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Riding Lawn Mower Reviews
Ferris Lawn Mowers - Maintaining a yard and keeping rid of it manicured is a challenge but can be very rewarding. However with the proper tools and machinery commemorate it easier and less stressful. Having a green lush lawn is probably the greatest joys to the homeowner. But if you have more than a little grass to reduce you may need to look at purchasing a quality riding mower. It can make a big difference within the quality of cut as well as add enjoyment for the yard work at hand. When you run out and purchase the first or cheapest riding lawnmower at your home warehouse store, do a little research. Find some riding lawnmower reviews and the best riding lawn mowers recommended by the pro's. Ferris Mowers usually are not the cheapest but they possess a reputation for quality and reliability. You don't want to buy a cheap ridding mower that needs maintenance on a regular basis. You want a machine that you can trust to start up and run with almost no maintenance cost.
Why You Need to Read Riding Lawnmower Reviews?
Purchasing a new riding mower is a big decision and you don't want to waste your time and energy or money on an item of junk that causes frustration. The large box, home warehouse stores will sell you the models that they are told to market. It is rare that a sales person at these stores really knows the differences between the many riding mowers on the market. Don't let them inform you what you need. Online reviews can assist you to make an educated decision without the pressure to buy it right now. When you actually search for the mower it is advisable to have a list of mowers you've got researched and maybe a couple of carefully chosen questions to ask the sales person with that model of riding lawn mower. Start by typing in phrases like, "best riding lawn mowers", or "riding lawn mower reviews". This will provide you with a starting place to make the important decision.
3 Ideas to Consider When Reading Riding Lawn Mower Reviews
Tip #1: Consume Reports - The other People Say
When doing online research you will find a great deal of promotional materials about every type of riding lawn mower made. But what tells probably the most is what other homeowners are saying about the make and model of the riding lawnmowers they have purchased. Consumer reports and reviews are a great way to talk to your neighbors to see what they think. It will be worth your time to learn several reports or reviews. That way you can collect a number of opinions and suggestions form many sources. Sometimes the comments can be biased or given by the manufacturer or vender, so read the comment section below as well as help to see additional feedback by real home owners.
Tip #2: What Are Your requirements?
Buying a brand new riding mower can be fun, but starting point about your needs. Do you require that much power and all sorts of the fancy bells and whistles that may bump up the price? Are you going to be using the mower for the business? Will you be deploying it for your own lawn? Listed here is a good question to continually ask. Will you be doing the mowing, or will you be letting your teenage child use the riding mower? This makes a difference about how durable and the quality of the machine needs to be. can it withstand the abuse of the younger and more aggressive driver with wear it?
Calculate how many hours a month it will lead you to mow the lawn and then look at the maintenance chart. How frequently should you change the oil, or do maintenance? This really is part of the decision process since maintenance takes time and money. Higher end riding mowers you will find run with less problems and require less maintenance.
Tip #3: Compare The Make And Models
One best part to do is either write down the features of 5 to 10 of the riding lawn mowers that get your interest the most and meet your needs. Then in chart fashion compare the important points. Or some riding mower review sites are able to compare makes and models. As you may find some out of your price range or some which can be too basic and cheap, it is good to add a few above and below your needs to get a overview of what is being offered and also at what price. Ferris Mowers are known for being a quality riding Lawnmower that is durable at a reasonable price. Whilst not cheap, they will last considerably longer than a cheap and poor home warehouse store model. So again you get what you pay for.
When you gather information to create your buying decision for the best riding lawn mower, make sure you check various sources and manufacturers. FerrisMowers.org is a good place to check out Ferris Zero Turn Mowers. A zero turn radius on the riding lawn mower is one thing to also consider when purchasing. Not sure what a zero turn riding lawn mower is? Check out FerrisMowers.org to learn more.
Here is to a green lush lawn your neighbor's will envy.


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What's a Jelly Pack and Why You Need It On Your Face
06 • 09 • 2017
Let's discuss my most exciting makeup discovery of the past six months: the confusingly named J. One Jelly Pack, a Korean makeup primer that goes way beyond making your makeup last longer. The J. One Jelly Pack gives the most incredible poreless appearance and lifts and holds up your sagging jowls, all while treating your skin like an anti-aging mask. It really works! Read on for my J One Jelly Pack review:
WTH Is A Jelly Pack
The name is confusing- "pack" is the Korean word for mask, but the J. One Jelly Pack is actually a makeup primer, and the finest one out there at that. Primer is applied before moisturizer/SPF and foundation to "grip" onto your makeup and make it last longer.
This particular primer is unique in that it improves your skin like a mask, with fermented black tea and peptides for anti aging benefits, and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and niacinamide to brighten. Most importantly, there's also a lifting and firming effect, which the brand's founder, Korean actress Ha Ji-Won, claims is like a 'corset for your face'.
I bought my Jelly Pack several months ago from this seller on Amazon and have had no problems with the product, but recent reviews speculate that the same seller is now pushing fakes. So I would be safe and purchase my J. One Jelly Pack from Sephora online [and while you are at it, also throw the best depuffing mask ever in your cart because Sephora is the only place that sells it] .
How To Use
From the second you put the Jelly Pack on your skin, you realize the thick, syrupy gel is like no other primer you have tried. I was applying my J One in the wrong order before: you should apply it to bare skin, BEFORE sunscreen/moisturizer. It still works if you apply after moisturizer, but it doesn't give quite the same poreless, lifted appearance. Apply 2 or 3 pumps to freshly cleansed skin and smoothe over your face in sweeping, upward motions. I apply over my eyelids and under my eyes too. Then pat the product into the skin to help everything meld together and sink in. Let it settle for a couple of minutes before moving onto sunscreen or makeup. Some bloggers say you need to wait 5 minutes or your makeup will ball up, but I have never had that problem and I wait maybe one minute for it to sink in.
You can also use the J. One Jelly Pack as a sleeping pack, applying a generous layer as the last step in your evening skincare routine. Seems like a waste of a fairly expensive primer, so I have never done this.
Why You Need It:
Before you stop reading because you're thinking, "I already have a primer that seems to do the job just fine." Let me explain how the J. One Jelly Pack kicks your Laura Mercier/Smashbox/Hourglass primer's *ss. First of all, it is hands down the best primer in terms of extending your makeup's weartime. But don't buy it for that reason alone. Buy it because the J One gives you the most unbelievable, poreless alien skin you have ever seen. It's as if the strange, syrupy consistency of the J One spackles over and fills in all of your pores. If you have an event and do a one-two punch of an SK-II sheet mask (or this budget sheet mask), and then the J. One before your makeup, your skin will have a poreless glow that is nothing short of otherworldly. The whole look was beyond description until I discovered the Koreans came up with a word for it– "chok chok."
But wait, there's more! Not only does the J. One make you look chok chok [give you chok chok? Not sure as to the usage], but it lifts and plumps your skin! So much so that Vogue described it as a corset for the face: "It pulls up the skin and keeps it there . . . almost like there's no gravity." I smooth it on in upward motions, and and under my jawline too, and I swear it keeps my nasolabial folds a little more lifted and my jawline sharper. I also notice that it plumps up the hollows under my eyes, and makes my whole skin look plumper, supple and hydrated (yet it doesn't break me out like many primers do). It also temporarily fills in those fine lines on your forehead.
I don't usually use the primer everyday before my usual It Cosmetics CC Cream Illumination (although it works fine under that), but I definitely use it before events (at night I use Too Faced Born This Way foundation or Loreal Pro Glow in Shade 202).
In the above photo I'm wearing the J One Jelly Pack, It Cosmetics CC Cream Illumination in Light, Maybelline Super Sizer mascara in Black Brown, Maybelline Brow Precise, and Urban Decay Glide-On Lip Pencil in Unicorn (lined + filled in my lips with the liner).

subset: commoncrawl


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BillMinder is a very slick application to keep you organized with your bills and update you with due dates.
DescriptionAllows you to easily track your bills from your iPhone. Track recurring bills, mark bills paid or unpaid, manage information about the bill's collector so you can easily contact them, and see totals for your monthly spending.
It took me a little while to get my head around what this App was about, probably because I don't deal with that many bills (a good thing these days). Now what this App does is present you with a specially adapted month to view calendar but your appointments here are your bills, tapping the familiar + icon in the top right of the screen pulls up an input screen to add details of your bill, the collecting party (selectable from a list of recently added, or you can add a new one straight from this screen) the due day with recurrence options the amount and codes important for paying the bill and of course a toggle for un/paid. Now the best thing I find about this app is as your going about your business adding your bills, the bottom of each month view it gives you a total for that month.
Feature Request
In the input screens, rather than having a done button on the keyboard a next button would let you input things a little faster.
Price: $1.99 sale price, (33% off at time of writing) $2.99 regular price
Generally I like this application, it uses the interface to full effect, web addresses opening in Safari, phone numbers being called when tapped and good use of menus. It provides genuinely useful functionality for a decent price. It's simple, works well and feels like something I'd use regularly.
The Good
- Simple and easy to use
- functional and pretty handy
- Price to feature ratio spot on even for regular price
- Needs the 3.0 firmware urgently for those push notifications
- Interface needs some polish
Promo Codes
Follow http://twitter.com/TouchReviews_PR on Twitter and ask him!
BillMinder Screenshots
Filed under: App Reviews, Finance, Promo Codes | Tagged: BillMinder, iphone-app-reviews |


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Save to your scrapbook
Rosemary Lamb Cutlets with Butter Bean Mash
This will be saved to your scrapbook
You can also add it to one of your existing cookbooks
Using a pack of ready-prepared vegetables keeps peeling and chopping to a minimum. You will find them in the chiller cabinet in the fruit and vegetable section. The cutlets are available from the Meat Service Counter.
Serves: 2
This recipe was first published in November 2003.


text: Durable carry straps and easy breathing mesh panels make this a luxurious way to carry your other best friend! Thick durable nylon will keep your pet secure and stick tight Velcro will make sure he or she stays put but with the extra padding included, your pet may not want to leave their carrier at all! Measures 18.75 x 11.625 x 11.625 inches.


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Friday, June 11, 2010
Training Hard!
Hey Everyone!
This is Willie Win checking in from mascot training camp! I have never worked so hard in my life. Each day I run training miles, lift weights, do pushups and situps, jumping jacks, chinups and even swim laps for cross training! This year I am determined to win the Mascot Roadshow!
2010's opening race is so close - JUNE 19th at FLAMBORO DOWNS for Ellamony Pace day!
I need you guys to come cheer me on! For more information go here: Flamboro
See you on June 19th, until then I will be training...... Time for me to go jog some miles.
Posted by Standardbred Canada at 8:29 AM No comments: Links to this post
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"Eyes Wide Open" Community Forum on Substance Abuse on Wednesday, 2/1
Agenda for January 4 Meeting
The RCCASA Burbio calendar is updated with events and programs sponsored by RCCASA member organizations and community partners.
Any parent will benefit by attending, so please share this and encourage parents you know or work with to attend.
Want to find out more aboutHow to Raise an Adult? Here is a NY Times article and here is her TED talk.
Generation Found is being shown at the Ridgefield Playhouse
Wednesday March 15th, 7 PM.
From the creators of the groundbreaking film, THE ANONYMOUS PEOPLE, comes GENERATION FOUND, a powerful story about one community coming together to ignite a youth addiction recovery revolution in their hometown.
This free community event is sponsored by RPC, Insight Counseling, Newport Academy,
Hamlet Hub, & Silver Hill Hospital.
What is the MTF survey? Since 1975 the MTF survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide. 45,473 students from 372 public and private schools participated in this year's Monitoring the Future survey. The survey is funded by NIDA.
This year's 2016 report has some encouraging news:
Teen substance use shows promising decline – NIH Monitoring the Future survey shows use of most illicit substances down, but past year marijuana use is relatively stable
The Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volkow, says, "It's actually a year where we're seeing incredibly good news as it relates to the patterns of drug use among teenagers."
Get detailed information on the MTF website or the NIH website has some good information, plus an audiocast and some Nora Volkow video.
© 2019 Ridgefield Youth Commission.
Made with by Graphene Themes.


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Who I am
Crafted in luxurious saffiano leather, this chic shoulder bag has a nice clean silhouette & refreshing lines. The signature silver hardware & the iconic logo medallion completes the polished look. Comes with an exterior back slide pocket & an adjustable shoulder strap for a crossbody carry option.
- Colour: Deep Pink- Shoulder/ Crossbody Bag - Saffiano Leather- Signature Michael Kors Logo on Front- Logo Medallion Hangs on Side- Adjustable Leather Shoulder Strap- 1 Exterior Back Slide Pocket- Centre Top Zip Closure- Silver-Toned Hardware - 1 Interior Zip Pocket; 4 Slide Pockets- Signature Logo Fabric Lining- Comes with Michael Kors Product Tag & Dustbag- Size: L:25.5cm W:7cm H:24cm D:47.5-62.5cm
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Kitchen Design / August 31, 2018 / Amandine Isaac
Island And Desk Light - You\'ll also want to consider how you Light the island and desk areas. Various other rustic home kitchen devices, including carpets, vegetations, cupboard extras, and also others could be integrated to highlight the agricultural sense.
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This stunning second floor room enjoys uninterrupted views of the harbour and views of the Dorset coast on clear days. Recently refurbished in a contemporary, seaside style this room will ensure that you are relaxed as you watch the moon glisten on the waves. The room also offers digital television. Guests taller than 5' 10" may find the shower height restricting.
Woodlands Guest House
Parkham Road
South Devon
01803 852040


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Author Notes: Spiced + salted dulce de leche filling nestled inside an espresso-pecan tart, topped with lush whiskey whipped cream —Valerie
Makes: one 9-inch tart
1 1/4
cups all-purpose flour
cup finely ground pecans
cup confectioners' sugar
teaspoon espresso powder
teaspoon salt
tablespoons unsalted butter, cold & cut into 1/2-inch cubes
egg yolk, lightly beaten
Filling + Toppiing
14 ounce cans of sweetened condensed milk
teaspoon salt
teaspoons ground cinnamon
cups heavy whipping cream
pinches salt
tablespoons Whiskey
cup confectioners' sugar
In This Recipe
- Prepare the crust; butter a nine-inch tart pan with a removable bottom; set aside.
- Place flour, pecans, confectioners' sugar, espresso powder & salt in a food processor. Pulse about three times, just to combine. Use a fork to toss in cold butter cubes. Pulse until butter pieces are the size of oatmeal flakes and peas (they do not need to be uniform, you're aiming coarsely cut bits). Slowly add the egg yolk, pulsing briefly after each addition. When egg is completely in, process dough in long pulses (about 10 seconds each) until the dough forms clumps and curds (the processor will make a noticeable change in sound when this happens). Try not to overprocess. Turn dough out onto a work surface and, very gently, knead until any remaining dry bits are incorporated.
- Press dough evenly onto the bottom and up the sides of prepare tart pan. Place crust in freezer for at least 30 minutes. (freezing the crust will allow you to bake it without the use of pie weights.)
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Butter/spray the shiny side of a piece of foil and fit foil, butter side down, tightly over frozen tart crust. Place crust on a baking sheet and bake 25 minutes. Carefully remove foil and, using the back of a spoon, gently press down on any puffy areas. Return uncovered crust to oven and bake for another 8-10 minutes, or until crust is a deep golden brown. Remove crust from oven and place onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before filling with dulce de leche. (recipe below)
- Dulce de leche filling; prepare a double boiler; fill a medium saucepan with about 1-inch of water and bring the water to a slow simmer. Find a large heatproof bowl that fits snugly over the saucepan (make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch simmering water). Pour both cans of sweet milk into heatproof bowl and place the bowl over simmering water. Stirring occasionally, cook until the sweet milk thickens and turns golden brown. This can take up to three-four hours; replenish the simmering water as needed. The sweet milk will thin out a bit before morphing into gorgeous dulce de leche - it's a long process but well worth the wait. {Note; if you have a faster method, feel free to use it.}
- Remove the bowl of dulce de leche from the heat and set aside until cool to room temperature. It will thicken up even more whilst cooling.
- When dulce de leche has come to room temperature, scrape it into cool tart crust. Use an offset spatula to spread it out into an even layer. {Note; use a light hand when spreading so you don't disturb the fragile crust.} Place tart in refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm up.
- Prepare whiskey whipped cream; place cream and salt into stand mixer bowl fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on med-high until soft peaks are just beginning to form. With mixer set to medium speed, start adding whiskey and sugar. Turn speed up to med-high and beat until stiff peaks form (do not overbeat).
- Remove tart from fridge and scrape whipped cream on top of filling. Dust with sifted ground cinnamon, if desired
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Tart
- This recipe was entered in the contest for The Best Thing You Ate This Year
More Great Recipes:


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powersurge wrote: I wonder how many people on this Leaf forum started with hybrids before they took the plunge to the Leaf??
Guilty as charged. Our first toe in the water was a 2008 Highlander Hybrid.
After that experience, I was much more open to the Leaf and the Clarity PHEV.
Interesting idea of having all new cars be either BEV, PHEV or at minimum old-fashioned Hybrid. I can see that being effective, though legally impractical in the U.S. anyway. China and Europe have much better prospects for doing something like that. Perhaps implement the concept for vehicles with an MSRP over $30k. Hybrid does add cost to the purchase; but by only requiring on higher end models, the argument that it would unduly burden those who can't afford it becomes rather moot. Also, when it is a standard feature on the more desirable models, it will become a more popular option on the more affordable models.


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Sewer Pipe Replacement
Call Chuck at Artisan Plumbing. His cell is usually the best way to reach him: 215-400-1842. He does a lot of work with old houses and works in Philly all the time, so he'll know what can be done. I have always found him to be honest as well as good at what he does.
Submitted by: Barbara-Jean Fening (email@example.com)


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Next up was Ingrid Michaelson. She is a little folksy for my taste, but her band was good and they mixed things up with an odd Vanilla Ice/Fresh Prince/Britney Spears number.
And finally, Keane. It was as if Tom Chaplin flew down from heaven and sang us some songs. He has the voice of an angel and he looked better than ever with new hair. (From what I could see through my tear-streaked contact lenses!) They played all the songs I wanted them too and Tim Rice-Oxley was brilliant on piano. This was probably the greatest concert I've ever been to. (30 Seconds to Mars in May was a tough one to top. Sorry Jared.)
If you're not familiar with Keane or Travis' music, I highly recommend you check them out. Hopes and Fears is my personal favorite.
No more concerts until Paramore in September…


text: One Bible-related legend contends that the unicorn was too high-spirited to ride on Noah's ark with the other animals and that is how it became extinct. "The Unicorn," a popular 1967 song by the Irish Rovers with lyrics by Shel Silverstein, insisted the unicorns were too busy playing to make it onto the ark. Some scholars think that the word unicorn in verses such as Psalm 92:10: ("But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of the unicorn; I shall be anointed with fresh oil"), was a mistranslation. The original Hebrew word re'em actually meant some type of unknown animal, but was mistakenly read as "one-horned." Inspired by no fewer than seven verses about unicorns in the Old Testament, medieval Christians began to portray it in their tapestries and paintings. The unicorn came to signify Jesus Christ. Artists usually showed it as a pure white horse or goat with a long, straight spiraling horn projecting straight out from the forehead, similar to today's standard version. But there is a reason that the unicorn's horn, once always shown as thick and curved like a rhino's, became long, straight, and spiraled.


text: Our research optimizes the distribution of intelligence across sensors, actuators, edge clouds and the cloud. Distributing Intelligence in IoT State-of-the art machine learning tactics for image, video and sensor data processing (neural nets, metamodels, etc). Machine Learning & Data Mining Advanced technologies for knowledge discovery and automated reasoning in the world wide web and large enterprise systems. Semantic Intelligence Multimedia content analysis and efficient coding and delivery of high-quality multimedia data. Multimedia Processing State-of-the-art high-speed circuit design for optical and wireless communications and electromagnetic system analysis. Electromagnetics & high-frequency circuit design Providing deterministic guarantees on end-to-end service delivery to/between heterogeneous networked devices in dynamic wireless environments through collaborative management approaches. Wireless Networking Designing and investigating new network architectures to further improve the performance, scalability and quality of experience (QoE) of the Internet. Fixed Networking Scalable and plug-and-play platforms for big data processing and data workflow orchestration. Cloud & Big Data Infrastructures Want more information about the expertise domains? Take a look


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General Roofing Services in Metro NashvilleAssociated Roofing Inc. is one of the reputable local roofing companies providing quality roofing services in Metro Nashville and the surrounding area. Since 1995, we have been providing residential and commercial roofing services that exceed your expectations. Our professionals are committed to providing top-notch roofing services at affordable prices.
Whether you are looking for metal or shingle roofing services, we handle it all efficiently. Our experts use the latest roofing systems, technologies and materials to get your job done in a timely and efficient manner. We also provide emergency roofing services based on your specific requirements.
Call us at (615) 547-8972 for all your roofing needs.
What Sets Us Apart?
- 23 Years in Business
- Talk of the Town Winner
- Certified Professionals
- Member of BBB
- GAF-Preferred Shingle Contractors
- Exceptional Customer Service
Associated Roofing Inc.
Business Hours
Mon - Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Sat & Sun: Closed
Sat & Sun: Closed


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Capita is entrusted by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to deliver a range of core business services of national importance. The responsibilities implicit in these undertakings are taken extremely seriously by all employees engaged on their delivery.
We understand that, in future, the 'first choice' for UK defence manpower capabilities will be the Whole Force Approach (WFA). WFA is a flexible workforce construct for defence that will enable the delivery of military outputs in the most efficient and effective way, blending military, civil service, regular reserves, sponsored reserves, and contractors.
We're already delivering into this approach for the UK MOD, and have held information-sharing discussions with other NATO Defence Forces with similar requirements. With us, you'll receive a specialised service delivering activities that, while essential, may be better delivered by partner contractors – leaving you free to focus on the main effort.
We deliver recruitment to the British Army, as well as e-learning and support services to the UK Defence Centre for Languages & Culture, and technical support to the Astute class Submarine build programme. We're the prime contractor acting as the Defence Infrastructure Organisation's (DIO) strategic business partner, responsible for the leadership and direction of the DIO and the management of its delivery partners and contractors.
The employees who deliver our defence solutions are a blend of subject matter experts, and those with particular defence experience, either in uniform or within the wider defence industry.


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Obama's Carter trap
Not since the era of roller disco, Ford Pintos and "Welcome Back, Kotter" has a Democratic president faced the political fallout of soaring gasoline prices.
On the surface, at least, President Barack Obama seems to be doing all he can to avoid following the cardigan-clad example of Jimmy Carter.
Story Continued Below
Obama hasn't gone on television with a Mr. Rogers sweater, telling everyone to turn down their thermostats in winter. But he has gone on the populist attack — denouncing oil industry tax breaks and lampooning Republicans' "bumper sticker" solutions while raising their ire by borrowing their "all of the above" energy mantra.
On substance, though, the two presidents' approaches bear many similarities: Both embrace conservation — including, in Obama's case, a drive for energy-efficient buildings and higher vehicle fuel efficiency standards. Both talk up wind and solar power. And both lean heavily on the Energy Department — an agency Carter created and on which Obama has relied to promote the green technologies that he says will bring future jobs and prosperity.
Obama also isn't promising to lower gasoline prices anytime soon, unlike GOP rivals such as Newt Gingrich, who is renewing the "drill, baby, drill" mantra and promising the return of $2-a-gallon gas. But energy prices are tough for any Democrat to counter because people are looking for someone to blame. And spiking gas prices in a sour economy are a headache Bill Clinton never had to cope with.
In short, can a Democratic president take on energy without seeming Carter-esque?
Some looking at the two presidencies say Carter suffered more than his share of bad luck in dealing with energy, an issue he once called the "moral equivalent of war."
Carter "just got this reputation of thinking we're in a deep malaise and everybody has to cut back and use less," said Charles Ebinger, who served as a foreign affairs officer at the Federal Energy Administration — a precursor to DOE — in the Ford administration. "And Obama's certainly not taking that track."
Ebinger, now director of the Energy Security Initiative at The Brookings Institution, wasn't sure how successful Obama's approach would be.
"I think it's good politics to be more upbeat about it," Ebinger said. "But I don't think he can win in the short run because prices are going to keep going up."
So far, Obama has not faced an energy crisis as extreme as the one in the late 1970s, when the price of regular gasoline doubled from 1978 to 1980 while motorists waited in long lines, some governors imposed rationing and a riot broke out at a gas station in Levittown, Pa. Average regular gasoline prices have yet to return to the all-time peak of $4.11 a gallon they hit in the summer of 2008, toward the end of the George W. Bush administration.
Republicans who have spent the past three decades laying just about every economic calamity at Carter's feet are eager to portray Obama's administration as an unpleasant rerun.
Gingrich invoked the 1970s' bad vibes last week, telling a Seattle-area audience that Obama's energy rhetoric "says, 'We can't really solve this problem in my administration, maybe not in this decade.' Very much like Jimmy Carter."
Mitt Romney has gone there as well, calling the Obama White House "the most anti-jobs, anti-investment, anti-growth administration that I've seen since Jimmy Carter."
For its part, the Obama administration doesn't appear eager to encourage the comparison.
In 2010, environmentalist Bill McKibben tried in vain to get the Obama administration to take the symbolic step of reinstalling one of Carter's solar panels on the White House — the panels the Reagan administration removed after taking over in 1981. (Energy Secretary Steven Chu later promised that the administration would "lead by example" by installing solar panels and a solar water heater on the White House.)


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CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Sept. 30, 2013) - Canadian Natural Resources Limited (TSX:CNQ) (NYSE:CNQ) ("Canadian Natural" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of its process to find a world class partner for the joint exploration of its Block 11B/12B offshore South Africa. After a lengthy and thorough process, where Canadian Natural received a number of strong, competitive offers from well-known industry participants, the Company elected to partner with Total E&P South Africa BV ("Total"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Total SA, based on their knowledge, experience and successful history in deep water exploration.
Following approval from the Government of South Africa, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, CNR International (South Africa) Limited has completed a Farm-Out Agreement with Total. The Agreement provides that in exchange for a 50% working interest in the Block and the right to Operatorship, Canadian Natural received an undisclosed upfront cash payment, a recovery of 50% of past incurred costs and a carry in the first exploration well drilled up to a gross cost of US$150 million. The first exploration well is targeted to be drilled in 2014. In the event of a successful multi-well exploration program to define the prospect and subsequent commercial development, additional consideration will be received.
Block 11B/12B is located in the Outeniqua Basin, approximately 175 kilometers off the southern coast of South Africa and covers an area of approximately 19,000 square kilometers with water depths ranging from 200 - 1,800 meters. Canadian Natural has undertaken extensive seismic studies of the Block. The newly formed joint venture will work towards finalizing the location of the initial exploration well.
Commenting on the completion of the Farm-Out Agreement, Steve Laut, President of Canadian Natural said "The exploration potential in this offshore area of South Africa is exciting. We are pleased to have the opportunity to work together with Total, a world class partner. The completion of this joint venture demonstrates the opportunities provided to the Company through its international portfolio which contributes to our vast and diversified asset base. Working together with Total and the Government of South Africa, we are in a positive position to maximize shareholder value in this exciting prospect."
To view the map of Canadian Natural Block 11B/12B, please click the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/901107.pdf
Canadian Natural is a senior oil and natural gas production company, with continuing operations in its core areas located in Western Canada, the U.K. portion of the North Sea and Offshore Africa.
Certain information regarding the Company contained herein may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Such statements, including the statement regarding anticipated time of drilling of first exploration well, are subject to known or unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Refer to our website for complete forward-looking statements www.cnrl.com.
Contact Information:


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Isobelle Philora, a courageous six-year-old girl from Northampton, has received a new, state-of-the-art, powered wheelchair to help boost her mobility, thanks to the joint fundraising efforts of customers and staff at Beacon Bingo Northampton, on Weedon Road.
Beacon Bingo, which operates eight bingo halls across the country, is one of the main fundraisers for CHIPS, a charity set up on behalf of the gaming industry, which aims to provide specialised wheelchairs for children and young people with severe mobility problems.
Isobelle, who lives with her parents, Angeline and Craig and twin sister Jasmine, suffers various health problems including Global Development Delay, a condition that has affected her physical development. She is unable to walk or propel a manual wheelchair and has been dependent on others to wheel her around in a buggy.
Despite her problems, she has proved capable of driving a powered wheelchair by herself, using a joystick or push button controls.
Isobelle's mum Angeline said: "This wheelchair will make an enormous difference in Isobelle's life, we are so very grateful to Beacon Bingo and CHIPS charity for the powered wheelchair.
"It will allow her to move around school during PE and in the playground with her friends", she added. "At home, Isobelle will now be able to go wherever she wants, whenever she wants. It is great news for our family."
Paul Cooke, General Manager of Beacon Bingo Northampton, added: "Isobelle is an extraordinary girl and is so deserving of this wheelchair. It is fantastic to see how much happiness and freedom it has brought to her and her family. This makes all the fundraising efforts from all of our staff and customers throughout our estate certainly worth it."
Co-founder of the CHIPS charity Linda Lindsay said: "It is so important for CHIPS that our donors see the results of their hard work and we try to ensure that all the recipients are local to where the funds have been raised. Beacon Bingo have been amazing and to date have donated a massive £ 500,000 allowing CHIPS to provide more than 100 powered wheelchairs up and down the country."
In total, CHIPS has raised over £1,500,000 and presented over 450 wheelchairs to children throughout the UK.


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Once upon a time, Supreme Court justices were seen but not heard. The only time they spoke in public was to ask a question at oral arguments. Otherwise, they kept their counsel and spoke through written opinions or dissents.
Sadly, that's no longer the case. Today, a few of them are out in public spouting off all the time, like wannabe TV pundits, occasionally even commenting on matters that may soon come before the court. The worst offender is Justice Antonin Scalia, as he proved once again this week.
There's nothing new about Scalia's making outrageous remarks, both on and off the bench. He's been doing it his entire judicial career. On "Fox News Sunday," for example, shortly after the July movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colo., Scalia defended the right of Americans to arm themselves with any "hand-carried" weapon. "It doesn't apply to cannons," he explained. "But I suppose there are hand-held rocket launchers that can bring down airplanes that will have to be decided." And there's no doubt how Scalia would vote.
At an October book-signing, as reported by Nina Strochlic of The Daily Beast, Scalia cavalierly dismissed three Supreme Court-weighty issues: "The death penalty? Give me a break. It's easy. Abortion? Absolutely easy. Nobody ever thought the Constitution prevented restrictions on abortion. Homosexual sodomy? Come on. For 200 years, it was criminal in every state."
Not even the pope, apparently, hates homosexuality as much as Scalia. In Lawrence v. Texas, he not only dissented from the court's decision to strike down the state's anti-sodomy statute, he accused the court of allowing for anything goes. From now on, argued Scalia, "state laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity" are all "called into question."
Continuing his obsession with homosexuality, Scalia outdid himself this week. Speaking at Princeton University, Scalia defended equating laws against sodomy with laws against bestiality — and then took it a step further. "If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality," he asked, "can we have it against murder?" Murder? Seriously? He does not recognize the difference between consensual sex between two same-sex adults and murder? Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference between Scalia law and Sharia law!
Now, here's the problem. It's OK for someone to hold those views, no matter how warped. It's scary that someone so homophobic, and so close-minded, should sit on the Supreme Court. But it's totally wrong for anyone with those views to be in a position to rule on any issue related to gay rights. After equating homosexuality with murder, how can he possibly consider the facts and rule fairly on same-sex marriage?
Unfortunately, the answer to that question is entirely up to Scalia himself. Unlike lower courts, where judges are required to step aside in cases where their "impartiality might reasonably be questioned," Supreme Court justices face no such legal obligation. Only the obligation of their own conscience, assuming they have one.
Some justices take that obligation seriously. In January 2012, Justice Sonia Sotomayor recused herself from a case where TV networks challenged the FCC's indecency rules. Why? Because she'd heard the case on a lower court. Before joining the highest court, Sotomayor recused herself 141 times in her 17 years as a federal judge — once only because the plaintiff in the case was a diabetic, and she's a diabetic herself.
Scalia, on the other hand, operates as if he has no conscience at all, as he demonstrated in 2004 when the Sierra Club and others demanded he refrain from ruling on whether or not Vice President Cheney should release secret records of his energy task force. With that case pending before the court, Scalia went duck hunting with Cheney — actually flew to Louisiana in Cheney's government jet — yet still refused to recuse himself from the case. A decision he later said was "the proudest thing I have done on the bench."
The two marriage equality cases are much more important than the Cheney case, because they involve a fundamental question of constitutional rights. Having already spoken so forcefully against gay rights, Scalia must voluntarily recuse himself from the case. If he refuses, Chief Justice John Roberts should publicly demand that he do so.


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What I mean by that is this movie is Aikatsu in the purest form. It doesn't try to be or do something else because it's a movie, it's just one long episode of Aikatsu. But it's special for two reasons. It's a monumental moment in the world of Aikatsu, something the entire series up to this point has been leading up too along with doubling as a sendoff for Ichigo's Generation, solidifying the fact that even if they are still around, after this movie we really are in the Akari Generation from now on.
So the story of this movie is as simple as ever; that's part of the charm. It's Aikatsu, it's a laid back, cute show about Idols doing Idol Activities. Ichigo is going to have a Special Live, The Great Starmiya Ichigo Festival. It's as simple as that. This movie's plot summary could be summed up as "Ichigo has a concert". Of course more happens then that, but it's hard to properly summarize it. It's really that simple. The greatness of this movie comes in during those events; in order to make this event a success, all of Ichigo's friends come together to help her prepare for it. Everyone comes together in order to make this live a success. During this time Ichigo is told Mizuki, the current top idol and the reason Ichigo became an idol in the first place is going to quit. In the meantime, all of the other Aikatsus are running around helping out with tasks for the live.
Ichigo, along with Aoi and Ran head off to meet a songwriter that was recommended by Naoto. After a stunning performance that really showed off the movie's CGI (As well as not using the Aikatsu! System for the first time!)
This woman usually writes love songs, so it's a bit weird she was the one who was recommended to write Ichigo's new song to perform at the live. She at first doesn't want too, she writes songs based off of her own experiences, but eventually decides to help after seeing the girls perform. Eventually a song is written, but Ichigo feels it's missing something. Kanon, our song writer realizes that what Ichigo really wants isn't just to express her feelings to her fans but to a specific individual, Mizuki, and begins rewriting the song as a love song. Akari learns Mizuki won't be at the event and decides to do her best to bring her and without much else happening, the event finally starts.
Did I mention the live is happening at the same place Ichigo first watched Mizuki. That's some symbolic stuff right there. Ichigo's new dress isn't ready and everyone comes together once again to buy time. This is another part that I love. Everyone contributes. Akari is out finding Mizuki, the DreAca girls show up after an absence in order to perform and star in a special live action Naughty Detective/Swallowtail stage show, with girls risking their wellbeings and putting themselves in the way of danger for Ichigo's sake. This is an important part of Aikatsu and always has been, everyone is friends. This movie really solidifies that, although they are rivals and are always competing against each other, they care about each other more then they do anything else and this really comes together during these scenes.
|Even Soleil perform again!
|Oh don't you worry, it did Ichigo!
Finally, Ichigo's new dress is here, it's time for her to perform. And this is it. Ichigo gives a speech here, and it's... kinda beautiful. It sums up all of her beliefs and goals, it expresses her love for Mizuki, her love for her fans and friends. This speech alone is one of the best parts of the movie, and while being as wonderful as it is manages to stay completely "Ichigo" in the way it's expressed. If you didn't tear up during it, I don't know what to say. With that said, Ichigo's new song starts and...
There it is. Ichigo's new song, Etude of Radiance. If you didn't tear up before, you probably will here. This song is beautiful. The lyrics, almost every one perfectly match Ichigo's feelings towards Mizuki, the one who started her on the path of being an Idol, The Senpai she looked up to, the rival she wanted to surpass. The song is performed by Ichigo's singing voice, Waka from Star Anis, brilliantly as always. Knowing the entire series has lead up to this point, to this song, knowing where Ichigo started from, knowing her reasons, her goals, it all comes together at this one point in a massive explosion of emotions, which is portrayed in Ichigo's Idol Aura, which grows much larger then it ever has during this performance. This song is one of the best to be sung in Aikatsu, because unlike a lot of the others, this song carries a heavy weight.
The crowd want an encore, I want an encore, everyone does. Orihime and Ringo, the former tops of the Idol world, tell Mizuki that Ichigo is waiting for her. Mizuki heads to the stage inviting Akari with her, who while is doubtful, is reassured by Ringo and Orihime, realizing who Ringo really is there before heading off, meeting with Tsubasa and getting a dress of her own on the way. The two make their way to the stage to Ichigo's surprise and the three begin singing "Let's Aikatsu!". This bit is important.
|The Past, the Present and the Future.
Their performance means more then just them singing on stage together. They represent the current state of the Idol world within the series. After this performance, Mizuki, the one Ichigo was chasing after all this time is performing with her, not the other way around. Akari, the one who loves Ichigo and became an Idol thanks to her, is performing with her on the very same stage that Ichigo first saw Mizuki. On this stage stands the Past, The Present and the Future. Mizuki represents the past, being the former Top Idol, the one who inspired Ichigo and set the series events in motion. Ichigo, the present, being the current Top Idol and serving as an inspiration for girls all over. And lastly, Akari, the future. The girl who was inspired by Ichigo, who is steadily growing, and could one day become a Top Idol just like her.
You notice when I said Ichigo is the current Top Idol? Even after her performance with Seira as 2Wings, despite suprassing WM they weren't able to beat Mizuki on the Idol Ranking chart. After this performance, it happens. Ichigo becomes the worlds Top Idol.
This is the moment it's all been leading up too. Ichigo becomes the worlds Top Idol. The one who was observing the "Moon" from the ground all that time ago has finally climbed up into the sky, not only standing next to it, but above it. The following part is rather emotional, with Ichigo's father claiming it's very likely their family will create two Legendary Idols and Ringo says she has no doubt about it. After this, Mizuki says that she has been inspired by Ichigo to continue being an idol. The girl who inspired Ichigo to be an idol is now being inspired by her to keep pushing on. At the same time, she says she accepts Ichigo's Love Song.
Aoi and Ran, with the rest greet Ichigo backstage. Aoi is tearing up, she is the one who introduced Ichigo to the world of idols by bringing her to that Mizuki concert at this very same place all that time ago, she's been with her best friend since their very first step as Idols.
Aoi's catchphrase here becomes something special. No pun intended. Her regular "This is something special!" is directed at Ichigo, the girl she's been with since the beginning, the girl she knew had this latent talent within her. It becomes something heartwarming. Ichigo runs over to her friends and hugs them, before Mizuki and Akari enter the group congratulate Ichigo and the Starmiya Festival's successful. During this, Ichigo gives Akari the Crystal Mic she used during the performance, saying she'll be waiting for her at the top. Akari says she'll definitely reach her, the one who inspired her to become an idol, who is now recognizing her as someone who could even surpass her one day, thus setting the wheels of fate in motion once again.
The girls form a circle to cheer and the movie comes to a close, with a cute pixel-styled ending with a Medley of all of the Aikatsu endings up this point (Save Good Morning my Dream, the first ending of Akari Generation) showing us that this is it. See, the series never focused on Mizuki as the main character, she was always the one Ichigo wanted to reach, wanted to surpass, the top Idol.. The position Ichigo has now taken. I think this ending goes to show Ichigo has now taken that place by using all of the songs that had served as ending themes during Ichigo's time. She's no longer the main character, she's the goal for our main character, Akari, to reach.
Our little epilogue then shows Akari and her best friends, Sumire and Hinaki saying that tomorrow is yet another brand new day of Aikatsu and that they would do their best, ending the movie with one final"Aikatsu!".
|Too bad the other two were basically nonexistent in the rest of the movie.
And that's it. The movies done. I went on way more then I had planned too about it, but I really wanted to express what I thought this movie conveyed and why it was a special moment for Aikatsu. The movie was great, it was a fun watch. If you're an Aikatsu fan, there is no doubt you won't fall in love with this movie. If you're not, then why are you even reading this? It's an integral part of the story, so you probably won't enjoy it properly without knowing the history behind it.
On to the other parts of the movie... (lol) It's well animated, Aikatsu is a long running kids series, so while it has a nice artstyle and generally looks nice, it doesn't always look it's best and has lots of "QUALITY" moments. As a movie, this does away with that and brings the artstyle out to it's fullest. And as I mentioned before, the CGI looked stunning. The music is great, it has the same comfy Aikatsu! BGM as always and the songs performed in the movie all sound great, being mostly songs that have been used before (Shining Line, Original Star, Friend, etc). Almost every character shows up, with some exceptions, and almost all characters feel like they contribute something to the movie.
It's thanks to this that Aikatsu! The Movie is likely going to remain a favorite of mine for a long time to come. And I hope the Aikatsu! series continues for just as long. Thank you if you read this entire thing; it was boring and nonsensical as always, I'm sure, but I felt like this movie is something I really wanted to dive into with you guys, I think it deserves it. I'll miss Ichigo and friends and am glad they'll continue showing up, but after this movie I'm finally ready to let her go at the same time and start rooting for Akari to one day surpass her and become the worlds new Top Idol. But we've still got almost a hundred episodes until we can even think about that!


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Confidence is not concrete. It is fluid and amoeba-like. Aqueous and ever changing. And just when you think you're grasping it in your hands, it can trickle through your fingers.
I am reminded of this as I awkwardly haul a leg over the torso of my lover and sink into his chest and we, in turn, sink deeper into the soft mattress of the bed in our room at the W Hotel.
I laugh.
It's a knee-jerk reaction I can't extinguish. I mutter "sorry" again and again as he steadies me, grabbing onto my thighs. And tells me to breathe. And to stop laughing. But all I can do is look down at a body I find myself unfamiliar with in a new position equally as uncharted that feels like the sexual equivalent of putting your shoes on the wrong feet and trying to walk a straight line over a carpet made of vanilla pudding.
"Get out of your head," he instructs.
But for me that is impossible. And in the next 10 seconds, a Jane Campion film narrates in my head…
I've always believed I was a pretty confident person. I know how I work. I carry my head high. I know what I can handle and, I can stand on the wet sand of the beach without being swept away by the tides. There are scars on my shins (and maybe a few on my heart) that have proven I've made it out the other side and all for the better.
I'm a master at witty banter. And I know how to wear a red dress with the best of women, regardless of the fact that I'm usually (ok, pretty much always) the largest woman in the room. Yup. All in all, I'd say I'm pretty damn confident.
Up until this exact moment. When I'm overcome with rawness. Uncomfortable. Gawky. Doing this in a way I never do it and feeling ridiculously exposed. Wishing my legs were longer and my thighs were smaller and my breasts were perkier and my mid-section more toned. Wishing we'd be in some other configuration of limbs and parts, one that was more familiar and automatically happens for me like intimate clockwork.
"Relax, give me your leg," he instructs and I start to fall over like the Leaning Tower of Pisa or a big oak tree in the middle of the woods, unstoppable. "One leg like this."
And while I'm covering my face and my cheeks glow pink like those same Watermelon-colored polish bits, he slings my left leg in front of me and the next thing I know I feel like an Olympic Fat Flo-Jo mid-stride. All I can do is cling onto his broad shoulders or else I'll wipe out and roll off the side of the King Sized Pillow Top mattress and onto the carpet with a mortifying naked thud. And it's smack broad daylight in the room.
The fact that I am sucking at this unfamiliar position (which is, of course, totally familiar for most people) strikes me to my core. No, no, no, not ME I'm confident! I'm self-aware! People look up to me! Women bare their arms, inspired by my pictures— how can this be happening? Who am I if I'm BAD at this?
I'm gripping onto his forearm , my body uncooperatively moving when it strikes me….
This feels good. Really good. And something in my body must change because he notices."See? Chill out. Gravity," he exhales. "Use it."
"Are you ok?" I ask about four times in a row while he nods and nods and just tells me to shush and relax and calm down. I am acutely aware that I'm terrible at this. And I hate myself for being so clumsy. I hate my short legs and my thick thighs and my bouncy mid-section. But in between the beats of self-loathing is increasing pleasure that I felt fairly certain was saved for the More Perfect Version of Sarah that lives somewhere inside me.
I read somewhere that the definition of confidence isn't believing you are great at everything, with an infallible and false sense of perfection. Instead, that confidence is a comfort and ease with knowing what we do have, and what we have not achieved.
12 seconds after the panic first kicks in, I conclude that I am exactly the same person I was only moments ago. My sense of self, my pride and my well-earned knowledge, have not slipped away. I am not less of a woman. Flailing, falling tree or no, I am still myself. My confidence is intact. I've simply found a thing I have not achieved yet. And that is ok.
And as I roll to the side minutes later, laughing, flushed and tangled in bed sheet I note that next time I won't apologize. I'll jump on. Run to the finish line like Flo Jo. And one day, I'll win the damn race.


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My journey in learning how to grow up, enjoy life and have some fun baking along the way.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
TCS: Cinnamon Pudding Cake
A few years back, I was completely gonzo for Haagen-Daz's "Sticky Toffee Pudding" Ice Cream. I think I may have spent a small fortune on it as I picked up a pint every time I was at the store but this was the seriously best ice cream. Ever. And since it was a limited time flavor, there are more than a few of us who still mourn the loss of it.
However, thanks to Lauren Chattman and the bakers over at The Cake Slice, I can now once again get my Sticky Toffee Pudding fix through this month's cake "Cinnamon Pudding Cake."
In a word...diet busting worthy. Delicious. Awesome. The new culinary love of my life. Pick your choice, they all apply.
As appearances go, its looks are deceiving. The cake was a little tricky to photograph and as soon as I cut a slice, the caramel sauce poured across the plate. But I can live with that. This is a great cake. Just a small word of warning: the sauce may be a little on the sweet side for some people (fortunately I am not one of them). But a little does go a long way with the cake...after indulging in a second bowl, I was feeling the effects of all that sugar.
For presentation, I went with serving this in a bowl to make it a little easier to eat. My only regret is that it's not the type of cake that I can take to work and dump on the coworkers but I'll make the sacrifice and eat it myself if I must.
Definitely a keeper recipe. Please check out the other bakers over at The Cake Slice to read about their experiences and opinions of the cake.
Bon appetit!
November's Cake: Cinnamon Pudding Cake
(Recipe from Cake Keeper Cakes by Lauren Chattman)
For the Caramel Topping
1 cup plus 2 tbsp packed light brown sugar
¾ cup water
1 tbsp unsalted butter
½ tsp salt
For the Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
Method – Topping
Heat the oven to 350F. Spray the bottom and sides of an 8 inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.Combine the brown sugar, water, butter and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking occasionally, then set aside to cool.
Method – Cake
Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sakt in a medium mixing bowl.
Combine the butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
With the mixer on medium-low speed, add a third of the flour mixture to the bowl. Add half of the milk and the vanilla. Add another third of the flour, followed by the remaining milk and the rest of the flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds.
Scrape the batter onto the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Pour the topping over the batter (the pan will be very full). Carefully transfer the pan to the oven and bake until set, 45 to 50 minutes.
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes, invert it onto a large rimmed serving platter and serve warm.
Let any leftover cake cool completely before storing in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day or in the fridge for up to 3 days.
11 comments:
I am proud that you have made the ultimate sacrifice to eat it alone. You are right - it's not a travelling cake. Be strong - one bowlful at a time will get you there. LOL! See that person hovering behind you with a spoon? That's me ;)ReplyDelete
YES! i'm not alone when it comes to liking this cake. i think the best part of the cake was the topping. if there was any that i didnt get off the plate i would scrape off and put back on top of my cake, put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds and it was magical.ReplyDelete
I'm glad you enjoyed the cake. And glad to have found your blog too.ReplyDelete
A bowl of pudding cake and caramel!! Your cake looks sooo yum!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 20, 2010 at 10:03 PM
Yours has such a lovely golden color to it! So glad you enjoyed it =)ReplyDelete
Delighted it turned out so well for you :-}ReplyDelete
I'm glad that you loved the cake! the bite of cake on your spoon does look yummy.ReplyDelete
I wasn't so in love with this cake so won't be making it again, but after reading your post I really want some Haagen-Daz!
Now that looks mightily delcious.. moist and perfect!ReplyDelete
I loved the taste of the cake but mine did not work out as well as yours did. I am going to have to try it again with a few adjustments.ReplyDelete
Looks wonderfully gooey. Just needs some custard for the ultimate pudding.ReplyDelete
Hey! Looks like you did extremely well with the recipe! Good job!ReplyDelete


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Who Deserves Credit for Crash? – Crash Bandicoot Dissection | Beyond Pictures
Whatever happened to Crash Bandicoot? It was Naughty Dog who created him, right? In this video, we look at the truth behind the creation of one of video games' most popular icons, and why Crash Bandicoot not only faded into obscurity, but also found himself handled poorly by his managerial staff — from Universal to Activision, and from Naughty Dog to Radical entertainment.
Naughty Dog's been on a roll- they've not only helped shift Sony's consoles with their exclusives, they've also scored highly with both the commercial and critical sectors. However, when it comes to artistic integrity, I find them rather…what's the polite word…dubious. Now I could talk about the totally coincidentally timed DLC that not only apes the success of a game that wasn't very good to begin with, but also seems to utilize knowledge of an actress who had already sued them for potentially using her likeness without her consent (heck, miss Page hasn't had much luck with games as it is- even the ones she's consented to appear in) but that's all very recent. No, no, my concerns with Naughty Dog stem from a little franchise they continue to cast unnecessary sympathy votes with. And that game is…Crash Bandicoot. The game that not only became prominently synonymous with Video game iconography back in the later nineties, but also had the distinct pleasure of being a straight up rival to Nintendo's efforts. Crash is still hugely popular having given us games that sell to this day and a horrible string of loyal fanboys. One of which used to be me, I guess. C'mon, what did you think the B really stood for?So perhaps it's surprising that such a franchise went off the official brand awareness radar a few years ago. What happened? The popular legend is that Naughty Dog lost the ability to make more games and that all the games that came afterwards were so terrible that it dried up due to a lack of interest. I have a real issue with that. Why? Because that's not the full story. If you were ever of the belief that ND was the sole creator and owner of Crash Bandicoot as a franchise, then buckle up, you're in for a heck of a history lesson.Naughty Dog was a developer founded by Jason Rubin and Andy Gavin. They'd already had a strong track record making games at a young age and had shown their work to Universal interactive. Mark Cerny, the creative director at the time, was so impressed with their game Rings of Power that he convinced Universal to sign up ND on a three game deal. The publisher provided them with two in house artists, Charles Zembillas and Joe Pearson, to create the series bible and characters. Sony was presented with the product in its early stages and liked what they saw- they wanted the playstation to appeal to children in order to expand its portfolio and compete with the likes of Sega and Nintendo's mascots. However, the advantage of the more mischievous Crash, based off of the Tasmanian Devil character, was that he was a lot more mischievous than his Sega and Nintendo counterparts, allowing Sony to market him in a way unique to that tone. You can already see how Crash Bandicoot's appeal was born from an amalgamation of ideas from various different sources.
And of course, these all culminated in a game that ended up with a lot of favourable attention. Crash as it turned out ended up going head to head with Mario 64 in the same year, having similar goals in exploring three dimensional gaming. However, while Mario 64 had more technically advanced gameplay, it was Crash Bandicoot's visuals that managed to keep it in high regard, the highly expressive characters and strong graphical capabilities holding their own against Mario. The game not only sold in droves, Crash also effectively became known as Sony's unofficial mascot.
You would think that with all this success these guys would be planning bigger projects together for the future, but apparently there was a lot of friction behind the scenes. Naughty Dog members have been very vocal about their clashes with members of Universal, in particular the director of marketing who believed that the character should be called willy the wombat and their, umm, shapely design of Tawna was something that should never sell video games again (fun little anecdote- the next year Lara Croft took the world by storm and the marketing director apparently left the business forever.)
However, Universal have been equally critical of Naughty Dog. Zembillas claims that a lot of the stories ND told in interviews after the fact were spin to make themselves look better, and more damningly, that he and Joe Pearson were not properly credited for their involvement in the creation of the characters, a massive point of contention depending on what you believe Crash Bandicoot's selling point really was. Joe left the project in frustration after the first game, despite an apology offered by Rubin. Regardless of these setbacks, Charles stayed with the developer and helped design characters for the next two games. By that point nobody seemed concerned with who had actually created the character- the marketing and hype was so prominent that ND and Sony were always coming out on top. Crash 2 and 3 both bettered the success of Crash one, and even more impressively, the three games were all developed in three consecutive years. If you consider the way ND pushed the sequels capabilities such as experimenting with less linear exploration methods, that becomes even more admirable.
By year 3 of the contract, ND had a choice to either stay or go. Naughty Dog willingly chose to move on and let Universal handle the franchise- agreeing to make one more game as a send off. The reasons for leaving appear to be twofold. It appears that ND still had some resentment about working with Universal, one of their stipulations being that they wanted the publisher to take a cut in it's payment during CTR. The second reason appears to be their desire to create a new IP- a game where you could seamlessly travel from the start of the game to the final boss without any loading times. This game became Jak and Daxter. Sadly, the fallout did not end here. For conceptual work, they called upon Zembillas again, who provided over 100 or so character designs. Significantly, Charles effectively created Daxter, a character who not only won an award for its creation but also became the mascot of the franchise. Charles apparently saw none of this success, as he was only credited as an additional character artist. Infuriated by the violation of his contract, Charles also turned his back on ND.
You can see that something clearly isn't right about all this. Rubin and Gavin, who left Naughty Dog after Jak 2, still complain about the state of the franchise and it's a real shame that they never did any of their successors any favours with their dismissive attitudes. Rubin said it was like watching his daughter do porn, and Andy said it was like the hot high school sweetheart gone bad. Very mature. Seeing how things have gone for Jason Rubin, it's difficult not to see this as a case of sour grapes, and I can't help but wonder if the people they clearly alienated have a point. However, it's definitely worth considering their claims that Universal equally caused some damage with their interference- as evidenced in the games that followed.
Crash Bandicoot became a contractual obligation amongst Universals developers, the first going to Eurocom who created Crash Bash. The series went multi platform during the next generation of consoles – ND had been working one year a piece for each game, and that same timeframe and budget was now being applied to developers who were being thrust into a franchise they would have to now technically recreate from the ground up. Travellers Tales had many plans for Wrath of Cortex, none of which made the cut. As a result the final game was slightly buggy, and effectively acted as a pretty standard copy of the previous games with little innovation. Wrath of Cortex's quality is debatable as a result, but it actually got off lightly in the grand scheme of things. A similar mishap was happening with the developers working on Enter the Dragonfly- the game was drastically cut from its original runtime and released in an effectively unfinished form to meet the deadline. This version involved numerous glitches, only nine levels and one boss. Comparing it to what would happen to some of the later Crash titles, you can see how this was not a one off incident nor merely the fault of the developers.
Vicarious Visions were brought in to provide Game Boy advance titles and a racing title for the consoles and they also brought very little to the table. It's worth noting however that Charles Zembillas and Joe Pearson were re-hired to create concepts for Crash Nitro Kart, which explains some of the direct throwbacks to concepts from the first three titles. In the background plans were being made to revitalize the franchise with a whole new fledgling development team and a strong emphasis on new gameplay mechanics and advertising. That game would become cult fan-favourite Crash Twinsanity.
Crash Bandicoot Twinsanity could be considered unremarkable as a game, but those with some understanding of the franchise's history and ambitions may find it easier to appreciate what's happening here. Mark Cerny was interested in seeing the franchise become less linear and ND were certainly pushing for a game with more free roaming environments. Crash Bandicoot Twinsanity not only ditched the warp room scenario but allowed you to freely explore environments at your own leisure. The Island from the first game for example is painstakingly detailed, showing an intimate understanding of the design from the original title. The gameplay builds on the groundwork from the original titles while also throwing in new challenges that work on Crash and Cortex's relationship. Add to that the numerous nods to past titles and a strong sense of humour and you have what is by and large a very entertaining love letter to the original game. You can see why some might be frustrated at the fact that none of the original creative team seems to have actually picked up on this and given it any kind of recognition.
However, the game also suffers as a result of it's ambitions thanks to, once again, interference from the Publisher. The developer spent an extended period of time simply generating ideas as evidenced by the countless conceptual works released from the company. A lot of this, including entire levels, were cut from the game only moments before release, which says a lot about the budget and time the young developers were working under. The final game features a huge amount of glitches and can be completed in around two hours, leading many to feel that the game was rather sub par. This may or may not have been why Travellers Tales Oxford, the developer created solely to bring back Crash, were let go very soon afterwards. Still, even after their departure, the team kept up contact with many fans of the series, and to this day their rapport with gamers has been exceedingly strong, treating people to inside stories and cut content to this day.
A second attempt was made to revitalise the franchise with a more experienced developer, Radical Entertainment. Their first game was a spin off based on the concepts left behind from Travellers Tales Oxford, a racing game featuring platforming sections. Behind the scenes though, efforts were being made to try something completely different, and the infamous Crash of the titans was released soon afterwards. The game sold very well and had a positive reception, though many fans were put off by the aesthetic overhaul and gameplay. Some believe it was this hostility that lead to the franchises disappearance, but once again, this isn't the case. The Radical team took a leaf out of TTO's book and became friendly with many of the fans. A small committee (of which I took part in) sent them a pack of suggestions for future titles, some of which actually turned up in their second game, Mind over Mutant. The biggest thing to come out of this correspondence, however, was that they were to take two years to develop the next game as opposed to the one year imposed on them by universals replacement, Sierra. Over the next year Radical set to work on yet another revitalisation that used these suggestions, which I sadly cannot show you due to copyright issues- you'll have to check Crash Mania to see for yourself. Sadly, the two games being developed would never be released. In 2010 Activision bought up Universal, and began axing various studios. Radical was laid off before their projects could be finished, and the team was scattered in their search for employment.
And that pretty much brings us up to speed with today. The bitter fallouts, the budget cuts, the buyouts, they all lead to this, though there is always news to be found on those who worked on the franchise. While Radical has hit the dirt, Keith Webb of Travellers tales Oxford is working his way back into the industry with a game called Go Go Kokopolo. Rumours persist that Sony has re-bought the franchise which is not matched up by Activisions official word on the matter. Recently ND announced that they were releasing a art book from their 30 years of work-clearly featuring concept art from Zembillas work on Crash Bandicoot. when Zembillas was asked if he had been contacted about the project, he said-
'Haven't been contacted in any way and I don't know if they will even think of it. My guess is very probably not. I would also expect a good deal of the usual propaganda coming from them. In their 30 year history they didn't have an art department for the first 20 outside of Joe Pearson and myself. Do you think they'll write about their entire creative crew coming to train at my school in 1998 and in 1999? Seems to me to be a pretty important part of their 30 year art of history. Let's see if it's mentioned.'
It's clear that there's not a lot of closure for these people just yet.
I once contacted Jason Rubin asking if he was interested in getting in getting in contact with Keith Webb in an attempt to help raise some awareness, and his response was that he didn't think Crash was that relevant anymore. Yet not only has the series been selling very well on Sony's online store, as well as receiving a mysterious cameo in a PS4 ad campaign, I've recently seen Rubin use the Crash franchise as a way of gaining morale amongst his followers. It seems to me that there might be some benefit to bringing together past creators to settle their differences and really prove that they have an audience just waiting for a new and innovative platformed spurred on by a very popular mascot- but hey, maybe I'm just an idealist. With a username that everyone now knows the origin of. Hmm. Shit.


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Breakingviews: UK Should Join the Euro
Feb. 4 - If prosperity is what David Cameron is after he should be moving towards joining the single currency, argues Reuters Breakingviews, not quitting the trading bloc altogether.
UK prime minister David Cameron has dismissed behind their leading the UK into the Euro zone but -- the economics. I'll use the opposite according to Reuters breaking views side -- Cameron by the way talking the talk on remaining a keeper -- your. I want the European Union to be a success. And I want a relationship. Between Britain and the European Union that keeps us in his right to expect Mike Cameron should area. Is a Reuters breaking news economic centers that would how to -- this is -- A bold peace. Is to say Belize and the realistic he -- Yeah they shouldn't quit the EU nation joining Europe that I just just take -- -- look up the background thinking to. It's -- right well. As as we just -- Camera on wants to be European and his good economic reason for wanting to be so half of the trade and he. UK's roughly with is is with the Euro is and the regulation holes and economic and financial. Core of the country is very closely tied to the euros and and the reasons that were given ten years ago for not turning years and members Gordon Brown commission to study fives things. 55 tasks I should fail in the litmus test memory exactly be OK well we passed that that is the task we set the other way. I'm -- does the Euro -- -- the UK economy the answer is yes yes yes yes yes yes and is this is just obvious. And then what I I -- is that there would be six test if you did today which could be. Does that staying alone with 3% of the world's GDP. Make any sense anymore and the answer there is of course it doesn't. You would want to be -- be part of a much larger economic group to retain the UK's status in the world. Yeah you -- -- -- as you go through the five tests economic emergence flexibility investment financial services. Growth and stability from. -- -- through your argument or let's look for awhile let's face it -- the UK government also sees it when it looks down this list. I am and takes an awful crosses an office that -- They they probably view. I'm sure chancellor. Osborne is not a foolish man be conceived through that. The problem here is that the economics and politics point in two different directions particularly the Conservative Party politics in the UK where this is this rump of the country. Who all vote conservative or will want to vote conservative who think that the UK should not be part of the years ahead. And politically. The government has decided to be as distant as possible from the Europe European consensus including this referendum including. Taking the Conservative Party out of the sensible group and that in the EU. And I just think it's important to remember. That this is economic concepts it may make political sense and -- cultural sense I'm not debating that question. But in terms of the prosperity. And prospects. The UK economy. To sit there and say well we would be better off outside of the year is and perhaps there was a case that was true in 2003 now just a longer just to think we'll talk more mountainous and and -- peace in the in the the sort of thing -- -- -- -- -- -- -- it. I I hope so I hope that. As as the over long stagnation of the UK economy continues. That people will say wait our model really really isn't working perhaps we will do better to join the somewhat less unsuccessful. You know. Most of things in proof from. Then Purdue would be put to one side again if if the UK has a miraculous recoveries that makes it look like through the leading country in Europe again and then I'll have to reconsider but I'm not too worried about that all right. -- thanks very much indeed I'm this piece of course you read on the breaking news out website out of course the Royce is while. That is that my thanks redwood how to sophomore agenda setting aside what's the US show every day -- studies the 1730 GMT. -- -- -- resources.


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We know how important your holiday is to you and want to make sure you get the most from your cruise, so why not extend your trip and book a night or two pre or post cruise?
Take in the sights before you board your cruise, we'll look after your transfers to and from port to make things extra easy for you!
From the beautiful architecture and the tapas bars in Barcelona to the sights and sounds, and of course the shopping, in New York City, we have a hotel to suit you and your budget.
This is a great way to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary with that special someone! So call us today and let us make this a holiday to remember.
Mediterranean and Europe
So what makes MSC Preziosa unique? Plenty is the short answer, but let's start with some special ingredients aimed at our youngest guests like the one-off wonderland that is Doremi Castle. This spectacular aqua park will keep kids entertained – and thoroughly soaked – for hours. Check out the video for a better idea of what's on offer but, suffice to say, there's a battery of water cannons and the suspenseful 'drenching bucket' to ensure that good natured water based fun is always on tap !.
Not exclusively for the young, but aimed squarely at the young and adventurous at heart, Vertigo is the longest single-rider water slide afloat. This twisted 120 metre monster takes riders on a thrilling ride from Deck 18 out over the sea and back for happy landings on the decks below. We're really proud that Vertigo was awarded the 'Best Innovation' by Cruise International in 2013. For more serene aquatic pleasures there's a dreamy 'infinity' pool and, just so that the odd spot of inclement weather cannot spoil your fun, there's even a retractable roof on one of the main pools. For sun-worshippers looking for peace and tranquillity the Top 18 area dedicates premium deck space and stunning sea views to adults who'll appreciate its dedicated spa service, bar menu and complimentary fruit skewers.
On Board Highlights
MSC Preziosa's main restaurants serve a mouthwatering blend of freshly prepared Mediterranean cuisine and international specialities in elegant surroundings. The ship also boasts the first two Eataly restaurants at sea, where you can savour Italian dishes prepared using high-quality ingredients sourced from artisanal producers. And for informal dining, there's also a sensational all-day buffet, a pizzeria and an American-style diner.
With around 80 seats, the first Eataly Restaurant at sea embodies the founding concept of the Eataly food chain, offering a stylish, minimalist space where you can eat, buy and learn about the finest Italian food. Choose from 18 delicious, simple, top quality dishes in a relaxed, uncluttered atmosphere. After dinner, you can take a taste of Eataly away with you, thanks to the wide choice of high-quality Italian produce available to buy, from aged balsamic vinegar and Ligurian olive oil to dried Gragnano pasta and chemical-free wines.
The exclusive 24-seat evening-only Ristorante Italia offers a different ultra-high-quality 'table d'hôte' menu every night, specially conceived by the Eataly chefs. The menus feature a variety of dishes made using ingredients sourced through the Slow Food Foundation - created to protect small producers and to preserve the quality of local produce. In the "authoritative and informal atmosphere" that characterises all Eataly restaurants, you can focus on the food itself, pairing each dish with a glass of wine and learning something new every day on a magnificent culinary journey.
Whats Included ?
Included in the cost of your cruise, is all entertainment for adults and children, all food from the main dining rooms and the buffet area. Gratuities are added to your account at the end of your cruise.
Price includes cruise only on a full board basis in an inside stateroom, Government taxes & fees. Gratuities can be pre-paid for your cruise or can be added to your final bill.
Cruising is new to some, so here's some helpful information:
The dress code on cruise ships is as dressy or as relaxed as you want it to be. Evening dining requires smart casual. Casual is welcomed in all buffet areas at all times. Most cruises will have at least one formal night on board, suits and dresses are the clothing of choice, why not join in the fun and get your photo taken!
Remember when making purchases, all cruise ships use a cashless system whilst on board, on check in at port you will receive your own individual identity card which will also double as your room key and payment card. At the end of your cruise you can settle your bill at reception with cash or credit card.
Gratuities or tipping can be paid at booking or at disembarkation , the cost per day depends on the cruise company, your sales agent will be happy to advise you when booking.
It is your responsibility to obtain visas before your holiday, if you go ashore on an excursion with your cruise company, e.g. St Petersburg, a visa will be obtained on your behalf, if you choose to go independently you will be responsible for your own visa.
In order to enter the USA, every person travelling, including children, must have a visa, unless they qualify for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta for more information.
Make the most of your holiday by adding a night or two pre or post cruise. From time to time cruise companies will offer extra deals on cabin upgrades and drinks packages, ask our expert cruise team for a quote!
|Cruise Ports
|Day 1
|Copenhagen, Denmark
|Day 2
|At Sea
|Day 3
|HellesyltGeiranger, Norway
|Day 4
|Flamm, Norway
|Day 5
|Bergan, Norway
|Day 6
|At Sea
|Day 7
|Kiel, Germany
|Day 8
|Copenhagen, Denmark
Prices from €899Included in the cost of your cruise, is all entertainment for adults and children, full board, including buffet areas. Gratuities are added to your account at the end of your cruise.


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Is your kitchen bursting with vegetable goodness like mine? I recently brought some pears to a friend's doorstep whereupon she immediately attempted to load off her bounty on me. I graciously accepted most of her offerings, but had to decline a few. So I have beautiful, rich eggplant, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes and more tomatoes (fried green tomatoes – yum!), swiss chard, carrots, onions, zucchini, cucumber and squash.
Are you cooking and preserving like mad to take advantage of your garden's offerings?
I must admit to wishing I lived in a climate that allowed an outdoor garden year round. I enjoy how few trips I've made to the grocer this season.


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Off Shore Fishing
Trolling fishing, night drifting and jigging. You will be taken by experts skippers and professionals and you will have the opportunity to fight against several 400 to 900 lb heavy blue marlins and 200 lb heavy yellowfin tuna fish. In addition, besides shark night drifting, if you're fond of extreme deep jigging, our captain will take you to the "hot spots" devoted to this type of fishing where you will have to grabble with fights which will test your equipment and physical power to the utmost. Yellowtails weighing between 35 and 40 kg have been caught, but in the area bigger fishes may be found, besides carangids and sea bottom fish. We can offer you night accommodation on the island, the flights and all the transfers you may need. What's more, depending on the season, our team can arrange fishing beats in the neighbouring islands with the possibility of being accommodated on the spot.


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Snow, sleet and bitterly cold temperatures are no match for woodpeckers. Their can't-miss black and white markings, with an occasional sprinkling of red, stand out as they acrobatically forage around bare tree trunks and brave the winter months. Attract more of these sought-after birds this season with this simple yet satisfying menu. Continue reading "4 Best Foods For Feeding & Attracting Woodpeckers"
DIY Squash & Pumpkin Bird Feeders
Pumpkin Banquet-o-Lantern
A pumpkin carved into the shape of a basket makes a pretty feeder for birds as they fatten up before migrating south. Use a washable marker to draw the basket shape on the pumpkin. After carving and cleaning out the inside, set an aluminum pie plate or terra cotta saucer into the top opening of the pumpkin basket or atop an inverted terra-cotta pot placed inside. Set your festive feeder on a birdbath pedestal and fill the pie tin with high-quality birdseed.
Bird's Nest Feeder Continue reading "DIY Squash & Pumpkin Bird Feeders"
How to Identify Mystery Birds
How to Identify Mystery Birds
Use these techniques when a puzzling bird flies past.
By Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman
Even if you know your local birds, sometimes an unfamiliar one will appear, which doesn't match anything you've seen before. Here are some pointers and questions to consider the next time you spot a baffling bird. Continue reading "How to Identify Mystery Birds"


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How to close a deal in France
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- How to close a deal in France
A country where business culture can seem very formal, it's important to adopt the correct approach to etiquette and relationship building if you're hoping to secure a deal in France.
The basics
Protocol is key for many of the French when it comes to business, with most meetings and discussions kept on a very professional level.
There's often a strong sense of division between business and personal life, so while it's good to spend some time getting to know your French business associates and you may be invited to a business lunch, it's rare to socialise with business partners and colleagues in the evening and it's not commonplace to ask (or be asked) probing personal questions. Instead, conversations should centre around topics such as French cuisine, art, music and philosophy.
Making a good first impression can be highly dependent on your appearance, with quality, conservative business wear that's stylishly accessorised being the standard attire. If you are invited to a social gathering that requires 'informal' dress, this usually means a jacket and tie for men, rather than casual clothes.
Expect to shake hands when meeting and parting, with the possible addition of some air kissing, although you should let your business associates take the lead on this and respond accordingly.
Learning some French words and phrases is a common courtesy, although it's likely those in attendance will speak English confidently, so conversation is likely to quickly revert back to English. With this in mind there's no need to have translated, double-sided business cards, although you should make sure that your cards mention your position, as well as your university degree.
It's customary to only use first names having been invited to do so, instead you should use Monsieur or Madame followed by the surname.
How to close a deal
It's not considered appropriate to 'drop in' when doing business in France and all meetings should be booked in advance.
While you should be punctual, it's usually not a problem to arrive 10 minutes after the scheduled time, with timings becoming more flexible the further south you travel.
During meetings, the French style of communication is often direct and probing, meaning it's important you prepare an organised and well prepared proposal in advance and to be sure of your facts and figures. Presenting arguments in a rational, low-key way that clearly highlights the business benefits is generally the best way to achieve success, as you will be judged on your demeanour and logic.
Good posture and eye contact are also important and touching and patting during business meetings can be commonplace, but avoid snapping fingers, slapping an open palm over a closed fist and doing the 'ok' sign with your hands, as are all considered to be rude.
In order to close a deal in France, be prepared for negotiations to become passionate with an expectation that you may challenge their position by logically presenting a different approach in order to reach an agreement.
Once decisions are made, they are rarely overturned, unless there is a well-argued case to do so.


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MUNICH, April 23 (Reuters) - Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, is putting out the welcome mat for a potential anchor investor as it promises a turnaround in 2018.
Joachim Wenning, the German company's chief executive officer, told Reuters in an interview that he would absolutely welcome such a long-term major shareholder.
The invitation comes as its rival Swiss Re entertains a possible stake of up to 10 percent by Softbank , the Japanese technology investor. Over the past year, German corporate titans like Daimler and Deutsche Bank have also found big investors from China.
"In principle, we would welcome an anchor investor," Wenning said, noting that the U.S. investor Warren Buffett once held 12-13 percent of Munich Re. ($1 = 0.8124 euros) (Editing by Arno Schuetze)


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Top-20 foes clash in Big East Tournament semifinals
New York, NY (Sports Network) – The top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas and the fourth-
seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish will meet this evening in the semifinal round
of the Big East Conference Tournament. The winner of this tilt will move on to
the championship game to face off with second-seeded Louisville or third-seeded
Notre Dame is on a major roll, as it has won six consecutive games, including
an 89-83 decision over Syracuse in Thursday's quarterfinal round. The Fighting
Irish have never won the Big East Tournament, and they are 4-11 all-time at
this event.
Georgetown jumped out to a huge lead over Villanova yesterday and held on for a
62-57 victory. The Hoyas are in search of their seventh Big East Tournament
championship, as they are currently tied with UConn for the most among league
members with six. Unfortunately, it has been 18 years since the last title was
Georgetown crushed Notre Dame by a 66-48 final back on January 6th, and the
Hoyas hold a 12-9 edge in the all-time series between the teams.
Notre Dame got outstanding performances from a number of players in the win
over Syracuse yesterday. Russell Carter scored 24 points to pace the Irish, and
Colin Falls was close behind with 23 points. Falls also dished out five assists
against zero turnovers, and Tory Jackson finished with nine assists and four
steals. Luke Harangody posted 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Fighting Irish,
who shot 22-of-26 from the foul line and limited the Orange to 39.7 percent
shooting from the floor. Carter, a First-Team All-Big East performer, leads
Notre Dame with 17.1 ppg. Falls adds 15.4 ppg, and both players are shooting
40.3 percent from three-point range.
Georgetown has been a balanced offensive team this entire season, and four
players reached double figures for the club in the win over Villanova. Roy
Hibbert scored 14 points to lead the way, but the center finished with only two
rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Jeff Green tallied 12 points and nine
rebounds, while both Jonathan Wallace and DaJuan Summers contributed 10 points
apiece. Georgetown posted 18 assists in the contest, 10 more than Villanova.
Green is the Big East Conference Player of the Year, and he scored 15.1 ppg
against league opponents during the regular season. Hibbert netted 13.3 ppg
against conference foes prior to this tournament, and he is a better rebounder
than he showed against 'Nova.