lariska, who is a graphic designer. We craft together when possible and often 2 brains are better than one.
When I start a project the end result is very often quite removed from the original idea – mostly resulting in a better finished project. This is partially due to the fact that I don't always have a lot of time to craft so the ideas linger for a while before becoming reality.
I love making decorations with a Christmas theme and using different techniques. I am a big fan of Tim Holtz and all his products, ideas and techniques.
My entry in the "With This Ring Challenge" was pure coincidence as the item was a gift for a friend's bachelorette party. I was so surprised and delighted to be chosen as the challenge winner!!
When I received the challenge theme I was unsure what I would create as I don't really read much. I then got the idea to create a "Library". This soon evolved into a themed library from one of my old time favourite Disney movies, Beauty and the Beast. We went to watch the remake earlier this year and I absolutely loved it.
So, herewith my Beauty and the Beast library:
I found an old book to use as a base for my project and glued the book together with multi medium. I then started with the elements for the project.
1. I began by cutting the pieces of the Luminary die and one of the pediments from a heavy watercolour paper.
2. Colour all the pieces with a mixture of Distress Oxide, Ink and Paint.
3. Coloured pieces.
4. Ink edges of all pieces with Pumice Stone DI and lightly with Faded Jeans DO.
5. I gathered supplies to start making embellishments to represent Cogsworth and Lumiere.
6. I drew the body part for the Cogsworth, then painted and cut out the chipboard piece.
7. For Lumiere I made 'candlesticks' from toothpicks and some hot glue which I then painted and added a teardrop shape gem on a piece of thin wire. I painted these with white and pearl paints.
8. Mini books: A. Make "book covers" from scrap pieces of cardboard covered with paper and cut paper to fill the "books" with. B. I added titles to the mini books with silver ink and stamps that had appropriate text. C. Some more detail was added by sticking nail art decals to the book covers.
9. I used a small metal trinket and some wire to create a hand mirror. This was painted silver and a piece of mirror board inserted to create the mirror effect.
10. I wanted to add some pink to the rose for the "floating rose" so I used Seedless Preserves and Candied Apple DO for added effect.
11. Die cut the medium rose from the Tim Holtz Thinlits set. Adhere a piece clear jewelery thread to the edge. Roll the rose with a quilling tool and glue. Set aside to dry.
12. I coloured a piece of soft thick wire with alcohol inks for the stem.
13. The "stem" was attached to the rose bud with glossy accents and a small leaf added to the stem. I glued the jewelery thread into a small clear bead and with glossy accents adhered the bead to the top of the glass dome. Let this sit upside down to dry.
14. Cut 2 pieces of stone from the Mixed Media die.
15. Colour with DS to get a stone effect.
16. Adhere the die cut pieces to a piece of kraft paper with multi medium and sprinkle distress embossing powder (Pumice stone) over wet multi medium. Leave to dry completely. Once dry, shake off excess powder and heat set. Before adhering this to the base I coloured the edges with DC.
17. I used the largest banner from the banner thinlits set and aged it with DI, DO and DS.
18. Added my sentiment with rub-ons and stamps.
19. Add the words LIBRARY to the pediment with sticky rub ons and gold foil.
20. Stamp a flourish with DI and DO on the underside of the roof pieces.
21. Cut a piece of kraft paper slightly smaller than the book to make the base piece. A. I scraped gesso over and let it dry. B. Then added stenciling with DP and coated with Distress Crazing medium, set aside to dry. C. Once dry add DC to the panel blending with fingertip. Distress edges and adhere to book base.
22. A. I had printed 2 stained glass images onto acetate and coloured the images with Alcohol Inks. B. I then added Diamond Dust glitter to the back of the acetate with double sided tape to create a textured stained glass look. C. The back window of the luminary was stamped with a shattered glass stamp and heat embossed, I added some frosted vinyl behind the acetate and rubbed white DC over the image.
23. A. Adhere the panels of the luminary together with the tab on the long edge. Use a glue stick to add gold foiling randomly to all the pieces including the roof. B. Turn the panel pieces over to adhere the windows into the openings. I printed a scene from the movie showing the library on metallic vellum and adhered this with a curve to create depth in the luminary. C. Finish the assembly by adhering all the tabs of the pieces together to create the luminary base.
24. I like to add some more interest to the roof of this structure by using pearls between the roof and the main structure. A. Pierce holes with a hole piercer in the corners of the main structure. B. Also pierce holes in the corners of the roof piece and insert a decorative pin (these were white, I coloured them with alcohol ink) from the top through the roof structure, add some glossy accents to help keep this in place. C. Then add a larger bead/pearl to the bottom of the roof structure, again using some glossy accents to keep this in place. You would need to measure the space available for the pin to go into the structure and cut the excess of the pin off. Push the pins through the holes of the main structure, securing with glossy accents. D. Add the pediment to the front of the luminary.
25. A & B. I coloured white seam binding with a mixture of DS and DP. The ribbon was crinkled and left to dry, I made a bow, adding some gold string and tulle. C. This was adhered to the centre of the roof. 26. Then assembly started, I added the stone piece on the kraft base. I glued down the inside base of the luminary after finding the position of the main structure (some stenciling was added to this piece to flow from the image used in the window). The books were placed to the right of the structure position.
27. I adhered the floating rose and magic mirror on the left corner of the book base.
28. Cogsworth and Lumiere was placed to the left of the main structure leaving space for the banner title to be positioned in front of the structure.
29. Glue down the banner (I had also added gold foiling to the edges of the banner) and place the main structure over the base.
30. Finally I also inserted a small electric tea light of which I coloured the light section with yellow alcohol ink to soften the glow.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to showcase my creation on the Frilly and Funkie blog.
Supply list:
Sizzix Tim Holtz Luminary Bigz Die
Sizzix Tim Holtz Pediments Die
Sizzix Tim Holtz Tattered Banners Die
Sizzix Tim Holtz Small Tattered Florals die
Sizzix Tim Holtz Mixed Media Die Set 3
Tim Holtz Lattice Stencil
Tim Holtz Glass Dome
Seam Binding
Gold String
Kraft Paper
Watercolour Paper
Gold Tulle
Blue Pearls
Pearl Pins
Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powder – Pumice Stone
Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Various
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide – Various
Tim Holtz Distress Stain – Various
Tim Holtz Distress Paint – Various
Alcohol Ink – Various
Glossy Accents
Glue gun & glue sticks
Double sided tape
Glue stick and foil
Diamond Dust Glitter
Multi Medium
Here are a few more views of the library from different angles:


text: Fire and Burn Prevention for Parents and Caregivers Did you know… Fires and burns are the #5 cause of injury-related death to children in the United States? Over 300 children are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries each day and 2 children die as a result of being burned? 47% of children who died from fires or burns were aged 4 and under? Use these safety tips to help protect yourself and others from fire and burns: Cook with caution: never leave flammable items near the stove, turn all handles away from children's reach, and never leave a child in the kitchen alone while you're cooking. Keep matches, candles, gasoline, lighters and all other flammable materials locked away and out of children's reach. Set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Consider installing water faucets and shower heads containing anti-scald technology. Install and maintain smoke alarms in your home. Make sure to test them once a month. Have an escape plan and practice it with your family. Make sure everyone knows at least 2 ways out of every room and choose a central meeting place outside. Never smoke in bed and extinguish cigarettes before going to bed or leaving the house. Never leaving a burning candle unattended and keep candles away from children, pets, or combustible materials. For more information, visit the following websites: State Fire Marshal Causey's Fire Prevention Website Centers for Disease Control Resources to Protect Children from Burns Burn Prevention Network Top Ten Summer Safety Tips Centers for Disease Control Fire Deaths and Injuries: Prevention Tips Videos: Stop Gas Fires Sparky Says: Join My Fire Safety Club Dan Doofus Presents "Kitchen for Trouble"


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|A pair within the larger group.
|Characteristic dorsal shape - a dead giveaway. A whale watch boat watches blue whales in the distance.
|Spy hop to check us out!
|The black bulbous melon, lack of beak (or discernible one) and broad-based falcate dorsal fin help us to identify the species
|The world's best support team who happen to be my parents (and as it turns out - my good luck charms too!)
An amazing new addition to my life list - the short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhnychus). A pod of about 30 cruised towards and stuck around our boat giving us some great photo and sighting opportunities.....that is until a whale watch boat cottoned on and came racing right through causing them to hurriedly dive out of sight!!!
It also happened to be the day my parents came out on their annual 'sit-on-boat-with-Asha-and-watch-her-do-what-makes-her-happy' trip so the whole thing immediately became more memorable with exclamations of excitement and joy from all quarters.
Pilot whales are actually large dolphins and come in two species. This one, found in tropical and subtropical waters and the long finned pilot whale that is distributed antitropically. Click on this link to learn more about this species http://www.acsonline.org/factpack/PilotWhale.htm and see how it differs from its long-finned cousin.


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Soutine Bakery is Closed (Say It Ain't So, Madge)
When I heard the news that Soutine, my favorite postage stamp-size bakery in the whole world, had closed its doors late last week, the news hit me like a pound of frozen French butter. From the day owner Madge Rosenberg and her late husband Barry opened the doors more than thirty years ago, I have been an all-too-steady-for-my-waistline's-good customer. Let me count the ways and the things that I will miss about my beloved Soutine:
Concorde Cake: For many years the Concorde Cake was my go-to cake when I was asked to bring dessert to a dinner party. It's an irresistible combination of meringue, chocolate, and mousse. Kathy YL Chan agreed with me.
Cheddar Rolls: tangy, cheesy, crunchy twisted knots of pure pleasure. Each roll was a perfect light walking meal.
Coconut Cake: When I did a coconut cake tasting more than a few years ago, I don't remember if Soutine's won. I do know that it's a damn serious coconut cake, light, moist, and not too sweet.
Pear Walnut Muffins: Damn near every muffin in this town is too big, too dry, and too dull-tasting. Not Madge's Pear Walnut muffin, with its big chunks of pears, its moist and light cakey texture, and just the right number of walnuts.
Birthday Cake: When I think about Soutine's occasion cakes I start to feel totally bereft. I've built more birthday cakes to order from Soutine than any other bakery. Mocha buttercream? Check. Chocolate ganache? Absolutely. Moist, light, yellow or white cake base? Oh yeah. I really don't know what I'm going to do now that Soutine is gone.
Other Soutine favorites are double-crusted fruit pies, crisp and buttery chocolate chip cookies, excellent apple turnovers, and flourless cakes for Passover that were so good I didn't miss the flour, and insanely cute gingerbread houses that tasted as good as they looked.
Our trusty sweets correspondent Kathy YL Chan has been to Soutine almost as many times as I have, based on how many posts she has done about it.
The good news is that Madge's baked goods magic is not leaving us forever. Here's what the West Side Rag is reporting:
"Madge sold the lease to Muffins Cafe, the muffin shop on Columbus between 70th and 71st Streets. The name of the bakery may change, but some of the food may be familiar: Madge said she sold them her recipes too."
"She also sold recipes to Jessica Echevarria, a former Soutine employee who opened bakery One Cup Two Cupcakes on 107th and Columbus earlier this year. Madge (pictured below) plans to help bake at One Cup too."
But neither of those alternatives can take the place of Soutine, the magical little bake shop all serious eaters deserve.
More on Soutine
- The Best Bakeries in New York: American-Style
- A Sandwich a Day: Baked Chicken from Soutine Bakery
- Sugar Rush: The Concord at Soutine
- Sugar Rush: Ginger Cake at Soutine Bakery
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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Jay-Z has once again proved that he's not a businessman, he's a business, man.
Jigga earned over $63 million last year, making him the highest earning rapper for the second year running, according to "Forbes".
His income is taxed at 35 percent, meaning he's sending the U.S. government $22 million this year. However, that sum is more than any other rapper made outside of fellow mogul Diddy, who pulled down $30 million.
U.S. & World
"Jay-Z is in a league of his own right now," Ryan Schinman of Platinum Rye, the country largest buyer of music and talent for corporations, told the magazine.
"There are very few artists of any genre, not just hip-hop, who've created such brands for themselves," he said.
The top 20 earners on the "Forbes" Cash Kings list combined for about $300 million in total earnings, which is almost the same amount as they made collectively last year.
Jay and Diddy are trailblazers in the sense that they've diversified their interests in a way that many artists have not. Besides touring, Jigga owns a nightclub and is part owner of the New Jersey Nets. Diddy promotes Ciroc vodka, runs the Sean John clothing line, and had a star turn in this summer's big-screen comedy, "Get Him to the Greek."
Singer Akon, Lil'Wayne and Dr. Dre rounded out the top five, earning $21, $20 and $17 million respectively. Uber producer Kanye West rounded out the top 10, bringing in $12 million, down from $25 million last year. West's total fell in part due to his relative absence following his disruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 Video Music Awards.


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Hawk is an SCCA and NASA Racing Series favorite of championship winning vehicles. Hawk started racing back in 1990 and since been a frequent visitor to the winner's circle over the subsequent decades. Today, Hawk has a proven reputation in both motorsports and street driving meeting the needs of normal commuters, to fleet operators, police departments and full-on track, endurance and weekend racers.
Hawk Performance is a division of Carlisle Brake & Friction. Carlisle Brake & Friction is the world leader in severe-duty friction products. When reliable, consistent and predictable deceleration is needed, you will find Carlisle Brake & Friction.
This product complies with our standard Return and Exchange Policy.
For returns or exchanges, fiirst complete the Return Form or contact us at 1-800-738-4295 to receive a Return Material Authorization Number (RMA#) before returning any products for credit or exchange.
Click Here to view our full Return Policy.


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Eastside Road, January 31, 2010 —CLEARLY ONE OF THE HUNDRED great dishes: chili and beans. Lindsey cooked up a mess of pinto beans to begin with. Then she browned ground beef, adding onions and garlic at the right time, flavoring with oregano and good New Mexico chili powder, and combined things, and cooked cooked slowly slowly. Before, guacamole with chips; after, green salad.
Nero d'Avola


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Trollinger: We have freedom of the press, but that doesn't mean news is free
Stewart Brand, the founder of the Whole Earth Catalog, famously said, "information wants to be free."
That's utter BS, of course. Information doesn't want a damn thing. It doesn't think, feel or breathe. Rather, it's us. We want information without the cost. We want our media diet to consist of a series of free lunches.
Though information isn't a huddled mass yearning to breathe free, it is, like water, slippery and liquid stuff that will fill any void. And for the past several years, that void has been the Internet.
Newspapers have done more than their fair share of feeding the insatiable World Wide Web with – what else? – free news. Many papers have guaranteed their own demise by training consumers to expect free content online.
That dynamic is changing, however, as news providers wise up to economic realities.
Many leading papers – the New York Times and the Dallas Morning News are but two examples – now ask readers to pay for print and online content. What an innovative concept! Paying for goods and services? Only in America …
I may not like that I have to pay $30 a month to get access to the Times' online content, or that they still bombard me with ads that flutter and float across my iPad screen despite my subscription, but I'm a grown man. I understand that there really is no such thing as a free meal. Somebody is paying for it.
The Times, and other papers, go to great expense to bring vital information to thousands of readers. I respect that and I believe I should support it with my money.
We at the Summit Daily News give our papers away for free and put that same information online at no charge to the reader. Yes, that model is unusual for a daily newspaper, but the fact is, we still have to pay people to sell the ads, write and edit the stories, build the pages and physically deliver stacks of papers to newsstands. We still have to cover the costs of paper, ink and administrative expenses. And we don't just want to break even, we'd like to make a profit and grow our business.
(We are a business, by the way. Throughout my journalism career, readers have tried to corner me with the accusation, "You're just trying to sell newspapers." I tell them, "You're damn right we're trying to sell newspapers.")
OK, where am I going with all this?
We've received a fair amount of blowback from readers on the Google Consumer Survey questions that went live on the Summit Daily News website several weeks ago. If your Internet browser is set up properly, you should only have to answer two questions in a 24-hour period for full and free access to all of our online content. When we implemented this new feature, it didn't seem like it would prove to be major impediment to readers. However, it has not been a popular change.
Some readers were thoughtful and sincere in expressing their dislike of the surveys, others told us to "suck pondwater."
To those readers who have intelligently and courteously voiced their criticisms of the survey questions, I have give this response:
It is our opinion that answering two survey questions a day for full access to content is preferable to what some news sites are currently doing, which is charging money for content. Other news outlets also charge readers for paper editions. We don't do that, either. The challenge for us is how to support a team of hardworking reporters and editors and continue to offer free news to readers. As you know, it's a tough economy out there. Jobs are tight. Businesses don't have the money to spend on advertising that they once did. To me, a revenue stream like Google Consumer Surveys might allow us to retain a position or produce more meaningful, in-depth news for the community. The truth is, news isn't free. Someone's paying for it. Reporters, editors, ad reps and deliverymen work long hours and they certainly don't do it for nothing (though some of them might argue that point).
Our readers who have received this response wrote back to say that while they still don't like the surveys – too intrusive, too personal – they understand we're a business that's trying to make it just like anyone else.
One of our reporters was recently in a coffee shop. The barista, who knew the reporter, complained about the surveys. She said this as she took our reporter's hard-earned coin in exchange for a cup of coffee. The reporter jokingly suggested that because our paper's free, maybe the coffee should be, too. It's not a free lunch, exactly, but it's a start.
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Mustang MonthlyHow To Paint Body
How To Replace Window Glass
Here Are Some Tips For Purchasing And Installing Vintage Mustang Windshields, Backlights, And Side Glass
When we began restoring a '66 Mustang, glass replacement was the farthest thing from our minds. As a rule, we've always opted for the best used glass we could find. Original Ford Carlite glass is the best option when it can be found and salvaged for restoration use. Finding good Sun-X tinted Carlite glass for this Mustang project was anything but simple-the glass we found wasn't in show condition. Qualified glass shop talent can polish out minor scratches, but deep ones can't be removed. What's more, delaminated (fogged) windshields can't be saved.
To understand what you're going to need for your classic Mustang, you have to understand automotive window glass. There's only a handful of manufacturers remaining.
Ford's Carlite glass division has been making automotive glass for more than 80 years. The name first appeared in 1959 when it became an integral part of Ford's Parts & Services Group. That's when "Car Lite" was stamped on all Ford vehicles; it soon became one word. During the '90s, it shared space with Ford's oval logo on most factory-installed glass. When you purchase Carlite glass for your classic Mustang, you can see either or both logos.
In 2000, Ford's Carlite glass division was combined with other parts divisions to become Visteon Corpora-tion, a Ford Motor Company parts spin-off company. A year ago, the two companies agreed to transfer 23 former Visteon operations into a limited-liability holding company known as Automotive Component Holdings. This more or less got Ford out of the parts manufacturing business so it could shop for competitively priced components for new vehicles and its parts pipeline.
Carlite retains sole authorization for distribution of original equipment parts for Ford dealers and auto glass professionals. The brand is still the best choice for your vintage-Mustang glass needs.
The glass can be ordered and purchased from virtually any Carlite dealer in the United States, including your Ford dealer. For classic Mustangs, it gets trickier. The windshields remain available for '65-'70 Mustangs in all body styles. For '71-'73s, only hardtop and convertible glass is available. Carlite was investigating tempered glass for all classic Mustangs at press time.
Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) has been producing glass for more than 100 years. As you might imagine, the company is a huge producer of automotive glass, including laminated and tempered glass for vintage Mustangs.
When we contacted Barry Hawks at Muscle City Glass in Apollo Beach, Florida, we learned a lot about what's available for classic Mustangs. Barry opened his business out of shear frustration when searching for glass for his '64 1/2 Mustang convertible. Properly marked and date-coded genuine Carlite glass is available from Muscle City Glass. In fact, a complete '65-'68 Mustang hardtop glass package is available for $999, plus shipping and handling. N.O.S. glass is also available when found. Expect to spend more for N.O.S. Carlite glass, etching, and date coding. The average price for new date-coded glass for your classic Mustang is $1,200 for the entire car. Fastbacks may cost more; convertibles may cost less.
If you're going to have your glass date-coded, be very specific about where you want the Carlite logo and date coding positioned. If you don't, it could wind up anywhere.
Because Barry wants his customers to be happy with their glass purchase, he needs to know about the restoration and what's expected. Customers can't simply place an order and expect genuine Carlite glass. They must be very specific about the kind desired: clear or tinted, Carlite or another brand, and whether or not it should be date-coded.
Windshield/Backlight Installation
One of the biggest complaints we receive from readers is windshield and backlight leakage. In nearly 30 years of publishing, we've spoken with with all kinds of glass installation professionals and restorers. One common denominator holds true: None of them can guarantee your windshield or rear window won't leak. If you own a classic Mustang with a rubber gasket windshield or backlight, count on some kind of leakage. If it doesn't, you're fortunate; if it does, you're not alone.
For windshields and backlights to be leak-free, you need a perfect bond between rubber, sealer, and surface. This takes close examination of all surfaces before installation. Any irregularities must be corrected.
Your Mustang's roof and A-pillar seams aren't perfect. They were spot-welded together at a clip of about 60-75 units an hour at peak production. Each spot-weld depression is a potential leak-and there are dozens of them. Your objective is to minimize these irregularities. If you're doing bodywork and painting-or even replacing a windshield-fill spot-welds with body filler; then sand them smooth before priming and painting. Once you do that, the next obstacle is the reproduction rubber gasket and replacement glass. Neither is perfect. Replacement glass is thinner than original equipment. Reproduction gaskets, similar to original-equipment Ford gaskets, can be irregular, causing leaks. That's why proper use of the correct sealant is so important.
According to the Ford Shop Manual for windshield and back-light replacement, it's messy and frustrating. In 30 years of working with classic Mustangs, we've tried all kinds of approaches. Here's what we learned: Ford suggests sealant between the gasket and glass. This is a good idea because flexible sealant fills in irregularities-just don't use too much.
Between the body and gasket, Ford suggests sealer in the groove. If you do it this way, it gets very messy and doesn't always prevent leakage. Based on our experiences, it's best to install the glass and rubber gasket assembly without using sealer in the outer groove. Also, use soapy water as a gasket lubricant. This allows the gasket to seat smoothly before final sealing. Firmly lean on the glass across its face to seat the gasket.
Leakage control comes from ensuring a solid wall of sealant between gasket and body. Once the gasket and glass are firmly seated, fill the area between the gasket and body with sealer. Do it in layers-down deep first-then allow it to set; next apply a second layer, also allowing time. Right before you install the window trim, lay down a top layer of sealant, leaving trim clips exposed. If you lay down too much sealant, it gets messy and the trim is hard to install.
How Is Glass Made?
Auto glass is made of sand, soda ash, coal, and other compounds that are mixed and fed into a furnace known as a glass tank. In the furnace, the compounds melt to become a molten mixture. The mix is then charged into a forming chamber known as a float bath. In this chamber, molten glass is cut off from the atmosphere, floating in a bath of molten tin (metal). During this process, glass is stretched to the thickness and width desired, then cooled until solid. It goes through a process of cooling and heating until it reaches the consistency desired. At this stage, the glass is a huge sheet about 700-feet long, ready for cutting and shaping. It's scored where necessary for cutting into a manageable size for automobiles.
Side and backlight pieces are made of tempered plate glass. It's very hard and explosive when broken, shattering into hundreds of pieces. Tempered glass is formed out of the glass-making process when it's molten and ready for forming. Edges are smoothed to make it safe. Holes are drilled where necessary.
Around 1960, automakers began installing laminated windshields in the interest of safety. It's layered-a sandwich of glass with PVB plastic in the middle. During an accident, it starbursts and cracks, but it stays together to prevent injury.
A Word About Sealers
John Sloan at The Eastwood Company set us straight on windshield sealer. There are two basic types-soft and hard. Rubber gasket windshields and backlights call for the soft stuff known as 3M Windo-Weld Resealant (PN 08634), which is the nastiest sealer to work with. It's black and gooey-use it sparingly and watch where it drips. Despite the mess, it seals well and cures to a flexible consistency. It moves with the glass and gasket without cracking and tearing.
For glue-in windshields and tempered side windows, use 3M's Windo-Weld Primerless Super Fast Urethane (PN 08609). Super Fast Urethane is a glue and sealant. When it cures, it bonds like no other. Count on security and sealing with this. Don't use Super Fast Urethane on a rubber gasket windshield or backlight. Use it only where glass is to be glued in place, such as tempered-glass side windows.
Another brand of sealer for rubber gasket windows is R900 from Adcoseal, available from most autobody paint supply stores. It works the same way as 3M's Windo-Weld Resealant. It's nasty but effective if you use it properly.
Side Glass
Wing, side, and quarter-window glass replacement is straightforward once each assembly is removed. Due to space restrictions, we can't go into the step-by-step removal and installation, although we show how each window type is assembled. Quarter-window glass is easy to replace once you get it out. The quarter-window frame is a combination of stainless steel, chrome-plated die-cast metal, and rubber. A flexible gasket provides a cushion between the glass and frame.


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Shrimp Courtboullion
By á-174942
- 1 1/2 pounds shrimp
- 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning plus
- 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1 cup chopped celery
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers
- 2 mild green chiles or banana peppers halved lengthwise, and seeded
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cups chopped peeled seeded tomatoes
- (or 2 cups chopped canned tomatoes)
- 1 cup water
- 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- Cooked rice
Servings 4
Step 1
Season the shrimp with Creole seasoning. Set aside in the refrigerator. Make a roux by combining the oil and flour in a large cast-iron or enameled cast-iron Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir slowly with a wire whisk or wooden spoon for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the roux becomes dark brown, the color of chocolate.
Add the celery, onions, bell peppers, and chiles. Cook, stirring often, for 6 to 7 minutes. Add the bay leaves and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and water. Season with Creole seasoning. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, for about 1 hour, or until a thin oil film appears on the surface. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking.
Increase the heat to medium, add the broth, salt, and cayenne and cook for about 15 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook for about 10 minutes, or until the shrimp turn bright pink and the tails curl in. During the last 5 minutes of cooking time, add the green onions and parsley. Remove the bay leaves. Spoon the rice in the center and ladle the Courtbouillon over the rice. Garnish with parsley.
This recipe yields 4 main-course servings.
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Like the last two American Presidents, Mr Obama is a man of the 12th house. With the 12th house the public is never going to know the full truth of the man, who has Ascendant ruler Saturn placed therein. Both GW Bush and Bill Clinton had Ascendant ruler placed in the 12th house, and to a certain extent it is possible to say that their downfall was in each case caused by their own actions, though one might argue that both previous presidents never really "fell" from office, having both completed the terms that they had set out to complete, and not wanting to do more. While in Clinton´s chart the secrets going on were of an amorous nature what with Venus and Mars well placed together in Venus´s domicile, and in GW´s chart it was a Cancer Sun under the influence of a strong 2nd house Mars bringing forth the need to protect and defend using force, Obama´s 12th house dynamic is different.
Obama´s chart contains many aspects, and not just the obvious longitudinal aspects, it is in fact stacked with parallels and contra-parallels, which means that there is hidden energy which is not visible in the man´s face and words, but ought to be visible through actions.
The first thing to take note of is that Capricorn Saturn although accidentally debilitated through being 12th house, retrograde, and slow in motion does have essential dignity by domicile and by terms. The meaning to garner from this is that the man himself is a strong person with good mind, aptitude and self-control, a person of dignity and character with strong sense of self and goals. The traditional view is that Saturn has joy in the 12th house. However, for the purposes of the natal chart having AC ruler in the 12th is without question an indication of misfortune. The accidental debility of Saturn here indicates misfortune despite the planet´s strength.
Jaques Chirac is also a 12th house Saturn with Aquarius Rising, and Saturn placed in Aquarius. And although Chirac´s Saturn is not accidentally debilitated the way Obama´s is, it is possible that Obama like Chirac, manages to keep all problems and secrets behind closed doors and out of the public´s knowledge.
Jupiter is obviously conjunct and parallel to Saturn in the chart, ruler of house 2 and of the 11th, but unlike the myth of Jupiter the benefactor, Obama´s Jupiter is not only peregrine but highly accidentally debilitated also. The 2nd house rules finance and income, and the 11th rules groups, societies and non governmental organisations, these things will be dragging Mr Obama throughout his presidency as they are simply a big (Jupiter) problem and will be until the end, as indeed the man has stated.
The hidden personality of Obama is revealed by Parallels of declination. Saturn as mentioned in parallel with Jupiter gives the person optimism and expansive goals, as well as opportunity. But this is one planet. Saturn is also in direct aspect to Venus, Mercury and Pluto. The strongest is to Venus, which is testament to the regard people hold for him, does he have charisma? A lot of people see this in him, Venus rules the 3rd and the 8th houses, so his words and voice are the conveyor of that persuasiveness and ease, but in more mundane terms he is likely to support primary education and schools because this 3rd house link, Venus as ruler of 8th is testament to being loved in a time of crisis. Mercury adds yet more complication, because it is parallel to Venus and contraparallel to both Saturn and Jupiter. Ruler of the 5th and the 8th is in opposition to ruler of the second and 11th. It may come to signify conflict between personal resources and joint resources, and between groups and individuals, Obama is clearly on the side of personal resources and the societies and vested interests, however this is the losing side. This Mercury contra-parallel signifies furthermore that Barack has a keen mind whatever the appearances of things may be, he will be one step ahead of the crowd.
The final contra-parallel is Pluto, symbol of real power and transformation. There are a lot of people that say that Obama has no power of his own and that he is merely a puppet like the rest of the presidents since JFK. They may be right because of the weakness of Saturn in the 12th, and the fact that Saturn is in fact challenging Pluto rather than harmonising with it. But it is possible, that as with the USA itself, Pluto contraparallel could symbolise real unadulterated power, the kind of power that kings or dictators may weild.
Mars may be a further indication of this, with Mars in accidental strength and ruler of the MC, Obama´s Saturn with all of its other aspects may be able to control and harness the energy of Mars the way GW Bush wasn´t able to. There is no question that Obama will be involved in the affairs of war with such a powerful and strong Mars which is in fact the strongest planet in his chart despite peregrination followed by Venus. Perhaps the final thing to note about Obama is the Sun Neptune square, it indicates that the public, 7th ruler will always be under great illusions with Obama, as will the allies to America and her enemies.


text:
SILVER SPRING, MD — Motionsoft Inc. not only made Inc.'s 5,000 list last month, but the growth that put it on the list also helped it get some additional funding. The company says it will put that funding toward expanding sales, marketing and development.
Motionsoft, Silver Spring, MD, received a $5.5 million investment from Edison Venture Fund, Lawrenceville, NJ, last month.
"Motionsoft achieved impressive growth and repeated customer renewals," Tom Vander Schaaff, vice president of analysis with Edison Venture, said in a release from the company.
Al Noshirvani, CEO of Motionsoft, added, "Edison's strategic counsel, growth experience and value-added resources will be instrumental to our success as we continue our expansion."
As part of the deal, Gary Golding, general partner at Edison Venture Fund, and George Pappas, vice president of sales and marketing for Edison's portfolio company, Presidium, joined Motionsoft's board of directors.
Rumors that Noshirvani and his brother, Hossein Noshirvani, co-founder and executive vice president of Motionsoft, might sell the company can now be put to rest, Hossein Noshirvani wrote on the company's blog.


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[Samui hotels]
中 文
日 本
Punnpreeda Beach Resort
32 Moo 4 Bang Rak Beach,Big Buddha,
Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320
Bang Rak Beach
Hotel category:
Traveler ratings
Summary of 4 reviews :
Room :
Facilities :
Service :
Location :
Punnpreeda Beach Resort is located on Bang Rak Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand. Conveniently situated within minutes from Samui International Airport on Bank Rak Beach and only 10-minutes away from the entertainment zone of Chaweng Beach, and only minute to Bang Rak Pier to Koh Pa-ngan Island, Punnpreeda is in a world of its own on magical Bang Rak Beach. Punnpreeda Beach Resort is a "Hip" minimalist hotel designed with love and attention to each detail, maintaining a rich appreciation for Thai Architecture, while focusing on industrial, modern design. Poured concrete basins, platform beds and modular dividers juxtaposed against natural Thai woods with100-year old slant roof ceilings. Punnpreeda Beach Resort encompasses 25-guest rooms in 5-categories : Hip Deluxe, Hip Villa, Grand Seaview Deluxe, Beachfront Suite and Hip Duplex Family 3 Bedrooms.
Hotel summary
Rates & Reservation
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Travel reviews for Punnpreeda Beach Resort
Date of stay:
Apr 30, 2012
Accommodation and facilities:
De dames aan de receptie zijn enorm hulpvol en vriendelijk. Het hoofdgebouw is wat verouderd, maar alle kamers hebben wel de beloofde facciliteiten, en zijn steeds erg proper. Dit hotel is een aanrader!!!
Reservation service:
May 16, 2012
written by:
Ilse De Lil
Date of stay:
Sep 25, 2011
Accommodation and facilities:
small hotel in a very quiet beach ideal for relaxed holidays.exelent staff and very helpful. arount the area you can find other good services. many thanks to all staff specialy NID and NOUI
Reservation service:
Oct 09, 2011
written by:
Date of stay:
Aug 16, 2011
Accommodation and facilities:
Punnpreeda is a nice resort. Everybody is friendly. We booked a so called garden villa, what is a small bungalow in the garden. It had a strong smell of paint and a speaker next to our bungalow: we were hearing nonstop lift-music. When I complaint about it they said they will put it low. But in the evening it got louder, I asked them to put the music off, what they did for about 24 hours. Then we had the nonstop music again and no explanation from the management. After 3 nights we moved into a family room because we wanted to listen to our own music and because the villa was just too small for my 11year old son and me. All in all it was really a nice stay, but Punnpreeda is definitely too expensive for what they offer (cannot install a separate music speaker for the garden and the restaurant aerea. In the family room the phone didnt work the whole stay and they didnt come to repair it).
Reservation service:
excellent as always!
Aug 26, 2011
written by:
Susanne Beerli
Date of stay:
Aug 16, 2011
Accommodation and facilities:
I felt very comnortable so i am not back at home but back at punpreeda hip resort :-)
Reservation service:
everything went ine
Aug 26, 2011
written by:
THB ฿ Thailand
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Imagine . . .
an exotic island surrounded by turquoise seas just off the coast of amazing Thailand. An island rich in culture and beauty, yet home to a host of the world class restaurants and hotels. Koh Samui is just such an island.
a community unlike any others, where people from around the world stroll in sandals and shorts along the street while mingling in shops. Where local people share stories of the past in legendary Thai style.
a quaint beach resort where unique poured concrete is juxtaposed against natural Thai woods with 100 year old slant roof ceilings.
splashes of color ignite the soul while our resort's expansive windows offer views of Samui, nearby islands and the sea gently splashing on the butterscotch sand that will soothe the mind. Surround yourself with a sense of peace, love and style as you have never known at our Koh Samui beach resort.
We look forward to welcoming you to
Punnpreeda Beach Resort
on Koh Samui.
The Punnpreeda Beach Resort
offers 4 different room categories and a variety of choices for guests to enjoy their stay while simply relaxing and doing nothing but enjoying the tropical yet chic environment.
:: Deluxe - 10 Units ::
These remarkably appointed guest rooms feature custom designed exposed white concrete flooring, counters and walls accented with hand-dyed fabrics, and traditional teak wood. All our Deluxe room accommodation features a spa rain shower, a private balcony, mood lighting and one of a kind Punnpreeda Hospitality. Deluxe rooms are approximately 35 sq meters.
:: Deluxe Villa - 10 Units ::
Exclusive villa style accommodation on Koh Samui with custom designed polished concrete floors, counters and walls accented with hand-dyed fabrics, traditional teak wood furnishings and bathrooms with changing room and private garden views from your shower. All our Deluxe Villa type accommodation features private terraces and one of a kind Punnpreeda Hospitality. Villas are approximately 42 sq meters.
:: Grand Deluxe Suite ::
Romantic, modern and sophisticated are the words to describe our Grand Deluxe. You will enjoy incomparable privacy from your second floor, which features an indoor & outdoor suite with a private roof terrace, Jacuzzi, spa rain shower and sundeck. Both Suites have polished white concrete flooring, counters and walls accented with hand-dyed fabrics, and traditional teak wood furnishings. Views of Koh Samui, the entire bay, nearby islands and the beach are yours to savor in privacy and seclusion. The Grand Deluxe is for those who are young at heart and romantically inclined. Of course, one of a kind Punnpreeda Hospitality is standard with our most gracious compliments! The Grand Deluxe accommodations in our Koh Samui resort are a generous 65 square meters.
:: Beach Front Suite ::
The Ocean Front Villas at Punnpreeda Beach Resort offer the best views and locations in the resort with amazing ocean and pool views not to mention dramatic sunsets from your own Villa and direct beach access. The Ocean Front Villas at our beach resort are spacious enough for an unforgettable family holiday on Koh Samui. Custom designed exposed white concrete flooring, counters and walls accented with hand-dyed fabrics, and traditional teak wood, mood lighting, and the one of a kind Punnpreeda Hospitality are standard.
:: Room Facilities ::
Individual digitally controlled air-conditioning
King size platform bed
Flat screen TV with cable and movie channel
DVD player complimentary DVD Library
Wi-Fi internet access in every room
Fully stocked mini-bar
(2 drinking waters, 2 soft drinks, 2 fruit juices)
Coffee & tea making facilities
In-room digital safety boxes
Personal bath amenities
Bathrobe, slippers & umbrella
Beach Side Dining at Punnpreeda Beach Resort
Dining at the
Chill Restaurant
on Koh Samui takes you on a gastronomic journey not found anywhere else on the island. Serving the freshest local ingredients, handpicked and selected daily, you will enjoy Thai cuisine and European favorites while dining next to our "infinity edge" swimming pool. Our Koh Samui restaurant is beautifully framed by the scenic Bo Phut Bay with spectacular views of nearby islands and some of the most romantic sunsets.
Good Morning Breakfast
served from 07:00 am. till 10:00 am. Buffet Breakfast menu including fresh pastries, juices, freshly ground coffee and a selection of teas.
Sunny Lunch
menu start from 11:00 am. - 15:00 pm based on a concept of "Simple, Light and Delicious" including such traditional dishes as Pad-Thai, Noodle Soup and daily specials from our Chef.
Sunset Dinner
menu start from 17:30 pm. With tasty authentic Thai dishes by our professional chef with refreshing cool cocktails or selected of fine wines from around the world. Last order 22:00.
Dining in Room
menu is verities menu. We will serve all day and Start from 07:00 am. Till 23:00 pm.
Punnpreeda Beach Resort
is a full - service resort featuring:
Beachfront swimming pool
Traditional massage service
Water sports
Room service
Limousine & tour service
Laundry & dry cleaning service
Punnpreeda Beach Resort
is located beachfront at the beautiful Bo Phut Beach on the popular Koh Samui Island. Just a short trip from the Samui International Airport and only a ten minutes drive from the vibrant zone of Chaweng Beach. Our accommodation on Koh Samui is conveniently a short boat ride away from KohPhangan and Ang Thong Marine Park.
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[Punnpreeda Beach Resort ]
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St Dogmaels Abbey on the opposite shore of the Teifi estuary from Cardigan, was the dream of the Norman Knight Martin de Turribus, Lord of Cemais, sometimes known as Martin of Tours.
In his last years Martin had turned to religion and was laying plans for the construction of an Abbey at St Dogmaels when he died in 1086.
His son, Robert Fitz Martin, who had been granted Caldey Island by Henry 1st in 1113, was determined that his father's plans should be carried through and by 1118 the Abbey was completed on the site of a religious house founded by St Dogmael, who is believed to have died in about 500AD.
Robert arranged with William, the Abbot of Tiron, to send over 13 monks for the new Abbey's foundation, so St Dogmaels became the first dependent Abbey of Tiron in Britain. Robert endowed it richly with lands in St Dogmaels and other lands in Devonshire while his wife Matilda gave the Abbey Moylegrove. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and within a few years a sister monastery, also dedicated to St Mary, was founded on Caldey Island. Robert subsequently brought over another 13 monks from Tiron and received permissin to accord the monastery Abbey status, which made it one of the richest monasteries in the region. The first Abbot of the new Abbey was Fulchard, who was enthroned by Bernard, the first Norman Bishop of St Davids, in September 1120. The constitution of the Tironian abbeys was a strange mix of traditional Benedictine and reformed practice monks and abbots were appointed by the Abbot and convent of Tiron, a late 13th and early 14th centuries when the chapter house, infirmary, cloister and refectory were rebuilt and enlarged. The abbey recruited monks from the native Welsh, diluting the original French community, and by the end of the 12th century, like Whitland Abbey, was recruiting from the sons and relatives of the Canons of St Davids. It had a dependent Priory of about 12 monks at Pill, Milford Haven. The famous 13th century priest and chronicler, Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald the Welshman), highlighted a problem at St Dogmaels when he described Walter, Abbot of St Dogmaels, as "a fool and wholly illiterate...waiting for the end and now no more than a shadow of a man." But Gerald had an axe to grind, for Walter, who was his cousin, was also one of his rivals in the contest for the See of St Davids between 1198 and 1203, a coveted position which, much to his disappointment, Gerald never gained. Walter withdrew from a literacy test to scotch rumours of his illiteracy. and his shortcomings and the antics of another apostate monk of St Dogmaels named Golyon, reflected badly standards at the Abbey during Gerald's day. In 1402 and 1406, two episcopal probes revealed that St Dogmaels Abbey had dwindled to only three monks who were, however, "consuming the sustenance of a very large number." Medieval benefit fraudsters, no less.


text:
Photo Of The Week
Tsunami – The Lion King
Thought For The Day
God made the cat in order that man
Might have the pleasure of caressing the lion.
Fernand Mery
Happy Birthday Legend & Tsunami!
Legend and Tsunami are now five years old!
Please join the celebration at
Lessons I've Learned From My Cats!
Wordless Wednesday – May 23, 2012
Happy Wordless Wednesday, dear friends! It's time to share your favorite family-friendly photos – with or without words – at the friendliest party in town!
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