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Re: [PATCH] credential: do not store credentials received from helpers
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On Fri, Apr 06, 2012 at 09:56:18PM -0700, Junio C Hamano wrote: > I am afraid that "do not trigger the cache helper" might be throwing the > baby with bathwater to solve the real problem the patch tries to address, > which is: > > Peff> 2. If you use a time-based storage helper like > Peff> "git-credential-cache", every time you run a git > Peff> command which uses the credential, it will also > Peff> re-insert the credential after use, freshening the > Peff> cache timestamp. So the cache will eventually expire N > Peff> time units after the last _use_, not after the time the > Peff> user actually typed the password. This is probably not Actually, that was not the real problem. The real problem I had was the leakage between helpers. I just noticed this one while thinking about it. So the very thing that is useful to Shawn is also potentially dangerous to people who are doing something less clever. > Shouldn't the memory cache based helper already have enough clue to tell > when a new entry is first inserted vs when the existing entry it supplied > came back from the network layer after use? If there is not enough clue > with the current network-layer-to-helper protocol, then wouldn't it be a > better approach to add that, so that the memory cache helper can make more > intelligent management of its timer? You can approximate it. The daemon sees that somebody is inserting the same thing that it already there, and can guess that it probably came from the daemon in the first place. There are some corner cases with expiration boundaries (we get the credential, the daemon expires it, then the http request succeeds, and we tell the daemon "hey, store this"). > Once that is fixed, I would imagine that you can tell your users to use > two helpers (yours and generic caching one) and configure them so that (1) > the caching one is asked first and then fall back to ask yours, and (2) > the expiration time of the caching one is set close to $X. Yeah, in my other response to Shawn, I mentioned that we could add a flag to do the "leaking" behavior if that's what the user wants. But it would have the side effect of refreshing his timestamp on each use, so his $X would not expire (although that is also the case now, and he hasn't complained). So I actually do think he would be better to implement the caching inside his helper, even if it is by calling out to git-credential-cache. And as a bonus, it makes configuration easier on the users (they don't have to configure the cache helper separately, and they don't have to set the timeout on it manually). -Peff -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe git" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
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Shelly Jackson of Philadelphia. Congratulations Shelly. I'll email you to get your address for the gift certificate. (Shelly e-mailed so she didn't show up in the comments.) She correctly guessed that I've sprained an ankle 12 times (so close Susan). I've sprained my left 7 times and my right 5 times and I'm really not trying to even things up. I've had many sensational falls but my favorite sprain was when we lived in the country in Maryland and I had to ditch the car in a heavy snowstorm and I was hiking the rest of the way back home. I wasn't happy about it because I was in a business suit and had left my boots in the garage that morning (I know, I know) but I was finally feeling good about things when I climbed over our neighbor's fence and started hiking across their pasture getting close to home. I looked around and noticed how beautiful the snow had made everything, and how quiet and peaceful it was, and how smooth and even and deep the snow was and my leg disappeared down a gopher hole.
Thanks for playing. Look for another gift certificate opportunity soon.
P.S. I've had stitches eight times.
Fairbanks House
Saturday, November 7, 2009
And the Winner Is....
Posted by Theresa the Innkeeper at 4:38 PM
1 comment:
- Shep said...
I am amazed to hear the high number of injuries you have sustained, Theresa. I must be way more careful - 1 broken arm (slip and fall on ice in KC) - no stitches (can't even sew either!), and no sprains.
- November 9, 2009 at 7:00 AM
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Daily Item
PORT TREVORTON — Christopher A. Kerstetter, 50, of Main Street, passed away Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, at his home.
He was born June 23, 1962, in Sunbury, a son of the late Albert and Betty (Foltz) Kerstetter.
Christopher was a graduate of Selinsgrove Area High School.
He was employed for many years at Ott Packaging Inc., Selinsgrove, and at the time of his passing was working in security for National Beef Packing Co., Selinsgrove.
He attended Hope United Methodist Church, Port Trevorton.
Mr. Kerstetter was an avid NASCAR fan and memorabilia collector.
He is survived by two brothers and one sister-in-law, Ralph Henry and Alma M. Kerstetter, of Northumberland, and Bruce L. Kerstetter and companion Joyce C. James, of Sunbury; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Faye A. Hipple, of Camp Hill, Dorothy M. and Charles E. Wagner, of Mifflinburg, and Diane Costa, of Sunbury; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends and family may call from noon to 1 Friday at the V.L. Seebold Funeral Home, 601 N. High St., Selinsgrove, where the funeral will follow at 1.
Burial will be in St. John's Church Cemetery, Port Trevorton.


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July 28, 2014
Stay up-to-date with KAKE News:
Friday, February 15, 2013
UPDATE: Interfax says nearly 1,000 people injured by falling meteor in Russia, according to officials.
The Russian Academy of Sciences is estimating the meteor that streaked into the skies over the Ural Mountains and caused shock waves that injured more than 400 people weighed about 10 tons (11 tons avoirdupois).
The academy said in a statement hours after the Friday morning fall that the meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of at least 54,000 kph (33,000 mph) and shattered about 30-50 kilometers (18-32 miles) above ground.
The fall caused explosions that broke glass over a wide area. The Emergency Ministry says more than 500 people sought treatment after the blasts and that 34 of them were hospitalized.
A thick white contrail, an intense flash and sharp explosions marked the passage today of a meteor across the sky above Russia's Ural Mountains, where more than 400 people have reported injuries, many from broken glass.
The Emergency Ministry says fragments of the meteorite fell in a thinly populated area of the Chelyabinsk region. And about 6000 square feet of a roof at a zinc factory collapsed.
A ministry spokeswoman calls the event a meteor shower while another ministry official says it was a single meteorite.
The event was captured on amateur video.


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Amesbury, MA. — John Henry Small, 92, of Amesbury, formerly of Needham, and a 50-year summer resident of West Dennis, and beloved husband of Constance Attridge Small, died on December 8, 2013.
Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Alan A. Small and his wife, Dr. Debra Petrucci of Greenwich, Conn.; and a daughter, Judith A. Bowden and her husband, Scott Bowden of Newbury, Mass.; and three grandchildren, Alexandra Small, Henry Bowden and Anna Bowden.
John graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology and was employed for many years by AT&T in Boston and Cambridge. He was the son of the late Thomas and Anna (Powers) Small of Worcester.
ARRANGEMENTS: Visiting hours for relatives and friends will be at the Twomey-Leblanc and Conte Funeral Home, 193 High Street, Newburyport, on Friday, December 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. A private funeral is being planned. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA. 02215, or www.dana-farber.org
For funeral home directions, or to sign the family guest book, please visit www.contefuneralhomes.com.


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Here are some thefts this month, provided by Sandy Springs Police Capt. Steve Rose.
- A resident on Granite Ridge reported that while she was out of town, her electrician contacted her and informed her that her AC unit was missing.
- A woman on Mount Paran Parkway reported that someone removed jewelry from her home. She said several contractors have been in the home doing renovations.
- A man on Jefferson Drive reported that overnight, someone stole his Chevy Tahoe, gold in color.
- Christmas lights were stolen on Huntcliff Trace.
- On Green Hill Road, someone stole a basketball goal, still packaged, from the back of his residence. He said that his dogs began barking around 11 a.m. and at that time he saw a gray 4D Toyota Tundra in front of his house. That could be the suspect's vehicle.


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The City of Oberlin strongly believes that Community gardening fosters civic participation and encourages locally grown foods while preserving open space. The City continues to support community gardens as active and attractive community resources.
Active garden sites create a stable force in the community. There are several different gardens located in the City of Oberlin.
Individual Community Garden Websites:
City of Oberlin & Zion CDC Gardens
East College Street Project Gardens
Oberlin School Farm Collaborative
Oberlin Community Services
Oberlin Villege Gardens
Ian P. Yarber
Recreation Superintendent
Saundra Phillips
Administrative Assistant
Oberlin Recreation Division
69 South Main Street
Oberlin, Ohio 44074
Ph. (440) 775-7254
Fx. (440) 774-9035
Contact Us
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
closed Lunch hour
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
(Closed most Holidays)
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Click Calendar Icon for
Oberlin Receation Complex
Field Schedule
Program Supervisors:
Ms. Heather Hougland
After School Enrichment Program
Mr. Craig Enos
Biddy Wrestling
Mr. Michael Beard
Playground Experience
Mr. Kurt Russell
Open Gym
For a list of City Parks
location and amenities
Click here
To View a Map of all
City Parks in Oberlin
History of The
Recreation Commission
Oberlin Parks Plan 1985-1990
Parks & Recreation Study
Parks & Recreation
Strategic Plan 2011
Recreation's Annual Report
2010 Report
2011 Report
2012 Report


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Associated Press
Huntington police say a man who was kicked out of a bar returned with a gun and began shooting before he was fatally shot by an employee.
During the exchange of gunfire early Friday, three people suffered gunshot wounds. They were hospitalized.
The Herald-Dispatchreports that the shooting at Shoop's Bar followed the gunman's altercation with a woman, getting him tossed from the establishment.
Police said a bar worker had a concealed weapon and returned the gunman's fire, killing him. The worker is being questioned.
Police said the three injured by gunfire do not have life-threatening injuries.


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by Beau Wicker
Logansport's girls basketball team has championship aspirations this season.
The Class 4A No. 5 Berries finished like a championship team Saturday afternoon at Anderson, making the big plays down the stretch in a 61-48 win.
The defending North Central Conference champs improved to 10-0 and 3-0 in the NCC with the win. The Berries have now won 10 straight league games.
"It's a big relief to get this win," said Logansport guard Whitney Jennings, who led the Berries with 24 points and seven assists in the contest. "We've got some really tough games coming up, so it's only going to prepare us for those."
Logan closed the game with a 15-0 run that spanned the final five minutes after trailing 48-46 at one point.
Jennings found Krista Kyyroenen open for a layup to tie the game at 48-all. Nakeya Penny then broke Anderson's press and scored to give Logan the lead for good.
Jennings hit from 22 feet with 3:15 to go to make it 53-48. The Berries hit all eight of their free throws down the stretch, with Jennings hitting four, Penny two and Rachel Jennings two.
"This was our first game we've been down," Whitney Jennings said. "So to come back and battle like that in the second half like that, I'm really proud of my teammates."
The Berries trailed 33-21 with two minutes left to play in the first half, but they were able to cut the deficit to 35-29 at halftime.
"[The Indians] were lights out the first half," Whitney Jennings said. "We changed our defense the second half hoping they would miss some."
The Indians (6-2, 2-1 NCC) shot 38.7 percent from the field and hit 6 of 18 from 3-point range in the first half. But the Berries outscored them 32-13 in the second half, holding them to just 17.2 percent shooting and 3 of 13 from behind the arc.
"We switched from our Red [2-3 zone defense] to our Black, which is a 1-2-2," Whitney Jennings said. "We 52'd them a little, which is a press. We just got out on their shooters and pushed the ball. It worked in the second half."
Logan held Anderson scoreless through the first five minutes of the second half and grabbed a 39-35 lead. Whitney Jennings scored the final four points of the third quarter and the first three points of the fourth to give Logan a 46-42 lead. Anderson's Da'Sha Boyd and Darrien Thompson made back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Indians a brief lead before Whitney Jennings' assist to Kyyroenen, who battled through an ankle injury.
Logan starter Seanna Redman left the game with 5:31 remaining in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.
Penny had 17 points for Logan, and Rachel Jennings scored 11. Kiley Victor added six points, 11 boards and three steals.
The Berries entered the game having dominated opponents by a state-best 39.3 points per game, but it took them awhile to adjust to a step up in the level of competition. They committed a season-high 17 turnovers and missed a number of contested layups against Anderson's constant pressure defense.
"I didn't think we played very well, but we played when we had to play," Logan coach Jerry Hoover said. "We missed five lay-ins. If we get those five lay-ins it's not even a ballgame.
"Let's face it, we haven't played this kind of quickness, and their quickness led to several long passes that were intercepted. And we've been getting those long passes for layups. So we're going to learn from this and go on and see what we can do."
Boyd scored 11 points and Chelsea Bentley had 10 points and eight boards to lead the Indians. Na-Shaundra Rayford scored nine, and Sharice Jones chipped in eight.
Hoover wanted to credit his coaching staff for the win in holding the high-scoring Indians to just 48 points for the game. Anderson entered averaging 77.7 ppg, second in the state and tops in Class 4A.
"We got them to missing a little bit, and I'll tell you what, our coaching staff did a great job. We had a lot of suggestions that we put on the floor from [Doug] Jennings, [Kevin] Bullard and [Dick] Farrer that translated to the floor, that then translated to baskets and stops. It was a very good job by the coaching staff," he said.
Logan hosts Carmel on Friday.


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We're sure Kanye wasn't the only one that raised an eyebrow when he saw MTV's Hottest MC list. Kanye came in spot number seven and he's not happy with that. At this point, it is hard to see how Kanye is coming in 7th on that list...but I digress. He called into the show to tell DJ Enuff why he thinks he didn't rank higher.
1. Because critics are blatantly ignoring his entire body of work (He pointed out his Diamonds remix verse and the "Lucky I ain't have Jay drop him from the team." line)
2. Critics are letting his weaker records/projects outweigh his stronger ones, when in most cases, people would say it is the other way around.
Two things. Kanye is undeniably one of the greatest producers and MCs...ever. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that he is deliberately being snubbed when it comes to these lists and awards. However, he is way too easily baited. Its to the point where peole know exactly how to press his buttons. That's never a good thing.
Check the audio and tell us if you agree with Kanye.


text:
Tom Van Riper, Forbes Staff
I cover the business of sports for Forbes.
Point guard Jeremy Lin's biggest assist of his big week – helping the NBA's business with its biggest overseas market, China.
A second-year man out of Harvard, a Californian of Chinese descent, Lin was an NBA afterthought splitting his time between the Development League and the end of the Warriors and Knicks benches since the fall of 2010. Then suddenly on February 4, guard-challenged New York took a shot and inserted him into the playing rotation. Lin responded with three straight games of at least 23 points and seven assists, leading the Knicks to victories in all three. Invisible a week ago, he's now the toast of the town. Knick fans now see him as the guy who might salvage their season.
What has an Asian player starring in New York meant for business? ESPN outlets in China, Taiwan and the Philippines have added seven Knicks games to the February schedule. The top video highlight this week on the NBA section of Sina.com were highlight's of Lin's 25-point, seven-assist night against New Jersey (1.27 million views). All together, Knick games accounted for four of Sina.com's eight most popualr NBA video highlights. Meantime, Lin's follower count on twitter is up 60,000 over the past week, to 250,000.
The Linsanity has helped NBA.com/China amass 4.7 billion page views this season, up 43% from a year ago. Of course, the whole thing could die out as quickly as it started, should Lin prove to be a flash in the pan. But the attention shows how starved the Chinese audience is for a new hero to follow.
Mr. Van Ripper – Not sure if you are aware – people do make a distinction between Chinese and Taiwanese, and Jeremy Lin is Taiwanese. Case in point – during the recent NBA games you will often spot Taiwanese flags in the audience, but never a Chinese flag.
Not sure if you are aware, but Jeremy has identified himself as "Chinese". Not once has he exclusively called himself "Taiwanese", and not once has he ever corrected the media by claiming he is exclusively Taiwanese. Although you mention the Taiwanese flag at games, there is a difference between ethnicity and nationality. Yes, his parents' nationality is originally Taiwanese, but his ethnicity is Chinese.
In fact, Jeremy says he is "Chinese" twice in this video.


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Rev. Dr. Jacob Henry Breakiron, 92, of McMurray, formerly of Carmichaels, died on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013.
He was the beloved husband of 65 years to Georgetta (Woodward) Breakiron; a loving father of Esther "Sue" (Russel) Wert of Davidson, N.C., Karen Page of Edinburg, P.A., and Diane (David) Altieri of Canonsburg; a cherished grandfather of Kristen (Dan) Wert Kaplan, Kimberly (Matt) Wert Schrader, Stephen (Sonya) Wert, Michael Bacorn, Tammy Bacorn, Bradley Altieri, and Stefanie Altieri; brother of the late Grace, John, James Elmer, Alice, and Lloyd.
He is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Rev. Breakiron served as an ordained minister in various communities in southwestern Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Maryland over a period of 68 years.
He was a member of the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and was a past member of Masonic Lodge #513.
He took great pride in the fact that he built his own retirement home with the help of his 14-year-old grandson.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Beinhauer-Bogan.
Friends are welcome at 164 West Pike St., Canonsburg, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the First United Methodist Church of Canonsburg with Dr. Andrew Harvey officiating.
Interment will be in Greenridge Memorial Park.
His family suggests that memorial contributions be made to First United Methodist Church of Canonsburg, United Methodist Church of Carmichaels, Bethany Hospice, or Paramount Senior Living-McMurray.
To view and add tributes visit the funeral home website at www.beinhauer.com.


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In case you've always secretly wanted to do a triathalon, but haven't yet taken the plunge, there's a super easy one coming up right here in Albany.
It is billed as "a beginner-friendly, spectator-friendly event open to anyone age 10 and up. The goal is to promote fitness in the community, raise funds for Albany High School athletic programs, and showcase just how fun a multi-sport event can be!"
When & Where: 7 a.m on Sept. 29, 2012, at Albany Memorial Park, 1325 Portland Avenue. (Details here.)
Course Information: This is a "super sprint" distance triathlon consisting of:
- a 400 meter swim followed by
- a 10 km bike ride and then
- a 3 km run
The swim will take place in the outdoor pool in 15-minute heats of 20 swimmers per heat with two people splitting each lane. Four hundred meters is 17 lengths (25 yards/length) or 8.5 laps (50 yards/lap).
The bike course consists of 11 laps around a 0.55-mile loop on the streets encircling the pool, park and high school.
The run is four laps on the same loop as the bike course, running on the sidewalk.
The transition area (T1 and T2) will be on the pavement near the basketball court just outside of the outdoor pool.
Learn more at http://albanytri.com.
Come join me!
--Rebecca Long


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Availability: Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel
Standard Double RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests
Classic RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 1 child)
Standard Twin Room, 2 Single BedsMax Occupancy: 2 guests
Privilege, Double Room, Lake ViewMax Occupancy: 2 guests
Family RoomMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 2 children)
Superior Suite, 1 Double Bed, Lake ViewMax Occupancy: 2 guests
4-star eco-friendly hotel in Maidstone with a full-service spa
Situated in Maidstone, this spa hotel is close to Leeds Castle, Bearsted Golf Club, and White Horse Wood Country Park. Area attractions also include Vinters Valley Nature Reserve and Mote Park.
Hotel Features
In addition to a restaurant, Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel features an indoor pool. Other amenities include a full-service spa and a bar/lounge.
Room Amenities
Flat-screen televisions come with satellite channels. Guestrooms also feature wireless Internet access (surcharge), climate control, and safes.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel Amenities
- General
In addition to a full-service spa, Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel features an indoor pool and a health club. The hotel offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. High-speed wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge.
Event facilities include conference/meeting rooms and small meeting rooms. This eco-friendly hotel also offers a sauna, a steam room, and spa services. Onsite self parking is complimentary.
Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel is a smoke-free property.
- Number of meeting rooms - 14
- Total number of rooms - 126
- Room service (24 hours)
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Meeting rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Number of floors - 3
- Bar/lounge
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Complimentary newspapers in lobby
- Conference space
- Elevator/lift
- Express check-out
- Full-service spa
- Hair salon
- Health club
- Wireless Internet access - surcharge
- Laundry facilities
- Multilingual staff
- Restaurant
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free self parking
- Sauna
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Spa services on site
- Steam room
- Indoor pool
- Smoke-free property
- Internet
Available in all rooms: Wireless Internet access (surcharge)
Available in some public areas: Wireless Internet access - surcharge
- Parking
Free self parking
- Room Amenities
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
- In-room safe
- Coffee/tea maker
- Phone
- Complimentary bottled water
- Desk
- Climate control
- Satellite TV service
- Wireless Internet access (surcharge)
- Private bathroom
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
- Flat-panel TV
- Dining
English breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning.
Arts - This brasserie serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
24-hour room service is available.
- Recreation
Recreational amenities at the hotel include an indoor pool, a health club, a sauna, and a steam room.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Spa
Exquisite Beauty Spa has 4 treatment rooms including rooms for couples. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, massages, and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and Ayurvedic.
- Facial treatments
- Number of treatment rooms 4
- Couples treatment rooms
- Manicures and pedicures
- Body wraps
- Body scrubs
- Aromatherapy treatments
- Massages
- Hot stone massage
- Deep tissue massage
- Ayurvedic treatments
- Body treatments
Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel Policies & Fees
- Check-in
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
- Check-out
Check-out time is noon
- Payment types
Accepted at this hotel: American Express, MasterCard, Visa
- Pets
Pets allowed
- General
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Fees
- The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
- Breakfast fee: GBP 13.95 per person (approximately)
- Fee for in-room high-speed Internet (wired): GBP 11.99 (for 24 hours, rates may vary)
- Pet fee: GBP 10.00 per pet, per night
- Additional Details
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Awards & Affiliations
- Details
- A Green / Sustainable Property - Third Party CertifiedThis property participates in Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), a third-party certification program that has been independently certified. Third-party certification measures the property's impact on one or more of the following: environment, community, cultural-heritage, the local economy. An objective assessment of a company's sustainable tourism practices has been performed at this property by an auditor who is independent of the third-party certification program.


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Weird or Secret Ingredients?
I need to bring a dish to a potluck. The theme is "Secrets" so the dish has to contain something unlikely, or weird or whatever, that no one would think was in it.
I thought about making Coca-cola cake, but there will be several Southerners there, so I am guessing that someone else will make it. I am open to any suggestions, but have limited access to ingredients--I have almost no access to processed foods, so recipes that include a lot of box mixes are not going to work.
Beef stroganoff using sliced chicken hearts. Tastes like really tender beef. Don't over cook.
re: Sam Fujisaka
Yo Sam,
I really like your suggestion about the use of chicken hearts. Problem here is that most markets do not carry them as a meat dept. item. I have a difficult enough time just finding chicken livers for chopped chicken liver spread. When I lived in Berwyn, IL back in the '50s, it was inhabited by a large Czech population and such chicken parts were always available. BTW, have you tried the same recipe using chicken gizzards instead of hearts?
re: ChiliDude
Have tried gizzards stronganoff. Its better because of their better/deeper flavor. The cost is the work trimming, ponding (with meat tenderizer mallet), and slicing.
The stronganoff hearts takes me about 10 minutes to prepare. Last time I served to a guy from Oz and his Colombian girlfriend. Both were convinced that it was pricey steak.
Are chicken hearts generally not available in the US?
re: Sam Fujisaka
re: Sam Fujisaka
There are a lot of cakes and pies with unlikely vegetables in them - chocolate beet cake is a common one. My mother made a great spice cake with parsnips in it - none of us could guess what it was.
The fudge recipe made with velvetta
re: jlp8
re: scubadoo97
I've made a chocolate mousse with tofu and it is always wonderful. You use firm tofu, some sugar, very good bittersweet chocolate and grated orange peel. Whip it up in the food processor, put in a mold or individual ramekins and chill. It's truly delicious.
There are probably recipes for this online.
The Cook's Illustrated pie crust made with vodka might be a good candidate. They also had a recipe for "Rustic Apple Tart" and the crust used Wondra flour. Not as intriguing, though, as some other secret ingredients. Mock Apple Pie made from Ritz crackers could fit the bill too.
Just make sure the secret ingredient isn't too wild - somebody might have a dietary restriction or allergy.
There's a great Filipino recipe (quiet Sam!) for beef stew that is thickened not with flour, but with chicken liver.
How about Vinegar Pie?
re: ipsedixit
re: chef chicklet
re: chef chicklet
re: ipsedixit
Crazy Cake (same thing, but what we call it in my family) is the only chocolate cake I'll make. Nothing's better, nothing's easier. I only recently figured out that if you don't add the cocoa powder, it doesn't have to be chocolate. Doh. Vanilla cake, strawberry cake, pumpkin cake, caramel cake... I've been going nuts.
re: modthyrth
re: adventuresinbaking
adventuresinbaking, do you mean you've been using the epicurious recipe for vinegar pie that ipsedixit posted? or is there another link you forgot to include? (i'm just asking because you said it makes good cupcakes, and vinegar pie doesn't sounds like it would do that--but both types are sounding quite tempting....)
re: porceluna
adventuresinbaking was referring to the chocolate wacky cake/crazy cake referenced in chef chicklet and modthyrth's posts. Always handy because it uses pantry staples and nothing refrigerated - no eggs or milk, just dry ingredients, vinegar, veg oil, water. Also, ergo, vegan and suitable for those with dairy and/or egg allergy.
See a recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Wacky-Ca...
Not a secret to many serious cooks but something that might horrify many civilians: adding a few salt-preserved anchovies to tomato sauce really kicks up the flavor without making it taste at all fishy. Chop them up before you put them in and they'll dissolve into the sauce and add a wonderful extra level of umami deliciousness. You could do an innocent-looking spaghetti and meatballs and reveal the secret after it's been eaten.
Just remember not to add extra salt until after they've cooked in and you taste it for saltiness.
re: BobB
re: BobB
re: BobB
Damn, you beat me to this anchovy idea. Here's another: Marscapone with Anchovies makes a great spread for bread or crackers and your guests wont figure out either ingredient since it tastes neither like anchovies or marscapone.
This is popular in Friulli region of italy; Google around for the recipe, but its a simple mix of marscapone, mashed anchovy filets, mustard and spices.
How about this zippy dip made with ground-up White Castle burgers? It's really good - no one would guess your secret ingredient.
But this would only work if you have access to a White Castle restaurant. (If not, lucky you!)
Oops - just noticed that you said "no access to processed foods." Sloppy me. A cake with vegetables is a great idea - if you can't get parsnips, how about a Chocolate Beet cake?
re: AnneInMpls
re: JungMann
No, but I had the White Castle Dip at a party. My brother-in-law made it but didn't tell people what was in it. After I ate about half the bowl, I begged him for the recipe. He laughed so hard that he fell on the floor (for some strange reason, I have a reputation for being the food snob in the family).
Dang, now I'm craving this dip. I may have to break down and make my own batch.
There is that classic tomato soup cake.
It's a sweet spice cake with a can of tomato soup in it. No one ever knows. You say no processed foods, but I figure if you can get your hands on a bottle of Coke, you can get a can of Campbells Tomato soup ; )
Emeril even has a recipe:
I slipped up one time and added cinnamon instead of cumin to a batch of chile verde. When I figured it out, I just added the cumin. It was pretty tasty, and yes I was drinking.
re: chileheadmike
re: chileheadmike
Actually, cinnamon is often paired with beef in Greek recipes, which is the origin of the Cincinnati Chili JungMann mentions below. It was invented by Greeks. And chocolate shows up in many great Mexican dishes, especially Mole Poblano. I think cinnamon is also an ingredient in Mock Turtle Soup. No, I was disapointed to learn as a kid, Alice in Wonderland's Mock Turtle didn't make it into the soup pot.
Another thought I just had is Cincinnati Chili which contains cinnamon, allspice and chocolate. Chili is the perfect potluck food, and those secret ingredients won't threaten anyone.
re: JungMann
I love chili with 1 - 2 ounces of dark chocolate! I always throw that into my chili. I've also done chili with bourbon (instead of chocolate, I haven't done them together, don't know how that would be).
A roommate of mine used to make "potato candy," which was boiled peeled potatoes (smashed), mixed with a whole box of powdered sugar and a cup of peanut butter. Extremely rich.
I made the saltine toffee- people at work were flipping out that the base was crackers. I didn't find it unusual, but everyone else did. It's gooooooooood in a trashy/simple/sweet-n-salty kinda way. Just crackers, stick o butter, cup of brown sugar and semi-sweet choc chips - if u need exacts poke around on google or let me know.
Hints from Heloise has a chocolate sauerkraut cake:
You could frost with chocolate sour cream frosting for sour cream in frosting, sometimes unexpected.
Something with Marmite, perhaps?
Lots of recipes around - here are a few:
Cooking Light has a recipe for steak sandwiches. The marinade for the flank steak includes coca cola. Not terribly original, but delish. It's served with an arugula mayo.
Epi's beet, chickpea, and almond dip. Basically hot-pink hummus.
On the sweets front:
--Worldpeace cookies (bittersweet chocolate and sea salt)
--Dave Lieberman's chocolate-guiness cupcakes
--Chocolate-mayonnaise cupcakes
--Chocolate-whiskey bundt cake
Those combos don't seem too crazy to me, but my friends are always suprised by them. (Maybe I just love anything with chocolate....)
Pfeffernuse cookies (German spice cookies) contain as the "secret" ingredient, black pepper. I always double the amount called for and also increase the other spices, too. I like 'em very spicy and flavorful. I make my cookies about 1/3" in diameter (raw) so they come out about the size of your thumbnail. They're wonderful when you can pop them into your mouth by the handful. I generally like mine plain and crisp, but have also made batches that I tossed (warm) in confectioner's sugar. They're not just a Christmas cookie around my house. <smile>
Green apple sorbet made with rendered guanciale (or bacon) fat. I did it for an Iron Chef Bacon competition, and it turned out shockingly well. I minced the guanciale very finely, crisped it up, used the drained and cooled fat along with pureed green apples and simple syrup to make the sorbet, then mixed in some of the crisped bits for texture. It'd be more obvious with bacon, but with guanciale, it was a fairly subtle flavor change but it imparted a wonderful richness and creamy texture that was difficult to put a finger on. Using the crisped bits would, of course, make it much more obvious.
Alternatively, do a candy cap cheesecake. Candy caps are mushrooms that, when dried, take on an intense maple aroma and flavor. It's a little more earthy and spicy, but remarkably similar. If you season a cheesecake with nothing but ground candy caps, people will swear up and down you made it with maple syrup. When I do this, I use three parts cream cheese to one part chevre for the cake. I think that little goaty tang plays well against the spicy tones of the candy caps.
re: Dmnkly
That cheese cake sounds oh so good! Sadly, when I said I had no access to processed foods, I should have clarified that I have no access to any sort of "gourmet" food either. No specialty stores, no deli, no nothing.
'll have to keep it in mind when I get back to the States though.
re: lulubelle
Well, I don't know what kind of timeframe you're working with, but I mail-order my candy caps from a place called Millard Family Mushrooms (easily searchable). I don't know what the cost or time is involved in shipping something from the US to Bangladesh, but the mushrooms themselves are cheap.
WOW! Thanks for all the great ideas! I made that Ritz cracker pie in high school once and forgot all about it. I could get my hands on a box of Ritz crackers here, but they would probably cost about 8 bucks. (I live in Bangladesh and imported foods are really expensive.) I think one of the veggie cakes might be my best bet, although I am interested in the vinegar pie and have some locally made pineapple vinegar that might prove interesting.
I would kill for White Castle, in any form, even dip, but the closest White Castle is probably an 18 hour plane trip.
What about mock Skor bars made with soda crackers/saltines? I've had them a few times before and they are insanely good! No one would ever guess there are crackers in there.
Recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/129762
Well, I've found a lot of people are surprised by black pepper in gingerbread, even though it's completely traditional. My grandmother used to put tea in her chocolate cake, and of course there are Guinness-based chocolate and ginger cakes that are very good.
There are recipes available online for candied tomatoes - it's the usual involved candy-making process, but the end result (after using spiced syrup, etc.) is supposed to be both delicious and mystifying. No one can tell the base is tomato.
re: curiousbaker
re: porceluna
I have the recipe for her chocolate cake somewhere at home - I'll try to find it (I moved two months ago, and though I'm pretty much out of boxes, things are still hard to find). But it's a funny story about the tea. My grandmother always made this very simple chocolate cake that she would serve plain or just sprinkled with powdered sugar. It was very good, and when I got older I used the recipe sometimes. It never came out particularly good, though. I figured my memory had played tricks on me. Then one day I was reading an article to my mother about unusual pairings with chocolate, tea among them (I think the article mentioned an chocolate candy filled with Earl Grey cream.) And my mother said, oh yes, your grandmother used to dump the end of her pot of tea into the chocolate cake batter before she put it in the oven. What?? Of course, it makes sense: hot liquids help cocoa to "bloom", opening up the flavors, and tea complements chocolate. But that's a pretty major change in a recipe, and with no guidance, I'm not sure whether I've got it right. But I've made it now twice adding about a cup of hot tea, and it does come out well. A little tinkering may still be needed.
re: curiousbaker
re: hangrygirl
re: curiousbaker
re: goodhealthgourmet
re: chocolatstiletto
my recipe is gluten-free and sweetened with agave nectar, so i doubt you want me to post the one i use. but i think sally schneider had a gingerbread recipe that used similar spices in her book "a new way to cook." give me a little time to look it up in the book & type it up, and i'll post it for you...
update: turns out it's already posted online - saves me some work!
re: goodhealthgourmet
re: chocolatstiletto
re: goodhealthgourmet
re: chocolatstiletto
she's lucky. and simply substituting for wheat is much easier than making a completely GF recipe. mine contains a complicated GF flour blend plus guar gum - it's not necessary for your mom. go ahead and use the recipe i posted, with the following modification: use 1- 3/8 cups barley flour, and 1/2 cup oat flour.
re: chocolatstiletto
Head over to www.epicurious.com and just type in molasses.
You'll find a ton of ideas.
re: Jennalynn
I used Julia Child's spice cookie recipe this year. It was wonderful and I substituted white flour for rye in the recipe. I'm sure it would be super great made with rye.
My sister also one time accidently made peanut butter cookies with rye flour. My other sister's husband thought they were the best cookies ever.
I made this creamy broccoli soup from Everyday Food recently. It uses oatmeal to thicken it. I omitted the nutmeg, added a little cayenne and 2 cloves of minced garlic with the onions, plus a splash of white wine. It was pretty good and nobody guessed what the secret ingredient was.
I don't necessarily think of it as weird, but everyone always says "eww!" until they taste it... sour cream chocolate cake. It's been my family's go-to chocolate cake since before I was born.
2 sticks butter
1 cup water
4 T. cocoa
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 t. baking soda
¼ t. salt
1 t. vanilla
½ cup sour cream
2 eggs
In saucepan, melt butter and add water and cocoa. Sift sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt and add to chocolate mixture. Beat to combine, and add sour cream, vanilla, and eggs. Mix thoroughly. Bake in a 12x9 pan, 2 9" round pans, or cupcake tins for 30 to 35 minutes at 375.
re: Katie Nell
re: Katie Nell
re: Katie Nell
The most popular muffins and pound cakes sold at the delis here on Long Island are made with yogurt. You're right, at first people would say "eww" but now they won't buy anything else, and they ask for them specifically. Me, I love yogurt, so I was always into the idea and now make most of my baked goods with it if possible.
Chocolate mayonnaise cake? There's a dip in the center of the baked cakes, which you can hide with frosting. I do think the crumb will tell another baker this isn't a butter cake, but the more pronounced chocolate flavor will easily distract them from that difference. Chocolate seems to be a great vehicle for secret ingredients. No surprises that's the case.


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I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we'd gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I'd have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? ...
I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we'd gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I'd have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn't see that one coming. I've been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison--and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan's dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I'm guilty. If I'm going to get out of this mess alive, I'll have to do it myself. . .
"An amazingly addictive new series."--Fresh Fiction
Praise for the Mythos Academy series
"Kiss of Frost has just as much ass-kicking as the first book in the series." --Good Choice Reading
"Lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending will leave the reader breathless!" --RT Book Reviews on Kiss of Frost, 4 Stars
"A great start to a new young adult paranormal series." --Night Owl Reviews on Touch of Frost
"It has literally everything: mystery, romance, mythology, boarding schools. What could be better?" --Simply Nerdy Book Reviews on Touch of Frost
Logan Quinn looked at me. "Really, Gypsy girl? What's that?"
I shifted on my feet. "I don't actually like coffee."
The Spartan stared at me a moment before his lips curved up into a teasing grin. "You probably should have mentioned that before now."
Yeah, I probably should have, since we were in a coffee shop. A large counter; lots of comfy leather chairs; wrought-iron tables; paintings of gods and goddesses on the walls; a display case full of blueberry scones, raspberry tarts, and decadent chocolate cheesecakes. Kaldi Coffee looked like your typical java joint, except that everything was first class and super-pricey all the way, from the fancy espresso machines that hissed and burped to the rich, dark aroma of the ridiculously expensive coffee that flavored the air.
Then again, such luxury was the norm in the upscale stores in Cypress Mountain, North Carolina. The Mythos Academy kids accepted nothing less than the best, and Kaldi's was one of the most popular places to Hang Out and Be Seen when the students had free time, like we did today. Afternoon classes and activities had been cancelled so all the kids could attend some big assembly at the academy's amphitheater later on. I wasn't sure what the assembly was going to be about. Probably some more hearty reassurances from the professors and staff that all us warrior whiz kids were as safe as we could be at the academy, now that Loki was free.
For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I'd ever seen. One side so perfect, with its golden hair, piercing blue eye, and smooth features. The other side so completely ruined, with its limp strings of black hair, red eye, and melted skin.
Loki—the evil god that I'd helped set free against my will.
A shudder rippled through my body. Thanks to my psychometry magic, I never forgot anything I saw, but the image of Loki's double-face was burned into my memory. No matter what I was doing or whom I was with, no matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw the Norse trickster god's image everywhere I went. Gleaming in the windows of my classrooms, shining in the glossy surface of my dorm room desk, shimmering in the mirror, like a devil perched on my shoulder.
I shuddered again. It had taken all the strength I had not to scream when I'd brushed my hair this morning and had suddenly seen Loki grinning at me in my bathroom mirror, the perfect side of his face lifted up into a smile, and the ruined side turned down into a horrible, twisted sneer—
"Gypsy girl?" Logan asked in a soft voice. "Are you still here with me?"
I pushed all thoughts of Loki away and made myself smile at the Spartan even though I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around myself and huddle into a ball in the corner.
"I know, I know," I grumbled. "I should have told you that I don't actually drink coffee. I just didn't want anything to ruin our first date, and when you suggested coffee ..."
"You went along with it," Logan finished.
I shrugged.
Maybe it was thinking of Loki and his split face, but as I looked at Logan, I was once again reminded of how different we were. Simply put, Logan Quinn was gorgeous, with his thick, ink-black hair and intense ice-blue eyes. His designer jeans, blue sweater, and expensive leather jacket only highlighted how strong and muscled his body was.
Next to him, I pretty much faded into the background. The most interesting thing about my wavy brown hair was how frizzy it was today. You might look twice at my eyes, which were an unusual shade of violet, but the only thing special about me was the necklace I wore. Six silver strands curved around my throat before their diamond-tipped points formed a snowflake in the middle of the design. A Christmas gift from Logan, one that I almost always wore, even though it didn't exactly go with my plain gray sweater, purple plaid jacket, and not-so-designer jeans and sneakers.
And it wasn't just our looks and clothes that were different. Logan was a fierce Spartan warrior who was the best fighter at the academy. I was still trying to figure out how to wield a sword, even though I was Nike's Champion, the girl picked by the Greek goddess of victory to help her fight Loki and his Reapers of Chaos here in the mortal realm. Something I had failed at pretty miserably so far, since Loki was now free and bent on plunging the world into a second Chaos War.
"You know what, Gypsy girl?" Logan said, once again interrupting my troubled thoughts. "Nothing could ruin this date. Ask me why."
He slung his arm around my shoulder and grinned. "Because I'm on it with you."
And suddenly, everything was okay, and I could breathe again.
That's why I was head over heels for the Spartan. Logan could be everything from fun and flirty to stubborn and infuriating, but then he went and said things like that. Was it any wonder I had such a massive crush on him?
Okay, okay, so maybe it had started out as a crush a few months ago, but given everything we'd been through, my feelings for him had quickly deepened into something more: love. At least, that's what I thought it was; that's what it felt like to me—this warm, soft, fizzy feeling that filled my heart whenever the Spartan grinned at me, whenever he teased me or tried to make me forget about my worries.
Like now.
I sighed and put my head on his shoulder. Logan hugged me to his chest. He didn't say anything, but he didn't need to. Just being close to him was enough for me, after all these months we'd spent dancing around each other.
"You guys ready to order?" the barista asked.
We stepped up to the counter. The Spartan ordered a triple espresso since he loved the caffeine rush, while I got a hot, honey-pomegranate tea. Logan started to pull his wallet out of his jeans, but I beat him to it and handed the barista a twenty-dollar bill.
"My treat," I said. "After all, I'm the one who suggested coffee in the first place way back when."
Logan nodded. "That you did. All right, Gypsy girl. Your treat. This time. The next round's on me."
We got our drinks and went over to a table in the corner of the shop next to a stone fireplace. Since the students had been given the afternoon off, we weren't the only Mythos kids who'd decided to come to Kaldi's and get something to eat and drink before the assembly started in another half hour or so. I spotted several students I knew, including Kenzie Tanaka, Logan's Spartan friend, who was on his own date with Talia Pizarro, a pretty Amazon in my gym class. I waved at them, and Kenzie winked at me before turning his attention back to Talia.
"What is he doing here with her?" A sneering voice drifted over to me.
I looked to my right to see Helena Paxton staring at me. Helena was a stunning Amazon with caramel-colored hair and eyes. Since Jasmine Ashton's death back in the fall, Helena had established herself as the new mean-girl queen of the second-year students at Mythos. She sat at a nearby table with two of her Amazon friends, all of them dressed in pricey jeans, stiletto boots, and tight, fitted sweaters; they had perfect hair, jewelry, purses, and makeup to match.
"I thought Logan's standards were a little higher than that. Guess I was wrong. Then again, guys will do anything—and anyone—to get some."
Helena's voice was low, but the cruel smile on her face told me that she meant for me to hear every word. I'd never done anything to Helena, except stand up for another girl she'd been teasing, but that had been enough to put me on the Amazon's hit list. Now, every time she saw me, Helena went out of her way to be snotty to me. Try as I might, I could never seem to get the best of the Amazon, not even dream up a quick comeback to get her to shut up.
Helena whispered something to her friends, and they all started snickering. My hand tightened around my mug of tea. Not for the first time, I wished that I had an Amazon's quickness so I could bean Helena in the head with it. But she would only catch the mug and throw it back at me before I could blink.
"Ignore them," Logan said. "They're just jealous that you're here with me."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. You and your ego."
His grin widened, and I couldn't help but laugh. No matter how bad things got, the Spartan could always make me laugh, if only for a moment. Something else that added to that warm, fizzy feeling in my chest.
We sat there in silence, listening to the murmurs from the other kids and the gurgles of the espresso machines. After all the battles we'd survived recently, it was nice to just hang out with Logan without worrying about what was going to happen next or what Reapers might be lurking around, masquerading as students, professors, or even the coffee shop staff.
But after a few minutes, the reality of the situation hit me. I was on a date with Logan freaking Quinn, one of the cutest guys at Mythos—and I had no idea what to say to him.
"So ..." I said. "What do people talk about on dates?" Logan looked up from his espresso. "What do you mean?"
I shifted in my seat. "I mean, you have a lot more experience at this than I do."
In fact, Logan had a reputation for being a total man-whore who went from one girl to the next. Me? I'd had exactly one boyfriend for a grand total of three weeks before I'd met Logan. So going on a date was still sort of a new experience for me. Besides, the Spartan had this natural, easy charm that made everyone like him—girls and guys alike. Me? I was about as charming as a wet sock.
"I know what we talk about at the academy. You know, weapons training, where Loki might be hiding, when he's going to come and kill us all, how we're supposed to stop him."
Actually, that last one was more like how I was supposed to kill the god. Yeah, me, kill an actual living, breathing, walking, talking god. And not just any god, but Loki, who was pretty much evil incarnate.
But that was the seemingly impossible mission that Nike had given me the last time I'd seen her a couple of weeks ago—something that I hadn't shared with Logan or any of my friends. Kill a god. I had no idea how the goddess expected me to do that. I had no idea how anyone could do that, especially me, Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl who touched stuff and saw things.
Logan kept staring at me, and I found myself opening my mouth once more.
"I guess we could talk about how I'm actually getting a little better at using weapons, although I doubt that I'll ever be in your league. Or we could talk about Nyx, and how totally cute she is. Or Daphne and her healing magic. Or Carson and how obsessed he is with the winter concert the band is putting together ..."
Babbling. I was finally out on a real date with Logan, and I was babbling like a wind-up doll someone had cranked into high gear.
Logan reached over and put his hand on top of mine, which was still wrapped around my mug. "Relax, Gypsy girl. Relax. You're doing fine. We don't have to talk about anything, if you don't want to. I'm just happy to be here with you. It's nice to just sit here and relax, with everything that's been going on these past few weeks. You know?"
His fingers felt warm against my own, but more than that, I felt the warmth in Logan's heart—and all his feelings. His strength, his bravery, his determination to fight Reapers and to protect me no matter what. All those images, all those feelings, flashed through my mind, driving away all my doubts about me, Logan, and everything else that was going on right now.
My Gypsy gift let me know, see, and feel the history of any object I touched. Given that, I had to be careful about touching things and, most especially, people. More than once, my hand had brushed against someone's, and I'd realized that what he said didn't match what he felt. That's what had happened with my first boyfriend. He'd kissed me, and I'd realized that he was really thinking about another girl instead.
But there was nothing to be afraid of with Logan. I knew all the Spartan's secrets, and he knew mine. Well, except for the whole Gwen's-supposed-to-kill-Loki thing. I still wasn't sure exactly how to bring that up, and I wasn't going to. Not today. There would be time enough to obsess and worry about that later. Right now, I just wanted to enjoy my date with Logan.
"How is it that you always know just what to do and say to make me feel better?" I said.
Logan grinned. "Just another part of that Spartan killer instinct. I can slay the ladies just as well as I can Reapers."
I rolled my eyes and leaned over to punch him in the shoulder—and managed to knock over my tea and his espresso. Liquid cascaded all over the table, most of it spilling off the far side and into Logan's lap. The Spartan jumped up, but he didn't have an Amazon's quickness, so he couldn't avoid getting soaked.
"Sorry!" I said, getting to my own feet. "I'm so sorry!"
I reached for the silver holder on the table, intending to rip some napkins out of it, but instead I ended up knocking it to the ground as well. The napkin holder clang-cla-cla-clanged across the floor.
By the time the holder skidded to a stop and the noise faded away, everyone in the shop had turned to stare at us. Embarrassment made my cheeks burn, while Logan looked like he'd had water dumped all over him.
"Sorry," I mumbled again.
"It's okay," Logan said, holding his hands out to his sides to keep from touching his now-sticky clothes. "I'll just go get cleaned up."
He headed off toward the bathroom. I sighed, picked up the holder, put it back on the table, grabbed some napkins out of it, and started mopping up the mess. After a few seconds, most people went back to their conversations—except for Helena and her friends. They were too busy laughing at me to talk.
I put my head down, ignored them, and cleaned up the liquid as fast as I could before wiping my hands off. I threw all the used napkins into a trash can, then sat down and slumped as low as I could in my chair. So far, this date hadn't exactly been a big success—or even just the fun time I'd wanted it to be. Once again, I'd messed up everything without even trying. Sometimes, I thought that was my specialty in life.
I was so busy brooding that I didn't pay any attention when the door to Kaldi's opened, and three men trooped inside. Once again, all conversation stopped, and I felt a collective emotion ripple off everyone in the shop: fear.
"The Protectorate," I heard Helena whisper.
The Protectorate? What was that? I'd never heard of them before, but apparently they knew me because the men walked in my direction, their eyes fixed on my face.
I tensed, then sat up in my seat, wondering who the men were and what they wanted. Could they be Reapers come to attack the students? I'd wanted to be alone with Logan, so I'd left Vic, my talking sword, in my dorm room. Stupid of me not to bring the weapon, even though we'd only been getting coffee. I should have known by now that nothing was simple at Mythos—not even my first date with Logan.
My eyes scanned the shop, looking for something I could use as a weapon, but the only things within arm's reach were the two mugs and the napkin holder on my table. I wrapped my hand around the napkin holder and put it in my lap under the table and out of sight of the men.
This wouldn't be the first time Reapers had attacked me. If these men decided to do the same, well, I'd think of something. Besides, one good scream, and Logan would come running out of the bathroom to help me.
One of the men stepped up and stared down at me. He was handsome enough, with blond hair and pale blue eyes, but his mouth was fixed in a firm frown, as if he constantly found fault with everyone around him. He looked at me, and I stared at him a moment before my gaze moved to the two men flanking him. One of the men was tall and slender, while the other was short, with a body that looked fat but was really all hard muscle.
The strangest thing was that the men all had on dark gray robes over their winter clothes. The robes reminded me of the black ones the Reapers always wore, although the men weren't sporting hideous, rubber Loki masks like Reapers did. Instead, a symbol was stitched into their robes in white thread on their left collars close to their throats—a hand holding a balanced set of scales.
I'd seen that symbol before. It was carved into the ceiling of the prison in the bottom of the math-science building on campus, and it had also been in the middle of the Garm gate that Vivian Holler had used to free Loki. My unease kicked up another notch. Nothing good was ever associated with that image, as far as I was concerned.
Excerpted from CRIMSON FROST by Jennifer Estep Copyright © 2013 by Jennifer Estep. Excerpted by permission of KTEEN BOOKS. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Posted December 24, 2012
Gwen Frost, is a Gypsy girl, that attends Mythos Academy. Crimson Frost takes place right after Gwen accidently gives the power to Vivan (another Gypsy) the power to release Loki. Devastated by their failure but facing the future, life must go on... Until the Protectorate, the Parthenon's police force, charges Gwen with releasing Loki and killing the students that where slaughtered by the Reapers (Loki's minions).
In a blink of an eye Gwen becomes the most hated person at Mythos Academy, everyone has lost someone to the Reapers and to believe that Gwen is one of them causes all kinds of threats and attacks. Her core group of friends and the leading staff at Mythos knows the truth, but the persecution that Gwen endures is heart breaking. Can she prove her innocence before it's too late? Will she ever be accepted back in with her peers? Will she have the strength to defeat Loki and the Reapers?
I loved Crimson Frost! I stayed up into the wee-hours with this book because I did not put it down. I found Gwen and her friends marvelous, strong, brave and they still fought for the jerks who pretty ruthlessly tormented Gwen. I found myself so emotional attached to the characters, I cried… often. A must read! 5 Stars
This ARC copy of Crimson Frost was given to me by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date: December 24, 2012
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Posted October 12, 2012
Caint wait for it to come out im so excited for it i read the first 4 books and they were amazing!
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Posted January 18, 2013
Hang on to your hats boys and girls, this one has alot of twist and turns. The story justs keeps getting better and better. I really appreciate the written artistry here. Gwen Frost's personality is well portrade from the story's perspective. The reader is allowed to really get inside Nike's Champion and witness the life of Gwen Frost's adventures. And likewise, each character is completly discribed thru the writtings. It's like watching a movie, you can see and pratically hear it all. I loved this story and am axiously awaiting for the next challange. A hero's work is never done?
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted October 27, 2012
I know right!!!!i cant wait this long!!!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted January 31, 2013
In this fourth installment in the Mythos Academy Series we once again accompany Gwen Frost into the world at Mythos Academy. If you aren't familiar with the series, Mythos Academy is a boarding school and college for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Romans, Vikings, Bogatyrs, and other magically gifted people, such as Gwen Frost, who is a Gypsy. Basically, it is a school for warrior whiz kids. Mythos Academy is located in North Carolina, Cypress Mountain to be exact, high above the city of Asheville. The story is highly rooted in Greek Mythology with a modern day twist. Gwen Frost is the main character, and as stated above, she is a Gypsy. Gypsies are those who have been gifted with magic by the gods. Gwen has been chosen by the Greek goddess, Nike, who is the goddess of victory, and Nike is where Gwen's magic comes from. Gwen has the gift of psychometry magic, the ability to know an object's history just by touching it. Gwen is also Nike's Champion. A Champion is the one who a god or goddess chooses in the mortal realm to represent them, and act on their behalf. Gwen's mom and grandmother were Nike's Champions before her. As Nike's Champion, Gwen has been chosen to battle the Reapers, who serve the evil god Loki.
In the previous installment, the evil god Loki, who is the Norse god of chaos, had been freed, and Gwen finds herself being blamed for what happened. After finally getting the guy she has crushed on forever, Logan Quinn, she now she finds herself unjustly accused of this heinous crime. What is even worse is that everyone believes she did it, all but a few of her closest friends, who know the real truth. With the help of Logan, her friends, some of her trusted instructors at the school, and eventually the new student who is assigned to protect her, they embark upon the quest to find out the truth behind what is going on and try to clear Gwen's name, which isn't an easy task, especially when you have a whole evil army against you.
Crimson Frost is filled with excitement, mystery, Greek mythology, kick-butt battle scenes, and yes, it even has some romance. Gwen's love interest, Logan Quinn, is a Spartan, and Spartans happen to be the fiercest of the warriors, and believe me, Logan is one hot warrior. I was impressed with the way he stood up and fought for Gwen, especially since her main accuser is his father. We also get to find out what is going on with all of Gwen's old friends, and get to know Alexei, The Bogatyr who is her guard, and who also becomes a good friend to her. The book is jam-packed with action. There are some intense battles with the Reapers, and even Gwen's arch nemesis. There are twists and turns at ever corner that keep you guessing, and just when you think you have it figured out, the author takes you somewhere you weren't expecting. I loved the story line, the pace was fast and kept your attention from beginning to end, and the characters are great. I loved them, and I even loved to hate the evil ones. The ending is intense, and leaves you looking forward to the next book in the series, which I can't wait to read. If you love Greek mythology and YA urban fantasy with some romance mixed in, then you are in for a treat with Crimson Frost.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted January 20, 2013
I've been pleased with this series for the most part. I like the cast of characters, especially Gwen and Logan. But, sometimes it can get repetitive. This really was no exception to that, although it took a little bit of a different direction it seems like.
Gwen's really gone through a lot in this series, but in this book she takes a beating. She's publicly humiliated and branded a traitor. Thankfully she knows her own worth and her friends never falter in their belief in her. But to become a social piranha is hard for anybody. When everyone moves their desk away from you in class or leaves nasty messages on your dorm-room door, it's hard to keep your chin up. But, she truly believes that there is no way they can find her guilty of what they are accusing her of. Until she discovers who is behind it. And the plot thickens.
I was amazed that people in such high authority could made such bold accusations the way they did with so little to go on. With Gwen's story public knowledge long before our accuser shows up, I was surprised they bought it. It really bugged me. I was happy to see that Logan repeatedly stood up to his dad when it came to Gwen. Their relationship is so strange at times that I was afraid he would back down from him.
I really loved the surprise accuser and the whole part with the asp. The ending was interesting as well. Logan's background makes so much sense now and it's extremely sad. Especially when the story ends the way it does. I get why he did what he did, but he needs to move on.
I'm starting to wonder what direction this story is going to take. I see no real clear ending. I'm not sure how many books this series is planning on reaching, but I want to see something happen. I feel we are at that point in the series! I enjoyed the book of course and will continue on with the series.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted January 17, 2013
Reviewed by: Valerie
Book provided by: NetGalley
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
Oh, how happy I was while reading this book…but it didn't last! I've been reading this series since it was first published and waiting for the main characters, Gwen and Logan, to get together and it finally happened..sort of.
Gwen has been an interesting character from the very first book. As she matures and grows more and more comfortable with her role as Nike's Champion, I find myself rooting for her to the point that I'm tense when she's involved in a fight and I hurt when she hurts. The world building that Estep has created in so rich in details and her writing draws you in from the first page. Besides characters that you really care about, the pacing of the books is perfect and never lags. There is always something going on, either solving mysteries or fighting battles.
Logan, hot spartan boy, defends Gwen when she is arrested, going so far as to rally her friends to protect her around the campus. I totally love Logan. He's still warring with his feelings regarding his mom and sister's death and his dad's indifference to him yet he never stops trying to be a better person. After waiting for him to make the moves on Gwen in the last three books, I felt the tenderness of their romance and it was sweet.
Then, I promptly had my heart ripped out which is exactly what the author intended. These characters are so loyal that they always do what is RIGHT to the hurting each other if it's required. Sigh.
Besides the main characters, Estep has also created secondary characters that you know and love such as Gwen's steadfast friends, her Grandmother, her talking sword, Vic, and a playful wolfpup, Nyx.
Warning: Mature references, fighting scenes
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted January 8, 2013
Wow. Crimson Frost is my favorite book in the series, so far. This novel is action-packed and full of romance and nonstop suspense. I could not put it down! Gwen grew a ton as a character over the arc of this story, and some new characters (and mythological types) were introduced. This is one book that will not disappoint!
Gwen was fantastic in this book. The poor girl can't catch a break, and this time she's facing the death penalty. Thankfully, she was much smarter in this book than she was the last one. She really stood on her own and took care of herself (and everyone else) in this installment. I really like how her character is progressing, and I can't wait to see how much stronger she gets in the next book. Logan was super sweet in this novel. I now love him even more, if that's possible. Daphne, Carson, Oliver, Grandma Frost, Vic, Metis, Nickamedes, and Coach Ajaxx were also great additions to the story, as usual. I also really liked the new characters we got introduced to... even the bad guys. They were interesting. No cookie-cutter characters from Estep, that's for sure.
Crimson Frost was fast-paced, but nothing felt rushed. The plot was extremely intense. The problems started within the first few pages and continued until the end of the novel. Some of the issues were solved during the course of the book, but others got added. It didn't really end on a cliffhanger, but the ending left an opening for Midnight Frost, which comes out in August of 2013 (I can't wait!). I would go into more detail here, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Let me just say that you will not be able to put this book down.
Overall, I'd recommend this series to anyone who loves YA mythology-inspired/supernatural books. For those of you who have already read the previous books in the series, you cannot miss this novel. It's the best one yet. I, personally, can't wait to see what Gwen and co. get into next.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted January 7, 2013
Jennifer Estep's books are some of the best out there. I'm never disappointed in a single word that she writes. Crimson Frost is probably her most emotional roller coaster of this series. And if you are a reader like me, you'll definitely experience everything Gwen has to go through in this one and see how much Gwen has grown. I can't wait for the next and I pray the story will continue on with more books. When you fall in love with a story and its characters its hard to let them go. I'm so not ready. WTG, Jennifer! Keep up the awesomeness!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted December 24, 2012
Really Logan? I understand the situation but come on! TT.TT
This book is a must read, throughtout the story I was on the edge of my seat. Frustration and anger plused through me during most of it but at the ending I was relieved yet sad. Jennifer Estep has done it again. Cant wait for Midnight Frost!!! :)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted December 24, 2012
I Also Recommend:
I spent the first half of this book in utter frustration. I was still a little bit ticked by the end of "Dark Frost" and the new events that Gwen is thrown into in "Crimson Frost," made me seethe. In the midst of her long over due fist date with her Spartan warrior and hero of a boyfriend Logan, Gwen is arrested. The first half of this book reads like a Salem witch trial. The adults and students are basically yelling "witch!" at Gwen and blaming her for Loki's escape.
The charges against Gwen are pretty much the worst charges that can be brought against a member of the Pantheon. She's basically charged with treason and called a Reaper. The students of Mythos and even some of the professors turn against her and she becomes worse than the "gypsy girl," she is now the face of every Reaper who killed a family member or friend of the kids at Mythos. A good chunk of this book is pretty bleak as the threat of execution hangs over Gwen's head.
I really enjoyed the fact that the characters seem to have matured. Daphne, Carson, Oliver and Logan stand beside Gwen through out her trial. They refuse to let the other students attack her and they never doubt her innocence for a moment. Even when it becomes clear that her allies will be placed under suspicion, her gang of warriors stay strong at her side. These kids have been through a lot together and it is great that Estep uses that to her advantage. They're still teenagers and have teenage angst, but they know when to put that aside and they are capable of deciding which battles are worth fighting.
Logan and Gwen finally acknowledge their relationship and are determined to try. There are obstacles, big and strong, thrown at them in this book, but at this point it is clear that these two are meant to be. I really hope that they can get to a place where Logan and Gwen can be constant. They have proven that they will stand together in a crisis; it's time to see them together in every situation. I was glad not to hate Logan at all this book. He's finally decided to become a grown up in his relationship with Gwen. I was relieved to see that his childish behavior did not continue into this installment.
I found the climatic scene in "Dark Frost" to be absolutely ridiculous. I opened "Crimson Frost," expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this book. Loki and the Reapers are finally developing into truly twisted and over zealous villains. The first few books were small time and now we're finally meeting the true forces behind Loki's army. I found the Reaper's plans to be horrifying, horrible and awful. The idea of Loki's transformation is very interesting and if the Reapers succeed it will be catastrophic for Gwen and the good guys. I'm glad that the Reapers have proven to be formidable. In the first three installments, I thought they were lucky, because they had the element of surprise. The pantheon was expecting them and still it's surprising the steps they take and what their goals are.
I am excited to see what else will happen with Gwen. In earlier books we learn that she is destined to kill Loki. Gwen has achieved and survived so much, it still seems impossible that she could be strong enough to defeat the god of chaos. I am really excited to see where this stories leads and experiencing Gwen grow into the killer of gods.
Recommended for fans of Mythos Academy. Everyone else should read the first few books beginning with "Touch of Frost."
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Posted December 18, 2012
Love this series! Can't wait until next week!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted April 12, 2014
Gwen Frost was given the job of taking down Loki. Things got mixed up though when Loki was let go. Everyone thought Gwen did it. She was trying to prove her innocence when more problems arose. Being arrested and held for trial, Gwen wasn't sure what else could go wrong. The students at Mythos made every day difficult for Gwen. Her friends however, stood beside her all the way. Gwen's goal was to find the person who let Loki out. With some help, she knows she can do this.
Fantastic! This book is truly a great fantasy. I love that it includes Gods and Goddesses, as well as other typical fantasy things. I was highly impressed with the Beyond the Story part. It tied everything together and let you know where they were heading. Well written and characters you'll enjoy from the beginning. This is one you need to read.
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it grabs you from page one. Copy given by the author for a fair and honest review.
Posted February 2, 2014
She puts her whole weight on him, holding him down. "BloodClan will be feared." She pulled him to MidSummer Night result 2.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted February 2, 2014
Or fangpaw? So whats this herb? Pushe it toward. They were small and blackWas this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted February 2, 2014
Ok thanks she said and licks his ear and padds away to the camp.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted December 2, 2013
Enjoy the subject matter but the author is much too repetitive in each book segue. Becomes boring to read the same descriptions of characters from book to book. Only giving 3 stars because of this.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted July 18, 2013
Wts for Emma.Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Posted July 8, 2013
Reviewed by Avery, age 9, for City Book Review
I read the last book Dark Frost and was excited when I was sent the fourth book in this series, Crimson Frost. First off, the covers for this series are very cool and definitely make you want to read them. In this book, Gwen is accused of killing a bunch of people, but she is innocent. However, nobody believes her and everyone at school is bullying her. Even her protector, Alexei, is standing around letting it happen. Logan, her Spartan boyfriend, seems to be the only who cares, besides the grumpy librarian, Nickamedes, who wrote the report saying Gwen was innocent.
"'I have a name,' I snapped. 'It's Gwen, Gwen Frost. Obviously, you know it since you announces it to the whole coffee shop.'"
There is so much action in this book with Gwen, Logan, Oliver, and Daphne back in action, using their special gifts to save Gwen from being blamed for something she didn't do. This book was so exciting with constant action and drama that it was hard to stop reading. It's hard to not like Gwen and feel sorry for her at the same time. Finally, anyone who can talk to statues and have them respond back is pretty cool.
This book was provided in exchange for an honest review*
*You can view the original review at City Book Review and Musing With Crayolakym
Posted June 30, 2013
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IBM recently announced theInnov8 Smart SOA™ Challenge. Customers can challenge their Smart SOA skills for a chance to win (what else?) - a smart® car! Smart cars are known for their fuel efficiency and environmental friendliness.
Here's how it works - customer and Business Partner attendees will get one chance to play the Innov8 Smart SOA Challenge. The objective is to answer the greatest number of Smart SOA questions correctly in the shortest amount of time and win a smart fortwo® car. Leader names and scores will be showcased on monitors around the Impact 2008 conference so all can watch the progress of the Smart SOA winner! Rules and restrictions apply, so check the IBM IMPACT website to determine eligiblity to win.
[Read More]


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Progress staff reports
Jacksonville Daily Progress
Funeral services for B. F. Simmons, age 85, of Jacksonville, are scheduled for 11:00 am Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at Autry Funeral Home chapel, Jacksonville with Rev. Charles Nunnally officiating.
Burial will be held at Walker's Chapel Cemetery, Reklaw.
Mr. Simmons passed away Friday, September 21, 2012 in Arlington.
He was born August 31, 1927 in Spur, TX.
Mr. Simmons served in the United States Army during World War II, member of the V.F.W., and was formerly an electrician for the City of Austin.
He is preceded in death by his wife Nora Simmons and daughter Tina Simmons.
Survivors include his daughter Sue Kinderknecht and husband Tom of Ft. Worth; sister Helen Traylor of Ponta; two grandchildren Brian Kinderknecht and wife Karie of San Antonio and Tim Kinderknecht of Austin; and one great grandson William Kinderknecht.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Beckham, Paul Traylor, Steven Traylor, Kenneth Jackson, Richard Holcomb, Robert Holcomb and Glenn Hugghins.
Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 - 7:00 pm Monday, September 24, 2012 at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.


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Tractor Theft
Published February 9th, 2010
It could not have been an easy crime to commit. Eight new Holland tractors still in their crates were stolen on Sunday night. Thieves cut the chain link fence and used a forklift to load them, leaving the tires. In all they made off with more than $100,000 of equipment. Marion County Sheriff's Office said they are looking for two suspects.
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- Scooter Theft Around University of Florida Campus
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- Identity Theft Ring Compromises UF&Shands Patient Records
- Wage Theft Bill Moves Past House Judiciary Panel
- Statewide Wage Theft Bill Fails, Paving the Way for Alachua County's Ordinance


text:
- Home
- Services
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- About Us
- Resources
- Contact Us
Champion AC Service Areas
Below, you'll find a full list of the areas where we offer our services throughout Texas. We want to remind you how important it is that you keep your heating and air conditioning systems fully maintained. You never know what kind of weather you will get here in Texas, and being prepared means never having to deal with the discomfort of a malfunctioning heater or air conditioner.
If something does go wrong, we would be happy to offer our help. We have every service you could need to take advantage of, and all of our services are offered to all of our service areas in Texas. If you haven't had time to see our list of services yet, we're going to offer a small explanation here.
We deal with six core areas, and we offer multiple services for each of them. We handle AC repair, as well as AC tune-ups, AC replacements, heater repair, duct repair, and duct replacement. Our expert and fully-certified staff will handle all of your needs for prices that are lower than you would expect.
We would love to hear from you if you need some A/C repair. A/C units can be finicky machines, and quickly develop problems if they aren't given regular maintenance. If your old air conditioning system is ready to pass on, we can help you find a new one. We can recommend many air conditioner models based on your home and needs, and we can even handle the full air conditioning installation in San Antonio and the other towns we have listed below. You may not realize all the new options that are available for air conditioners, including new advancements in solar air conditioners that can save you a lot of money.
Of course, you don't want to be left cold when the weather turns chilly. That's why we also offer a full range of services to keep your heater and furnace in working order. If you've been seeing someone else for your heating and furnace repair, we encourage you to give us a try. We offer the best heater repair in San Antonio and all of the surrounding areas. If your heater breaks down for good, we also offer heating system replacement. If your heating bills are too high, you may be interested in some newer models that might be more efficient.
We hope you'll consider us when you're deciding on which heating and cooling company to trust in San Antonio.
Champion AC proudly serves the following areas and communities in and around San Antonio:
- Alamo Ranch
- Bandera, TX
- Braun Station
- Boerne, TX
- Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
- Helotes, TX
- Leon Springs, TX
- Medina, TX
- Pipe Creek, TX
North Central:
- Alamo Heights
- Bergheim, TX
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- Canyon Lake, TX
- Churchill Estates
- Deerfield
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- Huntington Place
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- New Braunfels, TX
- Shavano Heights
- Shavano Park
- Spring Branch, TX
- Steubing Ranch
- Stone Oak, TX
- Timberwood Park
- Woods of Shavano
- Cibolo, TX
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- Encino Park
- Garden Ridge, TX
- Redland Oaks
- Green Spring Valley
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- Seguin
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Metal Gear Solid: Rising producer steps down, replacement inbound
Shugenobu Matsyuama has announced his resignation as the producer of Metal Gear Solid: Rising, as he has moved on to another division within Kojipro.
The game isn't without a producer though, as Yuji Korekado has stepped up to the plate.
It isn't clear as to if the whole development team has been switched out, or if it has anything to do with the lack of news from the project, as nothing new has come out of it since it's unveiling at E3 2009.
Stay tuned.


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Use Stimulus Money for Tax Relief
Whether or not it passes, Thune's incentives proposal suggests that recovery has not arrived.
By Peter Roff, Thomas Jefferson Street blog
In the battle of ideas over the best ways to stimulate the still lagging U.S. economy, South Dakota Sen. John Thune is attempting to get to the head of the pack by proposing a series of tax incentives to help small business.
As part of the current Senate debate over the so-called "tax extenders bill," Thune has proposed a series of incentives designed to help small business invest in new capital and hire more workers.
Specifically, Thune is asking the Senate to approve language that would:
• Permanently increase small business expensing, which would lessen the cost of investing and free up money to hire additional workers and to expand operations;
• Add one additional year of bonus depreciation through 2010, allowing businesses of any size to write off more of the cost of new equipment earlier than they otherwise would;
• Eliminate capital gains taxes for small business investment, which would help newly created firms find the capital they need to create jobs;
• Create a 20 percent deduction for small business flow-through income which, he argues, would provide certainty to small business owners and lessens the impact of the tax increases proposed by Democrats by offering a deduction for small business income that is taxed at the individual level.
• Prevent Davis-Bacon from applying to any projects funded by stimulus money, which the Government Accountability Office has determined, for example, is a key impediment to spending weatherization funds under last year's stimulus bill.
To do all this, Thune is calling for the redirection of funds that remain unobligated from the 2009 stimulus package. According to Recovery.gov, only 37 percent of non-tax stimulus funds have been spent to date, Thune says, while the Congressional Budget Office has found that $121 billion (or 21 percent of the appropriated or direct spending) will not have been spent by October of next year.
"Last year's stimulus bill was slow and untargeted; much of the money remains unallocated. My amendment would allow Congress to redirect taxpayer dollars in a more effective manner by targeting them at small businesses with a mixture of short-term incentives and meaningful, permanent tax relief that will provide certainty and incentives to invest and hire. True job creation doesn't happen when the government adds jobs," Thune said. "It grows when small businesses are given the incentives to thrive."
"Small businesses are the economic engines that drive job growth, both in South Dakota and across the country," Thune said when introducing his proposal. "My amendment creates new incentives in the tax code and expands existing ones, making it easier for small businesses to purchase new equipment and hire new workers."
Whether the Senate chooses to go along with Thune's proposal or not, the fact that it has been offered is seen in some quarters as further confirmation that the economic recovery President Barack Obama promised would flow from the stimulus package has not arrived.


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Microsoft training job vacancies London and UK wide
We are currently hiring for a variety of positions. Below is a sample of our current advertisements.
Jump to:
Permanent vacancies
Microsoft Office Trainer – Long term contract - £25-28K+ negotiable - London/M25Best STL are looking for like minded driven individuals to join our industry leading-performance training delivery team. Opportunities are available for delivery of MS Office applications as well as Soft Skills training.
Why join us?
• A unique company culture built on continuous innovation & improvement – a stable growing business despite the economic climate
See our About Us page for more details
• Harmonious team spirit built on trust not micro management.
• Providing best value & quality to satisfied customers (98%+ recommend us) from top performing global companies
• Market leading flexible package: Excellent remuneration with company performance linked bonus, proactive support for professional/ personal development, low travel mileage (yes this is a biggie to a lot of trainers).
The Opportunity
BEST STL has been providing training since 1992 and offers a stable and rewarding opportunity to the right applicants.
As a Microsoft Certified Partner, BEST STL are the UK's market leader in Microsoft Office training and consultancy, including being accredited by the Learning & Performance Institute (LPI, formerly IITT) and the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM).
This position is full-time, long-term and training is located within central London and the M25.
Applicants should have relevant and current experience in the delivery of instructor-led Microsoft Office training.
(Preference will be given to applicants who can also train on MS Project, VBA & Access)
You will have a proven track record in instructor-led training delivery to the corporate market. You will have excellent customer facing, interpersonal and communication skills, along with the ability to work independently, or as part of our market leading team.
What we expect in return:
- To maintain and update your flexible skill set through personal development and accreditation activities.
- Delivery to our leading standard in MS Office and other applications.
- To commit to a regime of continuous development.
- Must be London based
Experience Required:
- Preferred 2 years minimum instructor-led IT, classroom training delivery to corporate clients.
- Experienced in the delivery of the core Microsoft Office products to advanced level.
- Qualifications in any of the following: MCT, TAP, ICTP, MOS, MCAS (or working towards)
- Eligible to live and work in the UK
The following would be beneficial for this role:
- MS Project, Excel VBA, Access VBA, Visio, SharePoint
- Softskills delivery (e.g. Time Management, Project Management, Presentation Skills, etc)
- Previous experience supervising or managing a team
- Excellent customer facing, presentation, interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to share expertise with others
- Patient and tolerant with the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and cope with demanding situations
- A passion for training and acquiring new skills and experience
To apply:
Application is by email only. Please do not phone, fax or write as these will not be considered.
Please send your CV in MS-Word format with covering letter and job title as the subject to work, stating current and expected remuneration.
Strictly no agencies.
Business Development Executive – B2B Training Sales – £60k OTE - London E14Basic £30k, £60 OTE (negotiable) for individuals experienced in MS Office & Management training sales.
Best STL is pleased to announce we are looking for a long term Business Development Executive who has demonstrable experiencing winning new business and developing profitable, robust and strategic relationships within the UK B2B training sector.
BEST STL is London's leader with UK wide delivery of Microsoft Office and management training to global brands, FTSE 100, SME's and the public sector, with well-established clients to its name and proven leading-edge technology in its market. The organisation has built the industry's leading training delivery & logistics team achieving a 98% client satisfaction rate and is now developing a likewise high performing sales team with the industries best incentives, the best remuneration & excellent working environment.
The successful candidate will be selling across a portfolio of Soft Skills, Management Training and Microsoft Applications learning streams. They can expect to work closely with a dynamic and values based team who place a high priority on flexibility, innovation and quality of delivery across all business functions. We will expect the candidate to be a self-starter with a clear go to market vision while also demonstrating an ability to adapt to the Best STL culture and value proposition. The introduction of proven sales approaches and sales cycle management processes would be viewed favourably.
Who we're looking for
The ideal candidate will have the following background:
• Experience of new business acquisition and high level relationship development with large corporates.
• Strong people and relationship management skills and demonstrable experience within the training sector.
• A business development background including a high degree of commercial awareness.
• Strong self-management and pipeline management skills.
• Extensive knowledge of sales strategies and outside the box solution selling.
Working for a market leading organisation with proven credentials, our leadership and management team will offer plenty of training and support.
Interested? If so, you must have outbound sales experience gained within a targeted environment, preferably training, a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel is also key.
To apply:
Application is by email only. Please do not phone, fax or write as these will not be considered.
Please send your CV in MS-Word format with covering letter and job title as the subject to work, stating current and expected remuneration.
Strictly no agencies.
Freelance vacancies
Current Freelance Opportunities as of 1st June 2013
If you are available for any of the following, please e-mail to work with your rate per day and any additional expenses.Delivery will be in London unless otherwise stated.
Working with us:
We are the UK's No1 for MS Office instructor led training and consultancy.
We are always looking for new trainers with a minimum of 2 years experience
in delivery of instructor-led Microsoft training for our associate program.
We pay industry rates and we pay promptly. We have work for single days, multiple
days and contracts for longer periods.
What we expect in return:
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Training jobs
Training vacancies in London and UK wide
We are recruiting a number of Microsoft Office Application Trainers to satisfy demand in our rapidly growing organisation.
We have an unusual philosophy that has allowed our organisation to grow fast in the business training sector. The benefits to you are:-
- Better than average remuneration (typically 15% to 25% higher).
- More time off.
- No micro-management.
- No form filling, needless bureaucracy replaced with trust.
- Committed development of personnel and the organisation.
- Automation wherever possible, removing repetitive tasks.
If you are interested in opportunities at Best STL please e-mail your CV (in MS Word format) in the first instance via work