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Customer Feedback
Welcome to our Customer Comments page. All comments are from genuine customers who have placed an order with us and relates to the product(s) and/or our service. In some instances we have written a reply whi ch will be in blue text. If you have ordered from us, then please consider writing a comment for others to see.
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"Fast delivery, and the products delivered met my expectations."
Victor Jegede, Mon 15th July '13
"I ordered some tasting glasses & a carafe and am very happy with the quality of the items & the speedy delivery. Thank you."
Susy, Sun 14th July '13
"Quick delivery - again good service."
Simon Hodge, Sat 13th July '13
"I recently ordered some jam jar glasses that I found on this website. The product was a brilliant price and I received my order quickly and very well packaged. Will use the company again. Many thanks."
J. Gray, Sat 13th July '13
"Good service, kept us informed as items ordered were originally out of stock. Once goods arrived they were dispatched and arrived as promised. Well packed and am truly delighted with glass drinking jars they would be even better if they had lids to keep wasps etc out when in garden."
Karen Balaam, Sat 13th July '13
"Received the drinking game promptly and was very pleased with it. Was good value for money."
Peter Barwell, Sat 13th July '13
"I cannot fault the service in any way 10/10"
Tony Parker, Fri 12th July '13
"I had never used this company until recently and would certainly recommend, great prices and great fast despatch and delivery. No hassle, no bother, straight forward company."
Maria Haigh, Thu 11th July '13
"When I ordered the drinking jars they were out of stock but I was sent regular emails updating me when they would be back in and dispatched to me which was great. Once back in stock again, they were sent straight out quickly. I was so happy with them and will use this site again."
L Anderson, Wed 10th July '13
"I ordered a variety of items and was very happy with the speed of delivery/well packaged. Upon inspection one of the items shipped was slightly different to the one I had ordered. A quickly answered call to customer services who were very apologetic and sent out a replacement very quickly. Very happy with the service and items received. Will be using again!"
Duncan Miller, Wed 10th July '13
"Very satisfied with your products. Very good packaging, fast shipment and delivery. Only one problem: a little expensive charge transport for Greece... I'm generally very positive with my association with you. Thanks, Vasilis."
Vasilis Antonopoulos, Wed 10th July '13
"Bottle openers. Great price, delivery and service. No problems to report."
Mr. Patel, Tue 9th July '13
"Brilliant service, I had the 1st order come in on time however 28 glasses where cracked. I made a simple call to your customer services on the Friday to log my claim and by Monday you had delivered the replacement glasses - excellent service."
Sunil Kalhan, Tue 9th July '13
"Prompt delivery, soundly packaged. Am very pleased."
William Hartley, Tue 9th July '13
"Great product; super efficient service."
Ashar Qureshi, Tue 9th July '13
"I ordered 8 glass fish bowls. Despite being very well packaged, one was chipped on the rim. I sent an email to drinkstuff, and a replacement was immediately put in the post, which arrived the next day - in perfect condition. I found the staff very helpful and friendly. I would certainly use drinkstuff again."
Carole Creaser, Mon 8th July '13
"I'm really pleased with our new glasses. I was kept well informed on when the order was going to arrive and really pleased with the quality when they did! I will definitely order from drinkstuff again :)"
Caroline Byrne, Mon 8th July '13
"Good service and pleased with item."
Avril Holland, Mon 8th July '13
"Great web site to browse, smooth transaction, and fast delivery. Would deal with again."
Steve, Mon 8th July '13
"My order was delivered promptly, packaged well and the products are of good quality, would recommend."
Sarah, Mon 8th July '13
"Very efficient service, good quality goods for the price."
Jacqui Dowgill, Mon 8th July '13
"Good service. Two breakages out of six on receipt but these were replaced without any hassle after a friendly call with the help desk."
Chris Spink, Mon 8th July '13
"Your service was brilliant it arrived when stated, I have already recommended your page to family, thank you drinkstuff."
Mandy Barclay, Sun 7th July '13
"We had 2 glasses received as a gift we wanted more and the pictures on your site made it easy to find them even though we did not know if you sold the originals. The order came within the time stated and was very securely packaged which meant it arrived in perfect condition."
Steve Heyes, Sun 7th July '13
"This was the first time I have used drinkstuff, very pleased, quick response, item packed very well and arrived without any fuss. Thank you."
Gins Howe, Sun 7th July '13
"The first beer stein I ordered had a slight crack in it and after emailing customer services, I received a prompt reply. I then just had to email pics of the damage and drinkstuff sent out a replacement straight away. The whole process, from ordering to receiving the second beer stein, took just over a week. I felt that the company did all they could to make sure they gave a good service. Excellent!"
Eleanor, Sun 7th July '13
"Good product selection, I was pleased to find some nice compostable pint glasses. They arrived exactly on schedule."
John Morgan, Sun 7th July '13
"Very quick and efficient service. Glasses are lovely and just as described! Would recommend using drinkstuff."
Carol Bunning, Sun 7th July '13
"Brilliant service. Ordered and delivered in less than 24 hours, exactly the stools I wanted."
Julie Clarke, Sun 7th July '13
"Great product with quick delivery, extremely satisfied."
Jack Smith, Sun 7th July '13
"Just the right size I needed, some noise but not enough to annoy me. Well pleased."
Linda Lett, Sun 7th July '13
"Very happy with the purchase of my mojito kit it was great value for money and would buy more products from your site!"
Stacey, Sat 6th July '13
"After first class service from drinkstuff, only half my order arrived and that was damaged. All due to the couriers, however after a quick phone call all was replaced and dispatch for next day delivery. First rate company, prices and service."
Tony Jose, Thu 4th July '13
"Good service, arrived quickly, order items as requested, good products, would use and recommend again."
L J Waller, Wed 3rd July '13
"Very quick, prompt service. All glasses arrived intact, no breakages, and good quality for the price. Would definitely order from you again. Thank you."
Patricia, Wed 3rd July '13
"Having recently ordered from drinkstuff for the first time - I can only say what a fantastic service I received!! I did have a little trouble at the checkout but that was immediately resolved by a phone call and within thirty seconds of answering, my problem was resolved and my payment was taken!! The pricing is extremely competitive, the customer support fantastic and last but not least the courier service was spot on, and I now have my goods!! Thank you drinkstuff, not only will I use you again but I will certainly recommend you to all my family and friends."
Guy, Wed 3rd July '13
"Excellent service - goods ordered were a present, so shame they only arrived in a plain brown box rather than a 'drinkstuff' container. But overall very pleased."
Matt Allan, Wed 3rd July '13
"I was really impressed with the service received. I think you can tell a lot about a company by how they handle something going wrong. I received my order on time but unfortunately there had been a mix up with some of the glasses ordered. I had ordered late and received the order on Friday needing it for a party on Saturday. Without any fuss the correct items were sent on a Saturday delivery so I had what I needed in time. I am very grateful. I would definitely use you again."
Mandy, Wed 3rd July '13
"Easy to find what was needed, and delivered really quickly and efficiently."
Jayne Wilkinson, Tue 2nd July '13
"Very good quality for the price. Fast delivery & well packaged. Thank you."
Melanie Semmens, Tue 2nd July '13
"Quick efficient service, thank you."
R Gross, Mon 1st July '13
"Excellent prompt service, will order again."
J. Amos, Mon 1st July '13
"Received order as expected."
Richard Allam, Mon 1st July '13
"Service and delivery was excellent, but the measures themselves were very fragile and 4 of the original order were broken, though to be fair drinkstuff sent out a replacement immediately but I accidentally dropped one and it broke so not great quality."
Margret Ashe, Mon 1st July '13
"The chip baskets look fantastic and are of good quality. The food served in them looks special and more appealing (it was French fries). Ordering them on line was easy and straightforward, I had an email back to say when my order would be delivered and it arrived on time! This is the first time I have ordered from this company and I am very impressed and I will be ordering again."
Tracey Windsor, Mon 1st July '13
"I live in Spain and ordered the Cabernet Wine Glasses as a present for my daughter who lives in Cardiff. They arrived at 9.30am on the day of her birthday. She is very pleased with them, stating what nice quality they are."
Patricia Higgins, Mon 1st July '13
"After promising the delivery in 3-5 working days as soon as it came in stock I did not her anything for one month then after being reassured that it would come in the next few weeks it did not arrive for another month. I would have liked more communication on the status of my order and some form of acknowledgement of the lateness of the order which was a birthday present that was 2 months late. Having said that, I was extremely happy with the final product when it did arrive."
Fay Jennett, Sun 30th June '13
"Stools are fab. Really quick delivery as well."
Sandra Kirkley, Sun 30th June '13
"Very nice item, thanks, well packed and shipped very quickly, thanks again."
Steve, Sat 29th June '13
"Really easy website to use and quick delivery by courier. Products of a high quality too. Will use again!"
Alison, Sat 29th June '13
"I ordered wooden disposable cutlery for a party. They arrived quickly and were exactly what I'd hoped for."
S Maguire, Sat 29th June '13
"Quick delivery - good product."
Chris Klein, Fri 28th June '13
"I ordered a pack of Libbey Cobalt Blue Tear Goblets. They're beautiful, heavier than I thought and seem to be top quality. I'm totally satisfied both with the product and the service. It got to Hungary, where I live, in less than a week without any damage. Five star products, five star service. Thank you for all, drinkstuff.com!"
Zsolt Lajtos, Thu 27th June '13
"It was so easy to order. Our Lay Z Spa arrived swiftly, packaged beautifully and delivered by a very nice, happy delivery man. One must, besides the obvious: enjoyment Arrrrrh and that is make SURE your pool is on very even ground. Good invention and does my husband's oestoarthritus wonders BIG THANK YOU X"
Mrs. Donna Carter, Wed 26th June '13
"It is the first time I have used your company and am totally happy with the service. The goods arrived earlier than expected."
Pat Butler, Wed 26th June '13
"I ordered 4 barstools from you guys and am very happy with both the service and the goods. I received them promptly and when there was a problem with two of the backs ye sent me replacements right away. I have recommended ye to my family and friends. Great service. Tina Brett."
Tina Brett, Wed 26th June '13
"Excellent product, speedy delivery, very happy."
Kendra Cairnes, Tue 25th June '13
"Excellent service and brilliant quality goods."
Phil Houston, Tue 25th June '13
"The glasses were great - as described, as pictured and quick delivery."
Yvonne Fryer, Tue 25th June '13
"Very happy with my products, but arrived later than expected so had to travel without them."
Lynne Thomson, Tue 25th June '13
"I am happy with the product, my only issue with the order was I felt the postage was slightly high for what I purchased, other than that its a good service."
Chris, Tue 25th June '13
"Hi these cards are great. Happy with the delivery."
Donna, Tue 25th June '13
"More packaging needed to guarantee safety of glasses."
Drinkstuff says: Thank you for your feedback Karen. Your comments have been passed on to our packing team in the warehouse.
Karen Maxwell, Mon 24th June '13
"Really great square glasses, been looking for this type for some time. Great service & prompt delivery."
Jayne Williams, Mon 24th June '13
"After a fair internet search, I settled on drinkstuff.com to provide me with a stainless steel double jigger measure. It arrived days before I was expecting and is very much better quality than I had any right to expect for the modest price it cost. In short; delighted."
Julian Barrett, Mon 24th June '13
"Excellent communications, fast delivery & very happy with order, exactly as described & a good price."
Sharon Saunders, Mon 24th June '13
"The service you provided me was of the highest standard. All product ordered arrived as described and in good time. Would I be coming back to your company for further equipment? YES."
Jackie Morgan, Mon 24th June '13
"Unfortunately, the boxes had not been checked as we had 4 broken glasses delivered with the order."
Drinkstuff says: We're sorry that you had this issue with your order Judith. We hope that you have now received your replacement glasses.
Judith Thomas, Sun 23rd June '13
"Very pleased with the fast service, the excellent packaging and the tracking information. Will use this company again."
John Best, Sun 23rd June '13
"The dishes were just what I wanted, They arrived well packed and quickly. I would definitely purchase items from this company again. Well done!"
Mrs Susan Davis, Sat 22nd June '13
"Very pleased with my purchase, very quick delivery and great products."
Schofield, Sat 22nd June '13
"Well packed and fast delivery, will always look to this site for further purchases."
J W Payne, Fri 21st June '13
"Really pleased with the Stella Artois glasses, and the service was superb!"
Mrs Jenny Hughes, Thu 20th June '13
"Received the glass with a small blemish on it and got in touch with company. They where very good in communication and sorting out the problem with limited fuss. The replacement was received very quick. Will definitely use this company again in the future. Thank you."
Anthony Farrell, Thu 20th June '13
"Excellent service, prompt delivery and a really great product!! Thanks :)"
Hannah, Thu 20th June '13
"Excellent service as always."
The Roebuck, Wed 19th June '13
"It is a pleasure to do business with someone as focussed at drinkstuff. They know their products, the prices are most acceptable and service is swift and helpful. I wish many more companies were as good."
James Mulcahy, Tue 18th June '13
"I ordered a wine chiller from drinkstuff. Slight hiccup with delivery, tracking info showing item delivered when I hadn't received it, however on contacting drinkstuff they confirmed item had been lost by courier and they despatched a replacement express delivery which I received the following day. Very pleased with the chiller, excellent value for money. Great service from drinkstuff."
J Coneybeer, Mon 17th June '13
"The glasses were delivered two or three days after I ordered them. For an overseas delivery that is fantastic! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend drinkstuff to anyone!"
Tony Pettifer, Mon 17th June '13
"Excellent 4 oz sherry glasses, just what we needed, so hard to find anywhere else and at such a reasonable price; speedy delivery and excellent packing."
Deirdre Palk, Mon 17th June '13
"I bought a really nice bar stool which was great value. Unfortunately, in transit the stool seat broke. I sent an email explaining the situation and they immediately sent out a replacement. Fantastic, efficient, fast customer service."
Simon, Mon 17th June '13
"Excellent and fast delivery service. Site really easy to follow and use. Thank you for a really good service."
Susan Vaughan, Sun 16th June '13
"Very pleased, very quick. Cheers."
Rob Morgan, Sun 16th June '13
"Easy to navigate website and order delivered promptly."
Alexis Smith, Sun 16th June '13
"A1 seller. Highly recommended."
Diana Earley, Sun 16th June '13
"Very pleased with the order from these guys!"
Dave Lannigan, Sun 16th June '13
"Got the item pretty quickly - well packaged and good quality."
Dan, Sun 16th June '13
"Second order placed for glasses through the site. Products received swiftly and superbly well packaged (they could wrap my Christmas presents any time!). The style of glass I ordered are available on the high street it's just that I would be paying twice as much for them! Will definitely use drinkstuff again."
Dave Pardoe, Sat 15th June '13
"Delighted with order and prompt delivery."
Ann Mathie, Sat 15th June '13
"Extremely pleased with the service we received. There was a bit of a mix up with our order, as soon as we called, you had our product that was missing dispatched and it arrived in plenty time for our party. Thank-you."
Stephen Dickson, Thu 13th June '13
"Excellent quality product at a good price and excellent next day delivery. Impressive."
John Buller, Thu 13th June '13
"Fantastic service, great prices and speedy delivery well within time frame given. Very happy customer. Highly recommend this site and I will be using it again!"
Jo Rose, Thu 13th June '13
"I love ordering drinkstuff products, they always arrive in mint condition, and the delivery is good too."
Chanelle Gaskin, Thu 13th June '13
"I guess I must have been very unlucky. I ordered a refill for a vacuum teapot. It arrived commendably quickly. Unfortunately it had not been sufficiently well packed and was broken. A replacement arrived a few days later but was the wrong type, so could not be used. Then there was a LONG wait for the goods to be restocked. I was kept fully informed of the progress of the order throughout and was ultimately very happy with the purchase."
Immo Huneke, Thu 13th June '13
"One small hitch with the order in that a delayed dispatch was asked for but for some reason was delayed further - however as soon as the matter was queried it was resolved immediately. Other than that I had no problems and due to the way the problem was handled I would have no hesitation in using the vendor again."
Mike Brown, Wed 12th June '13
"Wish I'd seen these months ago. However bought these last minute, price, delivery and service was excellent."
Liana Jones, Wed 12th June '13
"I'd just like to tell you that the Kilner jars were a hit - they were for my friend's birthday and she was really pleased with them. The non-slip tray was for my husband to put his glass on when having a drink because we've just had a new carpet laid and I didn't want any clumsy accidents happening... It works! I think it's a really clever idea for a tray and am very impressed with it. Delivery was really quick and the packaging was very well done too. So, thank you."
Janette Dyer, Wed 12th June '13
"Fast delivery and products exactly as described."
Sara Saavedra, Tue 11th June '13
"Glasses good, just took a bit longer than expected to arrive."
Jackie Glazebrook, Tue 11th June '13
"I am very happy with my new hot tub and the swift and speedy service which got it to Jersey, I had to make a couple of calls regarding tracking and was greeted with friendly staff. I will be dealing with drinkstuff again."
Mr Graham, Mon 10th June '13


text: The AD7731 is a complete analog front-end for process control applications. The device has a proprietary programmable gain front end that allows it to accept a range of input signal ranges, including low level signals, directly from a transducer. The sigmadelta architecture of the part consists of an analog modulator and a low pass programmable digital filter, allowing adjustment of filter cutoff, output rate and settling time. The part features three buffered differential programmable gain analog inputs (which can be configured as five pseudo-differential inputs), as well as a differential reference input. The part operates from a single +5 V supply and accepts seven unipolar analog input ranges: 0 to +20 mV, +40 mV, +80 mV, +160 mV, +320 mV, +640 mV and +1.28 V, and seven bipolar ranges: 20 mV, 40 mV, 80 mV, 160 mV, 320 mV, 640 mV and 1.28 V. The peak-to-peak resolution achievable directly from the part is 16 bits at an 800 Hz output rate. The part can switch between channels with 1 ms settling time and maintain a performance level of 13 bits of peak-to-peak resolution.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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City: Los Angeles
State: California
Country: United States
Website: https://clean-la.com/


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The latest interest rate move by the Federal Reserve — a whole lot of nothing — has some readers, including Alvin in North Carolina, wondering why central bankers aren't doing more to help the ailing housing market by cutting rates. Hint: They're still worried about inflation. OK, asks Jeff in Sacramento, what exactly is inflation and what causes it?
If the housing market is in a slump, and it surely is, why is the Fed increasing the interest rates, which would make it even harder to qualify or get a loan mortgage?
—Alvin E., Belhaven, N.C.
In fact, the Federal Reserve's latest move was to leave short-term interest rates just where they've been for the past 12 months. The Fed-controlled rate for banks borrowing money from each other remains at 5.25 percent. But that won't help you if you're trying to get a mortgage to buy a house. Over the past two months long-term mortgage rates — which are set by investors bidding on the price of money in the credit markets — have shot up half a percentage point.
For all the hoopla about the Fed's interest rate deliberations, the central bank has only limited control over day-to-day changes in rates that home buyers pay. The official "federal funds" rate applies to very short-term loans — typically money that banks move around overnight to make sure they have enough reserves on hand.
The federal funds rate effectively becomes the wholesale price for money. When banks lend that money to you through your credit card or some other lending vehicle, they charge much more than they paid for it. That's where bank profits come from.
(If banks can't get enough funds from each other, they can go directly to the Fed and borrow from the "discount window," but they pay a rate that is generally set a percentage point above the federal funds rate.)
Banks are not the only place to borrow money. Big borrowers — like investment banks, corporations or big mortgage companies — can "buy" money directly from investors through a global trading network of dozens of different types of paper referred to collectively as "the credit market." The biggest issuer of such securities is the U.S. Treasury. Corporations, government agencies, and other big borrowers also churn out trillions of dollars worth of paper and offer it up directly to get the best price they can for the raw material they need — money.
Investors bid on that paper, agreeing to part with their money for a fixed term in return for a regular interest payment (sometimes called the "coupon" because holders once had to actually clip a coupon from the printed paper and and mail it in to get their interest payment.) The price is set, second by second, in a global auction that matches up sellers of paper (borrowers) with investors who are lending them money.
If you're an investor, one of the most important considerations is the risk that you might not get your money back. If the risk is higher, the investor will demand a higher interest rate, just as a bank charges higher interest rates to people with bad credit.
For investors in the credit markets, the odds of an outright default by a borrower like a corporation or government agency is pretty low. Worries about rising mortgage defaults and foreclosures have pushed rates up a bit to make up for the higher risk to holders of mortgage-backed bonds. But the number of loans that may be in trouble is a small fraction (less than 2 percent) of all mortgage-backed bonds. With the economy relatively strong and overall wages rising, most homeowners are keeping up with their payments. So the risk is very low to all but the most risky mortgage-bond holders.
The bigger risk is that when your bond matures, and you get your money back, the dollars you receive won't have the same purchasing power as the dollars you turned over when you bought the bond. The culprit there is inflation. If you invest $1,000 in a 10-year bond today, and inflation raises prices 3 percent a year, the $1,000 you get back in 10 ten years will be worth only $737.42 in today's dollars. Put another way, 10 years from now you'll need $1,343.92 buy the same goods and services you can get for $1,000 today.
That's why the credit markets are so sensitive to inflation: If it looks like inflation is moving higher, interest rates go up to compensate bond buyers for the future erosion of their buying power. That's one reason the Fed is so focused on keeping inflation in check. The Fed does have other weapons in its inflation-fighting arsenal. It can raise and lower the reserves it requires banks to maintain, and it can buy and sell from its own stash of Treasury bonds to move cash in or out of the credit markets. But as big as it is, the Fed controls only a small portion of the global capital markets. So while central bankers talk a good game, the market eventually has the last word.
Please define inflation and what causes it.
-- Jeff G., Sacramento, Calif.
Simple questions deserve simple answers. The definition is the easy part: Inflation is a rise in the prices of goods or services in a specific industry, region or economy over time. (When prices fall over time, that's called deflation. When prices are rising but the rate of increase is slowing down that's disinflation.)
As for inflation's causes, there are volumes of economic textbooks and piles of research papers on the subject. It's a little like asking what causes a thunderstorm. The simple answer is: "Hot and cold air coming together." But the details are a lot more complicated.
In the case of inflation, the simplest answer is that prices go up when demand is stronger than supply. But that basic economic force shows up in many different ways and in many different places. If the available supply of oil, for example, doesn't keep up with demand, the price goes up. As that happens, some demand goes away: As oil gets too expensive, some people stop buying it. But because oil is hard to do without, anyone who needs it has no other choice but to pay up.
That higher price of oil can push other prices up with it — everything from the price of plastics to the cost of delivering packages. The risk is that these increases spark more inflation further down the line.
If consumers have to pay higher prices for goods and services, and they go back and demand higher wages, their employers have to pass along that higher labor cost to customers, and the inflationary "spiral" begins. Economists talk about "demand pull" inflation (a surge in demand overwhelms supply) and "cost push" inflation (when rising costs ripple through the system). But no matter where it gets started, if it spreads too far, it begins to feed on itself.
Part of the menace of inflation is the psychological impact: Everyone assumes prices will go up, so they factor in higher wages and prices in everything they do, which becomes a self-fulfilling cycle. That's why the Fed is so intensely focused on keeping the inflation genie in the bottle.
It's been a while since we've seen runaway inflation in the United States. The last major outbreak was in the late 1970s and early '80s. Hard assets (like real estate or gold) provided some protection, but anyone who held financial assets (stocks or bonds) took a beating.
Policymakers tried everything. At one point, to beat back the inflationary bogeyman, the White House handed out "WIN" buttons — for "Whip Inflation Now." But talk therapy didn't work. By the early 1980s, consumer prices were rising at annual rate of more than 14 percent.
It wasn't until the Fed and credit markets passed that cost along to borrowers, pusing the prime rate to 21.5 percent in December 1981, that the inflationary fever broke. Within two years, the inflation rate had fallen below 4 percent, and the stock market embarked on one of the longest and strongest bull markets in history.
For some people, the cure was worse than the disease. But most people who remember that period — including current members of the Fed — figure that a little preventive medicine now is a lot better then trying to deal with a full-blown inflationary spiral later.
© 2013 msnbc.com Reprints


text:
Braves drop sixth straight with 4-3 loss to Padres
SAN DIEGO (AP) — There is very little going right for Evan Gattis and the Atlanta Braves.
Everth Cabrera singled in the winning run in the 10th inning to give the San Diego Padres their second consecutive extra-innings win, a 4-3 victory over the slumping Braves on Sunday.
It was also the Braves' sixth straight loss, all coming on an eight-game road trip.
Gattis had a huge base running gaffe that cost Atlanta a key run in the seventh inning.
"I screwed up," Gattis said. "I made a mistake there. That's what it was about."
Said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez: "Little mistakes like that are what get blown up when you don't score any runs."
Will Venable led off the 10th with an infield single off David Hale (3-4) and Alexi Amarista walked. The Braves got a double play on Renee Rivera's sacrifice bunt attempt with Amarista taking second. Chris Nelson walked to bring up Cabrera. After the Padres pulled off a double steal, Cabrera lined a hard single past second baseman Ramiro Pena.
Tim Stauffer (4-2) pitched one inning for the win.
The Braves pushed the tying run across in the ninth off closer Joaquin Benoit. Jason Heyward hit a leadoff double and Gattis then hit a comebacker to Benoit. Heyward broke for third and Benoit's throw was on the bag, but Yangervis Solarte failed to field the throw for an error as it went into foul territory, allowing Heyward to score and tie the game at 3.
Tommy Medica, who hit a pair of two-run homers on Friday night, put the Padres ahead 3-2 in the eighth with a leadoff solo homer off Anthony Varvaro. Medica was 8 for 12 with five RBIs in the three-game sweep of Atlanta.
The Braves tied the game at 2-all in the seventh when they finally got to Tyson Ross on Heyward's RBI triple and a run-scoring double by Gattis.
Nick Vincent came in and gave up a double to Chris Johnson off the left-field wall but Gattis didn't run on the play and was held at third base. Vincent loaded the bases with a walk before striking out pinch hitter Emilio Bonifacio. Vincent then got B.J. Upton to ground into a third-to-home-to-first double play.
Braves: LHP Jonny Venters felt no ill effect the day after his light bullpen session on Saturday. Venters has not pitched since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2013.
Padres: C Yasmani Grandal was back in the starting lineup at first base after not starting three straight games with fluid in his right knee.
Braves: Alex Wood (7-8, 3.30 ERA) opens the club's two-game set at Seattle on Tuesday night against Felix Hernandez (11-3, 2.01). Atlanta beat Hernandez the only time it faced him on June 29, 2011.
Padres: After an off day Monday , the club opens a six-game road trip with rookie Jessie Hahn (7-2, 2.01) opposing the Twins Phil Hughes (10-8, 4.12). Hahn has fared better away from pitcher-friendly Petco Park where he is 3-2 with a 2.43 ERA in five starts. Hahn has won all four of his road starts with an ERA of 1.50.
Atlanta allowed a Padres base runner to steal third base uncontested for the second time in three games. On Sunday, Cabrera took off for third on ball four to Tommy Medica. C Evan Gattis cocked his arm to throw but 3B Chris Johnson never moved from his position. On Friday night, Medica stole third standing without a throw as Minor held the ball behind the mound and Johnson was far off the bag.
Braves LHP Mike Minor will not be sent to the minors despite is recent struggles. The Braves decided against sending him to the minors to allow him to work on his control issue. The lefty has given up six earned runs in three of his four starts, including Friday night's 10-1 to the Padres.


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The 1766 Tavern at Beekman Arms teams this delicious steak with grilled onion rings.
- Yield
- Serves 2
- 1 12- to 14-ounce sirloin steak
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
- 6 tablespoons Merlot
- 3/4 cup beef stock or canned broth
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Sprinkle steak with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add steak and cook until brown, about 1 minute per side. Reduce heat to medium and cook steak to desired doneness, about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer steak to plate; tent with foil.
- Add shallots to same skillet and sauté over medium-high heat 1 minute. Add Merlot; boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add stock; boil until syrupy, about 8 minutes. Remove skillet from heat. Add butter and whisk until melted. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cut steak into 2 pieces; place on plates. Spoon sauce over and serve.


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Vanessa Paradis and Lily-Rose spend mother daughter time together
Posted by Alisa on Monday, January 9, 2012 / Labels: Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis / Comments: (1)
Singer/Actress Vanessa Paradis took her daughter Lily-Rose, 12 1/2, went shopping around the Grove in West Hollywood, CA on Saturday (January 7). Vanessa and her partner actor Johnny Depp are also parents to Jack, 9 1/2.
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Actress Natalie Portman and her fiancé Ballerina/choreographer Benjamin Millepied took their son Aleph, 6 months, to the farmer's market in Los Feliz Friday (December 6).


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We've achieved the enviable distinction in this country of having safe drinking water whenever we turn on the tap. While water filters will help to refine and improve taste, there are very few instances where we find our water to be undrinkable.
Until recently, of course.
Earlier this year, coverage of the MCHM chemical spill in West Virginia and E. Coli contamination of water tankers in New York has brought into shocking light just how unprepared most of us our for a drinking water emergency. Thousands in these states are now learning just how upside down and difficult life can truly become when clean drinking water is no longer a given.
The question, then, is there anything that we can do to prepare ourselves for future drinking water emergencies? Fortunately, yes. Brought about in seemingly equal parts by camping fads, survival prepping movements and the need to provide clean drinking water to those in more impoverished parts of the world, there is seemingly no shortage on water filters and filtration products that can be trusted when a situation becomes a full-blown emergency.
Drinking Water Emergency Early Stages: Testing
As seen in both West Virginia and New York, the earliest stages of a drinking water emergency will be filled with instantly outdated news coverage, anger and confusion. Perhaps the biggest unknown, seen particularly in West Virginia, will be just how far the emergency has spread.
In these instances, water test kits will be some of your strongest allies.
On our site, we are happy to offer water test kits designed to test for bacteria, lead and more. We are even happy to offer the Handheld Ultraviolet Light, shown to the left, that can instantly help detect the presence of coliform or E. Coli.
While these tests are by no means fool-proof, and should never take the place of having your water professionally tested if you feel as though there may be a significant risk to your health, these kits can help you to quickly identify some of the more major contamination issues.
As a note, if you pull your water from a private well, it is recommended that you test your drinking water once or twice per year, typically in spring and fall when organic contaminants become more common.
Drinking Water Emergency Middle Stages: A Run on Bottled Water
As confusion turns to panic, stores will see run on bottled water. As the MCHM contamination incident in West Virginia grew worse, emergency shipments of bottled water needed to be trucked in and distributed by the National Guard.
In the case of the West Virginia situation, we do need to take time to indicate that any water filters or filtration product that we sell – even those designed for emergencies – are not certified to reduce MCHM, as so little is known about this chemical. But there are several types of water filters and filtration systems that are certified to reduce more well known, but just as potentially dangerous, water contaminants.
Manufacturer Doulton offers ceramic water filters that are certified to reduce up to 99% of harmful bacteria, including the E. Coli bacteria that is currently plaguing New Yorkers, that fit compactly into an undersink filtration system housing like the one shown to the left. Apart from the housing and filter, you'll just need some O-rings and lubricant to get yourself set-up.
Another option is a filtration system from Katadyn, including a microfilter system, that has quickly become a go-to brand for campers and survival preppers. Katadyn also offers the only water purification bottle registered by the EPA for complete anti-microbial protection.
Finally, there are purification systems offered by Berkey, including travel purification systems that are easy to pack and portable water purification bottles that are easy to grab and go, that are among the most advanced filtration systems on the market today. Both types of systems have been tested to filter virtually contaminants from even the most stagnant sources of water.
Drinking Water Emergency Late Stages: Go Military
Fortunately, a long-term drinking water emergency where water is undrinkable for months is a fairly unlikely event. Even the unprecedented chemical spill in West Virginia had cleared within a matter of weeks giving way to water once again safe to drink (though the definition of 'safe' is still under debate.)
In the event that we do find ourselves in a long-term drinking water emergency, the types of systems recommended above will remain some of your best friends and strongest allies. But another ally you could call upon, provided you acquired them in advance, are water purification tablets, like the military grade tablets from Aquamira below.
Water purification tablets have a long shelf life, are light and small enough to fit into nearly any pack, and in the case of Aquamira, are EPA certified to reduce bacteria, cysts and viruses. They can even help your water to taste better, which will be a welcome creature comfort should you find yourself in an emergency situation.
Have you prepared yourself, your home or your family for a drinking water emergency? If so, we'd love to hear more about what steps you've taken via a comment below.
If you are interested in buying emergency water filtration products, or building a water filtration system in your home, we would encourage you to call our customer service department at 1-800-277-3458.
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Are you a veteran, currently serving in the Armed Forces, or are you buying a gift for a veteran or soldier? Use the discount code 'VETERAN' at checkout to take 5% off your entire order!


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TORONTO - Viruses closely related to the new coronavirus that emerged last year in the Middle East have been discovered in specimens from a number of species of bats found widely throughout Europe and beyond, a new study shows.
The work suggests bats common to Europe, Russia, parts of Asia and Africa and the Middle East may carry viruses that are very closely related to the new coronavirus, called EMC 2012.
The study will be published in the March issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The findings, while interesting, don't help to narrow down how a dozen or more people in three countries have been sickened by the new virus, or whether more have been infected but have escaped notice because their symptoms were mild.
The researchers said bats from the Arabian Peninsula should be tested to see if they carry similar viruses. But senior author Dr. Christian Drosten cautioned that because of the wide geographic distribution of these bats, it cannot be concluded that the bat virus that evolved into the new coronavirus did so in the Middle East.
"It could have come up in any other region where those bats are prevalent," said Drosten, a coronavirus expert and director of the Institute of Virology at the University of Bonn Medical Centre in Germany.
While it is believed the new virus came from bats, it's not known whether it moved directly from bats to people — through exposure to bat guano or urine, for instance — or whether some other animal or animals such as some form of livestock became infected and passed the virus on.
The SARS coronavirus, a cousin of EMC 2012, evolved from a bat virus that made its way into wild animals — civet cats and raccoon dogs — that are eaten as delicacies in China. "We don't know (yet) what the raccoon dog is for this virus, but there may be one," Drosten said.
He and colleagues had done previous research on bats in Ghana and in four countries in Europe — the Netherlands, Romania, Germany and Ukraine. As a result of that earlier work, they had stored fecal samples from nearly 5,000 bats. After EMC 2012 emerged, they tested the samples looking for coronaviruses.
They found previously unknown viruses related to the new coronavirus in nearly 25 per cent of Nycteris bats, and 15 per cent of Pipistrellus bats. The viruses from the latter were most closely related to EMC 2012. In one case, the genetic codes differed by less than two per cent.
Three of four Pipistrellus bat species tested positive for the similar coronaviruses, Drosten said. "The whole Old World region is full of different Pipistrellus species. And I wouldn't be surprised if all of them contain related viruses."
So if these bats commonly carry viruses similar to the new coronavirus and carry them throughout many parts of the world, why have infections only been seen in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan? And why now?
Do the cases — nine confirmed plus a similar number of probable cases — represent multiple introductions of virus from bats to people, like sparks from a fire? Or did the virus jump once and spread, mostly unseen, from person to person?
At present, those questions have no answers. But there are ways to find clues, particularly to the question of whether the virus made multiple jumps from its bat reservoir.
Generating genetic sequences from all the viruses that have infected humans — where virus has been isolated or virus fragments are available — would give scientists information to compare.
Each type of virus evolves at a particular rate. The speed is referred to as its molecular clock. Comparing genetic sequences from the first known cases to later cases should show if the human viruses have evolved from one another.
The first spotted case was a man from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia who died in June. But in November, a Cairo-based U.S. naval research laboratory confirmed that two people who died in Jordan in April 2012 had been infected with the new virus.
"We will never have a definite answer unless we find the source. But we will have very, very clear hints if we sequence more viruses," Drosten said. "The further apart in time, and in geography, those virus sequences are, the more we will learn."


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|Dusty, Vander
|1920x1080, AVC (H.264), 4875kbps
|File Size:
After several delayed flights, I was worried this shoot was not going to happen. Vander has a very narrow window to shoot in while in grad school, and his summer months tend to be very active playing catch-up. For a very chill dude, he keeps his schedule tight.
Dusty missed his morning flight, then the connecting flights were delayed 4-5 hours, making this a very late evening shoot. He was a little tired after traveling all day, but thankfully the two guys clicked immediately so there was chemistry in the bathroom!
I think Dusty has a rough trade vibe that goes well with Vander. And given the volume of videos that Vander has, it is no surprise that he seems to get along great with everyone. Both guys are very easy going, so I knew if I could just get them in the same room, magic would happen.
They both know how to work the bathroom space, using the trash can and urinal to full advantage. No pissing in this one though, sorry! They just got down to some serious cock sucking and Vander was super ready to be fucked after not only holding out all day to cum, but also the day before. His balls were bursting!
It still surprises me what an eager bottom he is, and how quickly he can nut from getting fucked!
Dusty is just as good at shooting his load on and inside of Vander's hole, leaving him there to play with Dusty's jizz leaking out his hole!


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Use VoiceOver to read text on Mac
VoiceOver provides many ways to read text.
Note: VO represents the VoiceOver modifier.
To read
Do this
From the top ("Read All")
Press VO-A, or flick up with two fingers. You don't need to interact with the document.
From the VoiceOver cursor to the bottom
Press VO-A, or flick down with two fingers. You must first interact with the document.
A paragraph
Press VO-P. To move to the next or previous paragraph, press VO-Shift-Page Down or VO-Shift-Page Up.
A line
Press VO-L. To move to the next or previous line, press VO-Down Arrow or VO-Up Arrow.
A sentence
Press VO-S. To move to the next or previous sentence, press VO-Command-Page Down or VO-Command-Page Up.
A word
Press VO-W. To hear the word spelled, press VO-W again. To hear it spelled phonetically, press VO-W again. To move to the next or previous word, press VO-Right Arrow or VO-Left Arrow.
A paragraph, line, sentence, or word using gestures
Press the Command key while touching a finger on the trackpad; repeat until you hear the setting you want to use.
A character
Press VO-C. To hear the character spoken phonetically, press VO-C again. To move to the next or previous character, press Right Arrow or Left Arrow.
If "Use phonetics" is selected in VoiceOver Utility, characters are read phonetically, as in "a alpha n november t tango."
When you use the Down Arrow key to move from one line of text to the next, VoiceOver speaks the line where the insertion point is located. If you press the Down Arrow key at the first line of a document, VoiceOver won't read the line because the insertion point has moved to the next line. To hear the first line of text in a document, press VO-Down Arrow.
The orientation commands VO-F4-F4 and VO-F5-F5-F5 can be useful in determining the insertion point's location in a document.
To assign commands to keys that let you fast forward and rewind text when you use Read All, open VoiceOver Utility (press VO-F8 when VoiceOver is on), then click Commanders.


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Carpet set- BLACK, Alfombra ajuste NEGRO DE PIZO FIAT POLSKI 126P
Carpet set- BLACK, Alfombra ajuste NEGRO DE PIZO FIAT POLSKI 126P
- Condition: NEW
- in stock: Yes
- Free Shipping: FREE Local Pickup Flager, FREE Local Pickup Hialeah, FREE Local Pickup Miami, USA
- Returns: 14 days money back, buyer pays return shipping
- Payments: Master, Paypal, Visa
- Service Delivery: USPS
- Weight: 1.5 lbs
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A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is applicable). Packaging should be the same as what is found in a retail store, unless the item is handmade or was packaged by the manufacturer in non-retail packaging, such as an unprinted box or plastic bag. See the seller's listing for full details.
New other (see details)
A new, unused item with absolutely no signs of wear. The item may be missing the original packaging, or in the original packaging but not sealed. The item may be a factory second or a new, unused item with defects. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
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Cleared payment
A payment is considered "cleared" after your payment has been deposited into the seller's account. If you pay using PayPal, the payment may clear immediately. However if you pay by check, money order, or eCheck, your payment may take several days to clear.


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Smaller Engines Can Be Better
When people think about a 1.0-liter engine, they probably don't think much of it, at least not people in the U.S. There's no replacement for displacement, right?
Well, it turns out that in Europe, plenty of people have proven themselves to be receptive to 1.0-liter engines in Ford products.
Featured Content
According to Ford, for the first six months of 2014, one in five Fords sold in Europe was equipped with a 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. That's about 120,000 vehicles.
In terms of specific vehicles, 47% of all B-MAX multi-activity vehicles had one, and although that vehicle isn't available in the U.S., these two vehicles are: 33% of all Focus sales in Europe had a 1.0-liter and 30% of Fiesta sales.
How small is a 1.0-liter EcoBoost? As the people from Ford of Europe point out, the engine block can fit on a sheet of A4 paper, which is approximately the size of a sheet of typing paper in the U.S. (A4 measures 8.3 x 11.7 in., while typing paper is 8.5 x 11 in.)
And as for that no replacement for displacement, consider this.
The 1.0-liter EcoBoost is offered in the U.S. as an option in 2015 Fiesta. The standard engine is a 1.6-liter four.
The turbocharged three cylinder engine produces 123 hp @ 6,350 rpm and 148 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm.
The normally aspirated 1.6-liter four produces 120 hp @ 6,350 rpm and 112 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm.
That's some awfully clever powertrain engineering.
Clearly, the Europeans get it. Odds are good, those of us in the U.S. will, too.
Related Topics
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The Lexus ES sedan is more than just an offering within the company's lineup.
Truck vs. Truck; Steel vs. Aluminum
According to Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet truck marketing director, "We engineer and build our trucks with customers' expectations in mind."
RAV4: 4 Things About the Fourth Generation
Although the RAV4 has plenty of heritage in the small crossover segment, competition has gotten a whole lot tougher, so Toyota has made significant changes to the fourth-generation model.


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Arts endowment honors 10 new recipients of National Heritage Fellowships in DC
WASHINGTON (AP) � The National Endowment for the Arts is honoring 10 new recipients of National Heritage Fellowships in Washington.
The 2012 fellows are chosen for their artistic excellence and their efforts to conserve American culture. They'll be honored Wednesday and will perform Thursday at George Washington University.
This year's fellows are: Mike Auldridge, a guitar player from Silver Spring, Md.; Paul and Darlene Bergren, dog sled and snowshoe designers from Minot, N.D.; Harold Burnham, a shipwright from Essex, Mass.; Albert Head, an arts advocate from Alabama; Leonardo Jimenez, a Tejano accordion player from San Antonio, Texas; Lynne Yoshiko Nakasone, an Okinawan dancer from Hawaii; Molly Neptune Parker, a basket maker from Princeton, Maine; The Paschall Brothers, a gospel quartet from Chesapeake, Va.; and Andy Statman, a New York City musician.


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Do you remember the days of 'Go-Fish' and 'Snap'? Do you remember friendly rounds of 'Poker' and 'Bridge' after work or at a party? Card games are a staple of any home and hold fond memories for everyone. And when there are literally hundreds of games that you can play with a deck of cards, it's not surprising.
Card games have exploded across the world and now are one of the leading social strategy games internationally. This is why we have a large range of card games for kids as well as adults. Just some of our big name card games include: Uno, Zeus on the Loose, and Sleeping Queens. With their beautiful art, challenging and interactive nature, card games makes thinking and strategising fun.
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Coffee Common: Bringing Coffee Power to the People
New York, you've been warned. A motley crew of migrant coffee professionals is set to land in your city next week. They're here to school you—in a friendly way—and they may also fix your grinder for you.
Coffee Common, a sort of bookmobile of coffee knowledge that's successfully deployed at TED events in the US and abroad (as well as at a one-day London pop-up) comes to Chelsea January 19–22, at A Startup Store, a conceptual space near the High Line that plans to showcase rotating "exhibits", such as this interactive coffee experience.
What is happening exactly? Coffee Common's four-day stint will act as an educational community outreach for everyone from the coffee connoisseur to the simply coffee-curious, taking brewing out of the cafe space and delivering it in a super-personalized, non-intimidating form.
For a door price of $5, visitors can circulate between three different stations, each offering a different way to taste and understand coffee and coffee brewing, guided by talented baristas from across North America. You can bring your coffee equipment from home, and ask your baristas to show you how to get the most out of your device. Or you can bring a coffee you love, and try it out on Aeropress, Chemex, or V60 dripper with personal attention. Or you can simply try out the coffees they'll already have on hand—from roasters like San Francisco's Ritual Coffee, Portland's Heart, Ithaca's Gimme! Coffee, Durham's Counter Culture Coffee, and Chicago's Intelligentsia—and learn more about what makes great coffee great.
Guided tastings will be available both vertically, like an Ethiopian Haru brewed in different methods, or horizontally, such as tasting several different coffees all brewed in an Aeropress. Another—most interesting!—station will allow guests to try coffee brewed to high standards versus coffee brewed intentionally poorly, such as comparing coffee ground just before brewing to the same coffee ground a week prior, coffee brewed with filtered water to the same coffee brewed in cruddy water, and so on.
Most of all, the event seeks to take away the attitude and commerce associated with traditional coffee shop environments, and simply focus on getting people excited about their coffee, and making it better.
"We've found that consumers really like to be engaged in this sort of environment, where it's away form a cafe, with multiple roasters and multiple baristas, and the thing we're there to sell them is how to make coffee better, how to support their curiosity and enjoy it further," said Coffee Common's Brent Fortune. (Besides knowledge, there will also be a variety of brewing devices, scales, kettles, and beans available for purchase.)
"We really want to focus people on a few things," said Fortune. "Using good beans, grinding just before brewing, using good water, and following a recipe." Sound too fussy? "Don't be scared," laughs Fortune. "We will hold your hand and walk you through it. It's really safe."
Coffee Common takes place January 19-22 at A Startup Store, 144 Tenth Avenue at 19th Street, New York (map). Opening hours are 11-8 Thursday, 11-7 Friday, and 11-6 Saturday and Sunday.
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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The brother of a British man who was killed along with his wife, mother-in-law and unrelated cyclist while vacationing in the French Alps broke his silence today, telling BBC television he had nothing to do with the attack.
Zaid al-Hilli is currently free on bail after being arrested in connection with the attack, but he told the British broadcaster that he was innocent of the crime, and that French authorities had engineered a cover-up aimed at hiding the real target of the killings.
Zaid's brother Saad; Saad's wife, Iqbal; her mother; and a French cyclist were all discovered dead in a wooded area near the French town of Annecy in September 2012. The couple's two young daughters survived the attack, including one who spent about eight hours huddled beneath her mother's lifeless body before help arrived.
French authorities investigating the killings believe it was the result of a family feud which pitted Zaid against his brother Saad over the disposition of their father's inheritance. They believe the cyclist, Sylvain Mollier, was an accidental victim shot because he inadvertently stumbled across the scene as the killings were in progress.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
But Zaid al-Hilli said he believed Mollier was the intended target all along and that the French had blamed him to take the heat off the cyclist's killer.
"They are covering up for someone in France in that region and they know it," al-Hilli said, according to written excerpts of an interview due to be broadcast by the BBC on Monday. "There is something more to it locally ... most crime has local roots."
French investigators and people who knew the brothers have indicated that Zaid and Saad al-Hilli were in the middle of bitter battle, but Zaid said their relationship was still strong.
"Our relationship was very brotherly and very close, and we looked after each other," he said.


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Report: Steelers not interested in bringing James Harrison back
Longtime Steelers linebacker remains unsigned
Even though the agent for linebacker James Harrison said he would welcome a phone call from the Steelers, he probably shouldn't expect the phone to ring anytime soon.
The Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette reports the Steelers "closed the door" on Harrison over the weekend.
Harrison, who turns 35 in May, has yet to find a new team after two weeks on the free-agent market. The Ravens were thought to be a possible landing spot for the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year -- Harrison had a visit scheduled in Baltimore on Sunday -- but the team signed linebacker Elvis Dumervil to a five-year deal worth $35 million.
The Steelers released Harrison before the start of free agency when the two sides failed to renegotiate his contract. Harrison was due a $6.57 million salary in 2013 and more than $7.5 million in 2014.
Harrison missed the first three games of last season while recovering from knee surgery, but he finished the season with a team-leading six sacks.
Even if the team was interested in bringing Harrison back, it has limited cap space to work with. The Steelers will, however, get another $5.5 million in cap space for 2013 when Willie Colon's release becomes official in June.


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It's obvious that Rihanna loves herself some bad boys.
She just released a new remix of her very racy Talk That Talk track "Cockiness" with a guest verse from the self-proclaimed, Pretty Muthaf–ka himself, A$AP Rocky. He opens the Bangladesh produced record with his signature cocky swag while Rihanna brings the dancehall vibe to the rest of the fan favorite track. Rumor has it, these two will be performing the song as part of Rihanna's VMA opening performance on Thursday.It'll be interesting to see what they have in store.
No one can do ya The way that I do
Boy I wa-a-ant (Youuuuuu)
I love it, I love it I love it when you eat it
Okay Ri!
Take a listen below:
Read more: New Music: Rihanna f/ A$AP Rocky – Cockiness (Remix) | Necole Bitchie.com


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Optus suffered a 3G data outage across Australia last night, mostly affecting New South Wales and Queensland. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) Amaysim, Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile all run on the Optus network.
"Due to a router issue some customers on prepaid and postpaid services had intermittent 3G data issues between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. last night," an Optus spokeswoman said in a statement. Most services "were restored by 7:30 p.m. with the reminder restored by approximately 9 p.m. We apologise for the inconvenience."
"There was an outage late yesterday afternoon which affected customer access to data services," an Amaysim spokesman said. "It was resolved last night and all services should now be operating normally."
Optus, Amaysim and Virgin Mobile alerted customers about the data outage on Twitter last night.
Vodafone experienced an outage across six states late last month due to an issue with one of its data routers.
Follow Adam Bender on Twitter: @WatchAdam
Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU, or take part in the Computerworld conversation on LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia


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On Sparrow Hill
- Maureen Lang Author
- 2008 8 Mar
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from On Sparrow Hill by Maureen Lang (Tyndale House Publishers).
Chapter 1
Hollinworth Hall, Northamptonshire, England
Rebecca Seabrooke didn't have to open the letter in her palm to know its contents: the annual employment offer from England's National Trust. More money than she would ever see at the private historical home at which she now worked. More prestige. Perhaps even a choice of locations, since so many of the country's national home treasures were owned by the Trust.
She really must e-mail her father and ask him to stop wasting postage on such offers. Despite what at least one Hollinworth thought of the work she did here, Rebecca was convinced the Hall was as much a treasure as any other property listed in the Trust's considerable inventory.
Brushing aside the letter, she turned her attention to her busy calendar. With her education staff manager on temporary family leave, Rebecca found herself taking charge of house-and-garden tours in between meetings with business associates and brides wanting to schedule the manor for banquets and weddings.
But none of that took precedence in Rebecca's mind today, for today the owner of Hollinworth Hall would return to the private quarters he kept in the north wing. And she'd only learned of his impending arrival this morning.
Nonetheless she'd already asked Helen to make sure his rooms had been aired and cleaned. Fresh flowers from Rebecca's favorite garden brightened every alcove, and even now Helen was baking his favorite bread. Rebecca could smell the fragrant herbs all the way up in her second-floor office. Given his mother's recent quote in a local newspaper about closing the Hall to visitors, Rebecca knew she had a fight on her hands and the son, the legal owner of the Hall, might very well be the rope in this tug-of–war.
Thankfully she'd outgrown the adolescent crush on him she'd once suffered. Her father had pointed him out as the son of the family he formerly worked for, and when she was twelve and he thirteen, she thought Quentin Hollinworth the most sophisticated and handsome male alive. He was still handsome—she knew that despite seeing him only once or twice a year—but growing up had taught her a few things, one lesson being that classes didn't mix well, even in today's all but egalitarian England. Though he wasn't dating the daughter of an earl anymore, there was still his mother. She was proof enough the classes should mix only when both parties wanted to be in the same one.
Rebecca had far too much work to be dwelling on such irrelevant things. Directing her attention back to her computer screen, she pulled up her e-mail. The first one she noticed was from a college friend about meeting at a club in London this weekend, another event Rebecca would be sure to skip. She skimmed the content, part of her admiring the busy city life her friends had chosen, part of her knowing she'd followed the right path in staying out here in the country.
Before long, her gaze returned to the window, hearing the crunch of gravel beneath a car. Quentin Hollinworth had arrived. She imagined the estate caretakers, Helen and William Risdon, going out to greet him, welcoming him home.
Unwillingly she glanced at the bottom drawer of her desk, where she kept the newspaper society pages she couldn't seem to resist. It was silly of her to have kept so many clippings, except that it all pertained to the family connected to the estate she ran. Keeping a scrapbook of their lives was part of her job as steward of their legacy. Preservation was more patriotic than personal. In that drawer was Quentin Hollinworth's recent history, from his political work to his not-so-private breakup with Caroline Norleigh. Rebecca couldn't think of Quentin without remembering all of that.
She returned to her e-mail, reading a message from a teacher who had visited recently and was thanking Rebecca for bringing their Victorian heritage to life for the two dozen children she'd guided that day. These were Rebecca's favorite notes—ones that proved her work made a difference. If the Featherby were awarded, she could spend more effort in attracting such groups. They didn't pay as well as business banquets or weddings, but to Rebecca, educating children was far more important.
"Good afternoon, Rebecca."
Quentin Hollinworth looked tall and strong even with a massive doorway behind him. His broad shoulders filled out a casual, somewhat crumpled, beige linen suit, a stark contrast to his dark hair.
"Welcome home." She quickly averted her gaze and shifted the chair closer to her desk. Her battlement, safe behind the mahogany. It had been nearly three months since she had spoken to him. He trusted her so thoroughly with the running of the Hall that he almost never checked in. If she was to have her way, though, that must change. She alone couldn't prove the value of the Hall in its current public state. She would need his help.
"I see you've single-handedly held down the roof."
"Hardly single-handedly." Rebecca thought of William and Helen, who lived in the estate home on the grounds and supervised most household needs. And the education staff members who came on tour days to create an authentic Victorian atmosphere. Not to forget the many maids and repairmen going in and out, the land agent who oversaw the crops, nor the head gardener, who lived in the village but spent most of his waking moments making sure Hollinworth Hall lived up to its reputation as one of the finest garden spots in the United Kingdom.
"Without you," Quentin said as he neared the desk, "I'm sure the place would fall to ruin, no matter how big a staff."
"And how is your mother, Quentin?" Rebecca didn't really want to know, unless Lady Elise Hollinworth had something to do with his visit. To close the Hall to the public? "She's well, I hope?"
"Yes, she is well," he replied. "At the cottage for the summer."
Rebecca nodded. Despite the cozy term for the Hollinworth estate inherited from his mother's aristocratic side of the family, the so-called cottage was anything but quaint. Less than fifteen kilometers away, the sprawling mansion surrounded by fifteen hundred acres of meadow, lakes and woods was the center of Hollinworth country social life.
"The tour season is off to a healthy start," Rebecca said. "We've received several calls for visits here before the next holiday."
"The schedule is in your hands, Rebecca. I plan to be here rather than at the cottage most of the summer."
Here? For the summer? To assess whether or not to keep the Hall open? "I'll be sure no one gets in your way." How calm her voice sounded despite the blood pumping madly through her veins. "Guests still have access only to the usual spots, of course, depending on the event." Myriad thoughts clashed with her effort to keep the conversation going. If he were here to evaluate the merit of keeping the Hall open, she must convince him—the sooner, the better. If he closed the Hall to the public, it wasn't just a matter of losing a job she loved. Failing a dream came at a much higher price.
Taking a seat opposite her, Quentin appeared at complete ease. "I've no doubt you'll keep me well protected."
She caught his eye, then looked away. Protecting him from the general public was part of her job. "Yes, between me and a good security system, Quentin, that should be manageable."
He said nothing, and Rebecca wasn't sure what he was thinking. She might have known of Quentin Hollinworth since she was a child, but in reality he was no more than an acquaintance. Her grandfather had been the last in a long line of valets to Quentin's male forebears, most of whom had been Hamiltons and members of the peerage. By the time Rebecca's father was of an age to take up the position, valets had long since fallen out of vogue. So her father had taken on the role of houseman and resided in the very estate home William and Helen now occupied. Her father had stayed only long enough to finish his graduate work in Victorian studies. When he decided to leave employment of the Hamilton/Hollinworth family—a Seabrooke tradition for no less than twelve generations—Quentin's father might have been put out. Yet he'd revealed neither disappointment nor frustration over having to hire someone entirely new to the family to oversee household workings. Quite like the fine English gentlemen he'd been. Setbacks were to be expected; it was how one handled them that proved the true character of a man.
"We're being considered for a Featherby Education Award," Rebecca said finally. Her finest weapon, another award to prove that the preservation of historical English life should be valued not ignored, forgotten, sold, or kept hidden in the private lives of the elite.
"Yes, so I've heard. I received the notification at my London flat. It's entirely due to you, Rebecca. Congratulations."
She managed a steady smile. "We haven't won yet."
"As they say, it's an honor to be nominated." He caught her shifting gaze. "Actually, Rebecca, that was one of the reasons I planned to stay the summer. I thought I might lend a hand, talk to the judges, be immediately available if you need to consult about anything."
Relief, surprise, and pleasure melted through her. He supported her effort to win the Featherby? If he wanted the Featherby, he couldn't support his mother's idea to close the very function that won the nomination to begin with. "That would be lovely. I was considering going through the vault again. Perhaps we can re-create new attire for the staff." She turned to the monitor on her computer. "I have the vault's inventory here. If you have the time you might take a look at it."
He shook his head. "Helen tells me you've taken tours every day this week and have been working yourself silly. Can I have tea brought up for you?"
For a single moment she remembered her old crush, especially when she caught his eye as he waited for her answer. She shook her head. Now was certainly not the time to fall back into that old habit. "No, you go ahead. I'll check my e-mail, catch up on a few things here."
Quentin stood, nearing the door as she eyed message headers on her e-mail. An unfamiliar subject caught her eye.
"Quentin," she said slowly, clicking on the note, "have you heard of a place called West World Genealogy?"
He stopped and turned to her. "No, I don't think so. Why?"
"I've an e-mail from them with your name in the header. Shall I read it?"
He nodded.
"'Dear Mr. Hollinworth, an American family desires to make contact with English cousins such as yourself. In our research we have determined the lineage to be accurate. They have in their possession a journal belonging to Cosima Escott Hamilton, of whom you descend, which you might find of great sentimental interest.'" Rebecca looked at Quentin. "Are you familiar with a journal by Cosima Hamilton?"
Quentin shook his head.
"Nor am I." She looked again at the screen, noting the attachment. "There is a pedigree here. Would you like to see it?"
Without a word, Quentin rounded the desk. When he leaned over her, Rebecca could smell the faint trace of soap, the same pine scent he always used. The same brand Helen kept stocked in every bathroom in the Hall.
"The ancestry is correct," he said. "At least I think it is, from what I recall of those portraits hanging in the gallery. You probably know better than I; you write the tour scripts full of my family history."
"These names are right, even as far back as the first viscount. Some names I don't recognize, though—Grayson, Martin. I suppose that's the American side. We don't have many records of families outside the direct line."
"A shame we're all such snobs," he said with a grin. "What do you think then? It's legitimate?"
She nodded. "The list includes Cosima Hamilton's four children. I wonder if there is more family history that I don't know about."
"I doubt that," Quentin said, and she smiled at his assured tone—one of complete and utter trust that she knew more than she actually did.
"I will contact them first if you like. Just to make sure it's valid."
"You're my champion, Rebecca. Protecting me again."
She studied the names even as she wondered why he'd used that word again. A reference to protecting him shouldn't contain an undertone of disdain; she was paid to do that very thing—by Quentin himself. "I doubt this could be a hoax. They have too much of the correct lineage."
"I've an idea," said Quentin, leaning forward, "Since you claim not to need tea, why don't we go down to the vault now? I can't imagine Americans having the original journal belonging to one of my grandmothers."
"Kipp Hamilton might have owned it. He was Cosima's son, and he went to America." She eyed him. "It would be fun to have a look, though."
Quentin went to the door, holding it open. "To the vault?"
Nearly three hours later, Rebecca tucked an annoying strand of hair behind her ear. She should have it cut to shoulder length or at least go upstairs and find a hair band to pull it away from her face.
"Ready for some dinner at last?" Quentin asked from another corner.
Perhaps she'd sighed aloud when she had only meant to complain to herself about her irksome hair. "In a bit."
He neared her, his long white sleeves covered in black butler's wraps, his dark hair uncharacteristically unkempt from sifting through crates and boxes for the last few hours. "I'm not for throwing in," he said, "just taking a break."
She stood away from the box she'd been hunched over, feeling the pull of an oddly used muscle. "I hope you know I realize how ridiculous this is. I should know everything in this vault. Wouldn't Cosima have left something here if she was prone to journaling?"
"Maybe she wrote only one journal and gave it to the child who went off to America as you said earlier. In any case, not being certain about what's in this vault isn't your fault, Rebecca. If anyone is to blame, it's I." He lifted a hand to take in their tall surroundings. "This is all mine and yet I've no idea what's here."
Rebecca glanced around the high-ceilinged room. Part of a 1920s renovation, it was a veritable bank vault of security with its steel walls, complete darkness when closed off, and more recently, a regulated temperature. "When your father hired me three years ago, one of the pledges I made was to update the inventory system." She saw items she knew were catalogued. "I honestly cannot fathom how I could not know as much about Cosima Hamilton as another branch of your family—one not even English!"
Quentin's gentle laugh echoed off the high metal.
"I've never seen you so perturbed, Rebecca," he said. "I like it."
"Like . . . what?"
"Seeing you as frustrated as the rest of us when looking for something."
She raised a brow. "The rest of us?"
He nodded, leaning over to shut the curved lid on the trunk of china she'd been searching. "The rest of humanity, Rebecca. I've always thought nothing could irritate you and you were therefore set apart."
"Never irritated? Perhaps that's because you've not been home when the goats manage their way beyond the gate and rummage one of the gardens, or a nervous bride changes her banquet menu a dozen times, or a corporate manager expects a two-hundred-year-old hall to easily accommodate his electrical needs for an online presentation."
"Perhaps I'll be fortunate enough to witness something along those lines this summer."
She returned his smile. "And may I say I hope not?"
"I'll ring for dinner to be served on the veranda."
Rebecca watched him walk to the telephone mounted just inside the vault door. The exchange line was a precautionary measure, since the vault locked from the outside. Turning back to the last trunk, Rebecca listened to Quentin's voice as he directed Helen. A light dinner. On the veranda. For both of them.
She focused on the task before her. The latches on each side of this last trunk were stiff, but she managed to free them without marring the receptacle. Inside, a quilted dustcover protected the trunk's contents.
This trunk was one of two they had found only a short time ago, hidden from view behind a large Chippendale chiffonier. The first of the two trunks had contained nothing more than a set of china. She'd recognized the pattern immediately; while a popular nineteenth-century style and the number of settings plentiful, it wasn't particularly noteworthy except that it was Irish. It would be disappointing indeed if this second trunk contained only more of the same.
Instead of dishware, she found two small pouches, a set of books tied together with a leather strap, and a wooden box.
Rebecca heard Quentin approach from behind.
"Perhaps we've reached the end of the rainbow," she said, taking up one of the leather-bound books.
But they proved to be Victorian novels, not journals. One was Vanity Fair by Thackeray, and the other, John Halifax, Gentleman by Craik. No pot of gold here, even if the latter was one of Rebecca's favorite classics. Each looked like a first edition and was probably worth something, particularly the Thackeray novel with the author's original illustrations.
"Let's see what's in these pouches," Quentin said. He pulled the string on one, tumbling a handful of polished stones into his palm. "Nice specimens."
"Perhaps some should go into the science hut," she said. "I'll have a look at them later to see what kind of stones they are."
She pulled the box from the bottom of the chest. It was made of smooth wood, stained and varnished to a sheen, capped at the corners with dark metal brackets. On the lid were words burned into the wood in meticulous calligraphy:
Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.
"Isn't that something Luther said?"
Rebecca nodded, tracing a finger over the letters, unable to resist touching them. "It's lovely, isn't it?"
"Let's see what's inside," he said.
She rocked the lid loose. It was stuck tight from years of disuse. At last it came free, squeaking as she lifted it.
"Papers," she said. "Letters, with a note on the top."
"Does it say whose they are?"
Rebecca shook her head, reading bold words written at the top of the yellowed sheet of paper. "'For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.'" She looked at Quentin. "That's from St. Paul's letter to the Romans."
"Does it say anything else?"
She read the rest of the note. "'My dear Berrie's life can be summed up by hope and worship, along with a fair share of suffering to keep her fixed on eternity. Enclosed are the letters she sent to me so long ago, when we were both young and had much to learn.'
"Hope, worship, and suffering," Quentin said grimly. He looked from the box to Rebecca, holding her gaze. "The life of a Hamilton—and a Hollinworth. At least my father's. Maybe mine, to some extent."
She wanted to dwell on his observation, discuss the suffering he'd been through since the loss of his brother and father when their small plane went down in a fog, ask countless questions to fathom if it had turned him bitter or soft toward worship. But old fears stood in the way. Too personal, don't pry. And yet . . . the look in his eye . . . Perhaps he wanted her to.
No sooner had she identified such a look than it disappeared. "Let's take this with us to the veranda, shall we?" he said. "Have a peek over dinner, before it gets too dark outside?"
She nodded, following him from the vault.
Minutes later Rebecca sat with the box on her lap. The sun set to the west, and the scent of a 150-year-old rose garden wafted on the air to mingle with the enticing smell of potted chicken, herb bread, and almond tarts.
Despite having been tucked away in an environmentally regulated vault, the words were fading, particularly along the creases. But they were still legible.
"It's exciting, isn't it?" she asked. "A portion of your family's history is here, perhaps something you don't yet know about."
Quentin shrugged. "I confess I'll be interested in contacting this American relative who inspired our search. Beyond that I haven't nearly the fascination for the past that you—and the American, I presume—have. Read one."
Rebecca obeyed. The letter on top was addressed in a neat, feminine script.
To Cosima Hamilton
"Not from your great-great-great-grandmother. To her. To Cosima." Rebecca realized she'd reverently whispered only after the words left her mouth.
"From Berrie, I assume from the note," he said. "That would be Beryl, from the portrait next to the one of Cosima and Peter Hamilton."
Untying the ribbon, Rebecca gently opened the fragile envelope. Whatever wax had once sealed it had long since dried, leaving behind a faint blue shade. She glanced down the page. "It goes into some detail."
"Let me," he said, setting aside his cup. "It's the only way I can prove I'm not bored by the topic, historical though it is, and at the same time give you a chance to eat."
Rebecca put the letter into his outstretched hand, took a bite of the creamy chicken, then pushed it away and settled back in her chair.
She knew exactly what Beryl Hamilton had looked like. Berrie was forever young in Rebecca's mind and lovely too. She had dark hair like her brother Peter's, though she didn't have his dark brown eyes. Rather, Berrie had unimaginably blue ones that somehow survived in Quentin today.
Rebecca had no trouble picturing what it was like on the day Berrie Hamilton had written that letter. . . .
Excerpted from On Sparrow Hill. © 2008 by Maureen Lang. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.


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Hedon seek: Depp's 'Libertine' a pompous bore
"You will not like me," John Wilmot (Johnny Depp), the 2nd Earl of Rochester, promises at the opening of The Libertine. "The gentlemen will be envious and the ladies will be repelled– I do not want you to like me."
Be careful what you wish for.
You'd expect a libertine to be a fun guy, but John is a pompous bore. King Charles II (John Malkovich) dotes on him as a great poet and wit, but the women in John's life are far more clever and profound.
Not his wife, Elizabeth (Rosamund Pike), who mostly just whines about how he neglects her; but his mistress (and true love), the actress Lizzie Barry (Samantha Morton), and his favorite whore, Jane (Kelly Reilly).
The King, knowing Rochester to be opposed to the monarchy, tries to co-opt him in 1675 into serving in the House of Lords and writing for the crown, even commissioning a play intended to win over the French for a critical alliance. This pornographic production, presented unpreviewed (and thus uncensored), would be the highlight of the movie if it weren't interrupted too soon.
The hedonist, who tells women he's "up for it all the time" and tells men he's "up for that as well," suffers a slow, painful death from syphilis; and we get to watch. He actually becomes more interesting in this portion of the film as Depp pours tremendous energy and skill into his performance, after coasting on Rochester's reputation for the first two thirds.
Indeed, except for a couple of kisses (with women) and affectionate pats (with men) we have to take Rochester at his word about what a stud he is. The way he likes to cause trouble, he's more of a contrarian than a libertine, alienating all but a few with his bluntness and caustic wit.
The episodic nature of The Libertine can be traced to its stage origin; Stephen Jeffreys adapted the screenplay from his own stage play, and it shows. (Malkovich played Rochester in a Chicago production.) In addition to moving jerkily from one scene to the next, the script dramatizes uninteresting moments while only talking about others that, while they would have been hard to stage, could have made dynamite cinema.
Stage Beauty, also based on a play and set a decade earlier in much the same milieu (theaters and the royal court), was funnier, sexier, and told a better story. It likewise had a key subplot about a young actress emerging as a star and falling in love with her mentor.
A real historical character, John Wilmot was 33 when he died in 1680, the same age as Jesus Christ and Evita Peron. This would seem to qualify him for a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. If they write it, let's hope they don't use The Libertine as a blueprint.