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GLOBUS 2021: Spain, Portugal & Morocco (ZU)
17 days from Lisbon to Madrid
On this Spain, Portugal, and Morocco tour, experience these three glorious countries, each with a rich history and culture! Overnight in Lisbon, Seville, Rabat, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Erfoud, Fez, Tangier, the Costa del Sol, Granada, and Madrid. Tour highlights include the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon, a symbol of Portugal's power during the Age of Discovery; Madrid's Prado Museum, with its 8,000 pieces of Western painting; Seville's Casa de Pilatos with its collection of Roman sculptures; Granada's Alhambra complex; and Toledo's Church of Santo Tome, which houses one of El Greco's most famous paintings. Enjoy a ferry ride across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco and in Rabat, visit the beautiful Mohammed V Mausoleum, with the tombs of the Moroccan king and his two sons. Step back in time in Marrakesh with sightseeing that includes Bahia Palace, built in the late 19th century, and the 16th-century Saadian Tombs (if closed, visit Badia Palace instead). Wander through the Djemaa El-Fna, a square and exotic bazaar offering some of the greatest open-air entertainment. Listen to the storytellers-an integral part of the culture-and browse for handicrafts. In Fez, a guide leads you through the labyrinthine Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Medersa Bou Inania, an architectural work of art built between 1350 and 1357. One cannot think of Casablanca without thinking of the homonymous movie. Here, Globus has arranged a special experience for you enjoy lunch at Rick's Cafe Americain, a re-creation of the bar made famous in the movie. Another special treat is a four-wheel drive to the sand dune of Erg Chebbi, formed by the Sahara sand. Back in Spain, spend time on the Costa del Sol, where you can relax and soak up the sun on the beach; and in Madrid, a special farewell paella dinner awaits at a local restaurant. These are just a few of the many highlights offered on this spectacular Spain, Portugal, and Morocco tour. A memorable vacation indeed!
Call (815) 226-9900 for more information or to book today! Mention code 15133499
- Tour Operator
- Globus
- Offer
- Offer valid through 12/31/2020
- Duration
- 17 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
|Day 1
|Welcome to Lisbon! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
|Day 2
|Lisbon was the center of Europe's longest-lived overseas empire. Portugal's imperial ambitions date back to Prince Henry the Navigator's 15th-century discoveries in West Africa. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide features a drive through the Baixa quarter's main squares and walk along the cobblestone alleys of quaint ALFAMA, the popular quarter of the seamen and Fado singers. Drive along the grand Avenida da Liberdade up to Pombal Square. Stop for pictures of Belem Tower, guarding the mouth of the Tagus, and the Monument to the Discoveries. Also visit JERONIMOS MONASTERY with the tomb of Vasco da Gama. An optional excursion to the royal palace of Queluz is available, as well as dinner at a typical taverna with Fado-style entertainment. (B)
|Day 3
|In Azeitao, visit a traditional TILE WORKSHOP. Next, enter Spain and reach the vibrant capital of Andalusia, Seville.Today's Distance: 298 mi / 480 km (B,D)
|Day 4
|During your sightseeing tour with a Local Guide, hear about the city's role in Roman times, its conquest by the Moors in 712 AD, and its contribution to the discovery of the New World. Admire Maria Luisa Park, the Golden Tower on the Guadalquivir River, and the university that was once the tobacco factory of Carmen fame. Also visit the magnificent CASA DE PILATOS, a mixture of Moorish and Roman architecture with a splendid collection of Roman sculptures. Then, stroll through the narrow lanes of the charming SANTA CRUZ QUARTER. For those interested, an optional extended guided visit to the cathedral is available. Tonight, for a truly Andalusian night out, reserve a seat at our optional Flamenco show. (B)
|Day 5
|Travel through the sherry wine region of Jerez to Algeciras and enjoy a FERRY RIDE across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco. Follow North Africa's infamous Barbary Coast to Rabat, once a lair of the corsairs and now the country's capital.Today's Distance: 286 mi / 460 km (B,D)
|Day 6
|Sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the massive medieval battlements, the Royal Palace, MAUSOLEUM OF MOHAMMED V, Hassan Tower, and the Kasbah of Oudaias. Also visit the fine ROMAN RELICS OF CHELLAH. Continue to Casablanca, Morocco's modern seaport. [LF] Lunch will be served at Rick's Cafe Americain, famous for the movie Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, and the song As Time Goes By. Your guided panoramic drive features a visit to the HASSAN II MOSQUE, a splendid monument designed to mark the end of the century. Evening arrival in Marrakesh, beautifully situated in an oasis.Today's Distance: 205 mi / 330 km (B,L,D)
|Day 7
|Follow your Local Guide and visit BAHIA PALACE, the 16th-century SAADIAN TOMBS (if closed, visit the BADIA PALACE instead), and to Djemaa El-Fna, the vibrant town center dominated by the 222-foot-high Koutoubia Minaret. (B)
|Day 8
|Today, travel to Morocco's 'Hollywood,' Ouarzazate. Deep in the desert, the city has been immortalized in movies like Lawrence of Arabia, Star Wars, Gladiator, and Game of Thrones. Later, visit the KASBAH TAOURIRT, by many considered a must-see site for a glimpse into the lifestyle of people from long time ago.Today's Distance: 124 mi / 200 km (B,D)
|Day 9
|Take a fascinating drive through the desert via the Dades Valley with its oases filled with olives, dates, and figs. Then, head through Morocco's Grand Canyon, Todra Gorge, to Erfoud in the heart of the Sahara. A special treat awaits: enjoy [LF] a spectacular FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE to the sand dune of Erg Chebbi. Admire the unforgettable, romantic sunset and sip the traditional mint tea before heading back to your hotel.Today's Distance: 193 mi / 310 km (B,D)
|Day 10
|Enjoy your last views of the desert and turn northward. Stop in Er Rachidia, originally built as a French settlement, and travel via the Ziz Gorges and the Middle Atlas mountains to Fez. Blessed with an ample supply of water and strategically situated, Fez became the capital of Morocco when the country shook off foreign rule under Berber King Idris in the 8th century. To this day, Fez has remained Morocco's spiritual and artistic center. Tonight, why not sign up for an optional folklore dinner?Today's Distance: 267 mi / 430 km (B)
|Day 11
|See the magnificent entrance to the Royal Palace, drive through the Mellah, the old Jewish quarter, and travel on to Bab Bou Jeloud, the traditional entrance to Old Fez. Your Local Guide also leads you through the labyrinthine MEDINA and MEDERSA BOU INANIA. Continue to Tangier, jumping-off point for the Moorish conquest of Spain, and enjoy an orientation drive of this busy seaport.Today's Distance: 211 mi / 340 km (B,D)
|Day 12
|Costa del Sol
|Board the FERRY for the trip back across the Strait to Europe. Continue to the elegant Costa del Sol, where you will stay for two nights.Today's Distance: 94 mi / 150 km (B)
|Day 13
|Costa del Sol
|Today is your chance to join an optional excursion to the Rock of Gibraltar, in British hands since 1704. Later, enjoy the sandy beaches, browse through the trendy boutiques, or just relax. Tonight, why not try out local specialties at one of the lively restaurants? (B)
|Day 14
|Leave the Mediterranean coast and arrive in Granada. A guided walking tour features a visit to the ALHAMBRA COMPLEX, a fantasy of 'lace in stone' surrounded by arabesque gardens and fountains, with superb views of the Old Quarter and Sacromonte. Also visit the WATER GARDENS OF THE GENERALIFE. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.Today's Distance: 137 mi / 220 km (B,D)
|Day 15
|Drive via Don Quixote's La Mancha to Toledo, where a Local Guide takes you to the Moorish bridge, an early SYNAGOGUE, the CATHEDRAL, and the CHURCH OF SANTO TOME with one of El Greco's most famous paintings. Visit a DAMASCENE STEEL WORKSHOP before arriving in Madrid.Today's Distance: 292 mi / 470 km (B)
|Day 16
|The capital since 1561, Madrid today is a strikingly modern city, the showcase of a country resolutely turned towards the future. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide takes you to the Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Espana with its monument to Cervantes, the Parliament, Cibeles Fountain, elegant Calle Alcala, and Paseo de Castellana. Then, the highlight: a visit to the palatial PRADO MUSEUM, founded in 1819, and considered to have one of the finest collections of European art of the last 8 centuries, with the works of Goya, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, and more. An optional excursion to El Escorial is available, and tonight, [LF] a special paella farewell dinner awaits at a local restaurant as a proper way to say adios to Spain! (B,D)
|Day 17
|Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- US$ Price Details
Prices are per person, based on double room occupancy.Single room supplement: $890Triple room reduction per person: $50Additional accommodations before or after your tour may be available.
Travel Terms & Conditions
The purchase of any travel services offered by Globus, constitutes a contractual arrangement between you (the Traveler) and Globus, and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
Important Notes
- Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required for Globus to reserve space for you. View Terms & Conditions for limited exceptions.
- The following charges are not included in the land vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; Intra-vacation air unless specified in the itinerary; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to $11.20 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $4.00 per segment, and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government-imposed added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas (except on Cuba programs) and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Globus Group Leader in Cuba, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Globus menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature.
Booking your Vacation with Air
For air departure dates within 331 days, you'll be offered a choice of carriers and flight schedules as well as price points to choose from when selecting your flights. Your schedule will be provided to you at the time of booking (schedules are subject to change by carriers). Globus offers 2 air options: Flex Air and Instant Purchase Air. Flex Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your vacation schedule. Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options but has more restrictions. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. Guaranteed air-inclusive prices: air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $300 per person non-refundable air deposit is required for Flex Air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e. air-inclusive vacation). Air can only be booked by Globus in conjunction with a vacation package. Instant Purchase Air requires air payment in full at time of booking (i.e. air-inclusive vacation) plus non-refundable per person service fee ($30 for North/Central America, $50 for Europe/Middle East and $80 for all other destinations. Once booked, Instant Purchase Air is non-refundable, and non-changeable. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. However, once your airfare is confirmed and Globus has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
Air-Inclusive Vacations - Applicable Taxes & Fees
Air-inclusive vacations include government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking and will be shown as a Total Amount. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. At the time of booking your air-inclusive vacation online, carrier Websites will be provided to check baggage fees, or you can visit www.iflybags.com for up-to-date baggage pricing/restrictions. For return travel from some countries, international travelers are required to pay entry and/or exit fees at the airport. These fees will be collected by the local government and are payable by the traveler at time of travel. Your confirmation booking information will contain information about these fees.
* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s) - please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Globus).


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Postal Service proposes increase in stamp prices
WASHINGTON — Facing a "precarious financial condition" as fewer customers use its services, the United States Postal Service proposed another round of rate increases Wednesday to go into effect in January — its largest price hike since 2002.
The plan — which would raise the cost of first-class stamps for one-ounce letters to 49 cents from 46 cents, among other changes — is intended to generate an additional $2 billion in annual revenue for the Postal Service. The agency expects to lose about $6 billion in the current fiscal year.
Postage rates jumped one cent in January 2012 and again in January 2013, but those changes were tied to increases in the Consumer Price Index, according to the Postal Service. The proposed three-cent increase was the result of "extraordinary circumstances."
In a letter sent to customers, Chairman Mickey D. Barnett said the Postal Service put together a five-year plan earlier this year to close a $20-billion budget gap and reduce its debt, but "the uncertain path toward enactment of postal reform legislation" had necessitated its rate adjustments.
"Of the options currently available to the Postal Service to align costs and revenues, increasing postage prices is a last resort that reflects extreme financial challenges," Barnett wrote.
The Postal Service has already cut back 22,000 delivery routes, laid off 203,000 workers and trimmed its annual operating costs by $16 billion since 2006 in an attempt to reach profitability, he added.
Members of Congress from both parties immediately reacted to the announcement with calls for comprehensive legislative reform. Bills were introduced in the Senate and the House this summer to address the Postal Service's financial condition and are still in committee.
"While some rate increases may be necessary, the long-term key to USPS's future is addressing its costly, inefficient delivery network," Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), who introduced a bill to the House, said in a statement. Failure to address those costs will force "a string of rate increases much larger than the ones today that will inevitably trigger an irrecoverable death spiral for the agency."
Among the most controversial reforms suggested has been the elimination of Saturday delivery, which would save about $2 billion a year. A proposal by the Postal Service was abandoned in April after Congress passed a spending bill that prohibited cutting back to five-day service.
Utah man accused of planning attack on shopping mall
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Final name crossed off missing persons list in Colorado floods
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subset: commoncrawl


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By Jill Dougherty
Moscow claims an American diplomat tried to recruit a spy for the United States, calling it a "Cold War" provocation. But the timing may indicate the allegation could be linked to fallout over Russian information-sharing about a Boston Marathon bombing suspect.
Russia said Tuesday that Ryan Christopher Fogle, a political officer at the U.S. Embassy, was caught trying to recruit a Russian intelligence officer.
He was shown in videos and still photos released by the Russian security service, FSB, that got wide play in Russian media and brimmed with the stuff of spy novels.
In one video, Fogle is shown face down on the street and then is hustled into a car and driven away.
Fogle then enters a room and passes a table displaying his "spy arsenal" - wigs, recording devices, what appears to be a stack of Euros, a knife, and plastic bags with documents.
The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that the incident not only exposed "a foreign agent who was caught red-handed" but also raised "serious questions" for the United States.
"While the presidents of our countries reaffirmed their readiness to expand bilateral cooperation, including the cooperation of intelligence agencies in fighting international terrorism, such provocative actions in the spirit of the 'Cold War' do not contribute to building mutual trust," the ministry said.
It summoned U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul but the embassy made no public comment.
The CIA also refused to comment.
State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell was tight-lipped.
"We can confirm that an officer at the U.S. embassy in Moscow was briefly detained, and was released," he said.
Fogle's case comes at a delicate time as Russian and U.S. intelligence services have been cooperating in the investigation of the April 15 marathon bombing that killed three people and injured more than 260 others.
Moscow provided the first intelligence information to the United States about one of the suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, before he visited Russia last year. But recently, Russian authorities have been criticized for not telling the United States all it knew.
Now, the FSB could be retaliating for that criticism.
In the YouTube video released by RT television, an FSB official says the officer Fogle allegedly sought to recruit was "involved in fighting terrorism in the Northern Caucasus" which is the part of Russia where Moscow claims Tamerlan Tsarnaev - who died days after the attack - met with Islamic extremists.
Also in the YouTube video, the FSB officer angrily tells Fogle: "At first we didn't believe that this could happen. Because you know perfectly well that recently, the FSB is actively helping in the investigation of the bombing in Boston, and on other information that presents a threat to the security of the United States of America."
Raising his voice and gesturing, the officer recalls the recent visit of FBI Director Robert Mueller to Moscow and conversations between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama, who he notes have tried to improve cooperation between the United States and Russia.
"We think, under today's conditions, when our countries are reaching a new level of relations, when the presidents of these two countries are trying to improve the climate of mutual understanding between the two governments, this citizen - in the name of the U.S. government - commits the most serious crime here in Moscow," he says.
Montblanc (Mont Blanc) in 1906, founded by a stationer in Hamburg, Germany, in 1911 adopted the montblanc brand the Company before to Simplo Filler Pen Company name. The company owned by dunhill and later today as part of the richemont group form. Real Christian Louboutin Outlet http://courseschedules.njit.edu/RealChristianLouboutinOutlet.aspx
Another example of the government shipping jobs overseas.
Interesting coincidence, a day after Fogl departure there are two incidents related to Caucasus. Including use of highly sophisticated protected channel radio-toy.
I think it may be kind of hard to pretend your offended when your last spy is doing modeling events worldwide.
Come on Russia, stop acting like this is something unheard of. You have spies here, we have spies there, everyone knows it . We just arrested and sent back *10* of your spies just a couple of years ago..lol
Access Control System is needy appliances now a day...I recommended this.
This sounds so similar to past actions by the Russians. They screw up, get called on it, then feel the need for payback to anyone noticing their errors so they play childish games. It's never been a face-saving thing, it's a bully response.
reminds me of the mess our intel community was during the clinton years....we need adult leadership. The Russians are laughing at us. And there is obama standing in the rain with a US Marine holding and umbrella over him trying to spin our improved relations with Turkey...while being pelted with questions about his mess of an administration....the Turk looked like he couldn't believe his eyes and ears...humiliating and again under reported!
@jerrylax,like the Bush administration doing nothing with the intel from the out going Clinton administration about terrorists targeting certain American cities and all it did was make the waste paper basket..Just explain to me how republicans responsible for 9/11 could have done worse than they've already have done because its pretty clear your partys full of screwups something you'll ignorently lie for as well won't yah jerry!!
The WH and the Hill were told the Boston investigation was going to take sometime. No doubt there is a lot of pressure for answers and results. A 6 month op cannot be done in a month. At best if everything goes well 4 months. The powers that be don't seem to understand what, take sometime actually means. Send them a dictionary.
As Russian american I am offended that insted of saing thank you Russia, the original state sponsors of terrorizm are attempting to put Russia in anegative light. The US spy was cot at a time when Putin and Cary met and there is no denile what hedid was crimnal and stupid. Why not condam CIA for it and not Russia?
The answer ALEX, is that the right-wing thugs in Washington never want to admit when they are wrong, although in the majority of cases, they are! They are just too arrogant, self righteous and power hungry to do so!!!
Spies, regardless of the countries they work for and in which countries they operate, exist, which means that they are guilty of spying, whether or not they are caught. If they are caught, they are executed, imprisoned or expelled.
This case is no different, other than it being sensationalized. If the US decided to (or not to) stir up the press when they catch a Russian spy, is a strategic decision. The same can be said for Russia. In this case they believe that it is strategically important to sensationalize it. Both countries spy on each other. That is an absolute fact. That also means that both countries are guilty of a "betrayal of trust". For Russia to try to stir things up in this case is hypocritical and opportunistic. They are just as guilty as the U.S.
you really believe that this guy in the goofy wig is a spy??? MOre like a cross dresser caught on tape.
Yeah right / look out James Bond, there's a new sheriff in town, 1986 wig and all / alert Q Section.They've probably got Rosa Klebb on the case already.
This stuff is not even worthy.of a headline. No country can run an effective foreign policy without knowing what the "other guy" is thinking. That's what embassies and their staffs do!
Tsarnajev was a sleeper, but of a different kind. He was supposed to go to Russia to do things, but the funny stuff that Russians knew about him even before he became toxic, so they asked FBI: Seriously?
The answer was "not your problem". How come Russians knew about his development even before FBI knew?
If you answer this question you'll know the roots of homegrown wannabees.
How did Russian FSB knew about Tsarnayev before FBI?
This is easy to answer: William Plotnikov (a canadian friend of Tsarnayev) was detained by FSB in Dagestan in 2011 and told them about Tsarnayev. The reason why Plotnikov was detained is because he run away from home in Canada and his father inquired to Russian authorities to find him, as he believed that his son traveled to Russia. Plotnikov, while not committing any crime on his own, was known to hand around in a very bad company of Islamic extremists in Dagestan, and ended up being killed among 8 others during a shootout with FSB in July 2012. [It is not clear what Plotnikov role wasin is; it is very possible that he was there just to enjoy adrenaline of being among the tough guys (or wise guys). They/he refused to surrender and their apartment was stormed by FSB spetsnaz resulting in all got killed. FSB lost one on their own during the shoot out].
It is also very likely that FSB scared hell out of Tsarnayev, because he fled Russia on July 16, 2012 just two days after Plotnikov was killed.
What about their sleeper cell we just uncovered? How many more are there?
They will never admit, and we will never trust completely. And this just proves we aren't any better.
That is just how it is done. Not that there are no other ways to do it. Like just get along.
You think it dosnt work the other way around?
Those ivy league idiots are horrible field agents.
I am sorry to say it, Jill Dougherty, but Boston bombing is completely irrelevant for this. You just made it up.
Jill Dougherty is only trying to be politically correct just like the rest of the right-wing news media, Alex279. Of course none of this has anything to do with the Boston bombing.
There is absolutely nothing new in this case. The U.S. has been spying on Russia since WW2 after the creation of the C.I.A. I wonder just how of our military technology came from Russia this way. I bet that it was quite a bit!
Actually John, virtuaslly non of it came from Russia. Most of what the Russiand had, they stole from us.
True. Hardly nothing came from Russia. But a lot of what you guys had(particularly the rockets and missile that were the pride and joy of America) in the 50s and 60s was courtesy of the German Nazi scientist that were conveniently pardoned.
I just completed reading an article on a certain Operation Paperclip. Quite a lot of efforts was put by you guys to bring in Nazis responsible for destroying London with V2 rockets and killing thousands on POWs.
Bravo bravo.
Hi Mikey.
Please be specific. What military technology did Russia and the Soviet Union have that was stolen from the United States? (Beyond their atom bomb, which would have been ready sooner if Stalin had not wanted a copy)
The Yak-141 was stolen from the Russians and developed into the JSF program during the 1990s. And the US used to say that supercavitating torpedoes were impossible until Edmond Pope tried to steal designs of them. So far, the US has been unable to develop its own and Russia still has the fastest torpedoes.
Quite true Sunandan, quite true. Without these German scientists. we'd be very far behind the Russians in almost every field today!!! On the other hand, the American military tried awfully hard to capture a Russian built MIG-15 during the Korean war(1950-1953) but without any success.
Good grief Mikey, you sound like another ignorant Tea Partier spewing out more right-wing, cold war, anti-Russian propaganda. Anyone today with a 10th grade education would know better than that!!!
Well, since I lice and work in Moscow, I see first hand that you don't know squat about Russia.
@Sunandan Kaul,Wernor Von Braun a noted German scientist was made an American citizen for crossing over to help develope missiles and was the father of our first space flight in creating NASA!!
nothing new, they spy on us, we spy on them; I bet our bets allies spy on us and we spy on them. But the worst are muslim spies (sleeper cells); they steal our technologies including remote controlled toys, and make bombs out of them.
Sorry folks, I never posted the above. Some Tea Partying nitwit is trying to make me look as dumb as he is, so please ignore it!
my apology folks, I goofed up again, I have too many IDs; some time I am supposed to be posting for and sometime against under different ID, and sometime I forget to switch my ID, so my posts are getting confused, I am George Patton-2, and I am for sending sleeper cells to GITMO. And Guards at GITMO should spit back at those terrorist prisoners.
On average ..not so much came from the USSR...except for one big piece of technology...radar stealth...some Russian Physicist published a paper on Maxwell's equations with respect to radio waves and how they can be refracted or absorbed using special materials. However no espionage was needed...it was openly published in a Russian physics periodical.
curious – do you know the reference of this periodical (Journal, vol, pg #) I want to read
So let me get this straight Putin is saying you cannot disprove a negative. I do not see how a cross dressing apple knife carrying hey where do I put this papperwork other than a plastic bag deal in cash political wana-be is somehow dangerious to Putin...do you? I thought Putin was large and in charge so to speak. Hey, what ever happened to that red-headed striper wana-be ex- KGB daughter that the US care- packaged back to Mother Russia with five other of her coffie house bum cohorts?
She is still counting the money she made off the photos
She is even making new photos.... + a lucrative job of sitting on a board of directors in a Bank + membership in United Russia Party.
Generally you use illegals for that a compartmentalized cell. A member of the cell makes an approach or blackmail. You wait to see if the asset reports it, then you leak a barium meal to see if it gets spat out. If secure you use the asset. Dead drops with a USB using two illegals each does not know each other from the asset. That is three layers removed, two from the asset. It is slow but secure you take what is on the USB and leave messages and communicate on another USB. Speak in code and use encryption. That allows you to conduct three leaves of surveillance before you make the last dead drop of the cell if the asset or the cell is under surveillance you will know. And you sent up a swiss bank account for the asset.
Very safe, but I would abstain from Swiss, Liechtenstein instead plus Macao for contingency. Not sure why that bozo went backwards ,almost rogue , direct emai?! Wigs, sunglasses, knife... almost seems like he is double agent that was recruited by FSB to get busted pending Syria talk to gain extra leverage.


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Tephra Vegan is a clothing brand for men and women that have become a movement to promote vegetarianism and banning slaughter houses. The brand presents unique clothing with quotes and slogans printed on them so that the wearer can express what they stand for. The online store offers a wide range of clothing and accessories such as t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, phone cases and more to allow people to express their views.
The ladies can find the long sleeve t-shirts made with 100% cotton, available in multiple colors to keep them warm and comfortable. The brand promotes the Vegan lifestyle and condemns animal slaughter and animal cruelty which is why it provides the specially made clothing for the people to proudly express their Vegan lifestyle to the world. These t-shirts and accessories can also be ordered in bulk by organizations and group of individuals who support Vegetarianism. The online store also offers tank tops, crop tees and half sleeve t-shirts in various colors and printed quotes, for women. The 'Go Vegan' tank top, Awake women crop top, Hope women tee are some of the popular items from the store.
Tephra offers classic t-shirts for men with beautiful slogans printed on it. The 'Émpathy is Strength', 'Abolish all slaughter houses', 'Awake King' raglan sleeve t-shirt are some of the most popular items in the men's section. The customers can also sport their Vegan lifestyle using the custom-made tote bags with Vegan quotes. The 'Go Vegan' and 'Hope' tote bag is designed to represent one's love for animals and belief to stand against any type of cruelty towards animals. These tote bags are made using 100% bull denim woven construction with dual handles.
Tephra Vegan also offers a variety of accessories such as iPhone cases, hats, and beanies for the Vegans and anyone who supports Vegan life. The Vegan 5 panel camper comes in classic Black, Gray and Navy Blue. The online store offers a special category of Cotton Branch Farm animal sanctuary collection that features a variety of t-shirts for men and women.
Tephra meaning, 'solid matter ejected during a volcanic eruption' stands for shattering old dogmas and perception to make way for a better life for everyone on the planet. It provides a chance for the customers to make a difference in the society by manifesting their message to bring change in them and others.
More information about the brand can be seen on the official website of tephravegan.com.
Media Contact
Company Name: Tephra Vegan
Contact Person: Press Execuctive
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Country: United States
Website: tephravegan.com


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|Arizona Heat (Silver)
|Complete a round of golf at TPC Scottsdale in any game mode
|Best of the Best (Silver)
|Beat an EA Sports GamerNet Daily Challenge
|BLAMMO! (Silver)
|Hit the green on your first stroke at Sawgrass 17
|Couch Potato (Silver)
|Watch a Community Video in Latest News
|Fairway in Regulation (Bronze)
|Land the ball on the fairway after your tee shot.
|GamerNet Pack Rat (Gold)
|Earn 10,000 Player Points in EA Sports GamerNet
|GamerNet Specialist (Silver)
|Earn 5,000 Player Points in EA Sports GamerNet
|Going for The Greenbrier (Silver)
|Complete a round of golf at The Greenbrier in any game mode
|Green in Regulation (Bronze)
|Land the ball on the green with at least 2 fewer strokes than par.
|Hall of Famer (Platinum)
|Congratulations for unlocking all trophies in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
|Hanging Chad (Gold)
|Provide feedback by taking a survey
|Hold my bag as I bust your clip (Bronze)
|Bust an EA Sports GamerNet Challenge
|Host of the Ryder Cup (Silver)
|Complete a round of golf at Celtic Manor in any game mode
|I see the Statue from HERE (Silver)
|Complete a round of golf at Liberty in any game mode
|Learn from the Pros (Silver)
|Play a Live Tournament with ball paths turned ON
|Nice View (Gold)
|Complete an 18 hole round with a final score under par using True-Aim
|Packed Clubhouse (Gold)
|Compete in a 12 vs. 12 Online Team Play Match
|Played the Pros (Gold)
|Submit a score in a Play the Pros Live Tournament
|Reading the Green (Gold)
|Sink a 50 foot putt
|Showing My Skills (Bronze)
|Post an EA Sports GamerNet Challenge
|Site of the PGA Championship (Silver)
|Complete a round of golf at Whistling Straits in any game mode
|Stay Focused (Gold)
|Use Focus to hit a 375 yard long drive.
|Team Player (Silver)
|Play in an Online Team Play match
|USA vs. Europe (Silver)
|Participate in the Ryder Cup


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Trend Micro has released a new version of its cloud-based Mobile Security app that can now provide more protection for iPad and iPhone users. The new version for the iOS 7 platform has added protection to scan downloads from the App Store, and can alert users to the possibility of data theft.
Trend Micro said that while the instances of viruses are not high on the iOS platform, it's the theft of data and identities through dodgy apps that mostly causes users problems. The Mobile Security for iOS app aims to counter such apps by letting users know what permissions and data each app requires. It does this by using Trend's App Reputation Service, and it's the first time such a scanner has been enabled by Trend Micro on the iOS platform, primarily because versions before i0S 7 did not allow for the implementation of such scanning. Prior versions of Mobile Security on the iOS platform were limited to features such as finding a phone.
In addition to scanning new and already installed apps, Mobile Security for iOS will offer a secure browser that can be used by iOS users when they are making purchases or banking online. Trend Micro said that with the decline of traditional notebooks and PCs, between 40 and 50 per cent of all online banking transactions are now happening on tablet and smartphone devices.
Facebook settings are also a cause for concern, with Trend saying that over 50 per cent of people in Australia had not recently checked their Facebook security settings. The Mobile Security app does a sweep of the social media network's settings to inform users of any potential privacy issues and if they are sharing too much data. Trend recommends that users scan these settings on a monthly basis.
While the big news for Mobile Security is the extended protection it now provides users of iOS 7 devices, the app has also been updated for the Android platform (it's up to version 5.0), with Trend saying it has improved overall performance, and beefed-up malware protection that can clean apps in the background. This is the key difference between the iOS 7 and Android version of the Mobile Security app, due to the different threat vectors of both platforms: iOS is predominantly phishing, while Android is malware.
Trend Micro is trying to make it easier for users to keep their contacts backed up, giving iOS 7 users the ability to keep another copy of their contact list in addition to the one that is kept in Apple's Cloud. It also allows for cross-platform sharing of contacts, allowing users to seamlessly change from one type of device to another. A user won't have to use a license on both types of devices in order to restore contacts to a new device, with Trend Micro telling us that Mobile Security could be installed on the new device (say Android), and then a 30-day trial version installed on the old device (say iPhone) in order for the contacts data to be transferred over.
Trend Micro Mobile Security is available now for $29.95 for Android, and iPad and iPhone models running iOS 7, and can be bought either online or through Harvey Norman, JB Hi-FI, Dick Smith, and other retailers. It also works with Kindle Fire OS.
The app will cost $29.95 in New Zealand, too, but won't be available for New Zealand users until 10 March.


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(NewsUSA) - In the past, research institutions and government agencies stored data on tapes and hard drives -- often without backing up the information. Today, when employees discover damage to these tapes and hard drives, they don't assume that the data are lost forever -- they simply call data-recovery expert John Bordynuik.
Take the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). From the '60s to the '90s, MIT recorded its intellectual property onto seven- and nine-track reel-to-reel tapes. When MIT realized that they could no longer read any of these tapes -- and that the data on the tapes couldn't be found anywhere else -- they tried to recover the data. They failed. It wasn't until 2004, when MIT contacted Bordynuik, that the institution was able to recover the priceless data it had stored on 30,000 pounds of tapes.
Bordynuik -- who has an IQ higher than Einstein's -; developed his own ovens to bake the tapes, ridding them of any stickiness. After that, he could read them without mangling them and transfer their contents to modern media. In addition to recovering data for MIT, Bordynuik has read tapes for Harvard University, the United Nations and the United States Army.
NASA contracted Bordynuik to recover "unreadable" earth science sensor data that had been recorded on reel-to-reel tapes from 1960 to 2000. NASA was so pleased with Bordynuik's work that, in 2008, NASA sole-sourced his company, JBI Inc., which trades on the OTC under the stock symbol JBII. That means that NASA will award all of its future data-recovery work to JBI.
Bordynuik's interested in other industries as well. His company is moving forward to commence operations on a process, Plastic2Oil, that converts waste plastic into a fuel similar to diesel. Pak-It, a JBI subsidiary, also produced a line of environmentally friendly home cleaning products that come in dissolvable packets. If Bordynuik's work in data-recovery is any indication, we can trust in the success of his other projects.
JBI is currently applying for AMEX (American Stock Exchange). For additional information, visit www.plastic2oil.com, www.jbiglobal.com or www.johnbordynuik.com.
Data-recovery expert John Bordynuik has read tapes for MIT, Harvard and NASA, among others.
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Article Date: January 28, 2010
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Happy President's Day everyone. Here's some light reading for your day off – a Pirate player who's a name match for each one of our country's Commander-in-Chiefs. I hope you'll forgive some stretches where there wasn't an exact match.
George Washington – U.L. Washington (SS)
John Adams – Babe Adams (P)
Thomas Jefferson – Jesse Jefferson (P)
James Madison – Art Madison (2B)
James Monroe – Craig Monroe (OF)
John Quincy Adams – Sparky Adams (2B)
Andrew Jackson – Grant Jackson (P)
Martin Van Buren – Andy Van Slyke (OF)
William Henry Harrison – Josh Harrison (3B)
John Tyler – Tyler Yates (P)
James Polk – Kevin Polcovich (SS)
Zachary Taylor – Carl Taylor (OF)
Millard Fillmore – Len Gilmore (P)
Franklin Pierce – Steve Pearce (1B)
James Buchanan – Steve Buechele (3B)
Abraham Lincoln – Brad Lincoln (P)
Andrew Johnson – Mark Johnson (1B)
Ulysses Grant – Mudcat Grant (P)
Rutherford Hayes – Charlie Hayes (3B)
James Garfield – Bill Garfield (P)
Chester Arthur – Dixie McArthur (P)
Grover Cleveland – Elmer Cleveland (3B)
Benjamin Harrison – Joe Harris (1B)
Grover Cleveland – Elmer Cleveland (3B)
William McKinley – Michael McKenry (C)
Theodore Roosevelt – David Ross (C)
William Taft – Jack Rafter (C)
Woodrow Wilson – Jack Wilson (SS)
Warren G. Harding – Hardie Henderson (P)
Calvin Coolidge – Duff Cooley (1B)
Herbert Hoover – Rich Sauveur (P)
Franklin Roosevelt – Rosie Rosebraugh (P)
Harry Truman – Shane Youman (P)
Dwight Eisenhower – Bill Howerton (OF)
John Kennedy – Brickyard Kennedy (P)
Lyndon Johnson – Bob Johnson (P)
Richard Nixon – Brian Bixler (SS)
Gerald Ford – Chance Sanford (3B)
Jimmy Carter – Steve Carter (OF)
Ronald Reagan – Bill Regan (2B)
George H W Bush – Bullet Joe Bush (P)
Bill Clinton – Clint Barmes (SS)
George W Bush – Guy Bush (P)
Barack Obama – Ken Oberkfell (2B)
If this was a 40 man roster, you be hard pressed to make a decent everyday lineup out of it.
Filed under: baseball, Pirates | Tagged: baseball, Pirates, Presidents Day | Leave a comment »


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snow on snow on snow
Things that were yelled out the door to me while I shoveled the driveway this morning:
"Mom, help! I have a never-ending booger!"
"Mom, I accidentally tried to make myself a chocolate sandwich and it is the worst sandwich I ever did. I'm sorry, Mom."
"Mom, come inside and wipe my butt! Evan says it has brown on it!"
"Mom, hurry and come in and watch this part of the show."
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" (from Lily, when she managed to get the door part-way open and fell out into the snow.)
"I want to come HELP!"
So, yeah, a pretty quiet morning, all in all.


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Corner con: Bagel prank raises hopes
It's been nearly a decade since Brian Fox snagged a spot on the Corner for a third Bodo's. So when a sign appeared announcing that the town's best-known bagelry was opening its University Avenue location, locals salivated. A check of their calendars, however, would have revealed the truth: The sign was an elaborate April Fool's hoax.
"People are so nuts," laughs Fox, owner of the chain. "It's very funny."
Fox was particularly impressed by the trouble the unidentified pranksters went to to make the joke seem believable. They stuck a 3 x 3-foot laminated poster on the Corner Bodo's door, and distributed professionally printed flyers around UVA, promising free bagels from 7-8am.
The news was soon spreading nationwide by email, reaching UVA grad Catherine Jordan in New York by late morning.
"It's about time!" wrote Allison Elias, who by that time was in on the joke and was having fun spreading the word. An email attachment, supposedly a Cavalier Daily article, told the real story.
"April Fool's! Do you think the Bodo's on the Corner would ever open?" Elias wrote.
Good question.
Fox is cagey.
"There's absolutely nothing to it," he says, "except the usual disclaimer, which is that I don't talk about it."
It was May 1995 when Fox confirmed that he'd rented the space for the Corner Bodo's. Someday a real opening announcement will appear, he promises.
"It's gonna happen," Fox insists. "Keep the faith."
Hopes rose, but bagel dough did not.


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Ward 1 has a vibrant collection of neighborhoods in Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis that have an eclectic mix of residential neighborhoods, parks, industrial areas and commercial districts. It is home to involved neighborhood groups, a thriving arts community, and a variety of small and large businesses.
The ten neighborhoods in Ward 1 include Audubon Park, Columbia Park, Como, Holland, Logan Park, Marshall Terrace, Mid-City Industrial, Northeast Park, Waite Park and Windom Park. See Ward 1 neighborhoods map and Ward 1 profile (pdf).
Distinguishing Features of the First Ward
- City's Highest Geographic Elevation
- Mississippi River
- Nation's Premier Arts District: Northeast Minneapolis Arts District
- Central Avenue
- NE Minneapolis Brewers & Distillers Association
- Columbia Park Golf Course
- Art-A-Whirl, Hotdish Revolution, Northeast Parade
- Edison High School Green Campus
- Hollywood Theater
- Firefighters Hall & Museum
- Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) Headquarters
- MWMO Stormwater Park & Learning Center
- Northeast Public Library
- Historic Shoreham Yards Roundhouse
- City's Best Snow Sledding Hill
To schedule an appointment with Kevin, email: [email protected].
Last updated Sep 20, 2018


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- About Us
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Contact FreedomWorks
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- Toll Free 1.888.564.6273
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Here's FreedomWorks' Weekly Update from Capitol Hill, for the week of April 15-19, 2013.
House/Senate/Schedule: Both chambers of Congress will remain in session for the next two weeks.
Legislative Highlight of the Week: This week is Cyber Week in the House, during which the House will deal with various internet regulations and cybersecurity measures. The most important of these is the Cyber Information Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), H.R. 624. Sponsored by Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-8), this bill would allow for more information sharing between the private sector and the federal government regarding cybersecurity. Although this year's CISPA is a net improvement over last year's bill, it still leaves open concerns about private information being shared in the name of national security. Until the remaining privacy concerns in the bill are addressed, FreedomWorks opposes this bill.
House/Cybersecurity: During Cyber Week, the House will also be considering H.R. 1163, the Federal Information Security Amendments (FISA) Act. FISA has over the years repeatedly caused concerns about internet privacy, so while this bill has recieved little attention from privacy groups thus far, it bears watching.
House/Cybersecurity: The House will also vote on H.R. 967, the Advancing America's Networking Information Technology Research and Development Act. Sponsored by Cynthia Lummis (WY-AL), this bill would provide funding for research and development in the cybersecurity and tech industries. In a free market, the market decides what is worthy of R&D, not the government.
House/Energy: On Wednesday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will vote on H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. This bill would authorize the completion of the Keystone XL Pipeline in spite of the President's executive orders to the contrary, and would shield the pipeline from some of the potential lawsuits which would be levied by environmentalist groups looking to stop it. FreedomWorks has supported this bill - you can read our letter HERE.
House/New Fair Deal: With the release of the New Fair Deal Program, the first two bills will be released:
I propose a Constitutional Amendment that if congress puts vague lines in a bill for a bureaucrat to detail later as the Obamacare Bill did then before those regulations go into effect congress must approve of them with a non filibusterable up or down vote.


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Recipe from Jamie Terhaar of Williamsburg, Ind.
2 venison steaks
4 large portabella mushrooms (sliced)
2 small onions (sliced thinly)
1 clove garlic
season salt
1 can beef gravy
1. Lay steaks in an oven safe dish, season to taste.
2. Bake in a 350 degree oven for approximately 2 hours, covered.
3. Sautee mushrooms, onions , garlic in butter and olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour in beef gravy, let simmer.
4. Take the venison out and tear into small chunks, pour into pan with gravy, stir and simmer.
This can be served over rice, or noodles.
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


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Posted by Colin Rose on January 26, 2011
When I first heard about Paolo Zamboni's miraculous surgical "cure" for multiple sclerosis, I had supposed, that in addition to his desire to treat in wife's MS, he was motivated by the delusion that he could earn a place in the medical pantheon, alongside Jenner, Salk, Banting etc. Only after viewing various internet postings has it become clear to me that Zamboni plans to make himself a billionaire by patenting a disease, "CCSVI", and the means to diagnose it. He realizes that he can't patent the "liberation" procedure which is now done by dozens of avaricious, unscrupulous surgeons around the world but he can patent the machinery to diagnose the condition for which "liberation" is the treatment.
In 2008 he applied for a US patent for a "System for Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis". Note that there is no mention of his employer, the University of Ferrara anywhere in the application. If the University had considered "CCSVI" to be a significant innovation it would surely have insisted on applying for the patent as is its right. Also, note that he does not claim just to be diagnosing "CCSVI" or just neck vein abnormalities. Apologists for Zamboni often claim that he is only diagnosing "CCSVI" and only secondarily MS. To quote: "An embodiment of the invention is a system for diagnosing multiple sclerosis based on the determination of the rate of reflux, increased indices of resistance in the cerebral veins for providing clinical data useful for diagnosing multiple sclerosis."
At the same time Zamboni is acting as a consultant to Esaote, a Genoa-based manufacturer of ultrasound equipment which is selling the only machine approved by Zamboni for diagnosing "CCSVI". No doubt Zamboni envisions this machine being bought by the thousands, if not tens of thousands by radiology departments in hospitals around the world to screen for "CCSVI" in everyone under age 40 so that they can be treated for "CCSVI" by his "liberation" procedure and presumably prevent MS. Curiously, the description of this machine only appears in the site of the Bulgarian purveyor of "liberation" not in Esaote's own site. I suspect that Esaote doesn't want to publicize the use of transcranial Doppler for studying intracranial veins with the Zamboni machine because this technique has never been validated and is not used in legitimate ultrasound labs. Transcranial Doppler has a few uses for looking at cerebral arterial blood flow that do not include trying to image venous flow which would be hard to distinguish from arterial flow, as recommended by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
"Settings in which transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) is able to provide information and in which its clinical utility is established.
- Screening of children aged 2 to 16 years with sickle cell disease for assessing stroke risk (Type A, Class I), although the optimal frequency of testing is unknown (Type U).
- Detection and monitoring of angiographic vasospasm (VSP) spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (sSaH) (Type A, Class I-II). More data are needed to show if its use affects clinical outcomes (Type U)."
Of course, the only way one can learn to use the Zamboni "CCSVI" machine is to take special training from the master himself or from one of his franchises. The Hilarescere Foundation is Zamboni's charity, the scientific committee of which doles out money to him and his friends.
Unfortunately for him, Zamboni is unlikely to make much from his machine. Most of the charlatans around the world doing "liberation" don't bother to do transcranial Doppler to document "reflux" in intracranial veins. Too much hassle. Like Marian Simka in Poland, the scammers just do a fast scan of neck veins with regular Doppler that shows pulses on the screen and makes swishing noises which seems to be enough to convince the desperate patient that he/she needs "liberation" @ $10,000. Note that Simka is not doing transcranial Doppler, just neck scanning with a small portable Doppler machine. And there is certainly no computer in sight to analyze the data as required by the Zamboni patent application. This patient is even demanding to have stents inserted [more money], so fearful is he of having a "restenosis" and not being able to afford to return to Poland for another "liberation."
Here is a Zamboni machine that isn't a hoax.
4 Responses to "Paolo Zamboni-Medical Con Man Supreme-Patenting a Disease"
January 9, 2012 at 11:09
I find it ironical that the main reproach that is made on doctor Zamboni is his trying to get some money from his discovery.
I understand it would be a terrible loss for the usual pharmaceutical companies. But the reproach does not come -at least indirectly- from them, do they?


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Broadcast Is Also Sunday's # 1 Program
Once again, 60 MINUTES was one of America's 10 most-watched programs. The broadcast drew an audience of 12.96 million viewers and scored a household rating of 8.3/14 to finish at #6 in both those measurements, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Sunday, April 22.
America's #1 news program was Sunday's #1 program in both households and viewers, posting its largest audience since Feb. 12.
Sunday's 60 MINUTES featured Steve Kroft's story about the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the largest bankruptcy in the world, Bob Simon's report on the exodus of Palestinian Christians from the Holy Land and Armen Keteyian's feature on sunken treasure discovered off the coast of Key West, Fla.
The lead story on Lehman Brothers was a trending topic on Twitter Sunday evening.
CBS News Chairman Jeff Fager is the executive producer of 60 MINUTES.


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It's that time of year again. We asked the presidents at top broker-dealers about challenges to their business, their reps and their futures. Some of their answers didn't exactly surprise us, but the presidents' responses paint a picture of an industry in flux that still has a lot of potential. Editor-in-Chief John Sullivan breaks down the results.
Click here for a by-the-numbers comparison of the respondents over the past three years.
1. What issues do you feel are the most challenging to your firm business-wise in the short term (next 18 months)?
As if navigating the current volatility isn't hard enough, throw regulation, rep recruitment and retention and all that comes with running a business into the mix, and it's easy to see respondents have their work cut out for them. "Retaining rep force/recruiting the right reps" took the top spot, with 40% of the presidents having a hard time warding off the competition. "Federal budget troubles and ballooning U.S. debt" got a lowly 3.6%, suggesting that although it's an election year, few are taking notice in their day-to-day business.
2. What issues do you feel are the most challenging to your firm business-wise in the long term (next three to five years)?
When asked about their longer term views, "Dealing with margin squeeze" took the top spot. Little surprise here, as a number of smaller broker-dealers have exited the business recently for this very reason. "The aging of your rep force" tied for last place, suggesting that although everyone's talking about succession planning, the execution isn't quite there. We'd like to be optimistic and say the reason BD presidents aren't worried is because they've already planned for it, but we know this industry too well.
3. What issues do you feel are the most challenging to individual reps in the short term (next 18 months)?
Of course, "Finding the best new clients" will always be of import to individual reps, as it's the lifeblood of their businesses. What struck us as odd, though, was "Trusting their broker-dealer" only rated 5.5%. We had a feeling (just a feeling) that the number would be higher among the rep population, given the number of broker-dealers that have "voluntarily" closed their doors recently.
4. What issues do you feel are the most challenging to individual reps over the long term (next three to five years)?
Looking ahead three to five years, "Building reliable retirement income streams for clients" and "Determining their own succession plans" almost tied as the biggest challenges. Retirement income is, and will be, a dominant theme for the coming decade. How well broker-dealers can assist their advisors in this area is still to be seen.
5. Which industry association/entity do you feel is most essential to advancing your point of view, especially in Washington, D.C.?
OK, it's a broker-dealer presidents' poll; is anyone surprised by these numbers? FSI has had a number of "wins" lately. 2011 was a break-out year for FSI, and we see 2012 as equally important. They successfully advocated for the delay of the Department of Labor's (DOL) proposed rule that would have redefined the term "fiduciary." They stalled, indefinitely, the SEC's threatened reform of 12(b)-1 fees. FSI also influenced the Dodd-Frank-mandated SEC Standard of Care study which referenced FSI's recommendations over 30 times. And they feel pretty good about successfully advocating for the repeal of expanded 1099 reporting requirements.
6. Are you confident that the independent broker-dealer model will remain viable?
What else would they say: "No, it's all going to hell"? Despite headwinds, the independent broker-dealer had a pretty good year. Yes, smaller broker-dealers struggled, but at least they aren't a wirehouse. Judging from assets and individuals joining that channel, it isn't only BD presidents who believe in its long-term viability.


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As Morgan Stanley (MS) puts the ins and outs of its '09 merger with Smith Barney behind it, CEO James Gorman is opening up on what happened during the financial crisis and what is to come.
"We had been trying to buy [UBS-owned] Paine Webber for two years," Gorman told the Financial Times last week during a get-together with its top reps in Hawaii.
"We couldn't succeed in agreeing on a price, because they thought it was worth more than we thought it was worth," he explained in a story published Tuesday. "We were enamored about consolidation, but we weren't stupid."
Thus, instead of picking up about 8,000 advisors from UBS, Morgan Stanley grabbed a 51% stake in 12,000 reps from Citigroup, which it added to its existing advisor force of 8,400.
Of course, market weakness and technology problems did not make the going easy.
"We got kicked in the teeth for months if not years that it was going backwards in value," Gorman told the newspaper. "If you could withstand a bit of short-term pain, it wasn't all bad."
And painful it was, he admits. "We had two platforms. When we did the analysis we said it would cost about $1 billion to combine it. I think it cost $1 billion in the end. We said they'd get a certain functionality, and they did get that functionality. And we said it would happen in three years, and it didn't; it happened in four. So we were wrong by a year," the executive said.
But while brokers and clients got major headaches, Gorman says, he was able to suffer a bit less.
"The angst that everybody was feeling I wasn't feeling quite the same level of pain," he said, noting that he wrote a smaller check to Citi than expected for the final 49%.
The next challenge for Morgan Stanley, now that it owns 100% of that entity, is to see how to best take advantage of the $130 billion of deposits that Smith Barney deal helped it amass. In addition, the Financial Times says, the company is looking to make "a bigger push" into some traditional banking operations.
The hope is that such steps will help the brokerage firm catch up to rival Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAC) in terms of profits and advisor productivity.
In the most recent quarter, Morgan Stanley's 16,426 advisors had average yearly fees and commissions (or production) of $881,000 versus $1.06 million at BofA-Merrill.
Morgan Stanley's wealth management unit had a pretax profit level of 19%, compared with 25.6% at Merrill.
Overall, the Gorman-led group had about $3.62 billion in revenue, pretax income of $691 million and after-tax income of $423 million in Q1'14. BofA's wealth group had sales of $4.55 billion, $1.17 billion of pretax income and $729 million of after-tax profits.
The executive insists the firm puts a high value on its advisor-client business. When asked why, he said: "For the same reason that though everybody's googling every back spasm they get on the Internet, they're still going to go to their doctor for their annual checkup."


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A Continuation of German Shepherd Breed Standards
Some of the German Shepherd Dog breeders, I have noticed, stress on making money by breeding and selling puppies. Most of these breeders have not read the breed standards thoroughly, while others are negligent about understanding the main purpose of breeding German Shepherds. The motive of this discussion is to remind the so called German Shepherd breeders of their responsibilities towards development of the breed. However, some breeders are really doing great by breeding good stock.
It is important to understand that German Shepherd breed standard is a set of regulation that chiefly applies to the show dogs. The main criteria of breeding is not to enhance the look, but to retain the working ability of the breed. Most renowned and reputable breeders still spare less thoughts over the look of the dog. They still believe that "UTILITY IS THE TRUE CRITERION OF BEAUTY". Although the working heritage of this breed has diluted to the great extent, still there's no point in breeding bulkier, over-sized, heavy boned dogs that could be considered as a showcase dog, rather than actual GSD. So called breeders should meet at least the most important requirement for instance sound temperament, correct anatomy, proper size, etc. However, coloration is not that important in a working dog. Most show people have been motivated by a few non-educated breeders to run after rich markings. It is immensely important to remember that "NO GOOD DOG IS A BAD COLOR". Your dog with improper anatomy and size is not going to win an award just for his rich color and markings.
As a continuation of the GSD breed standards, I would rather say that GSD people should not consider taking the breed standard as just a breed guideline. Didi you know that the breed standard has been recently amended in terms of hair types? Please read about it here


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I've heard of mechs and mobile suits, but what the heck is an Orbital Frame?
When it comes to real-time giant robot combat, I'm the guy you want to see.
Piloting ACs (Armored Core series) for the
last four years has bestowed upon me a preternatural skill approaching superhuman
proportions. In any mech, I am a god. Now if I can only figure out how long
to set the microwave without burning my popcorn.
When I'm not off blasting inferior pilots and laughing at their dusty remains,
I'm hard at work trying to arm readers with all the ammunition you'll need when
you enter the most grueling battlefield of them all – the video game store.
The game in question this time around is Konami's Zone of the Enders.
Zone of the Enders is a fast paced third-person action game set in the
far-flung future. Amazing framerates, PS2-worthy graphics, easy control and
jaw-dropping battle sequences makes ZOE something special. Unfortunately,
it also degenerates to sheer button mashing with no customization or depth of
any sort. But as you all know, the uber-highly-anticipated Metal Gear Solid
2 graces this game with a playable demo. Mmmmm……
In the 22nd century, a colony (Antilla) inhabiting Jupiter is suddenly attacked.
During the onslaught, a prepubescent introverted young man named Leo Stenbuck
witnesses the death of his verbally abusive friends. Fleeing for his life, Leo
stumbles upon the cause of the whole problem – a giant "Orbital Frame" called
Jehuty. The enemy wants it, you now have it and there will be no compromising.
Players will find themselves travelling from area to area (which are basically
arenas, due to the confining barriers), easily dispatching enemy "frames" (robots),
searching for passcodes and picking up power-ups & other items. How many civilians
are killed due to collateral damage directly relates to your overall ending
score. Pretty status quo stuff.
Ada, Jehuty's on-board computer, guides you through the game, pointing out
key spots and essential locations as well as blatantly obvious facts. You don't
need to tell me every time I shoots something down, baby.
Most of the power-ups come in the form of weapons and ammo. Some of the artillery
you'll utilize are sniper rifles, automatic machine guns and javelins, which
can be thrown in an arc, Olympic style. You will also find a Bounder, which
allows you to spring off the ground or wall to attack your enemies at an obscure
angle. Then there's the Halberd, which functions as a giant carving laser. It's
cool enough, but very hard to use effectively.
My personal favorite is the Geyser grenade. Throw these babies and when they
land they will affix themselves to any surface, and for a brief period of time,
nifty laser beams will jut out from each one, carving up anything that treads
across their path. Pretty hot, eh?
The ease of dispatching enemies is due in part to good, old-fashioned dumb
AI and the super-simple button mash control. Just pummel the Square and X buttons
for a beautiful series of maneuvers. You can also flee any battle and completely
leave the area if you want to find a smaller compliment of enemies or a "Metatron"
life-restoring orb. This makes dying extremely hard, making the game extremely
that matter, the range of enemy types is really limited. It gets repetitive
beating the crap out of the same three types of enemy Frames.
On a more positive note, Zone of the Enders is a really pretty game.
The textures are well-defined and vibrant without being obnoxiously colorful.
The City areas achieve a great level of detail. And for those keeping score,
there are no obvious anti-aliasing problems. Die jaggies! Die!
And quite honestly, I have never in all my days of mech piloting seen aerial
robot fighting so fast and furious. The battles are just great fun to watch,
thanks to the slick framerate. It's so smooth and consistent – you just have
to see it to believe it.
I also give a gold star for the camera, which seamlessly captures all the action,
even during the most intricate and confusing exchanges. It's great! No one can
say that these battles don't look good. For the most past, this is the way a
next gen. game should operate.
But why is there no customization? I want to build my own Frame! I guess Konami
just can't compete with Armored Core 2's 10 billion possible combinations.
But then, who can?
This is where ZOE leaves us virtual mech pilots high and dry. Without
the ability to customize your Frame with various body parts, weapons and other
items, you're left feeling like there is something missing. I 'll be the first
to admit that Armored Core and Mechwarrior
have done a good job shaping my view of mech combat games. But this is because
these are the giant robot games that provide the most immersion and depth, and
both elements are sorely lacking here.
While Zone of the Enders is very arcadey and lacks the depth that will
lead to much replayability, it does offer some very good and nicely-rendered
mech mayhem. Under normal circumstances, it would make a better rental than
purchase, but that free MGS 2 demo is a great bonus.


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By Anthony Paull
I started doing away with New Year's resolutions in my 20s when I began to realize that nobody gives a shit what I resolve. Obnoxious Facebook updates have only solidified my stance that people to need get over themselves for eating like pigs and screwing like rabbits.
My theory in life is to go on and do what you do as long as you're not hurting anyone outside of the realm of decent sex. In other words, you're permitted to deliver some pain in bed but only a quick ouchie, not that shit you got away with in college when you were too poor to buy adequate lube.
I'm happy to be in my 30s because I can afford the luxury lube, unlike the spit-variety kind that I had to deal with when I was in a fraternity. Call me an elitist but it's hard to maintain the magic of the moment when your mate is hocking a loogie into his palm to shove up your ass. I can't help but laugh when I find out my friends still date guys in their early 20s, only to wake up with cookie crumbs and video games cemented to their butt cracks.
One friend named Hank, nearing 40, refuses to date anyone older than he could father. He keeps it legal but there's always some new boy he's lusting after who makes the rest of us feel uncomfortable at house parties due to the fear of getting busted for serving alcohol to a minor.
Hank states he doesn't like men his age because they are boring and don't like to do fun things like go out and get carded. Joe – the lad he's dating – is the type of guy who shows up at the bar on a skateboard and tells everyone he forgot his wallet. His "look" is varying degrees of hipster meet homeboy meets homeless depending on alcohol-consumption.
Hank finds Joe hot because he has a tight body and is good in bed. That is until last week when Hank freaked out during a routine blowjob.
"Oh yeah. Suck that young dick," Joe said.
The comment didn't sit right with Hank, who left a message with Joe the next day to end the relationship because the word "young" made him feel old and cheap. The problem is Joe speaks exclusively via text and usually waits a week to reply.
Dude, I missed your text. You mean we're not together? I thought we were gonna hit up Game Stop. I need the cheats to Zelda.
Apparently Joe thought things were going great even though he hadn't contacted or responded to Hank all week. He couldn't figure out what was wrong with that, seeing as the two have an understanding that neither seem to understand. The last they left it was they both want to be monogamous but they don't want to be in a relationship but they want to be able to do things with their friends but they want to be able to talk every day but only if they want to talk.
"In other words, you want to be relationship," I tell Hank.
"Guess so."
"Then why don't you just say that?"
Hank eyes me like I'm Buddha, professing something that he should very well know – that he consistently gets hurt because he tell guys what he thinks they want to hear even if it's not what he wants. Then he freaks out when he gets screwed over because neither party wants to commit. The issue seems to be pretty popular among many of my single friends. They want the perks of being in a relationship but don't want the responsibilities that go along with it. It's not an age thing – it's universal. The emotional needs remain high but the effort is less and less.
I don't have time to see my boyfriend today but I'll be sure to call; no text, no Facebook, no Skype, no…I'll send him an "I love you" via Morse code. That's retro, isn't it? Wow! Does that make me a hipster?
Later in the week, Hank calls me when he sees Joe talking to another guy at the bar. He's heartbroken.
"So what? Am I supposed to tell him I want more?" he asks.
"If you like him. But you might want to define what more is."
Hank sighs. "I'll call him." And he does, placing a message on Joe's voicemail, which has yet to be returned after three days. "See," he says, over a beer. "I put myself out there and nada. He's just a kid. What's the point?"
"The point is being an adult requires being able to admit what you need."
"Great," he says, taking a drink. "Except he's not calling back."
"That's OK. Maybe that's what you need to be able to move on to someone who will."


text:
Blaze Reefer Madness
- Male
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- from India
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Arnab Goswami? xD
WolkenengelLynch Blaze
Hey, how are you? Are you playing a server now?? Tell me if you want to play one with me, im experienced...
Hell's LullabyYou spend way too much time bothering with trying to make things better.
Travian is long due its expiration date and the results are shown vividly the more you roam around, both while playing the game itself and just by strolling in the forums.
Our whole Israeli Travian Staff team got fired from their job and now everyone are forced not only to avoid using their own language and divert to English, they are even using the fact we don't have any real staff/support to ignore all problems with our domain.
Shameful behavior, but from what I've seen it's in vain to even try.
well its not bad to keep hope. they might just fix a few things if a decent amount of people start talking about it.
and yes i agree at this rate, there is an expiration date.
Hell's LullabyThat's kinda the problem with my domain, in the past when something was wrong and it impacted everyone we worked together to make it sound and clear we demand some sort of compensation or at least an apology.
With time passing the population of this game narrowed drastically, for a domain as small as Israel to make them budge we need about 95% of the players to join in, obviously that's not going to happen for obvious reasons not worth mentioning, so yeah - we're pretty much toys for TG right now.
Your attitude's good though, keep it up.


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Discover for free which first names would suit you or your baby !
Meaning of name Ayame
Etymology : Means "iris" in Japanese.
Saint :
Origin : Japanese
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Gender : girl
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Numbers :
Meaning of those numbers?
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Who are they?
Secretive and reserved women who often appear quite enigmatic, they emanate an aura of mystery which they cultivate more or less voluntarily, because Ayame , Justy and Joëlle love the unknown, the unusual and the irrational. They are disconcerting to say the very least, and with the drastically different vibrations of the 5 and the 7 they could seem to oscillate between two distinct, totally different personalities or indeed assume one and not the other (the day of birth or the life Path Number sometimes includes one of these numbers). They could therefore be extroverted, courageous, independent and energetic, seduced by adventure and the unknown (if the 5 is predominant). Passionate and open to new ideas, they won´t hesitate to change direction if they think something interesting might happen, apparently carefree, shallow or even unstable. If, on the other hand, the 7 prevails then we will be in the company of much more cerebral and introverted characters who prefer introspection to action and often feel uncomfortable with their feelings and emotions. They will be inclined to self-doubt and lack confidence in themselves, which could be reflected in their perception of the world and other people, resulting in a certain wariness and anxiety. Their curious internal alchemy is undoubtedly a factor in their emotional changeability - as impulsiveness and enthusiasm give way to self-consciousness and pessimism. Daring and ready to take on the world one day, shrinking violets the next... But whatever day it happens to be, Ayame , Justy and Joëlle are a breed apart, because they refuse to follow the herd. Nevertheless, in some cases this difference will be cultivated and accentuated deliberately while in others, it will appear to be more of an affliction - resulting in a maladjusted personality and a more or less undesirable marginality. As little girls, they are already rather special: athletic, bold and even fearless - or afraid of everything and its shadow, already inclined to lock themselves away in their ivory tower and ponder the mysteries of existence... Over to you, parents, to avoid such extremes by providing the security that they require and encouraging their sociability. The martial arts are highly recommended, because the practice of such a discipline will satisfy them physically as well as mentally.
What do they like?
Ayame , Justy and Joëlle are interested by all that is heterodox, mysterious, philosophical and mystical as well as the latest avant-garde technology. They enjoy peace and quiet, frequently feeling the need for solitude. Their romantic lives are no walk in the park, on both an emotional and a sexual level... They often feel misunderstood because their inhibitions prevent them from communicating effectively. Remember gentlemen, these ladies could have invented the saying: «why do it the easy way when you can do it the hard way»...
Get your free Personality test card now !!
What do they do?
Unusual or challenging occupations are likely to appeal to them: specialized and avant-garde occupations in relation to fashion, sales, advertising, travel and movement as well as those in connection with knowledge, research, information technology and esotericism...
Discover others girls first names : Aya Ayaka Ayako
*To note: :
It sometimes happens that two different first names have the same meaning. This has nothing surprising: both first names have the same figures of numerology. It is as in astrology: two persons belonging to the same sign present the same characteristic...
Names compatibility
Test the compatibility of your names to know if your love relation is lucky to succeed. Friendship, love or passion?
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Your Name Horoscope !
Thanks to the numerology, we propose you daily a horoscope personalized for your first name. Love, money , Shape: discover what waits for you for today. In Bonus every day find your daily lucky figure .. Horoscope of the first names
Love :Couples: You're partner is extremely attentive to your needs, try to do the same for them. Singles: Tonight is your night Cinderella, Prince Charming is just waiting to meet you, make the most of it.
Money :Keep an eye out for the postman Ayame , an unexpected reimbursement could be winging it's way to you.
Health:Be careful what you eat or you could end up with a mild case of gastroenteritis.
Your Lucky number : 38


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Note: This review originally appeared in the Illinois Entertainer.
The deceptively named English trio Peggy Sue continues to delve into the dark and mysterious on its sophomore effort, Acrobats although with a more amplified sound than on its 2010 debut, Fossils and Other Phantoms. Vocalists-guitarists Katy and Rosa (the band members go by first name only) weave harmonies throughout ominous but melodic arrangements, much like the female quartet Warpaint, while Olly adds dramatic drums and percussion. The lyrics can be murky and cryptic, but most seem to deal with power struggles within relationships.
The woman portrayed in the hypnotic "Song & Dance" laments "But he gave me nothing he did not want back," while "Cut My Teeth" views a first romance as a learning experience. Peggy Sue taps into traditional English music on "Funeral Beat," while the energetic "D.U.M.B.O." feels more like a live folk rock performance. Melancholy strings augment lines like, "Come away from the window, I'm afraid of what you'll see" on "Shadows," but the most harrowing moments come on the final track, "There Always Was." "There's trouble in my blood," the song's protagonist notes over a tribal drum beat. "There always was."


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Farm News
The New Pioneers: How three young, dedicated farmers are carrying on the tradition of working the land
"The most peaceful thing in the world is plowing a field. Chances are you'll do your best thinking that way." — Harry Truman
Some will make a go of it and others will wash out, sometimes quite literallyAfter three summers with Palumbo, Ciotola headed out on his own, inspired in part by a presentation showing how draft animals can be used in farming. Telling a local dairy farmer about his plans to buy a team of oxen, the farmer offered to let Ciotola train two bull calves (males have little value in a dairy operation.) Compared to oxen that produce and distribute waste that helps farmers, experiencing a "face full of diesel fuel in my face" running a tractor really turned Ciolota's head. Oxen do a fabulous job pulling logs out for lumber with minimal impact and going places that tractors can't go. In fact, much of the work on a small farm, according to Ciolota, can be done as quickly using oxen as tractors, and improves the soil health of the fields in the process. It's not that Ciolota doesn't use a tractor. He does have a small one but, with little faith in the fossil-fuel economy, owning oxen is a great way to hedge his bets. Today Ciolota is almost completely self-sufficient and healthier than ever. In the summer he grows veggies on two acres for himself and to sell at a farmers market. The fall is a good time to hunt deer. In the winter he uses his oxen for logging. For him, "there is nothing better than having a beautiful meal with friends at the end of the day with food I have grown." Life with Chubby Bunny Dan Hayhurst and his wife Tracy have been running Chubby Bunny Farm a 52-acre parcel in Falls Village, Connecticut, since 2003. With a degree in Philosophy from Boston College, the 38-year-old Hayhurst worked on four farms in five years before leasing and eventually buying his own land in 2006. The time he spent as an apprentice and the care he takes today in his farming practices make his vegetables a thing of beauty. (I learned to really love green leafy vegetables thanks to Chubby Bunny.) But its damn hard work to get them that way. The first time I met Dan he was hand-weeding the organic carrots. That's just the way he rolls. Listening to Hayhurst talk about soil is a lesson in itself. By using cover crops, (plants that suppress weeds, build productive soil, and control pests and diseases), he adds key nutrients that make his vegetables not only tasty, but replenish the soil in the process. He believes it's important to use products and practices that are compliant with organic standards and deliver "nutrient density in our crops." That means "plenty of compost, avoiding herbicides and synthetic pesticides." Sustainability for Hayhurst is not only about "choosing sustainable inputs; it is constantly striving for a better and healthier 'farm, which encompasses our employees, our neighbors, our customers, our family, our animals." What he has learned over time is that in addition to maintaining the land, Hayhurst has to take care of his crew by effectively motivating his team and managing their time. The crew includes Dan, four apprentices, full time from April though October, and in two hourly locals to "bang out weeds" at peak times. His wife Tracy, meanwhile manages the books, their website, and the CSA, which attracts 300 paying customers. Like any progressive management consultant, Hayhurst builds the effectiveness of his team through mutual respect and ongoing education. Getting into Farming Not everyone who gets into farming is necessarily young. There are career changers, urban escapees, and even retirees. It certainly helps to have some life experience running a business, not to mention a lot of energy and the sheer willingness to take on the challenges of a farm. But regardless of age, beginning farmers should start small. Rick Ciolota recommends working on a range of farms over a number of years to gain experience. Equally important: Keep your town job. The National Young Farmers' Coalition found that 73 percent of young farmers must work away from the farm to make a living. Meanwhile, only 22 percent of beginning farmers turn a profit in their first year. To me there is something so elemental, pure and powerful — honest is a word I've heard more than once — about working a farm that attracts young people to farming. For the health of our economy and our collective wellbeing, I hope that these young farmers stick with it. FOR MORE Beginning Farmers Family Farm Management The Greenhorns Blue Hill Farm Chubby Bunny Farm Moon in the Pond Farm


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The holidays came early to L&L Holding Co.'s 200 Fifth Ave., where anchor office tenant Tiffany and Co. just signed for an additional 57,691 square feet.
The full-floor deal not only makes the luxury jeweler the building's largest tenant, it also brings the tower's 800,000 square feet of office space to a hard-earned milestone — 100-percent occupancy.
The new lease brings Tiffany's stake at 200 Fifth to 405,489 square feet. The asking rent was $85 a square foot.
Tiffany was repped by Studley chairman/CEO Mitchell Steir and his firm's Matt Barlow, David Goldstein and Greg Taubin. L&L was repped in-house by David Berkey and Andrew Wiener.
Tiffany's growth at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street across from Madison Square Park is a rare instance of genuine expansion in a quiet season. It's also a crowning moment for L&L, the acquisition and development company founded by David W. Levinson and Robert Lapidus.
It's been no easy ride. After L&L bought the former Toy Center building with equity partner Lehman Bros. in 2007 for $480 million, it achieved an early triumph by signing Grey Group, part of marketing giant WPP Group, for 370,000 square feet.
But then Lehman went belly-up. It took a complicated, time-consuming restructuring with new partner JPMorgan Asset Management to save the property for L&L.
It was recapitalized in early 2011, when the JPMorgan fund paid $720 million to pluck 200 Fifth back from the Lehman estate.
The owners spent $135 million on a recently completed, top-to-bottom capital improvements program. Two years ago, Levinson scored a coup by luring Italian food mecca Eataly to a total of 44,000 square feet on the ground floor and roof.
Along the way, a prospective lease with CAA for 115,000 square feet last year fell through when the talent-agency powerhouse decided to go elsewhere.
But Tiffany's commitment represents L&L's final vindication at 200 Fifth. "Needless to say, it's a great way to complete the lease-up of our property," an ebullient Levinson said yesterday.
Meanwhile, just across Madison Square Park from 200 Fifth Ave., Marriott International and Ian Schrager's Edition Hotel in the Clock Tower building will open in 2015 with 355 luxury rooms.
The 100-year-old, 42-story landmark at 5 Madison Ave. will also have a restaurant on the first and second floors, a third-floor banquet facility and 38th-floor spa.
We're tempted to add, "Realty Check has learned." But those details aren't from our usual moles. Nor are they from Marriott or Schrager, who have been quiet since they rescued the property from oblivion last year after three previous sets of owners bailed out.
Rather, the floor data are from recent Dept. of Buildings filings, which also mention a 26th-floor "clock machine room" to operate the famous four-faced timepiece.
And the 2015 opening is stated in the Edition Collection website.
Marriott bought the tower last year from Africa Israel for $165 million after Tommy Hilfiger backed out of a deal to purchase it.
Marriott officials couldn't be reached for comment yesterday.
The long-vacant Clock Tower, once part of Metropolitan Life's old headquarters, is one of three high-profile projects neighboring 200 Fifth Ave. that ran into trouble after premature optimistic announcements.
They've stood mostly empty on the rim of thriving Madison Square Park, once a near-dump but magnificently restored and home to the original Shake Shack.
L&L's 200 Fifth stands next door to 1107 Broadway, the other former Toy Center building, which has been vacant for years.
Two years ago, L&L narrowly lost out on a bid to take control of it when L&L's then-partner, the Lehman estate, decided to auction it off — and it went to a Steven Witkoff partnership.
After years of decay at the property, work is finally underway in earnest on converting it into luxury apartments.
Also, Related Cos. and partners have rescued One Madison Park, the 50-story condo tower at the foot of Madison Avenue on East 23rd Street.
They're finally completing the skinny spire that chewed up previous warring owners and marketing the apartments.
And there's even more good news for the area: Porcelenosa, a Spanish bathroom and kitchen-tile company, recently bought the old Commodore Criterion building at 202 Fifth Ave. (24th Street) with plans to turn it into its US showroom flagship.