text: Dogs What we doGrivita the Romanian StraySponsor a Stray AnimalLatest FOUR PAWS returns to Chennai Life on the streets of Chennai can be unimaginably brutal for a dog. With an estimated 25 million dogs roaming the streets, India has more strays than any other country. Typically surviving on discarded refuse, many are horribly injured, old and sick. Suffering from mange, abuse or road accidents, many dogs are in urgent need of veterinary treatment. Since 2009, we've been travelling to India twice a year to support our Indian partner organisation, Blue Cross of India, which runs a clinic for distressed animals in Chennai. For the past few weeks, an experienced veterinary team from the FOUR PAWS Stray Animal Care programme has been treating, vaccinating and operating on stray dogs in Chennai, as well as training local vets on how to deal with rabies, which is transferred by dogs, and is widespread in India. When we're in Chennai, we usually treat all species of strays, including cats, goats and cows. But this time we have so many dogs suffering here that we have to concentrate just on them. Every day, the FOUR PAWS veterinary team sees the results of injury and illness on the forlorn faces and battered bodies of Chennai's street dogs. We are seeing around 50 dogs a day that are in urgent need of veterinary treatment. Just like Jerry. One morning, the veterinary team witnessed a horrific road accident before their very eyes. On the way to the clinic, the team watched as a dog fell from the arms of a man on a motorcycle. Packed with traffic, the dog was inevitably hit by an oncoming motorcycle. Thankfully, our team was right behind him. Our vets immediately took the badly injured dog to the clinic, treating him at once. Suffering from brain damage, he was unable to stand up or eat unsupported. Concerned about his recovery, we quickly provided him with all of the necessary treatment, ensuring his survival. Now named Jerry, he is still in our clinic recovering from this horrible accident. FOUR PAWS vets have already been able to help hundreds of dogs on this visit to Chennai and we will return to India in May 2016. Help support our work in Chennai as well as our other vital projects and campaigns for animals around the world by making a donation today. Your donation (large or small) WILL make a difference. Donate


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Another new font from antique rubber stamps! This set is probably the Fulton Sign Writer Artistamp set, but I'm not entirely certain because it was just thrown into the case with the larger Fulton Sign and Price Markers set I used for a previous font.
No. 130 Fulton St, Elizabeth, NJ was the address of the Fulton Rubber Type Company in Elizabeth, NJ. For over 50 years, they made hundreds of different alphabet sets in rubber, whether for making signage or for office use.
No 130 Fulton Street has a medium and a light weight, with a total of four choices for each letter. As always, it's free. You can download the font here, oh! and if you're into digital scrapbooking or other kinds of photoshop layout, you might like the virtual stamping set, available here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Inventory is not guaranteed. Please call location to verify availability.
BareTraps Acer Sandals. The BareTraps Acer is the perfect sandal for on the go. The easy slip on style will keep up with you on busy days, while keeping you comfortable with a cushioned footbed. The lightweight and flexible outsole will keep a spring in your step all day long. The Acer also features detailed medallions, staying stylish as well as comfortable.
*Cushioned Footbed*Easy Slip-On/Off*Manmade Upper*Lightweight, Flexible TPR Outsole


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Kevin Myers: Ryanomics is seeping into society like sewage
THE offer looked good on the Aer Lingus website: two fares to London. Cost? No cost. Free of charge; just one of those insane little gimmicks that airlines do these days to entice passengers aboard, and once there, we can maybe be persuaded to part with our cash on a breakfast roll for €200.
The trick is not to buy the breakfast roll, of course. So we decided to buy the tickets to London. And that's where it got interesting, because as the sale proceeded, so the taxes appeared: €67.98 per passenger. And oh yes, a handling fee; €12 per passenger. The zero air-fares ended up costing a couple of farthings under €160.00
Now this is seriously, gravely, disgustingly wrong. Yet it is part of the airline morality that is seeping out into society like sewage; the bolt-on charges that only become apparent after you have psychologically embarked on the decision to purchase tickets. And they know this: they know that people are unlikely to back out of a deal, even as the charges accumulate, because that's the way of snake-oil salesmen down the ages. Draw the sucker on. He'll keep coming. Yes, he'll even accept this risible piece of internet mugging, the "handling charge", though at best, it logically should be exacted for each transaction only, rather than be applied to every single ticket within that transaction. And do you know what's just as bad as the surcharging? The sense of being done, of being made a sucker of, of being treated with a studied, methodical and deliberate contempt. This is the internet's equivalent of the burglar having a crap on your carpet.


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Geekspeak Episode 15: Showcase Spotlight #2 arrives!
Hey everybody! I hope that Christmas and Hanukah have been going quite well for all you folks out there. As a late holiday gift to you guys I've recorded a special TWO HOUR edition of Geekspeak! This second Showcase Spotlight focuses upon the topic of Retro Gaming, a topic near and dear to my heart, and plenty of other geeks out there as well.
My guests and I touch upon everything from arcades to consoles, to new compilations of old games, to PC gaming, to the Generation NEX, and everywhere in between. For this episode, I am lucky enough to be joined by Robert Welkner of the COIN-OP.TV Vidcast, as well as Tobey Cook from Seattle, WA, who is naktekh on the Comic Geek Speak forums.
As always, you can e-mail questions and comments to email@example.com. Also, remember that the forums are always open, and don't forget to vote for Geekspeak on Podcast Alley.
I hope that everybody has a Happy and a healthy New Year. Don't party too hard now, y'hear? And of course, I hope you enjoyed the last Geekspeak of 2005 as much as I enjoyed recording it.
So until 2006, thanks for listening, and downloading too!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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Sleeping in an Igloo aka Ice Castle
Ice is Nice—Even When You Are Sleeping
Ice is beautiful. It glistens in the sun and glows in the moonlight.
Most of us have walked on ice, slipped on ice, climbed ice or asked for more ice in our cocktails. But there's nothing like sleeping in ice. Igloos have been around for thousands of years—they are one of the earliest forms of man-made shelters. And they are an absolute blast (from the past) when it comes to lodging.
Nothing against five-star mountain-side lodging complete with haute cuisine room service and on-demand massages, but sometimes stepping into nature shouldn't come with an immediate retreat back into high-end comfort. These locales offer a new spin on the traditional concept of the igloo, from bare-bones outings that end with you crafting your own accommodation to the more luxe variety, complete with Wi-Fi.
Let your appetite for the outdoors help define the best option.
Iglu Village in Kuhtai, Austria
Embrace your inner polar explorer at the Iglu Village, which mixes both the rustic and refined concept of braving the Austrian winter. Choose a two- or four-person igloo vacation rental, each designed and shaped by regional "snow artists."
Bed down for the night in your cozy accommodation, or be social at the snow bar, or by joining other guests for fondue and fire-roasted marshmallows. Each igloo comes with insulated sheepskin sleeping areas, winter sleeping bags, and breakfast in the neighboring hotel. By day learn how to build your own ice castle, or light out for the nearby ski resort, the country's highest at 2,020 meters.
Kakslauttanen in Saariselka, Finland
If the idea of ice-packed igloos sends shivers down your spin, consider this luxe alternative, nestled high in the wilds of the Arctic Circle in Finland's Kekkonen National Park.
The village has 20 thermal glass igloos, each offering unparalleled view of the Northern Lights, along with ice sculptures, and almost-immediate access to untamed, snow-covered wilds via wilderness safaris (by reindeer, husky, snowmobile, or snow tank). Or spend the day skiing (alpine and cross-country), ice fishing, or riding an icebreaker into the glacial-beyond out of the nearby town of Kemi.
Glass Igloo in Sedona, Arizona
When it comes to Sedona, snow isn't a guarantee—as of this writing, the Arizona vacation spot best known for its magnificent red rock towers and cosmic vortexes generally boasts temps well above freezing. But if you're willing to take a gamble, this Airbnb spot delivers one of the more unique windows into winter imaginable. And if there's no snow, you'll still get some prime natural respite in the heated two-person, one-bed igloo.
It even comes with Wi-Fi. You also get easy access to a host of other Sedona attractions, including biking, hiking, and all the crystal/spiritual healing your aura can handle.
WhitePod in Valais, Switzerland
Dubbed an "eco-luxury hotel and alpine experience," the WhitePod is more igloo in concept than in fact—but they still proffer unparalleled access to the winter wonders of Valais, Switzerland. Think glamping in high-quality dome-shape tents nestled in the snow, kitted out with full beds, sheepskin-covered chairs, running water, and pellet stoves for heating.
You can order in-room massages, hit the sauna, or arrange for a host of outdoor activities, from dogsledding and snowshoeing to paragliding. And the on-site Le Cerniers restaurant assures you'll never go hungry.
The Cairngorm Plateau in Scotland
If all this already-built igloo stuff sounds a bit too posh, then Scotland-based Mountain and Sea Guides can hook up your ideal winter adventure. This three-day/two-night expedition into the country's snowy Applecross Peninsula combines a hearty traverse into the Scottish wilds partnered with mountain craft training that'll have you building your own igloo (or "snow hole" as they less-than-poetically describe it).
All local transport, including rides from the Inverness Airport or the train station in Aviemore rail station are included, along with all specialist equipment like winter sleeping bags, and expedition hardware. Upgrade to the fully catered option for another 30 pounds.


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When it comes to shopping for babies and children, trust means everything. Put the insights of Ratings and Reviews to work for you and earn your customer's trust in the safety and effectiveness of your brand. With reviews for children's brands, you'll also increase their purchase confidence with buyer feedback on the quality, selection, price and variety of your merchandise. Add photos to inspire shoppers to share their experiences and bolster the reliability of your offerings. Incorporate Social Loyalty to incent your customers to share their feedback and drive even more referral traffic to your site.
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3DOcean Animated Bacteria 5110886
3DOcean Animated Bacteria 5110886
3D Model \ Science \ Miscellaneous
Listeria \ Monocytogenes \ Poly \ Rigged \ Science \ Small \ Microorganism
3D Model - Animated Bacteria 5110886 by seph1603 @ 3DOcean
3D Model \ Science \ Miscellaneous
3D File Formats Included: .mb (maya); Animated: Yes; Created In: maya 2011; Geometry: Polygons; Low-poly: Yes; Materials: Yes; Poly Count: 8640; Rigged: Yes; Textured: No; UV Layout: No.
This is an animated bacteria (listeria) with custom made material included.
Spider Base Mesh.
Keywords: animated, animation, bacteria, bacterium, germ, listeria, listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, microorganism, monocytogenes, poly, rigged, science, small.
Download Link


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Yearly Archives: 2012
Christmas Good News
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Opening our hearts to Christmas
For some reason, I was especially struck by the question the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers asked John the Baptist in last Sunday's Gospel: "What should we do?" And like everyone, I suppose, I was also processing the incomprehensible and senseless shootings at Sandy Hook School in Newtown, Connecticut, and wondered the same thing: What ought we to do; what can we do in the face of such a tragedy?
Sometimes the bad news is so overwhelming we might be tempted to think that bad news is more powerful than any good news. Perhaps we really need Christmas this year. We need to be reminded that the people who walk in darkness will see a great light. We celebrate these days the almost incredible Good News that the Word has been made flesh, that God has visited his people and pitched his tent among us, not to take away all suffering and pain, but to be a way and truth, to help us navigate our way in a world so marked by sin.
So what ought we to do? As I pondered this, the following path came to mind. I think we need to first let Christmas in. We need to be open, to be receptive to the Gift. We need to first accept and actually enjoy the Good News of God's light and love among us. But once inside, we then need to let the Christmas Good News work on us. We need to let the Good News of Christmas knead our fears and anxiety; we need to let it soften our hearts and heal and renew us. We need to let it change and convert us. And when that work is done we need to let Christmas out. Accepting the advice of the Baptist, we let the light out enfleshed in works of justice, mercy and compassion. We work, with God, to change and heal this broken world.
This Christmas I know what I have to do, and I have a new mantra to pray and live with: let it in, let it work, let it out. I suspect it will take more than 12 days of Christmas to do this. Will you join me in working with God in the process of dispelling the darkness?
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM
Saint Francis and the Creche of Greccio
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The Power and the Beauty of the Creche
It started simply. He wanted to celebrate Christmas in a new way by re-creating the stable of Bethlehem. He would have a real ox and ass there, and they would celebrate mass outside the cave with a bare rock for an altar. Francis, who was a deacon, would read the Gospel and preach to the brothers and the townspeople of Greccio whom the brothers would invite to midnight mass.
He asked a local nobleman, John of Velita, a devout man devoted to the brothers, to make the preparations. And all went as planned. In the heart of night the townspeople crossed from Greccio to the hermitage carrying lighted candles and singing Christmas songs. They were amazed at the scene before them, the live Christmas crib that made them see the poverty and humility of God.
So excited was Francis that when he preached, he could not say Bethlehem without bleating like a lamb when he pronounced the word, "Betlemme." And when the people looked curiously at him, he told them that he had become a lamb and they should, too, in order to honor this Little Lamb of God born to them this night. There was no baby lying on the straw because Francis knew that the one to be born in the Mass was he who was born in Bethlehem.
But when he finished preaching, he turned to the crèche and saw a little baby lying on the stone altar, the Little Word of God made flesh; and he took it in his arms. He didn't know if the people saw what he held, but they would understand the pantomime, the gesture of reaching down to the altar and lifting something tenderly to his heart.
It was the dearest of Christmases and lifted Francis' heart from the depths to which it had fallen. Like the hermitage of Greccio itself his faith, that had been clinging desperately to the side of the mountain, let go. And the hermitage did not plummet to the valley below, nor did his faith. It was lifted up with the baby he lifted in his arms.
The people remained after the mass and prayed in the makeshift stable. They asked if they could have some of the straw strewn over the dirt floor for the animals. And when they took it home, Francis heard that animals were healed in eating a portion of the hay, and women undergoing a difficult birth happily and safely delivered their baby. And Francis gave thanks and praised God that indeed this was a new birth of Christ, the Baby and Little Lamb of God.
From Francis and Jesus by Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, published by Franciscan Media in 2013. Used with permission. Fr. Murray talks about the book on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frUa-rq0fV8
Listening With Your Heart
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(Reading a Christmas letter from Br. Philip Wilhelm, OFM, in the Philippines puts everything in perspective. This year Br. Phil wrote about a lunch he attended for 300 children who are deaf-mute, blind, or suffering from Down Syndrome, the service of the Martinian Brothers to the poor and forgotten, and the needs of families living in the barrios. Following are his thoughts about Advent.)
The Christmas season has been upon us in the Philippines since October with Christmas Music blaring in most malls and stores. When I was with our young deaf boys and girls at the lunch given for them, each one was wearing an orange t-shirt. On the back was written: we hear with our heart because we cannot hear."
Each year, as I try to prepare myself for the spirit of Advent and Christmas, it seems as if someone always comes along that helps to awaken me to follow their suggestion. With all the noise, commercialism, individualism and lack of community spirit that keeps us from hearing the good news, I realize that these young people have a message. It is the listening heart that may awaken us in turning again to accept the greatest love that the Father could give.
I think of the shepherds hearing the announcement from the angels of the great happening in the quiet of the night. I think of the magi, the three astrologers, who left the noise of the towns seeking with listening hearts and following one bright star that showed them the unity that was lost. A colleague says Advent is the time of our awaking, our time to proclaim our faith, our time to respond to God. With Christmas we come together, even if we are far apart from each other by lands, to unite with God through His Son who became one with us that we listen in quiet before the crib with all our heart the message this new-born child, Jesus has for us.
Setting aside the noise of our busy life I too, like the special young people, listen with my heart as I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a New Year with Christ always in your heart.
Dear St. Anthony, I pray, Bring It Back, Without Delay!
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Not just Catholics have a devotion to St. Anthony of Padua. He is a Saint for Everyman. Everyone misplaces or misses something important from time to time and it doesn't just have to be tangible things like keys, money, rings or other personal items. It could also be for return to health, peace and contentment or for a deeper spirituality.
People feel comfortable with St. Anthony, calling him by his nickname, Tony, as they beseech him to search with them or to pray with them for an answer to their intention. Does St. Anthony only have one item in his job description that the only reason why he is called upon is to be a scout on a treasure hunt? Hopefully, no, that people see him for the complex man he was.
Devotion to St. Anthony is deep and sincere, intense and often relentless. If the loss or intention is important enough to pray for, people stay at it until they get an answer. There is comfort to the belief that such a Saint is interested in our human desires and takes them so seriously when we entrust him to carry our concerns to the Lord Himself. That is the mendicant in us. He is our go-between for us human beggars and The Almighty. In our desperation, we seek divine help to recover whatever is missing in goods or in spirit.
St. Anthony's image is easy to identify on holy cards, statues and paintings. He is seen wearing a tonsure (bald spot at his crown) and perhaps there is a tiny flame on his hand or breast. He often holds the Infant Jesus or a large book with some lilies.
He has been called a patron for those away from home in the armed forces and of sailors. Other patronages are vaguer to explain his connection. He is said to be the patron of fishermen, cemetery workers, of amputees and has been called the marrying saint.
St. Anthony was a shy friar, apparently not what we might call a 'people person'. He wasn't gregarious or extroverted. But still, we gravitate to him, believing he is the right Saint for the job. More than once, Anthony experienced serious illness in his life and thus people pray easily to him, believing he really understands their situation given that in his life he experienced pain and vulnerability. His health was a cross for him to bear as his body put limits on him that denied his desire to set the world afire in the name of God. He was only 36 when he died of natural causes. He was canonized a Saint just one year after his death. When his body was exhumed in the canonization process, everything was reported to have turned to dust except his tongue. He was also titled as a Confessor, and later was named as only one of 33 Doctors of the Church.
We lovers of Franciscans know he was a Friar, a contemporary of St. Francis of Assisi. Because of Anthony's reticence it even took St. Francis a while to learn what a gifted man Anthony was. Once he understood how well educated the humble, holy man was, he charged him with educating the Friars and of taking the gospel and Franciscan mission through Italy. Anthony's gift, he discovered, was to preach on complex matters in a way that was understood by simple people. He has been called the first Franciscan teacher. The saint eventually established new Franciscan Monasteries and became the Provincial General in Northern Italy.
St. Anthony's Bread is a current model emulating what he did during his lifetime. He tendered tangible assistance, not only in the form of answers to his needy followers' prayers, but he gave money, goods, food and his time. He worked miracles big and small in his lifetime as after his death. In response, the petitioners wanted to keep their relationship with the Saint from being self centered and materialistic, so many beneficiaries liked to return his generosity with a private token of gratitude. Those helped become the helpers. Those offerings of thanksgiving continue today through your gifts.
Born in Lisbon, Spain to wealthy parents, he was baptized Fernando Martins de Bulholm. But he changed his name when be began his spiritual journey at age 15. "Tony, Tony look around something's lost and can't be found!"… flows more easily than "Fernando, Fernando look around…!"
Joanne M. Queenan
Holiday Wish List For Our Troops
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On Thanksgiving Day, while folks in the States were still asleep, military personnel at an airbase in the Arab Emirate of Qatar were sitting down to a dinner that sounded just like the one back home. The difference was, instead of being surrounded by their families, they were surrounded by thousands of other troops for whom this was just another active-duty day.
Franciscan friar Chaplain Col. Bob Bruno, OFM, reports,
"The observance of holidays is primarily by means of a very festive meal. Otherwise, it is a standard duty day. There are no four-day holiday weekends over here. Most everyone gets one day off a week – when they can. A standard crew day is 12 hours, sometimes up to 14 hours depending on mission requirements. The days are very long, and the weeks are even longer. Periodically, the troops can get off base to experience the local culture and cuisine. These service personnel are young, highly motivated, dedicated and self-sacrificing. They keep us older guys young in spirit!"
Fr. Bob will be home for Christmas, but more that a million other Americans at military bases around the world will not. All of them love getting mail and packages, especially around the holidays. We asked Fr. Bob what items are most in demand among service personnel. Some of the most popular gifts are:
- Pre-packaged cookies/candy/hot chocolate/coffee
- Toiletries: shaving gear/hand cream/toothpaste/tooth brushes/floss/tissue/
bar soap /deodorant
- Canned soups
- Writing stationery
- Phone cards
- Magazines
" In addition to the stable population assigned here, this installation is also a transient center, which means that we get lots of folks passing through here in route to somewhere else," Fr. Bob says. "Because of that, we go through tons of the items recommended above."
If you would like to send a gift to service personnel in Qatar, the mailing address is:
379th AEW/HC
And of course, they always appreciate your prayers.
Fr. Bob Bruno, OFM, is the Senior Staff Chaplain for the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He recently was deployed to an air base in the Arab Emirate of Qatar for four weeks this fall.
Photos © Master Sergeant Brendan Kavanaugh, USAF
Holiday Wish List For Our Troops was an excerpt from the SJB News Notes by Ms. Toni Cashnelli
Decking the Franciscan Halls
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"Jesus is God, spelling Himself out in language that man can understand."
—S. D. Gordon
The meaning of S. D. Gordon's quote becomes clear as we walk the halls of St. Francis Seraph Friary, in Cincinnati. Each Advent, the Franciscans of St. John the Baptist Province welcome the community to the mother house to view an array of cribs from all over the world. The crèche collections, Victorian villages, Bethlehem towns and one of a kind Christmas trees are meticulously designed and displayed by Guardian Br. Tim Sucher, OFM. It takes three to four weeks to create the extensive wonderland which captures every visitor. The display is a part of the Spirit of Christmas Walking Tours through American Legacy Tours and donations benefit St. Francis Seraph School.
St. Francis of Assisi created the first live nativity scene in Greccio, Italy nearly 800 years ago. Today people of all nations arrange their crib sets in memory of the first Christmas in Bethlehem. Simple figure carvings, and elegant works of art each communicate the same message, God made man.
Visitors cannot avoid passing the Christmas decorations on the way to the business offices. They wouldn't want to. Outdoors in the courtyards there are working trains and live animals (2 donkeys, 4 sheep and 4 goats) in the life size crib. Neighborhood children have the chance to see and touch these live farm animals any time, because the courtyard gate stays open the whole season. It is the first time some little people learn the difference between goats and sheep. They get to pet a donkey shaggy and brown.
Because the animals are not permanent residents of the Friars' campus, someone has to tote them from the country and take care of them with fresh straw, hay, oats, and water. That head shepherd is Jim "Bubs" Kindt, 73, a resident of Colerain township where he lives with his two white Great Pyrenees dogs.
Animal Keeper is just a small slice of the jobs that Resource Coordinator Bubs juggles. When he was interviewed for this article he was busy installing a dish washer. A man of many talents, he runs the Friars' Over The Rhine Soup Kitchen across the street from the friary.
He has worked for the Friars for 12 years, 7 years of volunteering and now 5 years of full-time ministry. Bubs says he also goes whenever and wherever he is needed. A good chunk of his work is recruiting volunteers and resources not only for his Kitchen but for other Friars' programs and activities. He has students coming from as far as 50 miles away, and from grade, high schools and colleges. He coordinates volunteers from suburban parishes who bring supplies and donations of food, gift cards and personal care items.
"The people who come to us are respectful and appreciative," he said, and proudly adds, "we have never had to call the police in all the time I have been here."
He calls himself a "shameless beggar." As the Director of the soup kitchen he uses every skill he has to solicit and obtain the groceries and supplies needed for feeding 300 to 325 people a full meal three days a week. Major grocery stores, businesses, bakeries, companies, and organizations help Bubs fulfill his menus and some of the individual needs of the hungry patrons at the kitchen. "Besides a good meal, homeless people need the basics like blankets, jackets, and personal items," he said.
When asked what is the hardest part of his job, his eyelids dropped and he replied, "when I can't meet a need for someone."
by Joanne M. Queenan
As a social worker, Joanne M. Queenan has worked in hospice, rehabilitation, dialysis, and with the homeless and poor. Her book, The Boys on the Rock, Listening to the Voices of the Homeless, was published in August of 2012.
God Sends Us His Divine Child
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I was reminiscing on the phone with a former friar yesterday. He remembered that during night prayer on Friday nights in novitiate we would use Psalm 88: "my one companion is darkness." He laughed and told me that when he leaves his family in the morning it's dark, and when he returns home, it's dark. He tells his family that "his one companion is darkness." He wasn't quite sure if they would get it.
Well, I'd have to agree that these days are quite short, and the night long. I rise by 5:15 a.m., stumble about as I head down the hall, which seems longer at that hour, for the bathroom. After Morning Prayer with the community, the sun, still sleepy, pulls itself up from the horizon. When snow clouds are absent, there is a palette of color starting with deep mauve trees, merging with a lighter blue, fading to rose before that sun drags itself up over this spectrum of purple.
Yes, there's a beauty in this season of Advent, an expectation in the air. Of course, we're busy with Christmas cards and cookies, presents and punch. But there's a deeper longing present in most of us. That desire is really for The Desire of Nations, the Light of the World, whose birth we celebrate at the end of this month. There is much that is dark in our world. We hold our breath that Gaza's fragile peace will hold. We know the pain in our cities of unemployment, mediocre education, homelessness. All of these create the sense that our "only companion is darkness".
Perhaps that is why Jesus was born metaphorically in the middle of the night in medieval minds. Just when it seems that darkness wins, God sends us this Divine Child. Our lives are turned over by this one, holy night. And we who desire to receive Him, then become the new conveyors of this Good News. Like shepherds we are sent back to those we are charged to care for. It might be our own parents, a sick child, that person at work who stamps on my last nerve. Yes, the night will shine like the day as one by one we become the stars that shine with the presence of Christ.
May the beauty and dark lead all of us to the Creator of the Stars of Night, and to a merry Christmas.
Fr. Mark Soehner, OFM,
Provincial Councilor
Leave a Legacy
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St. Francis wrote that preparing a will is one of the first duties of a person living in the world. But leave it to St. Anthony to help you find a way to get it done.
You can instantly access our basic introduction to estate planning in our clear and concise video series, Estate Planning Help. The series takes you through the pros and cons of probate, wills, living trusts, advance health care directives, and other basic estate planning tools. Visit our Support the Friars page and download a computer friendly version of our Estate Planning Organizer now. (To order a printed copy of the estate-planning organizer, call Colleen Cushard, at 513-721-4700 or firstname.lastname@example.com)
Effective estate planning usually takes time, effort and a good attorney. In the end your plan will allow your family to avoid the delay, dissension and needless expense that often occurs when a loved one dies without a will. Once you have taken care of your family's needs, please consider a thoughtful bequest to the Franciscans of St. John the Baptist Province.
Clifford and Betty Dannenfelser were very charitable people. It was very important for them to give back and to help make a difference. Before Betty passed she said, "I want t make this world a better place." Betty and Cliff made this world a better place becase they were in it. They have blessed many people with their gifts.
To order your estate-planning organizer, call Colleen Cushard, at 513-721-4700 or email@example.com.
Colleen Cushard is the Co-director of Friar Works, Franciscan Ministry & Mission.
Br. Adam Farkas, OFM – A Heart for People
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Talk with Brother Adam Farkas, OFM, for even the briefest moment and you'll be infected with his open heart and love for people.
The Franciscan charism has influenced Adam his whole life. His parents, who grew up in Hungary, are farmers and have a deep respect for the earth and its creatures in the vein of St. Francis of Assisi. Their parish, Holy Cross Hungarian Roman Catholic Church, with both English and Hungarian Masses, is lead by Franciscan friars. And he remembers thinking, "Someday I'll be a friar," as early as six years of age.
Now in his early twenties, Adam is following the path to becoming a Franciscan Brother. He speaks English, Hungarian, and German; is majoring in Catholic Studies at Xavier University and lives in the Interprovincial House of Temporary Professed in Chicago.
He is inspired in this life by his fellow companions in formation who have risen to the challenges, as well as the seasoned friars often with over fifty years of experience, in listening to the Holy Spirit and following the vows and rule of St. Francis. Lives inspired to live a simple life of holiness, a life of humility before God, and love for all people. One mark of this humility is the Franciscan habit.
The brown Franciscan habit which speaks of a divesting of the material world, a sign of littleness, (they are the Order of Friars Minor) is an unusual sight in this day and can bring one much attention. This attention, Adam finds, brings great hope and great responsibility. Hope for those who ask him, "Is God really with me?" And responsibility, habit or not, that Adam takes seriously. "I'm not just Adam but Brother Adam, a public person, to be available to people with both my heart and mind." To be available to share the joys and sorrows of this world with others and reveal Christ who surrounds them.
Brother Adam has several more years of school and ministry before taking his Solemn Vows and fully joining the Order and the Province of Saint John the Baptist.
When asked what ministry he may want to pursue in his next years of formation, he answers, "Evangelization." How fitting for him, with his great love for God, to introduce the heart of Christ to the hearts of people.
Faces of Endearment
Posted on
Starting November 15, three familiar faces will turn up all over town (and TV) when the month-long Retirement Fund for Religious campaign is launched by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Planners chose images of Fr. Cyprian Berens, OFM, and Sr. Bernadette Asbach, OSF (our receptionist at St. Francis Friary) to adorn 17 billboards.
Look for them at Spring Grove and Clifton, Reading Road and Elsinore Place, Eastern Avenue and Bains Place, River Road and Lilienthal Street, Queen City and LaFeuille, Bridgetown Road and Harrison Avenue, St. Rt. 128 and St. Rt . 50, Colerain and Banning, Hamilton and Roosevelt, Reading Road and Seymour, Crescentville Road and Princeton/Glendale Road, Norwood Lateral and Section, Blue Ash Road and Sycamore Street, Madison Road and Ridge Road, Wooster Pike and Hutton Street, Kellogg Avenue and Wilmer Avenue and Beechmont Avenue and Eight Mile Road.
And that's not all.
A photo of Fr. Valens Waldschmidt, OFM, will be part of the campaign's TV blitz.
Profiles of Valens and Cyprian were featured in the November issue of the Catholic Telegraph.
Article from the SJB News Notes by Ms. Toni Cashnelli


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Hall of Fame
Collision repair is about people helping people
who find themselves in a difficult situation, often through no fault of their own. It's not just about putting cars back together — it's about making people whole again. The collision repair community — including body shops, paint, parts, equipment and insurance companies — has been doing this for a long time.
And sometimes, the collision industry goes above and beyond the call of duty to make things a little bit brighter for those less fortunate. This section honors the shops and suppliers that take that additional step.
These items are offered as informational only, and do not necessarily represent the position or opinion of American Honda.
November ►
Las Vegas Families Leave SEMA with Gifts of Transportation
BASF hosts fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project during SEMA
NABC and Progressive to Donate 117 Vehicles on Veterans Day
Collision Repair Education Foundation Announces Grant Winners
Service King Raises $112,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation
September ►
Hertz Contributes $30,000 to the Collision Repair Education Foundation
Long Island Veterans to Receive 10 Vehicles
Over $300,000 Raised at Dallas Education Foundation Fundraiser
March ►
Spanesi Americas Donates MultiBench to Support Education Foundation Grant Program
3M Funding Scholarships for Returning Vets Through Education Foundation
Pro Spot Donates $115,000 in Welding Equipment to Collision Repair Schools
February ►
Industry Provides $9.4 Million to Support Collision Repair Schools through Education Foundation
Erie Insurance Contributes $10,000 to Education Foundation
Sherwin-Williams Foundation Awards $50,000 Grant to CHRIS Kids
November ►
Four Las Vegas Families Receive NABC Recycled Rides
Enterprise Foundation Donates $250,000 to the Fisher House
Collision Repair Education Foundation Announces School Makeover Grant Winners
CARSTAR Salutes America's Veterans, Active Duty Military with National Military Month Celebration
October ►
WIN Scholarship Program Opens Applications for 2014
Allstate Insurance Company Surpasses $1 million in Contributions to Education Foundation
NABC Features Recycled Rides, First Responders and Distracted Driving Simulator at NACE
September ►
National Auto Body Council Joins AT&T and Other Wireless Carriers to Promote Anti-Texting and Driving Campaign
July ►
AkzoNobel Reveals Plans for $50,000 Sustainability Challenge Grant
Caliber Collision Food Drive Provides 275,000 Meals for At-Risk Kids
June ►
Sterling Autobody and PA Middle Schoolers Lend a Hand to Moore, OK
Progressive to Gift 59 Refurbished Vehicles to Veterans
April ►
Nearly $250,000 in Pledges and Donations for Operation Comfort Capital Campaign
CCC Donation to Provide Student Scholarships and Classroom Makeover
WIN Announces Scholarship Winners for Educational Conference
Oregon Shop Provides Uniforms to Portland Community College Students
February ►
Industry Provides Record $4.9 Million+ to Support Collision Schools in 2012
November ►
Students at Iowa Community College Refurbish Vehicles for Charity and Education
BASF Donates Waterborne Paint and Equipment to Kansas School
October ►
Ohio Shop Hosts Benefit for Wounded Iraq War Veteran
State Farm Contributes $70,000 to Education Foundation
P.B.E. Jobbers Warehouse Donates $65,000 in Products to Collision Schools
August ►
Education Foundation, AASP Massachusetts to Offer Student Tool Grants
Van Tuyl Group Joins NABC, Commits to Donate 36 Recycled Rides
Insurance Auto Auctions Raises $140,000 to Fight Childhood Cancer
Service King Donates $10,000 to Collision Foundation to Fund Student Scholarships
Caliber Collision Presents Newly Refurbished Van to Single Mom of 6
June ►
ALLDATA to Assist 200 Collision Schools with Subscription Donation
Keenan Auto Body Raises $30,000 for Little Smiles Philadelphia
Haddick's Auto Body to Hold Second Annual Car Show for Charity
Kadel's Auto Body Raises $21,000 for Make-A-Wish
3M Assists 676 Collision Schools with $882,800 Product Donation
Gerber Collision Brings Record Donation for Local Food Pantry
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Collision Repair Education Foundation Announces Grant Winners
The Collision Repair Education Foundation's announced winners of its 2014 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant winners as well as grants supported by CCC and GEICO, last night at the organization's annual industry reception held during the SEMA show in Las Vegas.
Over 100 high school and college collision school programs from across the country applied for this grant and each of the 2014 winning schools will have their $50,000 wish list fulfilled through the Collision Repair Education Foundation and industry donors. The 2014 Makeover applicant schools have already received over $1.5 million (in total) in product donations, which averages to roughly $15,000 donated to each applicant school just for applying for the grant.
Watch what can happen in a subsequent collision if a vehicle is repaired improperly. WATCH THE VIDEO ►
From what to do in an accident to insurance
tips, Collision.Honda.com —your place for
collision information and help.


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Country Gardens Nursery is pleased to be hosting The 2011 Country Gardens Winter Boutique. Along with Christmas Trees, you can also find fantastic gifts for your family and friends!
Coordinated by Lindamarie, the boutique will last until Saturday, December 17, 2011.
Click the button below for more information.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
[button link="http://countrygardensnursery.co/the-2011-country-gardens-winter-boutique/" color="red"] 2011 CGN Winter Boutique Info[/button]


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Aparthotelmontreal is a 4-star hotel offering a spacious accommodation not far from Notre-Dame Basilica, Le Plateau and Place des Arts.
Aparthotelmontreal is 20 minutes' walk from the center of Montreal. The hotel is about 500 meters from Museum of Contemporary Art and University of Quebec in Montreal UQAM.
The basilica and museums are set within walking distance.
Aparthotelmontreal provides guestrooms appointed with a dressing area, heating, pay TV, a stone fireplace and a sofa. Bathrooms are fitted with a hairdryer, a bathtub and a shower.
Guests can dine in Buonanotte and Bouillon Bilk located within a 5-minute walk of the property.
Place des Arts subway station is in a 5-minute stroll and Sherbrooke / Jeanne-Mance bus stop is just 5 minutes' walk from the hotel. Guests can reach St Hubert airport within 15 minutes' drive.
Ironing service and housekeeping as well as an elevator, a baggage storage and parking are available for guests' use.


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On 12/20/2012 08:25 AM, John Ferlan wrote: > > First allow me to introduce myself - I'm John Ferlan a new Red Hat employee (3 weeks). I came from the closed world at HP where for the last 7 years I worked in a group developing/supporting HP's Integrity Virtual Machine software prior to it being outsourced to India this past May. I primarily worked in the CLI/API and daemon space, although I also spent quite a bit of time in the lower virtualization layers which mimicked the Integrity instructions. I am very happy to be in the open world and look forward to contributing. Everyone has to start some where. Welcome to libvirt! Based on recent list traffic, there are several people, not just John, and not just at Red Hat, that are aiming to provide initial contributions. Be sure to provide your feedback and questions on the list, and hopefully we can use that to make our hacking documentation even easier to follow for future newcomers. You may want to figure out why your mailer doesn't automatically wrap long lines. Webmail interfaces (gmail, zimbra) and Microsoft Exchange tend to be the worst mail agents when it comes to RFC compliance and lack of knobs to tune for improving the situation, which in turn can make it harder to read your messages and apply patches you submit. You may notice that many people on this list use mutt or Thunderbird rather than web mailers, if only to have better formatted mail, but it's not a hard pre-requisite (we won't reject a patch just because of how it was sent, although it might take longer to apply if we have to jump through hoops to get it extracted from the mail). For mailers that have the right knobs, turning on format=flowed is one way of sending reasonably formatted mail [but be aware that Thunderbird has had a rather nasty bug for several years now where defaulting to format=flowed can result in botching the whitespace of the quoted portion of a message you are replying to]. > > My first task here at Red Hat was to triage a Coverity scan executed against libvirt-1.0.0-1.fc19.src.rpm done in late November. There were 285 issues documented. I quickly found that some of the defects found there were already fixed in later submits upstream, so I ran a new Coverity scan last Friday and it came back with 297 issues broken down as follows: > > 1 ARRAY_VS_SINGLETON > 33 BAD_SIZEOF > 17 CHECKED_RETURN > 1 CONSTANT_EXPRESSION_RESULT > 5 COPY_PASTE_ERROR > 13 DEADCODE > 46 FORWARD_NULL > 2 MISSING_RETURN > 2 NEGATIVE_RETURNS > 7 NULL_RETURNS > 1 OVERRUN > 137 RESOURCE_LEAK > 18 REVERSE_INULL > 1 SIGN_EXTENSION > 3 UNINIT > 8 UNUSED_VALUE > 2 USE_AFTER_FREE Thanks for doing this. Helping to reduce the false positives and eliminate the real bugs will make it easier to run Coverity on a periodic basis and check for recent regressions while the code is still fresh on our minds. Looking forward to the patches you come up with. -- Eric Blake eblake redhat com +1-919-301-3266 Libvirt virtualization library http://libvirt.org
Description: OpenPGP digital signature


text: The House and Senate return this week from the annual Memorial Day recess for a fourweek work period that runs through June. Both chambers then break for one week for Independence Day. After that, the House is scheduled to be in session for four weeks and the Senate in session for five weeks, leading up to the August recess. Before leaving DC for Memorial Day, Congress had a fairly productive six-week work period that saw final passage of a Budget Resolution, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act, a short-term extension of highway funding, a bill making technical amendments to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and a long-awaited permanent solution to the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate, or "Doc Fix". The Senate also confirmed Loretta Lynch to serve as the 83rd Attorney General. Before leaving for the Memorial Day recess, the House passed, by a wide margin, the USA Freedom Act, which would end the bulk collection of U.S. citizen's phone records by the National Security Agency (NSA). Within the first three days back, the Senate agreed to the House-passed bill, and was almost immediately signed into law by President Obama. Now, nearly halfway through the calendar year, there remain several significant legislative measures that are expected to move, some during June and July, and others perhaps later in the year. WHAT TO EXPECT IN JUNE & JULY Fiscal Year 2016 Appropriations With the next fiscal year starting on October 1st, the House and Senate will continue to press ahead on the 12 annual spending bills. In the House, where all spending bills must originate, two bills have already passed, and several others have been approved by the Appropriations Committee. The House is expected to pass the majority of their bills by the end of July. The expectation is that the House-passed spending bills will include a number of policy riders that would limit expenditures on a wide range of programs, including Obama Care, the Dodd-Frank financial services reform bill implementation, or perhaps the Administration's greenhouse gas (GHG) rule. The President will reject all of those, but could give in on others, such as the Waters of the U.S. rule or the ozone rule, particularly if there is bipartisan opposition to such rules. While the Senate Appropriations Committee is working to move bills out of committee, and has advanced two measures thus far, the process could hit a roadblock in that chamber. Although the President's budget request came in at approximately $1.91 trillion, Senate appropriations subcommittees are marking up their bills to a topline of $1.17 trillion, which is essentially the same as marking at current budget levels – or as if Congress was going to pass a Continuing Resolution. Senate Democrats are being encouraged by their leadership to engage in the committee mark-up process, but leadership has, at the same time, announced that they will block any motion to proceed to any of the appropriations bills on the Senate floor until there is an agreement on sequestration relief. That agreement is not likely to happen until sometime in November, well after the start of the next fiscal year. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) The House approved its annual NDAA in May, and the Senate is now considering its version of the bill, with debate likely to continue into next week during which time we could see potentially hundreds of amendments offered. While Democrats allowed the Senate to take up the bill without a procedural vote, the fate of the bill remains unclear. On June 2nd, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) threatening to veto the Senate bill, primarily because it authorizes an additional $38 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding to provide sequestration relief for the Department of Defense (DOD). As noted above, Democrats are seeking to ensure that non-defense programs receive the same relief from sequestration. For this reason, Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) left open the possibility of a filibuster. Regardless, a final conference bill is unlikely to be cleared until later this year. Export-Import Bank of the United States With an authorization that is set to expire on June 30th, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) mounted a valiant, but ultimately unsuccessful, effort to reauthorize the bank before the Senate left for Memorial Day. The Senator was promised, however, that the Senate would vote on reauthorization of the Bank in June; although reports are that Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) was promised a vote in July. How the Bank reauthorization will play out in the coming weeks is unclear. The Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee are holding hearings this week on the Bank, with testimony from Bank president Fred Hochberg and others. In the House of Representatives, reauthorization of the Bank faces a serious challenge with Financial Services Committee chair Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) strongly opposed. Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has expressed concerns that an abrupt end to the Bank would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs, and has indicated that Chairman Hensarling should come up with a plan to overhaul or wind down Bank operations, while Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) oppose reauthorization. Highway Trust Fund (HTF) As noted above, before departing for Memorial Day Congress approved a two-month short-term extension of the Highway Trust Fund, running through July 31st. While this avoided an immediate challenge, it has made the next step in HTF reauthorization more complicated since the Fund is set to run out around the same time as the new July 31st expiration meaning the Congress will have to identify funding offsets for a long-term bill that have thus far been the subject of much debate with little agreement. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled to mark-up a multiyear highway bill on June 24th, but look for another short-term extension through the end of the calendar year, or even perhaps only until the end of the current fiscal year. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) The Senate approved TPA, or "fast track authority", before leaving for the Memorial Day recess and the bill now awaits consideration in the House where its fate is uncertain. TPA would give the President the ability to negotiate free trade agreements and send them to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendment. The perception is that the Senate vote, with 62 Senators supporting TPA, is expected to help with House passage, but there are still difficulties. Similar to the situation in the Senate, the currency manipulation provision remains a challenge in the House. Reports are that the White House believes they have 20 Democratic votes in the House – up from 17 votes last week – and that they are focused on lobbying Democrats from California and Texas to gain their support. It is possible that TPA may be brought up on the House floor even before there are 218 confirmed votes, which could lead to a scramble to get the remaining votes once the bill is already on the floor. Some have suggested that the White House could get up to 30 Democratic votes in the House on TPA, but 25 votes is likely to be a more realistic high mark. Customs Reauthorization Also approved in the Senate just before Memorial Day, the Trade Facilitation and Enforcement Act reauthorizes activities of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and also includes provisions to modernize the customs process, including language that would increase the U.S. de minimis duty threshold for low-value imports and provisions related to intellectual property protection. The bill was approved 78-20 and has been sent to the House for consideration where it will likely be moved alongside TPA. Reports are that the Customs bill is being pre-conferenced before it is taken up in the House so that the bill passed by the House can be quickly taken up again by the Senate for final passage so that there is no need for a conference to reconcile any differences. Trade Preferences Legislation As a part of its consideration of TPA and Customs reauthorization, the Senate also approved a trade preferences bill, the Trade Preferences Extension Act, by a vote of 97-1. The bill includes a renewal of the African Grown and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Generalized System of Preferences. The bill will now go to the House for consideration, although timing is unclear. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reform First enacted forty years ago, and little altered since, TSCA has seen recent attempts at reform fail. Earlier this year, however, two competing bills were introduced in the Senate. the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which closely follows previous legislation championed by the late Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and a competing measure, the Alan Reinstein and Trevor Schaefer Toxic Chemical Protection Act, which takes a different approach than the Lautenberg bill on state preemption. The Lautenberg legislation was reported out of the Environment and Public Works Committee in April. In the House, the TSCA Modernization Act was approved, nearly unanimously, by the Energy and Commerce Committee this week in a vote of 47-1. Energy Legislation Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chair Lisa Murkowski (I-AK) and ranking member Cantwell are working closely on a broad-based energy bill and have held three hearings so far with the fourth, and final, hearing scheduled on energy accountability and reform June 9th. House Energy and Commerce Committee chair Fred Upton (R-MI) and ranking member Frank Pallone (D-NJ) are working on a similar measure that could be considered before the Senate bill, with the chairman possibly unveiling his energy proposal sometime this month. Reports are that House and Senate staffers are collaborating on this broad energy measure. Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) In April, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee unanimously approved the ESEA reauthorization bill, the Every Child Achieves Act, which was introduced by Senate HELP Committee chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and ranking member Patty Murray (D-WA) as a means to modernize the previous reauthorization of ESEA, the No Child Left Behind Act. The ESEA reauthorization could see floor time this summer. The House version of ESEA reauthorization, the Student Success Act, was reported out of the Education and the Workforce Committee in February and sent to the House floor, where committee chairman John Kline (R-MN) was caught off guard by conservative opposition to the bill since a nearly identical version had easily passed in the last congress. Chairman Kline remains committed to advancing his bill this congress. 21st Century Cures Act The 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 6) was unanimously reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee last month and could see House floor action during June and July. The bill would overhaul the way in which many healthcare products are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Stakeholder focus will increasingly shift to the Senate, which is not expected to follow the House's aggressive timeline for legislation. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee chair Alexander has said he does not intend to bring his own legislation to the floor before "early next year." Health Care Legislation In the coming weeks and months, both chambers are likely to continue work on standalone opportunities, such as telehealth reimbursement, the Sensible Oversight for Technology which Advances Regulatory Efficiency (SOFTWARE) Act, provisions dealing with dormant therapies for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's, and the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2015 (ACE Kids Act), that were ultimately not included in the 21st Century Cures Act. Cybersecurity Legislation The House has passed two cybersecurity-related measures, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act (H.R. 1560), which addresses cybersecurity information sharing between the government and private sector, and the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act (H.R. 1731), which addresses cybersecurity information sharing with the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The Senate Intelligence Committee has reported out a bipartisan bill, but the measure has not been scheduled as of yet for full Senate consideration. The recent controversy surrounding the Patriot Act has probably delayed any other congressional action on cybersecurity for the time being. Tax Reform The Senate Finance Committee will continue the work of its tax reform working groups, although the recommendations of the working groups are not going to be made public. The working groups had been tasked with making their recommendations before the end of May, but committee chair Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and ranking member Ron Wyden (D-OR) have extended the deadline until the end of June. The working groups are focused on individual taxes, business taxes, savings and investment, infrastructure and international issues. In the House, Ways and Means Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), recently stated that although Trade Promotion Authority and debates over Obamacare are taking up much of the committee's time, they are still focused on tax reform. Patent Reform In the first six months of the current congress, patent reform legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate but has faced concerns raised by tech companies, universities, and the pharmaceutical industry. This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved its patent reform bill in a 16-4 vote, with committee leaders saying that they will continue to address concerns about the legislation as it heads to the Senate floor. In the House, the Judiciary Committee will mark up its patent reform legislation next week. Dodd-Frank Reform Despite the White House having indicated that the president would veto any legislation to change the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform legislation, last month the Senate Banking Committee approved, along a straight party line vote, the Financial Regulatory Improvement Act (S. 1484), introduced by chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL). The legislation faces a steep challenge on the Senate floor where 60 votes would be needed for the legislation to advance. However, Chairman Shelby has indicated that he intends to push ahead in efforts to modify the Dodd-Frank legislation. This week, Democratic members of the Senate Banking Committee and House Financial Services Committee, joined together to introduce their own, less sweeping, Dodd-Frank reform legislation. The bill, known as the Community Lender Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, is said to have the unanimous support of all Democratic members of both committees and is intended to offer a more modest "tweaking" of the Dodd-Frank law. LOOKING AHEAD Congress returns from the August recess to face September 30th deadlines for the Child Nutrition & WIC programs authorization, the Federal Aviation Administration authorization, the Internet tax moratorium, and the end of the current fiscal year. In waning days of the previous congress last December, Congress approved an extension of dozens of temporary tax provisions that had expired at the end of 2013. The extension only lasted through the end of 2014 – a short two weeks after passage of the legislation – so that taxpayers could claim them when filing their 2014 taxes. Looking ahead, the coming months could see these tax extenders addressed in any tax reform measure that advances or, more likely, as part of some omnibus bill or must-pass legislation (e.g. the highway bill or debt limit) at the end of the year. At some point this month, the Supreme Court will issue its ruling on King vs. Burwell. Although no one can predict the ruling with any certainty, proponents of the Affordable Care Act are signaling that there is no contingency plan without a Congressional intervention, should the court decide that subsidies are not allowed in the 34 states that rely on the federal government to administer their insurance marketplaces. On the GOP side, at least three proposals have been introduced that would extend the subsidy period until 2017, but with varying levels of cuts to significant provisions of the health reform law. These cuts range from removing the individual mandate to replacing subsidies in favor of health savings accounts. Ultimately, stakeholders don't expect any specific legislation to mitigate a potential negative ruling for the Obama Administration until after the court's ruling is announced. Finally, while the exact date is uncertain, at some point later this year the Treasury Department's ability to use "extraordinary measures" for addressing the federal government's debt ceiling will have run its course. Without action by Congress to address the debt ceiling, default becomes a possibility. * * * View ML Strategies professionals. Boston Washington www.mlstrategies.com Copyright © 2015 ML Strategies, LLC


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A company called Emgoldex Philippines has been in the news lately because of a Securities and Exchange Commission warning to Filipinos that this is a pyramiding scheme.
That gave me the idea to blog about pyramiding schemes as opposed to multilevel marketing because many times, people view these two as one and the same. Not quite.
Where they look similar
Both pyramiding schemes and multilevel marketing (MLMs) have a similar triangular structure where the base gets wider as each new recruit tries to recruit other members so that they earn from their recruits.
But there are more areas where they differ…


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Google may be interested in acquiring Softcard
Remember Softcard? We haven't heard much about the mobile payments service since it gave itself a name change, but today the company is in the news thanks to Google.
According to a report from TechCrunch, Google is in talks regarding an acquisition of Softcard in order ... Read More »


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AP Explains: 4/20 grew from humble roots to pot high holiday
SEATTLE — Thursday marks marijuana culture's high holiday, 4/20, when college students gather — at 4:20 p.m. — in clouds of smoke on campus quads and when pot shops in legal weed states thank their customers with discounts.
This year's edition provides an occasion for pot activists to reflect on how far their movement has come, with recreational pot now allowed in eight states and the nation's capital, as well as a changed national political climate that could threaten to slow or undermine their cause.
Here's a look at the holiday's history.
The origins of the date, and the term "420" generally, were long murky. Some claimed it referred to a police code for marijuana possession or that it arose from Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women No. 12 & 35," with its refrain of "Everybody must get stoned" — 420 being the product of 12 times 35.
But in recent years, a consensus has emerged around the most credible explanation: It started with a group of bell-bottomed buddies from San Rafael High School in California, who called themselves "the Waldos." A friend's brother was afraid of getting busted for a patch of cannabis he was growing in the woods at Point Reyes, so he drew a map and gave the teens permission to harvest the crop, the story goes.
During fall 1971, at 4:20 p.m., just after classes and football practice, the group would meet up at the school's statue of chemist Louis Pasteur, smoke a joint and head out to search for the weed patch. They never did find it, but their private lexicon — "420 Louie" and later just "420" — would take on a life of its own.
The Waldos saved postmarked letters and other artifacts from the 1970s referencing "420," which they now keep in a bank vault, and when the Oxford English Dictionary added the term last month , it cited some of those documents as the entry's earliest recorded uses .
A brother of one of the Waldos was a close friend of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, as Lesh once confirmed in an interview with the Huffington Post. The Waldos began hanging out in the band's circle, and the slang spread.
Fast-forward to the early 1990s: Steve Bloom, a reporter for the cannabis magazine High Times, was at a Dead show when he was handed a flier urging people to "meet at 4:20 on 4/20 for 420-ing in Marin County at the Bolinas Ridge sunset spot on Mt. Tamalpais." High Times published it.
"It's a phenomenon," said one of the Waldos, Steve Capper, now 62 and a chief executive at a payroll financing company in San Francisco. "Most things die within a couple years, but this just goes on and on. It's not like someday somebody's going to say, 'OK, Cannabis New Year's is on June 23rd now.'"
Bloom, now editor in chief of Freedom Leaf Magazine, notes that while the Waldos came up with the term, the people who made the flier — and effectively turned 4/20 into a holiday — remain unknown.
With weed, naturally. Some of the celebrations are bigger than others; Hippie Hill in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park typically draws thousands. In Seattle, the organizers of the annual Hempfest event are anticipating about 250 people at a private party. Some pot shops are offering discounts or hosting block parties.
College quads and statehouse lawns are also known for drawing 4/20 celebrants, with the University of Colorado's Boulder campus historically among the largest gatherings — though not so much since administrators started closing off the campus several years ago. Generally, 4/20 events in Colorado have dropped off significantly since the state legalized recreational use in 2012.
Some breweries make 4/20 themed beers — including SweetWater Brewing in Atlanta, whose founders attended CU-Boulder. Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, California, releases its "Waldos' Special Ale" every year on 4/20 in honor of the term's coiners.
This year's 4/20 follows successful legalization campaigns in California, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts, which join Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington in allowing recreational marijuana. More than half the states allow medical marijuana.
But it's still illegal under U.S. law. Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered a review of marijuana policy this month to see how it may conflict with President Donald Trump's crime-fighting agenda.
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly recently called marijuana "a potentially dangerous gateway drug that frequently leads to the use of harder drugs." That's a view long held by drug warriors despite scant evidence.
Sixty percent of adults support legalizing marijuana, according to a Gallup poll last fall, and two-thirds of respondents in a Yahoo/Marist poll released this week said marijuana is safer than opioids.
Undermining regulatory schemes in legal pot states could prompt a backlash that would hasten the end of federal prohibition, said Vivian McPeak, a founder of Seattle's Hempfest.
"We're looking at an attorney general who wants to bring America back into the 1980s in terms of drug policy," McPeak said. "I'm skeptical they can put the cannabis genie back into the bottle."
McPeak says 4/20 these days is "half-celebration and half-call to action."
For the Waldos, who remain close friends, it signifies above all else a good time, Capper said.
"We're not political. We're jokesters," he said. "But there was a time that we can't forget, when it was secret, furtive. … The energy of the time was more charged, more exciting in a certain way.
"I'm not saying that's all good — it's not good they were putting people in jail," he added. "You wouldn't want to go back there."
Associated Press writers Kristen Wyatt in Denver and Sadie Gurman in Washington, D.C., contributed.
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Voting for the Ennies
July 19, 2011 ennies No commentsIf you're not a gamer, you may not have heard of the Ennie Awards. But they're a big deal in the biz.
I'd like to endorse a few products and people when you're voting (which you can do here. This is not a comprehensive list, but my recommendations. You do not have to register for anything in order to vote. You do not have to be attending GenCon in order to vote
Eoris Essence - Best Cover Art and Interior Art (seriously, look at the website)
Shanghai Vampocalypse - Best Electronic Book
Mutants & Masterminds Hero's Handbook - Best Game
Happy Birthday Robot! - Best New Game
BattleTech 25th Anniversary Introductory Boxed Set - Best RPG related product
You can also vote for next year's judges. I would highly recommend these individuals:
Matt Muth
James Surano
Jody Klein
Kennan Bauman
Thanks, now go vote!
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Physician Assistant Programs In Texas
If you are looking for physician assistant programs in Texas, you are in luck as the state offers 7 different accredited programs that upon completion will set you up to earn somewhere in the ballpark of the median texas PA salary which is currently at $74,000 dollars according to Indeed.com. Depending on what you choose to specialize in, this median can just be a starting point for what you can earn annually, for example, the average salary for neurosurgery physician assistants is at $101,000 per year and the Texas patient team manager salary median resides at $125,000. So by completing one of the physician assistant programs in Texas, you will graduate with your Masters Degree as well as combine your passion for helping people with a great career salary. As far as the accredited schools go, below we have gathered a list so you can get an overview of all the Texas PA programs.
Accredited PA Schools In Texas
The following physician assistant programs in Texas are all accredited by Accreditation Review Commission which has designated these programs as ARC-PA. This title is a must if you want to become a practicing physician assistant in your state as completion of an accredited program is one of the main requirements when it comes to taking your Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Here are your options for PA programs in Texas.
Baylor College Of Medicine PA Program
Baylor College Of Medicine PA Program
University of Texas-Pan American PA Program
Job Outlook For PA's In Texas
Now that you know what there is to offer as far as physician assistant programs in Texas go, you may be asking yourself if the job will be a stable and continue to be in demand, well to answer your question, according to the Bureau Labor Statistics in their section where they detail the PA profession, the job outlook is discussed in detail. The job outlook is very positive for the career in general because of multiple factors which are discussed below, and they state that the PA profession is expected to have an increase in the employment at a rate of 39% over the 10-year span between the years 2008 through 2012. The factors that they base these numbers off of have to do with some of the following:
- Healthcare industry expansion.
- Physician assistants be considered cost effective to healthcare settings when it comes to hiring staff, which has to do with the fact that a PA can relieve the main physician on staff when they are busy, enabling the physician to get much more done.
- Increase in PA job openings will happen especially in rural and as well as inner cities due to the fact that these areas are experiencing a tough time finding physicians to hire.
- Like other industries, over this 10-year timeframe, it is expected that a certain amount of PA's will either retire or move on to another profession.


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HAR's Hotness Index shows where Houston-area homes are selling fastest, January 2017
Published 5:30 am, Friday, February 17, 2017
Houston Association of Realtors' Multiple Listing Service's "Hotness Index," otherwise known as their Rolling Average Report, shows which markets have seen the biggest changes — for better or worse.
It's a glimpse at how many homes have sold by MLS market area, and how the average sales price has changed from year to year.
The data shown here compares the market areas by average sales price and number of transactions (homes sold) in the period of February 2015 through January 2016 compared to February 2016 through January 2017.
'CHEAPEST' IN PRICIEST: The least expensive homes listed in Houston's priciest neighborhoods
The area that showed the greatest percentage change in terms of average sales price is La Marque. In the period of February 2015 through January 2016, the average was $98,144. In February 2016 through January 2017, that changed to $138,379, an increase of 41 percent. This market area also showed a 7.2 percent increase in the number of transactions, 263 homes sold in the first period and 282 sold in the more recent period.
SUBURBAN MANSION: NFL's Adrian Peterson's Woodlands home price reduced by nearly $2 million
At the other end is the Polk County North area, which saw a 35.5 percent drop in average sales price. In the period of February 2015 through January 2016, the community had an average home sales price of $86,864. That fell to $56,063 in February 2016 through January 2017. This area also showed a major decrease in number of transactions, from 11 to 5, a 54.5 percent change.
Other MLS areas closer to Houston, including Montrose, Memorial Villages, Rice/Museum District, West University and the Bellaire area all showed a decrease in average sales price.
Watch above: Best Cities For Getting The Most Bang for Your Buck


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Joyce Watson has been Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales since 2007.
Joyce is a member of the Assembly Commission, the corporate body for the National Assembly for Wales, with responsibility for equalities and Assembly staff. She sits on the Assembly's Equality, Local Government & Communities committee and chairs the Cross-Party Groups on Construction and Human Trafficking.
In 2016 Joyce was elected chair of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) British Islands & Mediterranean region, having previously chaired the Wales branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). She has represented Wales on the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) and the Council of Europe's Congress of Local & Regional Authorities.
Joyce is involved in a number of high-profile campaigns. She champions the White Ribbon cause, enlisting support to End Violence against Women. In 2010 she wrote Bordering on Concern, a report on Human Trafficking in Wales. Following its publication, the Welsh Government appointed the UK's first anti-Trafficking commissioner. In 2009 Joyce launched the Women in Construction network; she continues to work with employers and trade bodies to get more young people and women into the construction industry.
Before her election to the Assembly, Joyce was leader of the Labour group on Pembrokeshire Council. She managed Women's Voice, the Wales Women's National Coalition, and was a senior member of the Wales Gender Budget Group and the NHS Equality Reference Group.
Joyce has strong links to mid and west Wales. She was educated at Manorbier School, Cosheston School and Cardigan Comprehensive, and has run several businesses – public houses, restaurants and retail outlets in Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Joyce returned to education as an adult, taking A-levels at Pembrokeshire College before reading Politics at Swansea University. She is married with three children, a granddaughter and a grandson.


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About Nick's Fishmarket Maui
Nick's Fishmarket Maui, located at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea, offers the finest in local and mainland seafood in a tropical paradise setting. The romantic flair of the Mediterranean is seen in the restaurant's decor, from the rich earth tones of its color scheme to the crisp white curves of its enchanting architecture. Patrons dining outdoors will fall under the spell of overhead, vine-covered trellises with fragrant stephanotis blossoms and sparkling lights, while looking out over the lush grounds of the hotel and onto the beautiful ocean view. Innovative, classic cuisine is the focus of this premier restaurant. Specialties include fresh Opakapaka, Mahi Mahi, Ahi, Opah, and Hawaiian Spiny Lobster, as well as standards such as Prime New York Steak, Rack of Lamb, and Greek Chicken. Whether it be a romantic dinner, a family celebration, a business function, or just a night out with friends, Nick's Fishmarket Maui is the Valley Isle's first choice in dining.
Wailea, HI 96753
Dining Style:
Casual Elegant
Seafood, Steak, Hawaii Regional Cuisine
Hours of Operation:
Dinner: 5:30pm - 9:30pm daily
December 20–January 2: 5–9:30pm
Christmas Eve: 4–9:30pm
Christmas Day: 4–9:30pm
New Year's Eve: 4:30–9:30pm
Cross Street:
Kaukahi Street in the Fairmont Kea Lani
Dress Code:
Resort Casual
Price Range:
$31 to $50
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Phone Number:
(808) 879-7224
Parking Details:
Complimentary valet parking or in the self parking lot.
Executive Chef:
Geno Sarmiento
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Outdoor dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Special Events & Promotions:
Wine Tastings, Private Chef's Table Dinners, Customized Printed Menus are avaiable with set dinners to add that personal touch. Please contact us for more information or to begin making arrangements for your event.
Restaurant Photos
Nick's Fishmarket Maui Ratings and Reviews
This was our first time dining here, and it was weird. The restaurant was less than half full but we waited 20 minutes s to be seated when we showed up on time for our reservation. Service started out well, although with an inexperienced waiter, then descended into lackadaisical at best. We ordered the snapper, which was ok although swimming in sauce, and the fillet mignon, medium. It arrived medium rare to rare. Then everyone disappeared. We had to ask the hostess twice for our bill. We could have easily just walked out and no one would have noticed, or apparently even cared. Super disappointing.
Food was good, but it had better be for the price. i had the snapper picatta. Server was very knowlegdable, staff was attentive and friendly, atmosphere was beautiful. Took awhile to get the bill. For a fine dining establishment I was disappointed that the dress code was not enforced. Why would a grown man wear a baseball cap to dinner at a nice restaurant?
Beautiful setting for dinner
Lobster with Mac and cheese carbonara was excellent, very rich and enough to share. Salads large enough to share as well. Very nice wine list with many reasonably priced options. Service was a little slow but our water glasses were never left empty
Wow. Beau our waiter did everything to make the night special for us. We came here on a whim and we will be coming back before heading back to the mainland. Everyone was not only happy with their meals, but agreed they were the best we had throughout our trip.
We thought the strawberries were going to be disappointing based on some reviews, but they were so good and definitely worth ordering! Highly recommend! Fabulous experience, great food, great wine selection and a wonderful ambiance.
We have wanted to try Nick's for years so I was intent on liking it even though we were seated next to a large, loud two table party. Unfortunately, it did not meet our expectations for a nice place, especially for the prices. After going over the menu for quite some time and discussing appetizers and salads to share and choosing our entrees, we were disappointed when we attempted to order and found out that all three of us apparently were given outdated menus. Back to the drawing board.... Staff was very friendly and service was very good at first but after our salads were done there was a big time lag before entree's were served. Appetizers and salads were mediocre and the Opakapaka (that all three of us chose) was over cooked/dry and had no flavor. At $49 each, a huge disappointment. Oh yea, I also take off a point for our waiter who was bathed in fragrance which just about choked me every time he came near. Will definitely not be back.
The first half the service was quite good even outstanding, but as the evening went on, the service level went down. Took over 20 minutes to get a glass of wine after it was ordered. And took 15-20 minutes to get our bill which had mistakes on it. Over it was
Very nice but they need to work on their overall experience.
My wife and I arrived on time for an 8:45 Saturday reservation and we were promptly sat. A waiter came to take a drink order, but didn't leave menus. Our waiter changed, still didn't bring menus.
My wife has a gluten and dairy allergy, and she asked several times for GF bread and olive oil. The bread eventually came, the oil didn't. Her dinner was fine, mine was cold and the pasta was hard in spots.
Finally, the waiter stood over me as I signed the receipt and left the tip, and took from me before I could even set the pen down. Overall, nowhere near the level of service and quality I would expect from a restaurant of this caliber.
Where to start. This was one of the worst dining experiences of my life. My wife and I went here while on our honeymoon. Based on reviews read Nick's sounded great, we were sadly mistaken. The night started with incredibly rude hostesses. We had noted it was out honeymoon in our reservation and also requested a preferred table if available. We were questioned when asking to move to a better table in a completely empty restaurant. From there the night got even worse. Our server was on some form of drugs as he was skiddish, rambling and completely not attentive. All in all, we had 4 different people act as servers from bus boys to managers. Through all this you'd think the food would be poor, but it was actually fantastic. The service however was absolutely miserable. To top it off, they brought our dessert out and had written "happy anniversary" on the plate. It was our honeymoon which was made abundantly clear. If I were the Fairmont I would get rid of everyone at Nick's except the chef. Go to restaurants at the Hotel Wailea or Grand Wailea the service is 1000x better.
My family and I had dinner at Nick's on Nov 1 after our wedding. The service was attentive and outstanding (i.e. making pens and menus appear under the table like magic, making sure we were looked after but gave us space when needed). We ordered the rack of lamb, seafood bouillabaise (best that I have ever had), and the Mahi Mahi. They were all very delicious and satisfied our mothers (both are very picky eaters)
We have been to Nick's several times over the years. I think I ordered wrong this time. Both the Caesar and the meal were very heavy with a strong dark sauce. Covered the natural flavor of the ingredients. Next time I will insure that my selection is not covered in sauce.
We always stay at our favorite spot, the Four Seasons at Wailea, and we always have one dinner at Nick's at sunset. This occasion was our 28th anniversary dinner, and to say that we were shocked by virtually everything we experienced would be an understatement.
This used to be one of Maui's truly great restaurants. My Mahi Mahi was so dry it was almost inedible, and it was tasteless. My wife had the cioppino, and the broth was so salty that all of the ingredient's flavors were drowned out by the sodium.
We were virtually the first table seated at 5:30pm, and we sat at the table with our menus for almost 15 minutes while our waiter and his staff buddies stood less than 20 feet from us socializing with each other. I had to literally stare at the group and try and get his attention so that we could order.
To compound the awful meal, a pushy photographer virtually demanded that we get our photo taken, and then in the middle of our meal he abruptly bings the photo by. It was so washed out that there was no way I was going to pay him for it, and he seemed jilted that I was honest with him. It was a poorly over-exposed shot.
The only thing that was nice was the view, and you couldn't screw that one up. It was the worst meal my wife and I have ever had on the island of Maui, and the only thing that saved the day was our incredible lunch at Mama's Fish House earlier in the day.
How a general manager of executive chef with any sense of pride in their craft could release those two plates of food is beyond me. After many years of great dining at this restaurant, I would never go back.
I can honestly say that this meal was one of the worst dining experiences my wife and I can ever remember sitting through, and to have it spoil our anniversary dinner was a bloody shame!
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Our first impression of Cordoba was, "Wow, this city is big but empty and devoid of people. Where is everyone?" Luckily, the scene picked up after lunch. In ancient times, Cordoba was a famous city, even becoming the capital of an Islamic caliphate at one point. In fact, it is speculated that Cordoba was the most populous city in the world in the 10th century, and it was at this time that the city became the intellectual center of Europe.
The city is roughly a 50 minute ride from Malaga and costs about 45€ roundtrip. There are several trains throughout the day, and while some recommend two days for this city, we felt that one day was more than sufficient. This is also the place to get souvenirs from Andalusia. Postcards run from 0.35-0.50€ (similar to several other cities in the region), but several shops sell decently priced rings at 5€ or 2 for 9€ and table runners at 10-15€.
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
The Great Mosque: La Mezquita
Torre de la Calahorra, Puente Romano
Bodegas Campos
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
Adults- 4€ (2€/for gardens)
Students- 2€
Free for children 17 and under
Translated as The Fortress of the Christian Kings, this popular sight features a castle, a ginormous garden and a Moorish bathhouse. A prime example of military architecture, it was governed by Ferdinand and Isabella as they prepared to reconquer Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain. This was also the place where Isabella bid Columbus adieu as he set sail for the new world. Before the Spanish gained control of the fortress, it was the home of the Umayyad caliphs. You can also get a pretty decent view of the hilltops outside of Cordoba from the rooftop.
The Great Mosque: La Mezquita
Adults- 8€ (no discount for students)
Children 10-14 years- 4€
Free for children under 10
The Mezquita, often known as the Great Mosque of Cordoba, is perhaps the most iconic sight in Cordoba. The mosque is rich with interesting history. Clearly, as the name would suggest, it's a mosque, built by the Moors starting in 125 AD. A whole Gothic cathedral was then built right smack in the middle of the hall following the Inquisition in the early 1500s. The original mosque was built in four periods, with the most remarkable expansion during the second period in the late 900s, which lengthened the mosque by a whopping 12 bays. Unlike most mosques, this one does not point to Mecca, which would be south-east of Cordoba. Instead, it points south.
This mosque is also recognized as one of the most accomplished monuments of Islamic architecture due to a number of innovations. Pay particular attention to the double arches, which serve both a decorative and functional purpose. The additional arch enabled the architects to raise the height of the building and create the visual effect of an elaborate ceiling. There are also four domes overseeing the mihrab, which allowed for additional decorative and expressive designs.
We came here on a Sunday, a day that still has services at 9am and 10:45am. At these times, the mosque is free. We took our time, choosing to come in the afternoon at 2pm, when there were less tourists. I'd suggest coming here either super early or later in the day on a Sunday. This place deserves to be viewed without bodies cramming into each other.
Torre de la Calahorra, Puente Romano
Adults- 4,50 €
Students / Senior Citizens- 3 €
Free for children under 8 years old
For a gorgeous view of the Guadalquivir River and a spectacular view of the city, head across the Puente Romano (Roman Bridge) and into the Torre de la Calahorra. Although it's an audio visual museum detailing life in Cordoba in the 10th century, there's a tower that gives you prime access to views of the city.
Bodegas Campos
Calle Los Lineros 32
14002 Córdoba
We discovered this restaurant through Rick Steve's recommendation in his Spain travel book. This is clearly a local favorite, given the massive garage space surrounding it for cars of patrons. We arrived a bit too early and had to saunter around a bit before the Taberna opened at 1pm. The place also has an upstairs restaurant, which is more expensive, so be sure to ask for seating at the Taberna if you're looking for cheaper fare.
Chorizo Iberian Cular (9.70€)
Iberian Sausage
The chorizo wasn't anything special, but it hit the spot. It's mild, but one can only eat so many slices without bread before getting sick of the meat. This would be a great appetizer to share for three or more people. Two was stretching it and we couldn't finish it. It's also one of the cheaper chorizo choices on the menu.
Patatas Cortijeras con Picadillo de Chorizo, half ration (7.20€)
Potatoes with sausage hash and egg
This was our favorite dish of the meal. The potatoes were thinly sliced and crisp on the edges. I particularly loved the chorizo flavor that seeped into the potatoes. They must have been cooked with the oil from the chorizo. The egg was fried delicately so that the yolk ran all over the potatoes when punctured. In retrospect, we should have gotten a full ration, but we thought we were eating too many potatoes.
Flamenquín Tricolor de Pollo (10.80€)
Chicken stuffed with prosciutto and tricolor peppers
This was, to put nicely, a big disappointment. We had no idea what Flamenquín was, but we knew it was a dish typical to Cordoba. When the dish came, we were slightly taken aback and proceeded with caution. This was by far the saltiest dish of all salty dishes we had in Spain. It was so salty we had to take out the stuffing (as salty as the chicken was, the prosciutto was infinitely saltier) to stomach the chicken. Even then, we could not finish it. The fries were a bit subpar and without ketchup, they were nothing but limp potato sticks coated in grease. By the end of the meal, we had to order another agua con gas, which runs at 1.50€ a bottle.
As you can infer from the picture, we later figured out that Flamenquín is a roll that consists of pieces of prosciutto rolled into a meat, which is then rolled in bread crumbs and then fried. It's accompanied with mayo.
Leche Frita con Helado (4.60€)
Fried custard with lime ice cream
After the Flamenquín disaster, we decided dessert was a must. Before dessert even came, the server presented us with two complimentary glasses of port. I'm no expert of port, but I can tell you that it was sweet, syrupy and tasted like the last two ports I had in Australia. Informative, I know.
The fried custard was definitely unique. It was like biting into a warm egg tart. The pairing with lime ice cream was a bit odd on paper, but worked harmoniously well in practice. I'm not sure which part of the dessert I liked better, but together, it was like a wedding in my mouth.
Our total bill came out to 37.30€, a bit pricy given the quality. I wouldn't not suggest this place, but I don't expect I would ever go back.


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A late addition to the St. Louis Craft Beer Week. Newstead Tower Public House will be hosting another in their line of monthly beer dinners with this dinner featuring different beers from the New Belgium Brewery.
The date of the dinner is Sunday, April 25th at 6PM. The cost of this event is $45 and reservations are required. You can make reservations by calling 314-535-7771.