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Scientist. Inventor. Painter. Sculptor. Architect. Cartographer. Mathematician. Maverick?
Leonardo da Vinci is often referred to as the quintessential example of a Renaissance Man, or someone who excels spectacularly in a range of disparate subject areas. Far from being a dilettante, da Vinci is widely considered to have been a genius, and has left lasting significant contributions in fields such as medicine, art, mathematics, and engineering. Nearly 500 years after his death, da Vinci's creativity, brilliance, and the sheer audacity of his ideas mark him as one of the greatest minds ever known. Contemporary scientists, inventors, and artists regularly cite him as an inspiration, and his relevance still reverberates today.
One of the beauties of learning about da Vinci (and there are many) is that he's a perfect subject for cross-curricular studies. While he's widely studied in art classes, his ideas in engineering, mathematics, and medicine in particular lend themselves to fertile exploration in a variety of subject areas. The resources chose this week focus on different aspects of Leonardo's many legacies.
This week's Joann's Picks column on the Gateway's home page, www.TheGateway.org, focuses on resources to help your students learn about Leonardo da Vinci. Peggy's Corner will discuss online tools and providers that can help you tackle this important subject with your students. Additional resources on the topic will be presented and discussed on the Gateway's Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheGateway.org) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/Gatewaytoskills) pages.
Discussions will also continue on last week's theme of racism on both pages. All of the weekly Gateway columns and resource selections are archived on the following blog site: http://thegatewayto21stcenturyskills.blogspot.com/.
Resources covered in this week's columns include:
Breaking the Codex
Subjects: World history, Science, Language Arts
Grade: 4-6
In this lesson, students learn about Leonardo da Vinci and his legacy. The lesson contains activities in which students create advertisements in honor of one of da Vinci's inventions, and attempt to copy his mirror-handwriting technique. This lesson is part of the Time Warp Trio series produced by WGBH, the flagship PBS station in Boston. These lessons offer concise overviews of historical time periods, and include two activities, curriculum connections and standards, handouts, and recommended books and links. All lessons are linked to national standards.
Leonardo da Vinci Activity: Vitruvian Man
Subject: Algebra
Grade: 6-8
How can we trust a drawing? One of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings is called the Vitruvian Man. It is based on a model of ideal mathematical proportions. In this activity, students will measure each other, chart their data, and test whether their respective arm spans equal their heights. This lesson is offered by The Math Forum at Drexel University, which provides expert math help services, online resources for teaching and learning, and curricular materials.
Theft of the Mona Lisa
Subjects: Art, World history
Grade: 7-12
The theft of the Mona Lisa created a frenzy when it was stolen in 1911. In this lesson, students will investigate the question, "What is an icon?" They will compare their impressions and interpretations of the Mona Lisa to the hypothetical opinions of other people affected by this painting. This lesson is also a natural starting point for a discussion about which images have become, or will become, icons in the future, leading students to investigate the following Life-long Learning Question: What shared understandings does an iconic image communicate? This lesson is a product of PBS Treasures of the World, which highlights the stories behind various masterworks of art and nature.
About The Gateway to 21st Century Skills
The Gateway has been serving teachers continuously since 1996. It is the oldest publicly accessible U.S. repository of educational resources on the Web and the oldest continuously operating service of its kind in the world. The Gateway is sponsored by the National Education Association (NEA) and supported by over 700 quality contributors. The Gateway to 21st Century Skills is the cornerstone of the Global Learning Resource Connection (GLRC) which is a JES & Co. program.
About Joann Wasik- Author of Joann's Picks
Joann is the Metadata Cataloger for The Gateway for 21st Century Skills. Her primary responsibilities for The Gateway include locating and cataloging standards-based K-12 lessons and activities for The Gateway, as well as writing the "Joann's Picks" weekly column. Before joining The Gateway in 2006, Joann had been involved with numerous projects at the Information Institute of Syracuse at Syracuse University, including virtual reference with the Virtual Reference Desk (VRD) project; virtual reference competencies and education with the Digital Reference Education Initiative (DREI) project; and metadata cataloging with the Gateway for Educational Materials (GEM). Her previous experience also includes technology training and positions in academic libraries. She also conducts freelance research for business and educational clients. Joann holds B.A. and M.A.T. degrees in English from Boston College, and an M.L.S. degree from Syracuse University.
About Peggy James- Author of Peggy's Corner
Peggy received her B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from The University of Arizona, and continued on to earn her M.Ed. from the U of A as well. She has taught Physical Science and Chemistry at the high school level. She is working toward her endorsement in Gifted Education, and has been actively involved in coaching and volunteering in Odyssey of the Mind and Academic Decathlon. She has a passion for teaching critical thinking and creativity in the classroom. She has done work evaluating and aligning lesson plans to standards as a curriculum consultant with the National Education Association Health Information Network. She is very excited to help create a collaborative environment for educators to discover new resources that will enhance their teaching!
About the GLRC
The Global Learning Resource Connection (GLRC) is a public-private collaboration which brings to fruition ongoing work between JES & Co., a U.S. 501(c)(3) education research organization, corporate sponsors and education agencies worldwide. Leading the initial corporate involvement are founding worldwide partners Microsoft, Cisco, Cengage/Gale, the National Education Association (NEA), and other leading corporations in process. The GLRC ties together several significant semantic web technologies developed through funding from the National Science Foundation and is designed to support cyber learning. The GLRC supports the implementation of the mapping of major collections of learning resources in systems around the world to the machine-readable expressions of the learning outcomes based on the Achievement Standards Network (ASN) modeling and technical framework. The work will implement the international linking of those resources through trans-jurisdictional mapping of learning outcomes by means of Semantic Web/Linked Data principles for teacher/learner access and use. For more information about the GLRC, contact Terry Smithson at
or visit us www.JESandCo.org.
About JES & Co.
JES & Co., a publicly funded 501(c) (3) education research organization, is a leader in research and deployment of education programs based on open standards. With 20 years of experience in interoperability and portability of educational resources, organizations around the world come to JES & Co. for leadership and guidance on education programs and initiatives. Since its establishment in the early 1990s, JES & Co. has led and managed The Achievement Standards Network (ASN), The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, The Gateway to 21st Century Skills (formerly known as GEM), the Dell Academy, the Intel Student Certification Program, and Microsoft's Partners in Learning. For more information about JES & Co. or the Global Learning Resource Connection, visit www.JESandCo.org.
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The Career Development Center has created a centralized database to house all scholarships, fellowships* and other similar funding opportunities for which SJU students are eligible. Our goal is to make the scholarship database a truly comprehensive, well-organized and widely-used resource for students, specifically through the use of software called SJUcareers. We invite all on our campus community who might be privy to scholarship opportunities – intended either for the specific populations with whom you work or for all students – to consider posting them to SJUcareers using these instructions. All students have SJUcareers accounts, making their access to these opportunities seamless.
Please feel free to contact Melissa McClory, Assistant Director of Career Development (by email at email@example.com or by phone at 610.660.3100), with any questions about the posting process or the larger initiative.
Should you wish to direct students to information about the database, please share this link with them: http://www.sju.edu/studentlife/studentresources/careers/resources/scholarships.html
*Fellowships to be posted on the SJUcareers database are those outside the purview of those handled so capably through the Fellowships Office. For more information, please visit: http://www.sju.edu/academics/resources/fellowships/

subset: commoncrawl


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Terracing helps kenyan farmers' reclaim barren slopy lands
Scientists are working with farmers to help them reclaim sloping land ruined by heavy rainfall, through terracing and planting extra crops that hold the soil in place, in a drive they say repairs soil fertility and ups yields.Terracing is common place in Kenya, but only when it is coupled with the planting of the right trees and shrubs does it raise yields per hectare by between 15 to 40 per cent.
Then, the terracing reduces farming space by 30 per cent per hectare, "but improves productivity", said Dr Barrack Okoba a Soil and Water Management Scientist with Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI).
According to Dr Okoba, the combination of terracing and the right planting prevents nutrients applied through fertilizers or manures from being eroded by heavy rains. The key lies in planting crops like paw paws, Napier grass, bananas and tree crops on the embankments formed after soil is packed downhill or uphill.
As well as providing a root network that holds the terrace embankment together, these extra crops deliver alternative sources of food and income to farmers.
During heavy rains, the nutritive top soil is not eroded on terraces with vegetation that is holding the soil together. The vegetation also replenishes organic matter by creating dead matter like dry leaves or stalks. In semi-arid areas, this dry matter forms a humus mulch and conserves water in the soil.
In Kenya, the three types of terracing that are common are 'fanya juu', 'fanya chini' and bench terracing. In 'fanya juu' as a terrace is dug the soil is thrown uphill to form an embankment. The steeper the slope, the closer the 'fanya juu' terraces, so as to reduce the momentum of the rain or the run off water.
This slowing down of the momentum of the water sees water infiltrating the soil rather than washing off the top soil layer. "The restraining reduces soil erosion," said Dr Okoba.
In 'fanya chini' terracing is done as a single terrace on the top most section of the land. The soil is thrown downhill to form an embankment. The embankment "cuts off external waters from entering the field below," said Dr Okoba. This kind of terracing reduces the water's erosive capacity as it flows onto the fields below, making the flow into a natural water source for crops.
Bench terracing is rare in Kenya, but common in steep regions where tea and coffee are grown. It can result in landslides if it is used on sandy soils or soils with low organic matter, as such soils are loose and unstable.
Farmers can identify when their sloping land needs terracing, if there are gulleys or rills developing and a reduction in the different types of plants growing. "Plants that used to be there are gone," said Dr Okoba, highlighting a key indicator of land degradation and soil in need of regeneration through terracing.
Red soil also indicates depleted soil.
But the ultimate measure is yield; with one study done by Dr Okoba showing maize yields per hectare reduced from 4 tonnes to 0.8 tonnes a hectare in Embu.
Trees, shrubs, grasses Desmodium, Leucaena shrub, Vetiva grass, Acacia Albida, and Grevellia Robusta tree are some of the crops soil scientists are encouraging farmers to plant in the terrace embankments.
Their root networks stabilize terraces and produces dry matter that replenishes the soil's organic matter. They don't compete for resources with other crops and these varieties can also be pruned and sprout back, and help in soil water retention.
Terracing is most suited for high rainfall and semi-arid regions with steep slopes. Regions where terracing has been successful are Muranga, Nyeri, parts of Machakos, Mt Elgon and Kitale.
Written By James Karuga for African Laughter
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2012-2013 Carr Center Fellows |
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Rupert Elderkin is a Fellow with the Carr Center Program on Transitional Justice. Prior to coming for the fellowship, Rupert worked for six years as a lawyer with the Office of the Prosecutor at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. During that time, he was a member of the trial team in the Popovic et al., Tolimir and Mladic cases, investigating and prosecuting Bosnian Serb military and police officials charged with crimes including the killings of over 7,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys and forced removal of over 25,000 civilians from Srebrenica. He gained extensive experience in the application of international criminal law as well spending much of his time working on the continuing investigation of the crimes committed during the 1990s Balkan wars. This investigative work involved liaising with national authorities, locating and accessing sources of documentary evidence, and identifying and interviewing suspects, survivors and other witnesses. Rupert has also worked as a lawyer in private practice in the United Kingdom and in Belgium. As an undergraduate, he studied philosophy, politics and economics at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, then studied law in London. During his fellowship he hopes to focus on areas including: (1) the impact of international criminal trials on states in transition; (2) lessons which may be learned from such trials in order to improve responses to mass atrocities; and (3) improving public understanding of the purpose and challenges of international prosecutions.
Siddharth Kara is a Fellow with the Carr Center Program on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, and also a Fellow on Forced Labor with the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health. Kara is one of the world's foremost experts on contemporary slavery and co-teaches the first human trafficking course at the Harvard Kennedy School. Kara is best known for his award-winning book, "Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery," the first of three books he is writing on the subjects of human trafficking and contemporary slavery. "Sex Trafficking" was named co-winner of the prestigious 2010 Frederick Douglass Award at Yale University for the best non-fiction book on slavery. The Award is generally regarded as the top prize in the field of slavery scholarship, and Kara's is the first book on modern slavery to receive the award. Kara's second book on slavery, "Bonded Labor: Inside the System of Slavery in South Asia" was released in October, 2012. In addition to his books, Kara is also the author of several academic and law journal articles. Kara first encountered the horrors of slavery in a Bosnian refugee camp in 1995. Subsequently, he has traveled to more than twenty-five countries across six continents to research these crimes, interviewing over one thousand former and current slaves of all kinds, witnessing firsthand the sale of humans into slavery, and confronting some of those who trafficked and exploited them. Most of Kara's research has been self-funded, but he has also received research support from charitable foundations such as Humanity United and Google.org. Kara currently advises the United Nations, the U.S. Government, and several other governments on anti-trafficking research, policy and law. Kara is a regular contributor to the CNN Freedom Project, and his ongoing research into slavery and human trafficking around the world has been covered by CNN, the BBC, CNBC, and National Geographic. Previously, Kara was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, then ran his own finance and M&A consulting firm. He holds a Law degree from England, MBA from Columbia University, and BA from Duke University.
Lise Balk King recently received her Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School where she focused on leadership development and social entrepreneurship. She has over twenty years' experience in media and communications, specializing in their applications as tools for political advocacy, education and social change. Her work has spanned the roles of producer, publisher, advocate, consultant, event organizer, writer, editor, filmmaker and photographer. Ms. King's work first focused on using major media and corporate engagement for mainstream advocacy and education, focusing on environmental issues and social justice. After completing work on MTV's first major documentary project, DECADE, which won an Emmy and a Peabody Award, she initiated and co-produced a short series of environmental action pieces for MTV News. Other clients included IBM, the Sociodade Culturale Arte Brasil for NHK Japan, Warner Brothers/ABC TV, ECO (the Earth Communications Office), Friends of Animals International (with NBC), and Body Glove surf gear for a national theatrically-released Earth Day campaign. Lise relocated to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1992, where her focus shifted to indigenous human and civil rights, political and social advocacy, community education and economic development. She transitioned into independent media and grass roots education. She co-founded Native Voice Media, The Native Voice, an independent national Native American newspaper, and The Native Voice Film Festival. The Native Voice is best known nationally for its Get Out The Native Vote work, and was credited by Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) as being instrumental in his successful re-election campaign in 2002. In 2004, The Native Voice created the first national GOTV product specifically created for Native American voters. The Native Voice worked to engage Native voters in policy debates, helped recruit Indians to run for public office, and developed special editions for mass distribution at the 2004 and 2008 elections. Ms. King also served intermittently as traveling press on the Obama presidential campaign. Ms. King has two children, ages 10 and 18, who are enrolled members of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. As a non-native with decades of experience living and working in Indian Country, Ms. King has become known as a "bridge-builder," providing leadership in cross-cultural communication and advocacy. Ms. King has worked on projects for a number of non-profit organizations, tribes, governments and businesses, including the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, South Dakota Alliance for the Mentally Ill's Native American Advocacy Project, Houghton Mifflin Publishing, the Grameen Foundation, the National Indian Gaming Association, the Bureau of Indian Education, the South Dakota Governor's Office, SD Public Television, and the National Congress of American Indians.
Luka Kuol, is a fellow at Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. Luka's research focuses on the challenges of nation and state building of the new state of South Sudan in the context of transitional justice. South Sudan as the newest state is litmus test of how to make use of the wealth of knowledge and experiences in building a viable state that is founded on solid values of social trust and democratic governance. He served as the Co-chair of Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) that provides political and administrative oversight of Abyei area, a contested oil-rich area between South Sudan and Sudan, on behalf of President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan. He is the Executive Director of Kush Inc., a non-profit organization that supports building bridges between the international community and local African initiatives. He served as national minister of Cabinet Affairs of the Government of Sudan and as a minister of Presidential Affairs in the Office of the President of the Government of Southern Sudan. He also worked as a Senior Economist for the World Bank in South Sudan. He received his Doctor of Philosophy from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex in UK. He also earned a Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He is a recognized expert on the affairs of South Sudan and Sudan, conflicts and civil wars, poverty, diversity and constitution making, vulnerability, famine, civil wars, and state building. He has written scholarly articles published in international journals such as the Journal of Eastern African Studies, the Journal of African Affairs, the Journal of Disasters, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Bulletin, the Oxford Journal of Forced Migration, and the Journal of Civil Wars. He contributed with chapters in various books such as New Sudan in Making, Frontiers of Unity and New Famines. He writes regular opinion to the New Nation Newspaper, Sudan Tribune and Al-Masiir Arabic Newspaper in South Sudan.
Sharmila L. Murthy is a joint Fellow in the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation Program at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy and the Sustainability Science Program at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government. Her research focuses on the intersection of human rights, poverty, and the environment. She has written on the relationship between land security and the challenges of realizing the human right to water and sanitation in the slums of Mumbai, India; on the history and meaning of the human right to water and sanitation and its relationship to the controversy over privatization; on the human right to water in the Negev in Israel; on Iraq's constitutional mandate to ensure the just distribution of water; and more broadly on water governance in the Middle East. She also serves as the Lead Investigator for the Water Sector in an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral research project on "Innovation and Access to Technologies for Sustainable Development." Her faculty hosts are Professors Mathias Risse and William Clark. Sharmila received her JD from Harvard Law School, her Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, and Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from Cornell University. She clerked for the Honorable Martha Craig Daughtrey on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She was a Fulbright Scholar in India and the recipient of the New Advocate of the Year award by the Tennessee Alliance of Legal Services. Previously, Sharmila practiced law with a focus on economic, social and cultural rights, first as a Skadden Fellow with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, and then as an associate at Lieff Cabraser Heimann and Bernstein, LLP. She also worked for an environmental consulting firm and in India on public health and microfinance projects. She has served in leadership roles with numerous civic and non-profit organizations, including the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. She is a former Fellow of the Impact Center's Women's Leadership Program. Currently, she serves as the Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the American Constitution Society Boston Lawyer Chapter, and is a member of the Emerging Leaders in Environmental and Energy Policy Network, which is a joint project of the Atlantic Council and the Ecologic Institute.
Michael Semple works on reconciliation in Afghanistan and the Taliban Movement. He combines academic research with participation in the public debate and track two diplomacy. Michael is a leading expert on the Taliban, the Pashtun tribes and Afghan politics. He has worked in Afghanistan since 1989, most recently as Deputy to the EU Special Representative for Afghanistan, and has interacted with leading figures in the succession of Afghan regimes, and the different armed movements which have campaigned against them. He is recognized internationally as a key proponent of political approaches to dealing with the conflict in Afghanistan, including "talking to the Taliban". His experience as development worker, political officer and conflict negotiator give him an unparalleled network into most elements of Afghan and Pakistani society. Michael's understanding of Afghan political history and current Afghan political strategies, combined with an international community insiders perspective and access to politicians on all sides of the debate give him a unique ability to advise on the development of a realistic political strategy for a more stable and prosperous Afghan future.
Michael Semple has been a recipient of the Anna Lindh Research Fellowship
Felisa Tibbitts, is the Founder and Senior Advisor of Human Rights Education Associates (HREA) which she directed from 1999-2010. She is also Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Visiting Professor at the UN University for Peace. Her professional career has been devoted to supporting educational activities that promote a culture of human rights and prevent human rights abuses. Since 1992, she has worked with numerous government and international agencies in developing curriculum and policies that support the integration of human rights into teaching and training. These organizations include the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States and numerous non-governmental organizations, such as Amnesty International. She has engaged in adult trainings in over 20 countries and has published articles, book chapters, and manuals addressing such topics as HRE in schools and the empowerment model of HRE. She received her A.B. from Harvard College, her M.P.P. from the Kennedy School of Government, her Ed.M./Certificate of Advanced Studies from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and her D.Phil from the Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg (Germany).
Leonardo Vivas, is a Fellow the Carr Center and coordinates the Latin America Program. He is a sociologist from Central University in Venezuela, with an M.Phil from University of Sussex, UK, and a Ph.D from Nanterre Université in Paris. He currently teaches Latin American Politics at UMass-Lowell. He founded and for several years has led Latin Roots, an organization devoted to Latino Culture and Education in Massachusetts. Leonardo has been a fellow and associate researcher at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. At Tufts University he taught a course about the Chavez Era in Venezuela. In Venezuela he was Director of Industry in the Development Ministry and founder of several nonprofit organizations. Professor Vivas has published two books about Venezuela's political crises and co-edited another about grass roots management. He writes for the media both in the Boston area and in Venezuela.
Sharon Weinblum is a postdoctoral Fulbright scholar and a Belgian American Education Foundation fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy where she is part of the Program on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery. Sharon's research focuses on Israeli politics and combines different approaches including discourse theory, critical theories of security, and political theory. Her PhD dissertation, The Management of Security and Democracy in Political Discourse: An Analysis of the Competing Discursive Articulations of the Security-Democracy Nexus in the Israeli Parliament, analyzed the competing narratives on the tension between security and democracy in parliamentary debates. Her current work focuses on migrant workers and asylum seekers in Israel. She is particularly interested in the way these groups are articulated in public discourse (including that of political actors, NGOs, the Supreme Court or the media) and in how this affects public policies.
Mark Williams is a Fellow with the Human Right to Water and Sanitation program. He received his J.D. from the University of California at Hastings in 1990. He has practiced law for nearly twenty years internationally and in the United States. Over the past few years, Mark focused his research and travel on understanding solutions for improving global access to clean drinking water and sanitation. He co-authored an article with Professor Barbara Cosens of the University of Idaho College of Law that is entitled Resilience and Water Governance: Adaptive Governance in the Columbia River Basin, submitted for publication in the Ecology and Society Journal. He traveled to Ecuador to study the "rights of nature" and "right to water" constitutional amendments, and to Haiti to learn about small-scale water projects. Mark also attended numerous conferences, including "Implementing the Human Right to Water in the West," held at Willamette College of Law in 2010, the 2011 California Water Law Symposium, and the 2011 American Bar Association Annual Water Law Conference. These experiences inspired a passion for the emerging human rights to water and sanitation and led him to join the Carr Center in 2011 as a Fellow in the Human Right to Water Program.


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CD/LP/Track Review
Nils Wogram Septet: Complete Soul (2012)
Trombonist and composer Nils Wogram is one of Germany's most imaginative and inventive musicians, a player with over 20 albums to his credit as leader or co-leader with a formidable ability to play across a broad spectrum of styles, from small group improvisation to big bands. He works regularly with his Septet, his Nostalgia Trio, and in duos with trombonist Connie Bauer and pianist Simon Nabatovpast collaborators include trumpeter Cuong Vu . Complete Soul is the Nils Wogram Septet's debut recording, although band members such as baritone saxophonist Steffen Schorn have worked with Wogram in the past.
The idea of a "broad spectrum" also applies to the tunes on Complete Soul, from immediately catchy riffs and grooves to freer, more improvisational numbers. The most obvious member of the first category is the title tune, an upbeat and funky number that favors higher-register instruments such as Claudio Puntin 's clarinet and Matthias Schriefl's trumpet, which evoke the atmosphere of a demented and slightly dangerous carnival. "Song For Ahmed" also falls into this categoryWogram switches to melodica and seizes the chance to trade lines with Puntin.
In the second camp are tunes such as the slow, mystical, "Varunaprya" and the brighter, though mysterious, "Zuerihorn." Indeed, while Wogram and his bandmates are fond of using their instruments to mimic laughter or animal sounds and groove-oriented tunes offer plenty of opportunity for dancing along; these tunes often conjure up a more disconcerting atmosphere.
Wogram composed all of the tunes on Complete Soul. The sound mixes his early influenceskey American players such as trombonists Curtis Fuller and Jack Teagardenwith later and more disparate influences such as saxophonist Tim Berne , Radiohead and East European folk music. The results are intriguing and engaging.
Track Listing: Complete Soul; Varunaprya; Karnakangi; Song For Ahmed; Weakness Is Your Friend; Motivation; Zuerihorn; External Wind.
Personnel: Nils Wogram: trombone, melodic; Claudio Puntin: clarinet; Matthias Schriefl: trumpet; Frank Speer: alto saxophone; Tilman Ehrhorn: tenor saxophone; Steffen Schorn: baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; John Schröder drums.
Record Label: Nwog Records
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- Members tours: the program of events for members published in the calendar includes guided tours.


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- The time we take to process an order will vary depending on your order. Customizations / Alterations - If there are any alterations or customizations then it will add to the processing time. On an average the processing time for alterations and blouse stitching is 7-10 days. Processing time for customizations of products will depend on the kind of customization you want. We will notify you via email about the approximate processing time in case of customization.
Shipping time
- The shipping time will depend on the shipping option that you choose.
Standard free shipping
- The standard shipping time is around 8-10 business days.
Expedited shipping
- Express shipping time is around 4-5 business days.
Please note that the express shipping option only expedites the shipping time. The other processing times e.g. alteration time, fall-bidding time, stitching time, etc. will still remain the same. Also sometimes a product might be out of stock and will need some time to recreate. If you have any urgent requirement regarding getting a product before a certain date, then please either contact us before placing the order or notify us immediately after placing the order and let us know the date by which you must have the product and we'll let you know if the prducts can be delivered by that date.
- No deliveries will be made on weekends. We will make sure to get your product to you as soon as possible but in certain unavoidable circumstances, there might be unexpected delays in shipping your product (weather related or customs related issues). In such a case we will keep you informed regarding the status of your order via email.
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Q : How do I know that my order has been dispatched?
We will send an instant e-mail with the information for the shipment of your order as soon as the order is handed over to the shipping company. We will also send the tracking number for the shipment so that customers can track their shipment on their own.
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Q : How do I check the status of my order?
You can check the status of your order by logging into your account on www.aishwaryadesignstudio.com. Click on the 'My Account' tab and then click on 'My Orders'. You will be able to see the status of your order there. Further we will also send you emails as your order status changes.
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Q : Do you deliver world wide?
Yes we deliver worldwide to most countries.
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Q : Can I ship my order to multiple addresses?
We will ship all items of an order to the same address. If you wish to send items to different addresses then we request you to place them in different orders. You can store as many addresses as you want under shipping addresses in your My Account section.
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Q : If I have someone in India can he/she pick up my items on my behalf?
Yes, we have multiple stores in Mumbai and Ahmedabad, India. Please choose the option "Pick-up from store" while checking out. Please send us an e-mail after placing the order with the information on which store you would like to pick-up your order from and name of the person who would be picking up the order. We'll keep you informed on when the order is ready in that store for the pick-up.
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Q : Do I have to pay customs duty at my end?
The VAT, Custom duty, any other taxes, etc. are not included in our ordering process but may be charged to you by your government. Many countries do not charge duty on garments for personal use. Other countries charge a very nominal duty. The international customers are responsible for any customs or duty fees levied by their country.
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Q : Do I have to pay customs duty at my end?
The VAT, Custom duty, any other taxes, etc. are not included in our ordering process but may be charged to you by your government. Many countries do not charge duty on garments for personal use. Other countries charge a very nominal duty. The international customers are responsible for any customs or duty fees levied by their country.
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Exchange and Returns
Q : What is your exchange and return policy?
We will exchange a product only if we have sent you a completely different product from the one that you ordered. We will pay for the shipping charges in this case.
If we ship out a product in the wrong size than the one that is specified in your order then we will exchange it for your correct size. We will pay for shipping charges both ways.
However if it is the same product that you ordered and if you ordered the wrong size then we will exchange the size for you. But in this case you will have to pay for shipping both ways that is shipping it to us and also return shipping.
Products that have been customized or altered will not be exchanged. But many a times we have observed that customer(s) enter wrong measurements and need re-alterations for that perfect fit. Our in-house tailors will be happy to re-alter the outfit(s) once at no extra cost to you. You will only pay re-shipping charges (both ways). If you fall into this situation don't worry, simply call or email us within 5 days of the purchase date and we will make sure that the issue is rectified.
Used or worn products will not be exchanged at all.
There will be no refunds provided in any case, only exchanges.
Please email us within 24 hours of delivery if you want to apply for an exchange
stating the reason for exchange. We will have someone contact you asap.
Do not ship any product back to us without getting a confirmation for exchange from us.
We will email you detailed instructions on how to exchange your product once you receive our exchange confirmation.
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Q : What is eligible for return / exchange?
The following products are eligible for exchange
Completely different product is shipped from Aishwarya than the one that is ordered.
Product shipped from Aishwarya is in a different size than the one that is ordered by the customer.
Product was ordered in a wrong size by the customer. Customer will have to pay for return shipping.
Products must be unused / unworn.
There should be NO alterations and NO customizations done on the product.
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Q : What if I used a promotion code to make my purchase?
Most promotion codes can only be applied once. So you will not be able to apply the same promotion code if you are exchanging the product.
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Q : Can I cancel my order at anytime?
Please note that the orders once placed can't be cancelled. However under some unusual circumstances, we might allow you to cancel your order. Please send us an e-mail with your order number and the reason for the cancellation and we'll get back to you. There will be some cancellation charges (processing fees charged by credit card company, etc) that will apply. Also note that if the order has already been shipped or if the items ordered needed any alterations, then we won't be able to cancel the order.
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Payment Options
Q : What are the different payment options available?
Considering our Buyer and Customer requirements, Aishwarya offers you the widest range of payment options
- Paypal is the leading global online payment company supporting a large number of credit cards, including
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover
. You can also pay with your PayPal balance if you already have a PayPal account.
- Want someone (a friend or a relative) in India to make the payment on behalf of you by visiting one of our many stores in India? Please check-out all of our stores mentioned in the Store Locations Page and then choose the option "Pay-in-store" while checking out. Please send us a separate e-mail with the order number and the store where he/she would be making the payment. Please note that we'll start processing your order only after we receive the full payment.
- EBS is one of the leading Indian Payment gateway which accepts major credit cards such as
VISA, Diner's Club and Master Card
. Apart from that you can also pay by using your debit cards, Itz Cash Card and Internet enabled bank account (Only applicable for Indian banks).
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Q : Can we pay in any other currency besides US Dollars?
No matter from which part of the world (except India) you place an order at www.aishwaryadesignstudio.com, the amount debited from your account will be in your local currency (approximately) equivalent to the US Dollar price of the item ordered. Please note that all currency conversions are estimated and the price that you see will be close to the actual price, but not necessarily the exact price of an item. The final price of an item is the INR value converted from the US$ price displayed on the site and is dependent on the exchange rate prevailing between the US$ and the Indian Rupee. This INR value is what is charged to the client, and is credited to AISHWARYA. Any difference between this amount and the amount on a client's credit card statement is attributed to bank charges/commission for currency conversion. AISHWARYA has no say or control in determining what these charges are and it is understood that the customer will bear these charges (if any).
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Q : Are there any other hidden charges that I should be aware of?
There are no hidden charges. Any extra charges that we charge for example for expedited shipping or blouse/choli stitching will be clearly mentioned before any payments are made.
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Q : Is my credit card information secure?
Aishwarya firmly ensures that our customers are provided with a secure and convenient payment system. To counter identity and other online thefts our payment systems support the use of Secure Socket Layers (SSL) protocol and 128-bit encryption technology. Further we do not share your your personal and credit card information with any third party.
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Q : How do I use my promotion /coupon code?
Add the product that you like to the shopping cart. On the shopping cart page you will get the option to add the coupon code. Please note that if the coupon code is expired it will not work.
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Q : How do I know my payment went through?
A confirmation email will be sent to you as soon as your payment goes through.
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Q : If I have someone in India can he/she make the payment in India on my behalf and can you deliver it to me directly?
Yes we do have the option of your friend or relative in India making a payment to us for the order that you have placed online. Please choose the option "Pay-in-store" while checking out. Please note that we'll start processing your order only after we receive the full payment. We will ship the product to you once the payment has been received by us.
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Measurements / Alterations / Stitching
Q : Will I be charged for alterations?
No. Alterations are provided FREE to our customers for Salwar Kameez, Gowns and Kurtis.
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Q : Where do I submit my measurements for alterations?
In order to submit your measurements you must register on our website. Once you have registered you can log into your account and submit your measurements under the measurements tab in the My Accounts section of the web-site.
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Q : How do I take my body measurements?
Once you log into your account click on the Measurements tab, we have a detailed chart explaining how to take measurements of all the required fields.
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Q : Will my measurements be saved for future reference?
Yes you have the option of saving your measurements for future orders. However if you feel that your measurements might have changed from the last order then we request you to update them to the latest one so that we can provide you with the best fitting outfits.
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Q : Can I save measurements for more than 1 person in my account?
Yes we also have the option of saving measurements for more than 1 person in your account. You can enter different names for different sets of measurements so that you know which measurements are for whom.
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Q : How long will alterations take?
It depends on the amount of alterations/customizations to be done. However typically alterations should be done in 6-8 days. We'll let you know in advance if there are any changes.
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Q : Can I customize the style of blouse or choli?
Yes you have the option of customizing the blouse or choli pattern. You will need to email us in case you want a customized blouse designed and stitched from Aishwarya. Our in-house designers will come up with 3 options for the blouse / choli pattern based on which styles would go best with the saree and blouse piece and you can select the option of your liking.
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Q : How long will it take to stitch a blouse or choli?
Stitching a blouse for your saree or lehenga choli from one of our designers will take about 8-10 days.
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Q : What do I do if the altered / stitched product doesn't fit me?
In the rare case that the altered or stitched product doesn't fit you, we will be happy to redo the alterations / stitching for you. But you will have to pay for shipping the product to us and also return shipping back to you.
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Product related
Q : Can I select a product that I like now and purchase it later?
Yes. You will need to register first on our website and log into your account to be able to add and edit products to your Wishlist. You can add the product to your Wishlist by clicking on the 'Add to Wishlist' button on the product page. You can click on your Wishlist and add the Item to the Shopping Cart once you are ready to purchase the item. You can also share the items from your Wishlist with your friends with the link provided on the Wishlist page.
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Q : Are the matching jewelery and accessories shown in the picture included in the price of the product?
No the jewelry and accessories shown in the images are not included in the price. The price mentioned is only for the garments. However we have started with the jewelery and accessories section so you can buy the matching jewelery separately. We can also help you finding the matching items in case you have any difficulties for the same.
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Q : Is the color and fabric exactly the same as shown in the images?
We firmly believe that all the customers who order online are aware that colors seen on a monitor will be slightly different as compared to the actual outfits. All color options offered on the net is an exercise to provide our customers with the maximum available choice of Aishwarya outfits. It is practically impossible for us to replicate the same colors on an outfit as seen on your monitor. A slight variation in the shade selected by you is considered as a normal practice as these garments have a tendency to reflect different shades of color under different light and medium.
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Q : Would the work (stone, beads, zari, etc) be exactly the same as shown in the images?
The work of the product would be the same as mentioned on the web-site such as Tikki, Moti, Katdana, Zardosi, etc. However the customers must be aware that each and every product that we sell at AISHWARYA is hand made/crafted in the finest traditions of India's textile crafts. Some of the irregularities in the embroidery, print or work are characteristics of the hand-made process and beyond our control.
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Q : What is the length and width of a saree?
We firmly believe that all the customers who order online are aware that colors seen on a monitor will be slightly different as compared to the actual outfits. All color options offered on the net is an exercise to provide our customers with the maximum available choice of Aishwarya outfits. It is practically impossible for us to replicate the same colors on an outfit as seen on your monitor. A slight variation in the shade selected by you is considered as a normal practice as these garments have a tendency to reflect different shades of color under different light and medium.
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Q : What is a petticot? Do you ship it with the saree?
A petticoat is an underskirt that needs to be worn with a saree. We do not sell petticot with the saree right now. However if you want, we can ship a matching petticoat with the saree but for an additional cost.
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Q : What all services will you provide when I buy a saree?
services provided when buying a saree include fall beading and finishing.
Services provided at an
additional cost
- We can stitch a designer blouse and also send a matching petticoat for your saree at an additional cost. The cost for stitching will depend on the pattern of the blouse. The cost of the petticoat will depend on the fabric and size.
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Q : What all services will you provide when I buy a salwar kameez or kurti?
services provided when buying a salwar kameez or kurti include alterations as per your measurements so that you get the best possible fit of your new outfit.
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Q : What all services will you provide when I buy a lehenga choli?
services provided when buying a lehenga choli include alterations as per your measurements in case the lehenga choli is already stitched. Services provided at an
additional cost
- If the lehenga choli is unstitched then we can stitch the lehenga and choli for you at an
additional cost
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Q : Are all the products shown on the web-site available at your physical store locations?
It depends on the product. While we do have most of the items shown on the web-site available at all of our stores; there are certain items which are available only on our web-site and not available in the stores. You can find many other similar items in the stores though.
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Gift cards
Q : What is a gift card?
If you want to get a gift for someone but don't quite know what to choose, you might consider a gift card. It is also called gift certificate or gift voucher. A gift card allows the recipient to do his or her own shopping, getting themselves exactly what they need or want most.
Aishwarya Gift Cards can not only be used on our website but they can also be used at any of our store locations.
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Q. How do I redeem my giftcard?
Add the product that you like to your Shopping Cart. There is an option to Add the Gift Card code on on the Shopping Cart page. Enter the Gift Cart code from your Gift Card and then click on 'Add Gift Card' button. If the Gift Card has sufficient funds then you can purchase the product using only the Gift Card. If there are not enough funds on the Gift Cards then you will have to make part of the payment using Gift Card and other part using any other payment method.
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Q. How do I cancel the purchase of a Gift Card?
Gift Cards once purchased cannot be canceled.
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Q. What exactly does the recipient receive when I send an Gift Card?
The recipient will receive an email informing that he/she has received a Gift Card from you with the amount for the Gift Card and the Gift Card Code. You can also write an optional message to the recipient in the same email.
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Q.When does the Gift Card expire?
The Gift Cards have no expiry date and can be used anytime.
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Q. Are there any fees associated with the Gift Card?
No. You will only be charged the face value of the Gift Card, and we will not impose shipping or any other fees at any time.
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Q. What if I lose my eGift Card?
Email us as soon as possible and we will send you the Gift card code again. However please make sure that you keep the code secured since if it has been stolen and used then we will not be able to reimburse you for it.
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Customer Service
Q : How do we get in touch with you?
We are available at your service via the following ways
- You can email us anytime at firstname.lastname@example.com and we will reply back to you within 24 hours.
- You can call us at our India number at - + 91 99674 66666 and US number at +1 323 315 2595 and UK number at +44 11621 61404.
Live Chat
You can chat with us during normal business hours (11 am to 8:30 PM Indian Standard Time) and our customer service representative would be happy to assist you with all of your queries.
For more information on how to get in touch with us please click
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Mercure Budapest Buda
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Travel Blogs from Budapest
Fairytale castles
16. Budapest.
WOW! What a city! Or should we say two cities? Wonderful historical sites and a fairytale castle on the hill. We had a long day yesterday trying to see as much as possible and finished with a short river trip watching the sun set on the magnificent River Danube, grey not blue, sad to say. The city is busy as we have arrived …
15 Ways to Kill Someone with Skymall
Yesterday I left on a plane for Hungary! You'll all be happy to hear that I've arrived safe and sound and am almost completely unpacked! No missed flights for me today, but I did have one or two minor snags on this trip. 1. I somehow managed to arrive to the airport in only on sock (don't ask...) 2. A child sat behind me and kicked my back for 6 ...
The Spritual Annoyance
... up whether to head along to the famous Budapest hot pools for an evening dip but being a ridiculusly hot day the thought of a relaxing hot bath didn't quite appeal. Instead we headed back to camp via the first electrified rail line in the world.....and by the looks of it the oldest rial carts too!!! Dinner was at the on site bar.....goulash and some spit roasted pork....gold!! Laters ...
Wrapping up
... speed escalators; I got those. But I didn't expect the splendor of imperial courts and 17th century palisades and canals lit up like jewels in the night sky. The tiny part of Russia that we saw was very beautiful. What did not surprise me was the coldness of the place. I searched far and wide for any sign that might distrupt the stereotype that Russians are cold, reserved, xenophobic and abrupt. I found nothing - in spite of wanting to find something so badly. A man gave up ...
Budapest, Hungary.
... of the trees around them.
We arrived at our organised campsite sometime after 3 pm.
It was sited well up in the hills within a wooded area and was a disused tram station from the time of horse drawn trams. It was fairly basic but did have hot water and access to the outside world via the sites free wifi.
I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening ...
Historical Traveler Reviews Mercure Budapest Buda
Mercure Buda Excellent Value
I thought this hotel was excellent. Like the previous reviewer I was on the 8th floor and found the room spot on. The hotel is ideally located for sightseeing and socialising. The staff couldn't have been more helpful and the breakfast plentiful and varied. We paid �37 per night for a double room with breakfast which we thought was outstanding considering we paid �70 for a night at what can only be described as fawlty towers in the shape of the Britainnia Airport hotel at Newcastle Airport. A flashback to the mid 70's.
Fully satisfied!
We stayed there for two nights on Christmas holidays of 2004. Location was very convenient - 3-5 minutes to metro station and walking distance to key sightseeing spots in buda area such as palace, cathedral and old villages.
Regarding to the hotel itself... we stayed at the executive floor (8th fl.) and the room was very clean. The bed was spacious and toilet was just convenient and modern. Breakfast buffet was good (various sausages but not enough vegetables) and the restaurant was clean and neat.
People at the front was ready to help us and fluent in English. They prepared opening schedules of key museums during the Christmas holidays and recommended us some alternative choices - i.e. pub that was popular among local people...
We booked the hotel via Octopus so it was really a value for money. If we could visit Budapest again, we would devinitely stay at this hotel again.
Good value, well placed
We booked this hotel through a low cost airline's affiliated travel company so we were expecting budget accommodation. But for the price we got a very comfortable room which was very clean and exceeded our expectations in terms of facilities. It has a swimming pool, sauna & jacuzzi & the bedrooms have a hairdryer and a minibar but no tea and coffee making facilities or iron/board.
The staff were generally very friendly although the restaurant staff were a little reserved. The hot buffet breakfast was excellent the only criticism being that the tea was a little cold both mornings. The hotel is excellently placed for the metro which is 5 minutes walk. We thought that this hotel was really great value and would use it again.
Mercure buda
I stayed here and found it very good. Location just minutes from Castle Hill and close by tram or metro to everything of interest. Literally a two minute walk to the red line at Deli pu. Breakfast superb, rooms great and warm and clean, pool lovely, staff friendly and helpful, prices excellent. I would recommend it to anyone!! Great value too!
I agree with emiller444. This hotel is a disappointment. The room wasn't clean and has an old aspect. The hotel is far of the center. I will never return there again.
Not so enthusiastic about the Mercure Buda
I was not as impressed with the Mercure Buda as the other reviewers. The hotel was a standard 4* hotel catering to tours. The food (breakfast buffet and dinner) was typical mediocre tour food. The people at the desk were not particularly helpful. I wanted information about walking tours I had found on the internet and they were only interested in selling me a particular company's bus tours. They were neither helpful or pleasant about getting information for me.
The location was inconvenient. Although there is a Metro station close to the hotel, the station is on a seedy street and is dirty, smelly, and filled with homeless people. There is absolutely nothing near the hotel - no restaurants and nowhere to walk around at night. It is in the Buda section, but it is at the bottom and the castle area is at the top - up many, many steps. We did end up using the Metro constantly and ran into no problems although we were not happy to be back at the station near the hotel at night.
I am making the hotel sound worse than it was - the hotel itself was pleasant enough. Part of our stay there was with a tour. If I were to make arrangements on my own, I would choose a hotel down on the River.
Great hotel for the money
Very warm, clean, nicely decorated hotel with an inviting bar and very lavish breakfast spread. I thought the hotel staff was nice but clueless. This is a hotel that accommodates many large tour groups - any request we had about the noise level of the 50 teens staying on our floor went unanswered and simple questions about taxis, the bill, etc. were above their heads. English was a problem. Something else to consider is the location: it is walking distance to the castle district but it's approx 300 steps up. You need to take the subway to get to pest - only a 5 minute ride though but public transportation stops at 11 pm. If you'd rather save the money and stay a bit out of the way then this is a very good choice. BTW, we booked on octopus and got great rates.
Enjoyed our stay!
My boyfriend and I went to Central Europe this past summer and our first stop was Budapest. We stayed at the Mercure Buda for 3 nights.
When in Budapest, there is the Buda side(more historical, and hilly) and there is the Pest side(more of the modern part of Budapest and flat). I prefer to stay on the Buda side, and this hotel is very close to the historical centers like Castle District. It is also a 2-5 minute walk to the train station and a tram stop that takes you around the city. The transportation system here is great!! We really loved the breakfast selection, and the fruits that was served was really good!
Beautiful city and nice hotel to stay in! Would love to visit this city again!
My boyfriend and I really enjoyed our four night stay. There is a really buzz about the hotel. It is very central- just a few minutes stroll to the castle district. The bedrooms are very well appointed, the reception staff are very accomodating and efficient. There is a great choice of foods at breakfast and the hotel bar is open until late. The exterior of the hotel belies the warmth and quality of the interior. The only criticism we have is that we could smell an odour of cigarette smoke in our room.
Excellent in every measure
the mercure buda is excellent! very clean. excellent service. superb wide ranging breakfast buffet included in rate - $51 USD nov. '03 single room from octopustravel.com. great views of castle district from east facing rooms. one block from metro - 5 mins to city center on metro.


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Hit or Miss: Nike Basketball Christmas
Category: Nike Basketball, Nike Shoes, Sneakerhead News
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Kobe – Hit, just half size but they fit ok.
Brons – Hit last pair.
KD – Layaway, because the X "Prism" are priority in my LIFE!!!
Miss me with the entire pack.
Honestly had no idea they were dropping, probably would have stayed in Houston another day for the Kobe's. The KD's are nice but that LeBron X (I just earled all over the keyboard, they are just as ugly as every other colorway I have seen minus the corks)
Kobes look the best imo. not feelin the other two at all. too much red for bron and too much of whatever is goin on with KDs shoes.


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FREE Shipping On All Domestic Orders With Coupon "shipfree"
$35 Flat-Rate International Shipping. Contact Us For Overnight Options
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Regular Price: $139.00
Sale Price: $98.00
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Julie Park is an off-shoot of ParkVogel. The ParkVogel design label prides itself on creating the perfect essential items to any wardrobe. Using organic cotton and luxury materials these are pieces you would throw into a suitcase if you only had minutes to pack.


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President and Chief Technical Officer
Leon acts as lead developer and supervises the programming team. Prior to founding Singlebrook, Leon worked in many areas of network, computer, and web software development. Leon is a graduate of Cornell University where he received an Engineering B.S., Magna Cum Laude. When not programming, Leon enjoys spending time with his children and playing guitar.
Web Developer
Jared has a B.S. in Computer Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In his free time, Jared enjoys sailing and exploring the Adirondacks in his home-made canoe.
Technology specialties include: Designing normalized databases with relational integrity, SQL query optimization, object-oriented programming, automated testing, gathering complex functional requirements into concise user stories, and agile project management.
Director of Services
CK is committed to ensuring that Singlebrook projects are successful. She assists as you interact with the development team and will watch over your budget and timeline from kickoff through conclusion of the project. CK comes from the entertainment industry where she has experience managing large-scale global IT projects. She has a degree in Computer Information Systems and has received her MBA from California State University. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, cooking, and exploring Ithaca with her husband.
Web Developer
Isaiah cofounded a text-based MMORPG at the age of fourteen. This started him on the path to becoming a web developer. Beginning with PHP and MySQL, he journeyed through HTML, CSS, Javascript, and jQuery. He loves learning new languages, as well as improving on languages he knows. Outside of his work with web programming, he enjoys trying new foods and playing games with his family.
Technology specialties include: Javascript, jQuery, Ruby on Rails, PHP, and ColdFusion
Developer and VP of People
Aaron brings a passion for both programming and mindful living to his role at Singlebrook, where he splits his time between product development (coding) and people development (team building). In addition to 10 years of experience developing for the web, Aaron taught a course on discovering and building a meaningful life at Columbia College in Chicago for 3 years. He's an intrepid explorer into the realms of positive psychology, and brings that perspective to his internal support of both technical and personal growth. Aaron lives with his wife and two sons at Ecovillage at Ithaca, and in addition to spending time with his family, loves biking, yoga and meditation.
Technology specialties include: Drupal, Flash/Actionscript, PHP, Zend Framework, P2P Services, Rails and Mobile/Responsive Development
Web Designer
Brian is the designer for Singlebrook. For the past nine years he has created a variety of visual materials across multiple mediums such as print, web, photo and video. In his spare time you can catch him running, cycling or rock climbing.
Technology specialities include: Responsive design, UI Design, HTML5/CSS3, Wordpress.
Drupal Programmer
Jeff has been developing for the web since 1996, focusing on Drupal in the last four years. He likes working with a talented team, finding simple solutions to complicated problems, and open-source software. He's worked on projects for the Museum of Science in Boston, the Nature Conservancy, and Cornell University Plantations and Vet School. He is kept very busy these days with his three children, and in a past life, he rode his bicycle very far (and met his wife!) and was a disc jockey for a rock station in Hartford, CT.
Technology specialties include: PHP, Drupal, HTML/CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery, SQL