text:
» print this page
Vietnam Getaway
Print Version
Last Modified: 24 Sep 2012
Vietnam Getaway
Trip code: TVAZ-B
Validity: 01 Jan 2011 to 31 Dec 2012
Get set for an adventure in the heart of Vietnam. The centre of the country boasts several World Heritage sites including the charming old world town of Hoi An as well as the ancient citadel and emperor tombs of Hue. Packed with inclusions, this all-encompassing trip covers the highlights in style and promises to be a fascinating Vietnam getaway.
Table of Contents
Important notes
Emergency contact
Group size
Emergency funds
Your fellow travellers
Single travellers
Issues on your trip
We also recommend
What to take
Itinerary disclaimer
Meals introduction
Culture shock rating
Physical rating
Travel insurance
Included activities
Group leader
Responsible Travel
Optional activities
Joining point
A couple of rules
Money Exchange
Joining point instructions
The Intrepid Foundation
Spending money
Arrival complications
Responsible Travel projects
Finish point
Carbon offset
Departure tax
Finish point instructions
Basix, Comfort, Original
The best value journeys on the planet! On a Basix trip you can expect amazing experiences, but none of the inclusions that you may not want. Which means budget (1-2 star) accommodation, plenty of free time, activities that are optional and the freedom to choose meals to suit your budget. On some trips you may be camping and required to set up your own tent. You'll also have access to a group leader to offer advice and help you uncover the region's hidden gems. On a Basix journey, the way you travel is all a part of the adventure. Depending on the destination and the itinerary, you could find yourself travelling on anything from a donkey to a bus or a private safari vehicle. These trips are ideal for first-time travellers seeking fun and independence with the support of a group leader. They're also ideal for independent travellers looking to make the most of their travel time with minimum hassle and maximum experiences.
Comfort is your style of travel if you want the whole grassroots experience with more inclusions, meals and creature comforts. While accommodation is predominantly tourist class (3-4 star), on some itineraries there is the opportunity to stay with a local family, spend the night on a train or camp out in exotic places (without putting up your own tent of course). Along the way, you'll really experience the destination up close. You'll mingle with locals, enjoy a taste of their way of life and gain special insights from your leader. This is not luxury travel, but real world experiences - just with a softer landing!
Original trips are classic Intrepid adventures. With a mix of included activities and free time, they offer plenty of opportunities to explore at your own pace and take part in activities that really get beneath the skin of a destination. While the occasional meal may be included, you'll have the freedom to seek out your own culinary adventures. Accommodation is generally budget or tourist class (2-3 star), but you're as likely to find yourself as a guest of a local family as staying in a hotel or camping. Transport will vary as well. Depending on the destination and the itinerary you could find yourself travelling on anything from a camel to a train or a private safari vehicle. It's all part of the adventure! Original travellers have a desire to make the most of their travel time and really get to know a place, its people and cultures.
Short Breaks
Day 1 Hue Citadel/Rural Tour
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam.
You will be picked up from your centrally located hotel in Hue between 8.00-8.30am.
A welcome pack containing a welcome letter, your trip itinerary, relevant tickets, a feedback card and general information on the country will be waiting for you at your hotel. Please ask your hotel's receptionist for the Intrepid welcome pack upon arrival.
Packed with temples, tombs, palaces and pagodas, Hue is the gateway to the treasures of Vietnam's royal past and a must-stop on any itinerary.
Start the day with a tour of the colourful Dong Ba market, which will energize the senses with its sights, sounds and smells. This is the ideal place to soak up everyday Vietnamese life, and your local guide will show you some of the traditional foods and introduce you to the local vendors. With full tummies, head out into the streets and wander over to the Citadel. It's within these 2m-thick and 10km-long walls that you'll find several of the city's best sights, from the many ornate pagodas to the Forbidden Purple City.
Stop for lunch in a local nunnery. Enjoy a traditional meal and grab the chance to chat with the nuns to learn more about Buddhism and gain an insight into their daily lives.
After lunch, take a short bus ride through the stunning surrounds, passing rice paddies and small towns, before arriving at a village that specialises in making incense. Learn all about this ancient art before continuing on to one of the impressive emperor's tombs.
Pay a visit to Bao Quoc Pagoda, a sprawling temple complex perched on a hill overlooking the Perfume River. After admiring its seven tiers head to Tiger Arena where duels between elephants and tigers were arranged for the entertainment of the Emperor right up until 1904.
After a day taking in the many sights, end with a relaxing afternoon cruise along the Perfume River. Take in the magic of this meandering river before returning to the centre of the city.
Included Activities
Hue - Imperial citadel
Hue - Royal tomb
Hue - Nunnery Lunch
Hue - Perfume River boat ride
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 2 Hue/Tam Giang Lagoon
Escape the hustle of Hue on a journey to Quang Dien, a peaceful village known for its beautiful architecture, stunning surrounds and friendly locals. Take a bus out to the village, winding through quaint towns and passing the majestic Tam Giang Lagoon en route.
On arrival, jump onboard a bike to get acquainted with the town, stopping to explore a traditional old house and to chat with the locals. Call at the village school to meet the kids (dependant on class scheduling) before heading to the vegetable field to learn about the crops that are fundamental to the local community. Meet one of the farmers to learn about the important role agriculture and sustainability play in this society.
Roll up your sleeves to lend a hand with the garden tasks, from watering the vegetables to helping harvest crops. Head to a local family's home to enjoy a traditional lunch of seafood, vegetables and herbs, all purchased from the village market or sourced from the landlady's own garden.
Enjoy this shared meal, then walk it off with a stroll through town or simply relax at the house. Fully refreshed it's time to hit the water with a sampan cruise on Tam Giang Lagoon. Stop at a fish and prawn farm and help the fishermen haul up their catch ready to sell at market. Get a lesson in how to throw a fish net, then try your luck to catch a fish in the lagoon.
After a day of farming and fishing, spend the afternoon relaxing on the shores of the Quang Dien Wild beach, which is known for its white sand and clear waters. This quiet spot is situated well away from the crowds, and is the perfect place to relax and unwind. If the water proves to be chilly, head inland to the hot springs near Thuan An beach.
Either way, you're guaranteed to end your day relaxed after experiencing life in the Vietnamese countryside. Drag yourself away from the warm waters for the journey back to Hue.
Included Activities
Hue - Tam Giang tour & Sampan
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 3 Hoi An Walking Tour/Cooking Class
Travelling by bus, head south through coastal rice paddies before traversing the spectacularly mountainous Hai Van Pass. After a brief visit to the beautiful China Beach, arrive at Hoi An (approx. 4 hours).
Discover the history and flavours of Vietnam during a walking and cooking tour of Hoi An. This is a place oozing with charm and, having largely escaped the destruction of successive wars, its streets and architecture are a delight to explore. After being picked up head straight for the Old Town ready to explore its ancient streets.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage site the Old Town is packed with buildings of historical and cultural significance and boasts a number of streets that are off-limits to cars. Stroll past the many Chinese Assembly Halls - from the Cantonese Chinese Congregation with its impressive main altar to the Hainan Chinese Congregation which serves as a memorial to 107 merchants from Hainan Island who were mistaken for pirates and killed during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc. Stop by the Japanese Covered Bridge which was constructed in the 1590s by the town's Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream.
At the end of the walking tour head to a family run restaurant for a cooking class. The chef will run through the range of delicious dishes that you will recreate, then it's time to hit the local market to stock up on all the fresh produce needed to create the feast. Learn how to choose the best supplies and discover some of the less-familiar ingredients, then head back to the restaurant ready to cook.
Pick up recipes that are sure to wow your family and friends and discover the tricks to making some of the legendary Vietnamese dishes at home. End the day by sitting down to feast on all the delicious dishes you've created.
Included Activities
Hoi An - Ancient town walking tour
Hoi An - Cooking class
Hotel (1 nt)
Day 4 Hoi An Countryside Bike Ride/Boat Trip
Spend a free morning visiting the Hoi An tailors, or explore other parts of the town.
This afternoon our adventure continues taking to the streets and the waterways on a unique boat and bike tour, weaving through the back streets to reach the country lanes that lie outside Hoi An's borders.
Follow country lane-ways to reach some of the villages that are dotted throughout the region, stopping to talk to the locals and learn more about life in this part of Vietnam. Pass emerald rice paddies, snaking waterways and plenty of waving children as you discover some of the beautiful landscapes found in this region.
Follow your guide to the banks of the Thu Bon River to take to the waterways for a different perspective on the surrounding landscape. Cruise the river, heading out to one of the small islands where a barbecue feast awaits. Watch the sun set over the river and the bobbing fishing boats while feasting on local specialities.
Jump back in the boat and catch the last of the sun's rays as they disappear behind the rice paddies before heading back to Hoi An. Watch the twinkling lights of the city appear as you approach the dock, before heading through the bustling waterfront crowds to head back into town.
Your trip finishes at approximately 6.30pm. No accommodation is included tonight.
Included Activities
Hoi An - Countryside bike & boat tour
Hoi An - Thu Bon river boat trip
Hoi An - BBQ dinner
We also recommend
If this trip is not quite right for you, cast your eye over these alternatives:
Itinerary disclaimer
Occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research. The information given in this itinerary may be slightly different to that in the brochure. It's very important that you print and review a final copy of your Trip Notes a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans. For the latest updated Trip Notes please visit our website: www.intrepidtravel.com
Please note that while we operate successful trips in this region throughout the year, some changes may occur in our itineraries due to inclement weather and common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route.
Culture shock rating
Expect some culture shock. You'll be exposed to signs of poverty and access to services may be sporadic. The food will be quite different to home and English speakers harder to find. Respecting the local culture will make it easier to fit in and really experience the location.
Physical rating
Some easy physical activities included in your trip. No physical preparation is required to make the most of the journey.
Included activities
Included activities are listed in the day-to-day itinerary, all other activities are optional and at your own expense. If you choose not to participate in the included activities on this itinerary, the cost will not be refunded.
Optional activities
A selection of optional activities are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only. Prices are for entrance only and don't include transport costs to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination. Optional activities aren't necessarily endorsed or recommended by Intrepid nor included in price of this trip. If you do any optional activities, you do so at your own risk and it must be clearly understood that your participation is your own decision and doesn't form part of your contract with Intrepid. You may be required to sign/complete a waiver form or a receipt for some optional activities.
Money Exchange
The official currency of Vietnam is Dong (VND).
The most convenient and cheapest way to obtain local currency in is via an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). ATMs are now available in most towns and visa cash advances are available in major banks. Foreign currency notes that are old, torn or faded can be very difficult to exchange, clean bills in small denominations are most useful. Traveller's cheques can be difficult to change. The use of credit cards is restricted, mainly to major hotels.
It's not possible to exchange Vietnamese Dong outside the country, so convert or spend all your Dong before leaving.
Spending money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, participating in optional activities, and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
If you're happy with the services provided a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid destinations. Although can be difficult to source we advise you to carry small notes of local currency each day to make tipping easier.
The following amounts are per person suggestions based on local considerations and feedback from our past travellers:
Restaurants: Local markets and basic restaurants - round your bill up to the nearest US$1. More up-market restaurants we suggest 10% to 15% of your bill.
Local guides: We suggest US$2-3 per day for local guides.
Drivers: You may have a range of drivers on your trip. Some may be with you for a short journey while others may be with you for several days. We would suggest a higher tip for those more involved with the group, however we suggest US$1-2 per day for drivers.
In total, we recommend you budget approx US$5-10 per day of your trip to cover tipping.
Departure tax
All departure taxes should be included in your international flight ticket.
Important notes
Tet is Vietnam's New Year festival, held annually in late January or early February based on the lunar calendar. While this can be a fascinating time to travel and experience this event, expect some shop closures and busier than usual local transport. Opening hours at some tourist sites may also be affected or closed. Although we make all reasonable efforts to avoid disruption, a flexible approach from the traveller is appreciated.
During the rainy months (approx. June to October), our mode of transport can be changed at short notice due to weather conditions.
Group size
Maximum of 12 travellers per group.
Your fellow travellers
As you travel on a group trip you will be exposed to all the pleasures and maybe some of the frustrations of travelling in a group. Your fellow travellers will probably come from all corners of the world and likely a range of age groups too. We ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience. Remember too that you have responsibilities to the group. If you are requested to be at a place at a certain time, ensure that you don't keep the rest of the group waiting. We have found time and time again that the very best trips we operate are those where the dynamics within the group work well - this takes just a little effort on your part.
Due to privacy reasons we are unable to provide you with contact details and any personal information about your fellow travellers booked on your trip prior to departure. However you can download Intrepid's FREE Meet Up app to chat with your fellow travellers before your trip. Meet up, discuss your upcoming trip and share the excitement of planning for your adventure. For more information visit:
Single travellers
On some trips accommodation is available only on a shared basis with other travellers, who might not necessarily be Intrepid travellers. Arrangements vary depending on the trip from twin to multishare, so refer to the daily itinerary for more details on your accommodation. In some situations you may have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure you have your own room.
Hotel (3 nts)
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in your selected accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for your arrival, especially if you're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible, which means you won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, you can store your luggage and explore the new destination.
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
Meals introduction
While travelling with us you'll have the opportunity to experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. On our camping trips we often cook the region's specialities so you don't miss out. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility.
3 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Please budget for additional meals and expenses while on your trip. Our suggestion is based on past traveller feedback but you may choose to spend more or less.
Private minibus, Bicycle, Boat
Group leader
This Short Break Adventure is a 'join in' group departure, which means you are not accompanied by an Intrepid group leader - our local representative fills this role - and the configuration of any fellow travellers in the group might change during the trip.
The aim of our local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. On this style of trip you might have one person stay with you for the entire journey, or you might get to enjoy the variety of having someone different for each day and/or activity. They will all be to provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and, where possible, introduce you to our local friends. While some may not be guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.
Joining point
Your Hue Hotel
Multiple pick-up points
Joining point instructions
Please advise the name and contact telephone number of your centrally located hotel in Hue at the time of booking. If you do not advise your hotel details, we are unable to pick you up to commence this tour. Should you need to contact our office for any changes, please call +84 904 193 308.
Available pre trip accommodation in Hue:
Basix style hotel: Ideal Hotel, 1 Vo Thi Sau street. Tel +84 54 382 5555
Original style hotel: Hue Queen Hotel, 29 Tran Quang Khai street. Tel +8454 3828 444
Comfort style hotel: Saigon Morin Hotel, 30 Le Loi street. Tel +8454 3823 526
As of Jan 1 2013 the starting points & available pre & post trip accommodation in Hue will be as follows:
Victory Hotel Hue
8 Nguyen Huu Tho Street
+84 5 4381 7338
Gold 1 Hotel
28 Ba Trieu Street
+84 5 4381 4815
Romance Hotel
16 Nguyen Thai Hoc
+84 5 4389 8888
Arrival complications
We don't expect any problems (and nor should you) but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please refer to the Joining Instructions section above for who to contact.
If you have pre-booked an airport transfer (where available) and have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the starting point hotel, again following the Joining Instructions in these trip notes. Should this occur, please apply to your travel agent for a refund of the transfer cost on your return.
No refund is available on missed transfers or portions of your trip owing to a different flight arrival or delayed flight arrival. Any additional cost incurred in order to meet up with your group is at your own expense.
Finish point
Your Hoi An Hotel
Multiple drop off points
Hoi An
Finish point instructions
Your trip will conclude at your centrally located hotel.
Available post trip accommodation in Hoi An:
Basix style hotel: Hai Au Hotel, 24B Cua Dai road. Tel + 84510 3914577
Original style hotel: Thuy Duong 3 Hotel, 92 Ba Trieu street. Tel +84510 3916 565
Comfort style hotel: Life Resort, 1 Pham Hong Thai street. Tel +84510 3914 565
As of Jan 1 2013 the ending points & available post trip accommodation in Hoi An will be as follows:
Hai Yen Hotel
22A Cua Dai Street
+84 5 1038 62445
Phu Thinh 2 Hotel
488 Cua Dai Street
+84 5 1039 23923
Thuy Duong 3 Hotel
92 - 94, Ba Trieu Street
+84 5 1039 16565
Emergency contact
In the case of a genuine crisis or emergency, Intrepid's Vietnam Office can be reached on Tel: +84 903 117 770. For all other enquiries please contact our Reservations department which is open 24 hours, 6 days per week (excluding Sunday). For further contact details please use the following page:
Emergency funds
Please also make sure you have access to an additional US$400, to be used when unforeseen incidents or circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster, civil unrest or an outbreak of bird flu) necessitate a change to our planned route.
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. As a general rule most countries expect that you will have at least 6 months' validity on your passport. On arrival visitors may be asked to present return tickets and evidence of means to cover your intended stay.
We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change - it's important that you check for yourself. Residents from other countries must consult the relevant embassies or your travel agent.
Australia: Yes - in advance
Belgium: Yes - in advance
Canada: Yes - in advance
Germany Yes - in advance
Ireland: Yes - in advance
Netherlands: Yes - in advance
New Zealand: Yes - in advance
South Africa: Yes - in advance
Switzerland: Yes - in advance
United Kingdom: Yes - in advance
USA: Yes - in advance
When obtaining your visa you should allow 3 weeks for processing, the cost is approximately US$60 to US$100. Check with your embassy or consulate for further details. Some nationalities are exempt from requiring a visa if their stay is less than 15 days, but if you are planning on staying in Vietnam for longer than 15 days you will need to obtain a visa extension in advance.
Keep the customs and immigration form you receive on arrival, as you need it to complete exit formalities on departure.
If your visa application asks for a point of contact, please write: Intrepid Vietnam 57A Nguyen Khac Hieu St, Hanoi, Vietnam Ph +84 4 3715 0996.
Issues on your trip
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or our local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader/local partner may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the leader to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. But we do ask you to be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is complete.
What to take
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg / 22lb.
Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.
You can find Intrepid's Ultimate Packing List on our website. It should be used as a guide only and isn't intended to be a complete packing list.
Go to Intrepid's Ultimate Packing List
Consider bringing your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion ends up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments. Although it can be difficult to avoid bottled water when travelling, please consider water purification techniques such as iodine or micropur and use the water dispensers which are provided at some of our accommodation. When unable to avoid bottled water it is better to buy the largest available and distribute into your smaller bottle for the day
All Intrepid travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please note that if, in the opinion of our group leader or local guide, any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, Intrepid reserves the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations and anti-malarial requirements before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a spare pair of glasses) as they may not easily be obtained at the locations on this trip. For legal reasons our leaders and guides are prohibited from administering any type of drugs including headache tablets and antibiotics. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
Rare instances of dengue fever have been reported in this region. This virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. There is no vaccination against it, but there are preventative measures that you can take such as wearing long clothing and always using repellent. Please note that this mosquito is most active during daylight hours however care should be taken at all times.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trip.
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
In addition to any included activities on your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. Our local representative may be able to assist you with available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that our local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns.
For more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect on your trip, please refer to Intrepid's operational safety policy on our website. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how well it's being implemented in the field:
Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
Some hotel balconies don't meet UK standards in terms of the width of the balcony fence being narrower than 10cm.
Depending on where you come from please note that drivers in this part of the world may drive on the opposite side of the road from what you are used to. Look both ways before crossing any road. Traffic can be a little more chaotic than you might be used to at home. Be aware!
Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in the western world or from your home country and not all the transport which we use provides seat belts.
While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing.
While life jackets are generally available on water craft, there may be occasions where they are not provided and child size life jackets are not always readily available. If travelling with children and this safety issue concerns you we will be able to advise alternative methods of transport (where available) for you to travel to the next destination. You can choose to travel independently for this leg of the journey. This would be at your own expense.
Please take care when taking part in any activities in the ocean, river or open water, where waves and currents can be unpredictable. It's expected that anyone taking part in water activities is able to swim and have experience in open water. All swimmers should seek local advice before entering the water.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
When travelling on a trip, you won't be permitted to join the trip until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by our local representative.
If you have credit card insurance our local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact telephone number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
Please go to our website for links to various travel insurance providers:
Responsible Travel
We believe strongly in low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means that we try to minimise the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects. Please visit our website for further details and suggestions on how you can be a responsible traveller:
When packing be aware that dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate. In many rural areas in Asia women will need to wear modest clothing even to swim. Singlets, tank tops and topless sun bathing are all unacceptable. When visiting religious sites men often need to wear long trousers and women a long skirt or sarong.
A couple of rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on our trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land, but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Intrepid travellers. Intrepid's philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter and in particular, the local people who make our destinations such special places. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our local representative has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they use prostitutes.
The Intrepid Foundation
Since Intrepid Travel commenced operating in 1989 we've been committed to giving something back to the communities we visit. One way has been through our support for local humanitarian, development and conservation projects. Many of our travellers want to contribute something too. Whilst it is often tempting to give hand-outs to those less fortunate, this has the potential to promote a culture of begging and dependency. Handouts are not a sustainable way for individuals or communities to live. That's why we established The Intrepid Foundation – to make it easier for travellers wishing to give back to communities in an effective and meaningful way.
The Intrepid Foundation is a not-for-profit fund offering a selection of excellent grassroots organisations which you can contribute to. All donations to The Intrepid Foundation will be matched by Intrepid Travel dollar for dollar (up to AU$5,000 per donor and a total of AU$400,000 for all donors in each financial year). And every cent gets there as Intrepid Travel pays for all the administration costs. Donating is simple and secure. Please ask your group leader for information on the projects we support through The Intrepid Foundation or go to our website:
Responsible Travel projects
Organisations and projects currently supported by The Intrepid Foundation in Vietnam include:
* The Blue Dragon Children's Foundation works in northern and central Vietnam with the most vulnerable children: street kids, children with disabilities, the rural poor and victims of trafficking. Their main aim is to help kids go to school or receive vocational training in an effort to help them find their way out of poverty.
* Children's Hope in Action (CHIA) provides vital health and disability programs and educational services to vulnerable families in Hoi An and surrounding rural areas. CHIA's holistic Special Education program facilitates the social, physical and intellectual development of children who have motor disabilities and little, or no intellectual impairment.
* Cuc Phuong National Park's conservation programs - we're currently supporting the Turtle Conservation Centre (TCC), which has specialised breeding and holding facilities for more than 600 turtles representing around 15 of Vietnam's 23 native species. In addition to providing educational activities and raising public awareness, a major focus of the TCC's work involves training of wildlife protection officers.
* The KOTO Saigon Training Centre provides training in life skills and hospitality to former street children. Trainees at the Saigon centre will go on to work at KOTO's restaurant in the city (to open in 2011). Travellers may also visit the KOTO restaurant in Hanoi, which also provides training opportunities for disadvantaged youth and great food.
Intrepid Travel also supports the following non-profit organisation:
* The Nguyen Nga Centre (in Quy Nhon City) offers education, training and work placement assistance for disadvantaged people and people with disabilities. Intrepid Vietnam purchases embroidered 'say no to plastic' cloth shopping bags for our travellers and the income to the centre helps to pay their rent.
Carbon offset
Carbon Offset C02-e 40.00 kgs per pax.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! This is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next trip if your feedback is completed online within 4 weeks of finishing your trip.
Leave your feedback here - www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback
Welcome to Intrepid.
Select your country of residence.
Aland Islands
American Samoa
Antigua And Barbuda
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Bouvet Island
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Congo, Democratic Republic Of The
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote D'ivoire
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Heard Island And McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City State)
Hong Kong
Isle Of Man
Korea, Democratic People's Republic Of
Korea, Republic Of
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic Of
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Federated States Of
Moldova, Republic Of
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norfolk Island
Northern Mariana Islands
Palestinian Territory
Papua New Guinea
Puerto Rico
Russian Federation
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre And Miquelon
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
San Marino
Sao Tome And Principe
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands
Sri Lanka
Svalbard And Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Tanzania, United Republic Of
Trinidad And Tobago
Turks And Caicos Islands
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Virgin Islands, British
Virgin Islands, U.S.
Wallis And Futuna
Western Sahara


text:
League City Breast Lift Doctors and Reviews
Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars
46 reviews
Sergio P. Maggi, MD
Austin Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
Donna Rich, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
Patrick Hsu, MD, FACS
Houston Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars
15 reviews
Morgan E. Norris, MD, FACS
Houston Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
Clayton L. Moliver, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars
17 reviews
German Newall, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars
21 reviews
Wilberto Cortes, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars
389 reviews
Michael Decherd, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars
33 reviews
Thomas T. Jeneby, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon
4.5 out of 5 stars
25 reviews
League City Breast Lift cost
Average cost in US: $7,875
Average cost in League City: $9,425
League City Breast Lift reviews
92% of League City reviewers said Breast Lift was worth it
"Breast Lift & Implants - Houston, TX"
Dr Vitenas I am a type of person who likes to analyze everything and want to know every detail, along with why. I was immediately put at easy with Dr Vitenas knowledge capitol. He exudes confidence in a respectful manner and does not give long winded explanations. During a free consultation he took all the time I wanted to answer my questions and showed me multiple examples of previous... more
"Mini Ultimate Breast Lift...No..."
:) I decided to write my experience for others since I have used this website to choose both my doctor and for more information. I am 26 yrs old and weigh 130 lbs. I am getting a mini UBL in 1 month. I have had one child and breastfed which left my breasts saggy. I have chosen Dr. Horneski because it is very important to me that I have zero scars. After seeing pictures on here I have decided... more
"Bad After Bad Experience and I Just..."
Hello , I am here because i want to share my experience with all of you . I have had 3 breast procedures in the past 4 years . my very first breast procedure was breast augmentation in 2009 , I was and A cup and wanted to be Full B cup , well unsatisfied with the breast size that i got after surgery (Full D) which was not what i had asked for , i underwent another surgery a year later for... more
"Arm Lift Breast Lift No Implant -..."
Lost 100lbs with lap band had breast lift and arm lift took off 6 in on both arms breast went From DD to lg D as you can see in my pics it was a much needed procedure. I have had lots of complements to how much younger I look. Pain on initial right after surgery was very painful but got better over time. Here are some updated photos as of today still have a wound All healed Just an... more
"So Much to Consider! Horndeski Lift?..."
I've lost lots of weight and am a competitive athlete. My weight for my training flucuates and my main concern with traditional lifts is they won't hold up over time. I'm having my phone consult with Doc for mini ultimate lift today, and have lots of questions about longevity and how it will affect my lifting and my sport, gaining weight and loosing it and children in the next few years. The... more
"Ill remain a DD. - Breast Lift -..."
Now to the next phase of transformation. My breast lift surgery has been scheduled for August 23rd with Dr. Horndeski. I found his work to be exceptional. He offers a lift with no vertical scar and added fullness using your own breast tissue. Noone in NYC does this technique so Ill be traveling to Houston TX for my procedure. I am sure it will be worth it. He guarantees that Ill remain a... more
"Internal Bra Lift - Houston, TX"
March 12th was my surgery date. So I have very thin skin and tissue. So this was the 2nd Revision I had with Moliver. He told me from the start that I would need 2 surgery's. I am 5 Weeks Post Op. The first few weeks where rough. Than again I said that with all my surgery's so I am starting to think I am wimpy. This was to Cure my bottoming out. So far so good. more
"Amazing Results! - Houston, TX"
I live in NYC, but have family in Houston, and decided to have my breast lift procedure there. After researching and visiting the best Drs in NYC and Houston, I decided on Dr. James Boynton. I am 44 and time is taking its toll. I felt good about my decision going in, but was blown away with the results. My breasts are the exact size i asked for (the elusive perfect size c). and they are... more
"Very Happy. Sagging and Ptosis -..."
I had always been very unhappy with the shape of my breasts, they were saggy and ugly. According to Dr. Horndeski's diagnosis I had ptosis of both breast and one of them was slightly larger than the other. I chose to have the UBL because I wanted a breast lift but i didn't want the horrible vertical scars from the regular lifts. I found out about the UBL from the realself website and I got in... more
"UBR (Ultimate Breast Lift) is..."
Pros: Less scarring than traditional lift (no vertical scar) Cons: Longer recovery (but worth taking the time to get a better product) My motivation: Backaches (I'm a dentist) were becoming a problem, even "minimizer" bras put a lot of strain on my shoulders. I had DD's from the time I was a teenager, so with time they had sagged. I felt self conscious, about "bouncing" as I walked. In... more
"Going for it!! The Ultimate breast..."
I'm really nervous about doing this procedure. I have lost 60+ lbs and i think it's time to make some "improvements".. Should i get a small implant while doing the lift even though i'm a D cup right now? I've read if I want the upper pole fullness I should. My PS said it was up to me. I've enjoyed reading on this site. I'm open to any helpful suggestions to help prepare for the surgery.... more
"No Saggy Boobs EVER Again! - Houston, TX"
I am not a large woman so after breast feeding two babies my breasts were flat and droopy. I wanted volume but was apprehensive about implants. I was worried about rejection, an artificial look, or potential long-term risks of implants. My goal was to have fuller and higher breasts but wanted the option of no implants. After researching all of my options, I decided to undergo Dr. Horndeski's... more
"Breast Lift Wishes and Caviar Dreams..."
I'm dying to have an ultimate breast lift done by Dr Horndeski! I had a roux en y (gastric bypass) in Dec 2010 and after my weight loss these boobs look like empty tube socks. I only wish his office accepted care credit. I have a $13k limit just sitting there collecting dust, and no other financing options at this time. It's going to take forever to save the $10k for the procedure. It'll have... more
"Best Doc in Town - Houston, TX"
Couldn't be happier with my results. My motivation for doing the lift was cosmetic but it was beneficial in many other ways. Before the surgery I experienced neck, back and shoulder pain. Every evening I slept on a heating pad. After the lift, absolutely no neck, shoulder or back pain. Recovery time was a little bit longer than I anticipated but well worth it. I couldn't have asked for better... more
"Still So Happy It's Emotional! -..."
It's now 3 weeks since I had the op and I'm now back at home.. I traveled to Texas from Australia after having researched for 12 months, trying to find a surgeon that could give me the results I wanted without vertical scarring. I also didn't want my shape to result in looking like I had 'propped up' saggy breasts. I cant believe I finally did it because it was... more
"Botched Surgery, i Need Help"
I had a bad surgery 3 years ago.I had a lift with implants and lipo. The scars i have are awful,i look like a monster!,my Dr had NO compassion when i told him i was unhappy only 1 month after my surgery,my nipples are HUGE now,they were,nt before,they were stretched out and stiched,and i am soo embaressed by my looks. I can do the pencil test,i can not find a bra to fit!!~ I would love them... more
"After having more than one kid -..."
If you are looking for some touch up after having more than one kid than this procedure will be great for you. Not only does it improve your image but it improves your love life too. more
Featured Doctors
Houston Breast Lift Expert
Sugene Kim, MD, FACS
4.5 out of 5 stars
43 reviews
Achieve your best aesthetic outcome
Call Dr. Kim (281) 410-8482
Breast Lift - Houston, TX
John LoMonaco, MD, FACS
5.0 out of 5 stars
196 reviews
Over 200 answers on RealSelf
Free Consultation (713) 487-7957
TX No Vertical Scar Breast Specialist
Gary M. Horndeski, MD
5.0 out of 5 stars
149 reviews
Minimal scar options for sagging breasts
Ask about The Horndeski Method (281) 816-4753
Houston Breast Lift Expert Surgeon
Donna Rich, MD
4.5 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
Achieve full, natural-looking results
Call for Consultation (281) 602-3741

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Meet hot gay men at matchmakers' Cherryvale personals. Our site has thousands of queer men, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual Cherryvale gay personals area. Same sex relationships and looking for men seeking Cherryvale men then create a free profile today, it's easy!
Join Now Free!Cherryvale | Cherryvale Girls | Cherryvale Men | Cherryvale Lesbians
1 2
Black Singles | Asian Singles | Latin Dating
Matchmaker is a free Cherryvale gay personals site for your local area. We have the hottest attractive and available Cherryvale gay men on the Internet from cute bad boys to sexy older gay men; our site has it all! If you are a single gay man in Cherryvale and are looking for gay friendship, casual encounters or a serious relationship, create your free profile today!


text:
First storm in a sailboat; lessons learned, advice wanted.
View Single Post
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,006
Thanks: 5
Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts
Rep Power:
I'm a pretty inexperienced sailor, but that won't stop me from posting my thoughts ..
In stormy weather the last place I want to be is near land, I think it is a good idea to learn how to heave to if you haven't already so that you can just ride it out.
It is easy to sew more reefing into your main on your own.
When running off I have found it easier to fly a small storm jib and no main, the small sail pulls the boat along and she very nearly steers herself away from the wind (for better and worse).
Sounds like you had quite an experience!
What are you pretending not to know ?
Please support my
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
View Public Profile
Send a private message to wind_magic
Find all posts by wind_magic


text:
- +
- Favourite is the different colours and the holes to post the balls through. My daughter loves it when my hand appears through the hole and tickles her.
- −
- Reviewer left no comment
Published on: 02 January 2015
Your browser currently is not set to accept Cookies. Please turn it on or check if you have another program set to block cookies.
Spend £50 or more and get FREE home delivery.
The Sensory Ball Pit is a fun and safe play space for your baby to discover. The intriguing toys and fun pit encourages your baby to move and explore.
This intriguing Sensory Ball Pit encourages your baby to explore, and rewards their curiosity with satisfying sights, sounds and textures. The colourful pop-up ball pit has brightly coloured panels, high-contrast patterns, posting-holes to peer through and pop balls through, and a detachable safety mirror for your baby to enjoy. The Sensory Ball Pit comes with three textured beanbags, which are great for your baby to explore with their hands. It also comes with 20 playballs, which your baby can enjoy rolling in, kicking and tossing as they grow. The pit is covered with stimulating colours, textures and mesh. The Sensory Ball Pit makes a fun and safe place for your baby to play, indoors or outside.
Quick facts:
•Sensory Ball Pit – great for your baby to explore
•Pit with colours, textures, portholes and detachable mirror
•Comes with three textured beanbags and 20 playballs
•Great for encouraging your baby to enjoy moving
Great for your child's development:
The Sensory Ball Pit is a fantastic place for your growing baby to enjoy moving, and developing their strength and coordination. The pit has been cleverly designed to offer your baby a safe place to play, while encouraging them to use their senses and body more and more. Your baby can start to roll, sit, reach, kick and touch in the ball pit, and the beanbags and play balls make the Sensory Ball Pit even more fun. Posting playballs through the portholes is a good game – especially when you post them back in. This safe play space is ideal for babies that are learning to control and move their bodies, and will encourage your baby to move on to their next stage as they peer, throw, sit and discover how much fun moving around is.
ELC star quality:
We love the Sensory Ball Pit as it's just perfect for helping your baby really enjoy using their senses, hands and legs – their whole body in fact! Your baby can start by lying in the Sensory Ball Pit, and as they grow they can roll, drag themselves around, sit, and crawl. The beanbags are great for hiding and finding, and the playballs are fun to roll, toss and kick around in the pit. The Sensory Ball Pit is a great toy that turns your floor into a fun play space for your baby to enjoy exploring and learning to move.
What you need to know:
-Pack contents: Pop-up ball pit, detachable safety mirror, 20 coloured play balls, three beanbags.
-Other toys and accessories available separately
-Suitable from 6 months
Playing tips:
Roll like a ball
Show your baby the textures and colours around the ball pit. Show your baby how to kick and toss the balls and how to enjoy rolling amongst them.
Hide and seek
Together hunt for the beanbags amongst the colourful balls. Cheer when your baby picks one up. Show your baby how to throw the bags out of the pit for you to toss them back in.
Great for:
Getting your baby moving
Playing beanbag hide and seek
Reaching, rolling and grasping
Investigating textures and sounds
Developing curiosity and confidence
Creating a fun play space indoors or outside.
This toy encourages your child to enjoy using their SENSES.
This toy helps your child develop coordination, balance and strength.
This toy helps your child to develop good reflexes.
Fun Factor | 8.9 |
Durability | 7.9 |
Value for money | 8.5 |
Overall rating | 8.9 |
Scores 8.9 out of 10 based on 39 reviews |
Here's a list of the questions other shoppers have asked owners of the Sensory Ball Pit
This product is available for:
Normally delivered within 5 working days (exclusions apply including postcode restrictions and extended timescales). Exceptional delivery circumstances beyond our control such as bad weather or courier delays may cause your order to take longer to deliver.
Delivery within 2 working days to UK mainland addresses. Regrettably this service is unavailable for deliveries to Northern Ireland.
ELC are happy to refund or exchange any unused merchandise returned within 28 days of purchase upon production of your receipt, as long as they are returned in an unused condition and in their original packaging. Please see Terms and Conditions for details. This does not affect your rights if the product is faulty or mis-described.


text:
Exclusive Interview by James Slater - Now that the eagerly anticipated Kelly Pavlik-Paul Williams middleweight title fight is back on, fans everywhere are once again debating who will win on December 5th. Although he is naturally bound to be biased, George Peterson feels the man having his hand raised at The Boardwalk Hall will be his fighter Paul Williams, 37-1(27). The trainer of the 6'1" southpaw who has already collected world titles at welterweight and light-middleweight very kindly gave me the following interview earlier today. Here is what George had to say in answer to my questions: James Slater: I know this must be a busy time for you, George. But these interviews go down great with the fans who read Eastside Boxing. Can I ask you first, were you relieved when the Williams-Pavlik fight was announced as being back on? George Peterson: Yes, because it had been pending for so long, and it was time to address it. You know, you're either going to do the fight or you're not - so why prolong it? People really want to see this fight, so it makes no sense not to give them what they want. These guys [pro fighters] are in the entertainment business, at the end of the day; that's what it's all about.. You see, the thing is, Paul came along at the wrong time. Back in the days of Hearns, Hagler, Leonard and Duran, those guys didn't ever care who they fought; they just fought! Today, the so-called top guys only fight guys they know they can beat. But that's not Paul - he'll go up and down to get the fights he wants, as he's proven in the past a number of times. Paul can still make welterweight - his weight yesterday was 155 and a-half. So he can still make 147 no problem. But who would he get to fight him at welterweight? We've tried that before and nobody wanted to know. Let me ask you, when these so-called top guys win, when do you ever hear them call out Paul Williams? It never happens. You mention Paul and they'll tell you quick, "No." J.S: Most people would say this fight with Kelly Pavlik is Paul's biggest fight to date - even though he's faced some top-notch guys like Antonio Margarito and Winky Wright. Do you agree? G.P: I think this is his biggest fight, but also his easiest fight. J.S: Wow. A lot of fans would ask you why you would make such a bold statement. Is it simply based on styles? You feel Paul's style will deal with Pavlik easily? G.P: It's based on styles, yes. But at the same time, I don't see all that much from Kelly Pavlik. They say he's this great puncher who has stopped all these fighters, but - he couldn't KO [Marco Antonio] Rubio. He couldn't KO a 44-year-old man [Bernard Hopkins]. Rubio quit against Pavlik. I'm not convinced about Pavlik being this huge puncher. A better question is, can Pavlik take Paul's power? Paul has stopped 27 guys himself. Can Pavlik handle Paul's punches? J.S: I was going to ask you if you think this is Paul's most dangerous fight yet, but you obviously don't think so, George! G.P: No way. He's been in with guys who can punch before, and guys who really can hit - like Walter Matthysse. He was 25-0(24) at the time, and Paul will tell you today, that's the hardest he's ever been hit. But he weathered that storm. These people who tell you Pavlik will punch too hard, they have to worry about if he can take Paul's punching power, that's what they've got to be concerned about. J.S: It's interesting that you mentioned the great era of Hagler, Leonard, Hearns and Duran. Does Paul look up to those guys? Do they inspire him? G.P: Well, he has the same approach as those guys. He has the same gumption, the same mentality. You know, Paul can't understand why other fighters aren't the same as him, with the same approach as he has. That's the problem; all these guys today, they are business men instead of fighters. They will never face fighters other than ones they know they can beat. That's why I sometimes tell Paul to box in fights, and not to go for the KO we all know he can get - because why KO guys when nobody will fight him now as it is? Who today wants to fight Paul? J.S: Can I ask you what weight you plan Paul to enter the ring at come fight night on December 5th? G.P: We will try for 157. Paul can't get any higher. J.S: And will Paul be strong and just as fast at that weight? I know he's fought at middleweight before. G.P: No doubt about it, he will be strong and he will be fast. This will be another fight like the Winky Wright fight. J.S: By that do you mean you think the fight will go the distance? G.P: No, Paul will get him out of there. He'll step to him and sit down on his punches. J.S: So you mean the Pavlik fight will be one-sided, as was the Wright fight? G.P: Whatever Pavlik tries, he won't have enough to deal with Paul Williams. Paul has too many different ways of fighting. Pavlik won't be able to cope. J.S: What do you say to those people who say if Pavlik can get inside and make it his fight and push Paul back, like he did against Jermain Taylor, he will win? G.P: No way. Jermain Taylor can't fight every minute of every round like Paul can, and he can't throw more punches in the 11th and 12th rounds than he does in the early rounds like Paul can. That's a big difference. And you're right to bring that up; Paul can fight on the inside very well. So if that's what they're looking for [ winning the battle on inside] they'll have a tough night! J.S: Do you feel that if Paul wins this fight, and if he especially does so in a dominant and dramatic way, that he will be up in the stratosphere, so to speak? Will Paul become the big star he wants to be? G.P: Well, do you think it's time, James? J.S: I do, yes. G.P: The thing is, there will be no excuses after Paul beats Pavlik. Nobody will be able to say the guy had bronchitis or that he was too old. There will be nothing anybody can say after Paul wins this fight. J.S: It's been great speaking with you, George. For my final question, assuming he does win in December, will Paul stay at 160, or will he move back down? G.P: He'll do whatever it takes to get the fights; just like he's doing now. The man has to eat, right? The man has to get fights. See, there are pound-for-pound fighters right now who are ranked higher than Paul, that won't go anywhere near him. I don't think that's right. Do you? J.S: Well, I want tot thank you for the interview, George. Best wishes for the big fight on December 5th. G.P: Okay, thank you, James.
previous article: News: Holly Holm vs Melissa Hernandez; Brandon Gonzalez; Sadam Ali
next article: Classy Booth Stops Hunter in Sunderland
If you detect any issues with the legality of this site, problems are always unintentional and will be corrected with notification. The views and opinions of all writers expressed on Boxing247.com do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Management. Copyright © 2001- 2015 Boxing247.com - Privacy Policy l Contact


text:
Annual Clayton Boat Show Coming UpThe Clayton Chamber of Commerce is planning its annual Thousand Islands Spring Boat Show. It will be April 12 to 14 at the Cerow Recreation Park Arena in Clayton.
The hours are:
- Friday, 1 to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children, free for those 8 and under, and $3 for military.
For more information, call 315-686-3771 or go to www.1000islands-clayton.com/boatshow.
Most Popular |
Sunday, April 19, 2015
, Watertown, NY
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
What's On TonightFull Schedule |


text:
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Milt Kahl's Black Cauldron
19 comments:
I'm wondering whether Mr Kahl would have worked with more far-out designs à la Tim Burton. To have the very definition of the Disney style clash and mingle with a style that was back then so unusual and fresh ... I think it would at the very least have been interesting.
Kahl's gwythaints' heads also remind me of the vultures from Snow White.Wonderful drawings! I have one question that make look silly. Do you design the final model of Gurgi or was Glenn Keane? Also, did you take inspiration in Milt Kahl's design or start over? Thanks for the post, I remember you mention those drawings in a podcast interview and I always wanted to see them.
ReplyDeleteHi Andras !.
I was rewatching the Kahl's family album show again after seing this amazing drawings and at the begining, arround 3:15 they show some vintage posters drawings, nothing to do with disney. Are those milt's drawings to ?. Do you have by any chance drawings fromt milt or any other of the nine, that where before they come into disney ? I always wonder how do those guys drew in art school, or before they discover animation.
Now that I think of it Ollie shows some of his early life drawing in his family album program. I would love to see more of them !
Sorry for my bad writing !. Greetings from Argentina !!
Agustin.As a fan of the original books, I much prefer these character designs, no matter how derivitive they are of Milt's previous work. His Fflewder Flam and Gurgie are so much more as they are described in Alexander's book and I like the Baron Samadi take on the Horned King - who was never quite as supernatural in the book as he was in the film.
ReplyDeleteEven though the two leads have familiar character designs, these are some truly beautiful drawings. Which reminds me, have you seen the concept art for the female lead from Frozen? She looks awfully similar to Rapunzel from Tangled.
ReplyDeleteRepliesIt's easy to fall back on to formulas. I have done it myself in the past, but it's always worth trying something fresh and unexpected.
DeleteExpecially when you have such a wonderful concept by Marc Davis. http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/7407/snowqueenmarcdavis.jpg
I don't know nothing about "Frozen" and I need to see the movie before say anything about it. Still this concept would look great in 3D, I think it would be the perfect medium for make it move (and the style is so different from the Disney ladies we saw in the past)...
Thank you for these priceless posts Andreas.
On one of the sketches for Taran, Milt wrote a "NO" pointing the beautifully drawn over the shoulder drawing.
I know that as matter of keeping the character "animatable" or maintaining its graphic appeal, it's just not a good idea to draw the character from certain angles.
That drawing is beautiful far as I'm concerned. Any insight as to why Milt noted a NO for that drawing?
In the smaller preview photo before enlarging, it's is not as easily readable as Taran as the others are.....does that have something to do with it?Hey Andreas, when I looked you up on Wikipedia it says that you were credited for working on Gurgi on The Black Cauldron. I'm curious to know what your involvement was with the character or if that's just a mistake.


text:
Erik Wolpaw
Erik Wolpaw | |
Occupation | video game writer |
Erik Wolpaw is an American video game writer. Wolpaw and Chet Faliszek were the two writers behind the now-defunct Old Man Murray video game commentary web site.[1] As of March 2013, he works for Valve Corporation in Bellevue, Washington. The Old Man Murray web site had a huge influence on gaming writing and gaming journalism[2] and has been referenced in many computer games.[3]
As a high-school student Wolpaw wrote two type-in program games for the Atari 8-bit family that Antic published in 1983 and 1984.[4] He wrote dialogue for the video game Portal[5] and wrote Portal 2 with Chet Faliszek and Jay Pinkerton.[6] In 2006, Wolpaw won the Game Developers Choice Award for Best Writing for his story and dialogue contributions to Psychonauts while working for Double Fine Productions.[7]
In 2004, Wolpaw was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Expecting his condition to require a departure from the company, he spoke with managing director Gabe Newell, who surprised him by offering an extended leave with pay. "Your job is to get better," Newell said. "That is your job description at Valve. So go home to your wife and come back when you are better."[8]
See also[edit]
- ^ John Walker (2007-10-31). "RPS Interview: Valve's Erik Wolpaw". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ "Old Man Murray". Tvtropes. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Easter Eggs". Oni Galore, a wiki dedicated to the video game Oni. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Index of Antic articles by Erik Wolpaw". Retrieved March 14, 2011.
- ^ Berghammer, Billy (2006-08-25). "GC 06:Valve's Doug Lombardi Talks Half-Life 2 Happenings". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2007-08-17. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ^ http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2010/03/12/feature-writers-block-valve-writers-talk-portal-2.aspx
- ^ "The 6th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards: Nominees & Awards Recipients". Game Developers Choice Awards. 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-19. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ^ Keighley, Geoff. The Final Hours of Portal 2. e-book. 2011.
External links[edit]
- The Armchair Empire – Interview with Erik Wolpaw, from June 20, 2001
- Erik Wolpaw on Mobygames
- Rock, Paper, Shotgun – Interview with Erik Wolpaw, from October 31, 2007
- NYU Game Center Lecture, on Portal 2, from May 10, 2011
This article about an American screenwriter is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |


text:
I think Hill Holliday is one of the top ad agencies in the U.S. today. But they missed the boat with their "Cursor" campaign for John Hancock.
It may be true that important financial conversations don't always take place face-to-face, but how is that a good thing?
The only thing the commercials in this campaign have going for them is the quiet (and the stillness of the shots). Sadly though, the very quality that gets one to pay attention is ruined by the repetitive and unwelcome ding of incoming instant messages.
Plus the viewers here are forced TO READ. No one wants to read a TV commercial.
We Have Enough Dings On Enough Devices. Do We Need To Hear Them During A Commercial Too?
June 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment


text:
Homewood Mayor Barry McCulley today acknowledged that he exceeded this authority by lowering the rental rate the city charged the John McCain campaign for using Rosewood Hall.
McCulley, in a written statement, said he has contacted the McCain campaign and requested payment of the full rental rate for the hall.
McCulley said members of the City Council and the city attorney were correct in stating he did not have the authority to lower the rental for the hall. He said he had not intended to give a special break to the McCain campaign.
"My motives were to simply implement what had already been discussed, in order to create additional revenue for the city where there had been none due to rates for Monday and Tuesday nights being too high," McCulley said.
From The Birmingham News
Homewood mayor says he has authority to set rental rates; council members disagree


text:
Just another Perl shrine | |
PerlMonks |
Re: Need some character class examplesby phenom (Chaplain) |
on Jan 03, 2005 at 00:54 UTC ( #418849=note: print w/ replies, xml ) | Need Help?? |
Those will come in handy with regular expressions. You should have perldoc installed on your system, so try: perldoc perlrequick and perldoc perlretut. Try reading those first. They'll give you a better idea. HTH.
In Section
Seekers of Perl Wisdom


text:
Hospital Systems: 2011
A Special Feature on 210 of the nation's largest hospital and healthcare systems. Source: Modern Healthcare's 35th annual Hospital Systems Survey. Published June 6, 2011, p. 27.
The Modern Healthcare Daily News App provides you with registration-free access to the top trending healthcare business news. It's the only news you need each day.


text:
The Pacific Northwest region extends from Cook Inlet on the south coast of Alaska through coastal Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon to northern California. The important waterfowl habitats tend to be similar estuarine, riverine and forested wetland landforms throughout the region. However, the intensity of land use and future threats to waterfowl conservation are extremely different between, for example, the wilderness of Alaska and the urbanized Fraser River delta. Strategic plans for this region have been prepared in three sections: Alaska, British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Alaska | California | Oregon | Washington
British Columbia
More information


text:
Browser does not support script.
Subjects taught at LSE | Services and divisions (administration)
All research groups | Research subject areas
For technical and editorial queries, please use: firstname.lastname@example.com|
To contribute video and audio content, please use: firstname.lastname@example.com|
For queries about forthcoming events, please see the public events| website.
Download: Audio
Speaker(s): Ulrike Guérot, Mark Leonard, Anthony Teasdale, José Ignacio Torreblanca Chair: Maurice Fraser
Recorded on 3 December 2012 in Old Theatre, Old Building.
The euro crisis has dealt a powerful blow to the EU's political system. Many European leaders have been ousted, more radical parties are becoming more powerful, and questions are increasingly being asked about the legitimacy of the European Union. European leaders find themselves trapped between the need for a more integrated Europe and the demands of voters: the necessity and impossibility of "more Europe". Ulrike Guérot is ECFR Representative for Germany. Previously she was Senior Transatlantic Fellow with the German Marshall Fund and she headed the European Union unit at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin. Mark Leonard is Co-Founder and Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, the first pan-European Think Tank. Anthony Teasdale is Director, EU Internal Policies, in the secretariat of the European Parliament and Senior Visiting Fellow at the LSE. José Ignacio Torreblanca is El Pais columnist and Head of ECFR Madrid. In May 2011, Foreign Policy en español has ranked him amongst the 10 most influential new intellectuals in Spain and Latin-America. He is a Professor at the UNED and previously worked as Senior Analyst for EU affairs at Elcano Royal Institute for International Affairs. This event is organised by the ECFR and LSE European Institute in partnership with the EU Commission Representation in the UK.
Event posting
Event organiser
Webfeeds: Public Lectures and Events
Forthcoming events
Audio (latest 100 items)
Audio (all items)
Audio & pdf (latest 100 items)
Audio & pdf (all items)
Video (latest 100 items)
Video (all items)
All media files (latest 100 items)
All media files (all items)
Other channels
All video and audio webfeeds|
Video and Audio FAQ|


text:
[ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]
Shadow of Her Former Self: Betsy Bechtel, a former councilmember, now sits on the Palo Alto Standby Emergency City Council, the Bay Area's only existing backup body.
The Secret Seven
Here's a group of public officials so shadowy even the people in it aren't sure what it does. But rest assured, if all hell breaks loose, they'll be in charge.
By Loren Stein
SILICON VALLEY'S McEnery Convention Center lies in ruins, its orange and blue tile facade even more unrecognizable than when it was in place. Beneath the rubble lie 463 of the region's top civic officials, who had gathered for an ill-fated meeting of the Association of Bay Area Governments. The apparent terrorist attack has crippled the workings of local government and paralyzed decision making and emergency-relief efforts throughout the Bay Area, as well as in Silicon Valley.
But miraculously, one city in Santa Clara County quickly and calmly comes to the rescue. A group of experienced leaders convenes an emergency City Council, which had been put in place for exactly this type of catastrophe. They not only take immediate control of the reins of their local city government but also name interim leaders to take over every other city in the county.
Welcome to the post-9/11 terrorist world, where Palo Alto rules. Sound farfetched? Well, as things stand right now, it could happen, thanks to an obscure state law and an inconspicuously appointed group that could wield enormous power in an emergency: the Palo Alto Standby Emergency City Council.
After surveying half a dozen cities in Santa Clara County, it appears that only tiny Palo Alto has had the foresight, or sufficient paranoia, to create a seven-member backup City Council ready to step in at a moment's notice and make strategic decisions to keep government running. With the chaos and pandemonium that would surely follow a catastrophe, these select few could even find themselves responsible for choosing temporary mayors for other cities within 150 miles.
The irony is, almost no one in Palo Alto seems to know much about the shadow group. "This even confounds me," says former City Councilmember and unofficial Palo Alto historian Gary Fazzino. "I will admit [that] in my 30-plus years of being around City Hall since high school, I don't recall any, literally any conversation about the standby emergency council. I've been mayor twice, and I'm not even sure of the selection process. And no one's ever come to me. I'd be perfect for that group! What a great capstone to my career!"
The law creating the standby emergency council has its roots in the Cold War, dating back almost 40 years to 1963, one year after the Cuban missile crisis. (The city's municipal code contains a brief description; the city charter gives the council authority to set it up. Palo Alto, like San Jose, is a charter city; it can adopt rules that are city-specific.) The best guess is that it was enacted in response to nervousness over a Russian attack. "It's a creature of the Cold War era that lives on," says Fazzino. "Given the atmosphere in the country during the early '60s, it doesn't surprise me at all. We were building bomb shelters, and civil defense in case of a nuclear attack was a real issue."
The seven members were chosen, it appears, to lifetime terms--or until they ask to be taken off. One of the members has been onboard for some 20 years.
What's odd, Fazzino notes, is that in the years between the Cuban missile crisis and 9/11, Palo Alto has not taken succession and governance issues in the event of a major disaster very seriously. "You'd think we'd have a conversation about it after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 or after the Palo Alto floods in 1998, but we did not," he says.
The Chosen Few
Emily Renzel got selected for the standby emergency council in 1991, when she stepped down from the Palo Alto City Council. "Well, I can't tell you a whole lot," she laughs, but proceeds to give it a try. "If councilmembers are lost or out of town or unavailable and decisions have to be made, you bring in the emergency council, who are familiar with city operations and can make intelligent decisions about what to do," she says.
"My guess is we'd be called to the emergency operations center in the basement of City Hall [in police headquarters]," she says. "It would take a pretty extraordinary event." They would need at least five councilmembers to reach a quorum, and she believes the last members off the council would be called first. "That's really all I know, " she says, adding, "Please, whatever you use, put 'She surmised.'"
The group hasn't had a single meeting, although many of the members have been on the standby council for more than 10 years. All seven members of the emergency council are former city councilmembers and mayors.
"We haven't had a little class on being emergency councilmembers," Renzel says. To everyone's best recollection, the group has never had to step up to the plate for anything, and while no one has lost any sleep over it, they all hope they will never get the fateful call.
"It would be very difficult," agrees Betsy Bechtel, an emergency councilmember since 1989. "The only time the backup council would be used is when something very serious or dreadful was happening." Nonetheless, she says, "It was somebody's great idea that we should have this."
Whose great idea? No one quizzed on the subject seems to know, or if they do, they don't want to talk about it. (Repeated calls to the city attorney went unanswered.) Even three-time Mayor Ed Arnold, who sat on the City Council from 1961 to 1971, when the emergency council was established, doesn't know.
"Everyone should have one," he says dismissively. "It doesn't hurt to have people appointed who you know will be in charge." But he adds, "Palo Alto should re-examine the thing, particularly at this point in history."
Members are unclear about the length of the term and whether they are rotated. They're not even quite sure how they were selected, as Palo Alto is swarming with past councilmembers and mayors who have not been designated as emergency council. While Palo Alto's city website says the group is composed of former city councilmembers who expressed a willingness to serve, many admit they didn't show any enthusiasm for the role. Some got a call from city staff, but others simply discovered one day that they had been elevated to the rank of coolheaded, can-be-counted-on-in-a-crisis leader.
"I just found myself listed there, I certainly didn't ask for it," says Larry Klein, who's been a standby member since 1989. ("It's hardly worth the effort to get off the list," he adds.) Klein ruminates that their call to arms would come in the aftermath of a very unusual calamity. "It would have to be a pretty selective disaster that somehow kills off the entire City Council but saves or doesn't affect the standby council," he says. But he admits, "After 9/11, things that didn't seem possible now seem possible."
"I have complete confidence in the people on that list," says Jean McCown, who found herself on the emergency council in 1997 and, as such, is its newest member. "They understand the functions of the city and can get together quickly and take the steps needed without much ramp-up time." No one worries about what the group does until the day it's needed, she says.
But Gary Fazzino thinks that a working plan might be helpful. "It makes sense to pull them together and talk about responsibilities," he says. "Review with them what's in the emergency plan and, in the event of a disaster, what decisions could they be asked to make and what decisions they can't make." A manual would be good to have, he says, so if all top city staff are lost or killed, they'd know how to appoint replacements legally.
As far as whether democratic principles are at stake here, they all scoff at the notion. Duly elected people selected these folks, they say, and standby councilmembers were elected at one time.
"Once again, Palo Alto has got more process than any other neighboring community," says Fazzino. "We prepare for any eventuality!"
Silicon Slack
In much the same way that the federal government shuttles Vice President Dick Cheney to and from secure secret bunkers and underground strategic command centers during heightened states of alert, local cities have had to think along the same lines.
The goal, of course, is to make sure the lines of command are preserved, the wheels of government keep turning and disaster recovery can proceed apace.
But as far as dealing with a total annihilation of city officials, things appear a little fuzzy.
Although Silicon Valley may have lost some of its cachet as a potential terrorist target since the dotcom crash and recession, it's still an epicenter of high-tech innovation and an economic driver, says Palo Alto Fire Chief Ruben Grijalva, who oversees the city's Office of Emergency Services. And Stanford University remains a vital political and research center that attracts dignitaries from all over the world, he says. Besides, terrorists may not even know the boom is over.
Yet when several officials representing different cities in Santa Clara County were queried as to whether they had an emergency standby council like Palo Alto's, they didn't know. They had to check first, and it turns out none of them do.
"It's a very interesting idea, a pretty wise thing to do, because they have the experience," says Marsha Hovey, Cupertino's emergency services coordinator.
In a disaster, it turns out, there would be an immediate need for the council to convene and vote. In order for the city manager to declare a state of emergency--which brings in state and federal services--the City Council needs to vote on it within seven days, says city of San Jose spokesperson Tom Manheim.
In San Jose, the City Council can appoint temporary members to serve in an emergency. There are lines of succession for all elected officials and staff positions, he says. (For example, the city manager can take over for the mayor.) If everyone is wiped out, he says, the city clerk will call for and conduct a special municipal election. "But theoretically, if nobody in government survives, that's an interesting question," he says.
That's where the 150-mile rule comes in. If the City Council is lost or killed in a disaster, the responsibility first goes to the chair of the county Board of Supervisors, explains Lynn Brown, coordinator for Mountain View's Office of Emergency Services. If the supervisors can't step in, the chair of a county board or a mayor within 150 miles (starting with the nearest and most populated city) can appoint temporary officers for the leaderless city and, if needed, manage the jurisdiction. This is where Palo Alto's emergency council could, if need be, reign supreme.
Like Palo Alto's backup council, the arcane law, part of the state's government code, was passed during the Cold War to prepare for a wide swath of destruction, says Brown. "The idea is, if the big one comes and we're suddenly radioactive dust, then you need somebody to handle the affairs of the city."
All Santa Clara County cities have an emergency preparedness program up and working. San Jose has one of the finest programs in the country, boasts Frannie Edwards-Winslow, San Jose's director of emergency preparedness.
"From an immediate standpoint, whether there's a terrorist attack or an earthquake, everything will function whether or not there's a City Council," says a confident Doug LaMar, coordinator for Sunnyvale's Office of Emergency Services.
Others are not so sanguine. "I worry about [a disaster] all the time," says Cupertino's Hovey. "Everyone is busy with their day-to-day lives so they don't take the time to think about it. We're the ones who imagine the doom and gloom so we're relatively safe and able to respond. I'm the conscience of the city. I do the what-ifs."
[ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]
Copyright © Metro Publishing Inc. Metroactive is affiliated with the Boulevards Network.
For more information about the San Jose/Silicon Valley area, visit sanjose.com.
Foreclosures - Real Estate Investing |
San Jose.com Real Estate |


text:
Do. Want.
User Profile
United States
- Joined:
- Tue 3rd August, 2010
Recent Comments
Oh, tell me about it. I've been wanting Sega to have 1 "Great Year".
No 3D Platformers, Just a 2D Classic Form game like the upcoming Sonic 4 and Sonic Colors.
Oh boy. I really hope the Sonic Team does it this time.
Im tired of the done to death 3D Platforming and Stories.
Come on Sega, Dont mess this up.
Im pretty sure they're going to do something stupid, Like add a character or a storyline and overrused talking cutscenes in it.
DONT DO IT SEGA, DONT. Just make a good game like you used to.


text:
tried everything. Deleted the phone stored in the car then connected again still did it. connected my girlfriends sony ericsson and that rang but played the car ringtone (what my iphone used to do). so that ruled out the posibility that it was the car at fault. Anyway got hold of my friends iphone 4, connected it up to the car and sure enought it rang through the speakers with the phones ringtone just like mine was doing. So all i am think of is that its something to do with the software upgrade on iphones. if anyone figures out a way around this please let me know...
- Ford Owners Club - Ford Forums
- → Viewing Profile: Posts: benholden2008
Community Stats
- Group New Member
- Active Posts 113
- Profile Views 2,550
- Submitted Links 0
- Member Title Feet Under The Table
- Age Age Unknown
- Birthday Birthday Unknown
Not Telling
Ford Model
ford fiesta
UK/Ireland Location
Please Select
User Tools
Latest Visitors
Posts I've Made
In Topic: Iphone And Fiesta Problems After Os 4.0 Upgrade
29 August 2010 - 08:00 PM
In Topic: Iphone And Fiesta Problems After Os 4.0 Upgrade
28 August 2010 - 06:58 AM
Wonder why my phone ringtones coming through the car speakers then? Mine used to do exactly what yours are doing now before the update, will have to play about and try figure it out,
In Topic: Problem With 1.6Tdci
22 August 2010 - 08:38 PM
Just been out and it done it again, only when Giving it some in 3rd and 4th it seems to do it, feels like it's overfueling so will have to get in booked into ford,
Thanks for the advise
Thanks for the advise
In Topic: Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 Tdci (2009) - Oil Leak
16 August 2010 - 08:41 AM
Pretty sure it's normal, take it to a garage and see what they say, if it's excessive then might be something wrong
In Topic: Fiesta Zetec S 1.6 Tdci (2009) - Oil Leak
15 August 2010 - 07:51 PM
Nothing to worrie about aslong as its not leaking lots of oil! every car does it, i have a little puddle underneath mine but it never seems to get any worse
- Ford Owners Club - Ford Forums
- → Viewing Profile: Posts: benholden2008
- Privacy Policy


text:
All Rise...Judge David Johnson was bummed this wasn't the long-awaited feature adaptation of the N64 classic. The ChargeClassic pec-flexing action from Italy. The CaseRetromedia has scoured the archives of—I don't know, whichever place has a vault packed full of old foreign movies staring dudes with pectorals the size of moose heads—to create this eight film mega-set of overseas epics, packed silly with grunting, sandals, swords, casts of thousands, and spontaneous nude female oil wrestling. Son of Samson Mark Forest stars as Maciste (Italian for "shoulders on which you can rest a kayak"), the mythical son of Samson and chosen one to lead a revolt against the evil Queen Smedes and her oppressive Persian army of oppressors. No soldier can withstand the mighty power of Maciste, and neither can the ladies. I don't think he wears a shirt once in this whole thing. Best Man-on-Lion Scene Macho Rating Son of Cleopatra Everyone knows the Romans are a bunch of dickheads, especially El Kabir (Mark Damon), an Egyptian version of Robin Hood. The guy has earned a sterling reputation as a freedom fighter and a rabble rouser. When push comes to shove, he's ready to round up the masses and get into a big-ass fight with the full-on might of the Roman legions. Least Egyptian-Looking Guy Who's Supposed to Be an Egyptian Macho Rating Hero of Rome Gordon Scott plays the titular hero of Rome. He's the premiere soldier in the empire…until one day, driven by shame over having failed to kill an opponent, he plunges his hand into a small fire for some reason. If you think a horrifically scarred and useless hand will keep him from all his Roman heroism, then you are mistaken. Eventually, he'll get another stab at the enemy which eluded him. If you're still awake by that time, then you will be the true hero. Dumbest Hand-Immolating Move by a Supposed Hero Macho Rating The Invincible Gladiator Gladiatorial tomfoolery meets stultifying geopolitical maneuvering. Richard Harrison is your invincible gladiator. When he's not shredding fools in the arena, he's forging a tender relationship with a young boy whose voice sounds like Haley Mills from The Parent Trap. The Big Brother routine is thankfully discarded for a homestretch of one-on-one combat and a violent prisoner uprising that takes place in a poorly lit corridor. I can only assume they were prisoners and not key grips. Best Sequence of the Film Macho Rating War Gods of Babylon Now that is how you title a movie. The king of Ninevah (Howard Duff) has got his armies on the march and he's ready to rip Babylon a new one. Unfortunately, a) he's overly confident, b) he literally dares the forces of nature to screw with him, and c) he's from Ninevah, which any Sunday School-goer out there knows is an f-ed up place just asking for divine retribution. And boy does it get it, with a legitimately impressive final special effects-charged flood sequence which wipes out the city. Take that as a lesson. The pagan gods of Babylon are not to be trifled with. Total Dick Line Macho Rating War Goddess And now for a change of pace. It's time for the women to get involved, with this saga of two rival Amazon women and their desire to strip down to nothing, cover their bodies in WD-40, and wrestle for 10 minutes straight. There's more to the plot. Something about an Amazon Queen and her love affair with a Greek King. Oh, and there are some nifty battles, but…Wait a minute, where was I going with this? What I Learned About Nude Wrestling from this Movie Macho Rating The Magic Voyage of Sinbad Technically, this is a Russian movie which has nothing to do with Sinbad, but it's close enough. There's a guy with a beard, sailing around in big boats, wearing garish clothing, talking to birds with human woman heads. It certainly is a magic voyage, as Sinbad finds himself traversing the world looking for treasure, magic, that bird-lady, and eventually a wife, who he receives from two fat people that live underwater. How Much Dancing is in this Movie? Macho Rating The Day the Earth Froze Also known as The Day My DVD Player Almost Came to Life and Killed Me. Wow, this is incoherent nonsense. As best as I can decipher, there's this evil witch and she wants to freeze a place called Cavallah, or Calavala Caramel, or something. To deter her from her icily nefarious machinations, the townspeople show up at her home and play elevator music. Worst Final Battle I Have Ever Seen Macho Rating There you have it, eight import movies which don't even come close to the breathless cover art, packaging, and synopses. Son of Samson is noteworthy because of Mark Forest's insistence on going shirtless. Sinbad may have value for those of you looking for trippy fantasy dance numbers. War Goddess will certainly appeal to exploitation aficionados. Beyond that, you're looking at some seriously forgettable sword and sandal shenanigans. Retromedia assures the viewer they tracked down the best available film elements for these transfers. Be that is it may, these are some rough-looking movies. All are full frame except for Son of Samson (1.85:1 anamorphic) and War Gods of Babylon (2.35:1 anamorphic and the best of the bunch). The mono sound is tinny and dirty. The only extra of note is an image gallery attached to Sinbad. The VerdictA handful of memorable moments can't make up for the monotony of the
majority. Guilty. Give us your feedback!Did we give War Gods Collection a fair trial? yes / no Other Reviews You Might Enjoy
• Kiltro |
DVD | Blu-ray | Upcoming DVD Releases | About | Staff | Jobs | Contact | Subscribe | Find us on Google+ | Privacy Policy
Review content copyright © 2009 David Johnson; Site design and review layout copyright © 2015 Verdict Partners LLC. All rights reserved.


text:
Elmo, Grover and Abby Cadabby on Fun Kids
Stars of Sesame Street, Elmo, Grover and Abby Cadabby flew all the way over from Sesame Street to speak to Luke from the Club! They spoke all about how they've loved watching the Olympics and also managed to start a synchronised swimming group with Luke!
Player loading
Download File


text:
Ibeh, Kevin I.N. and Luo, Yin and Dinnie, Keith J. (2005) E-branding strategies of internet companies: Some preliminary insights from the UK. Journal of Brand Management, 12 (5). pp. 355-373. ISSN 1350-231X
Full text not available in this repository. (Request a copy from the Strathclyde author)Abstract
This study explores the e-brand building and communication strategies of a small sample of UK-based internet companies, including a few with significant international brand profiles. It contributes by providing rare empirical insights into the e-branding phenomenon, which complement the extant, mainly anecdotal, best practice literature. Analysis results suggest a widespread appreciation of the importance of e-branding, and a prevalence of collaborative and customer-centric e-brand building strategies, including co-branding and affiliating with established online and offline brands, distribution partnerships, content alliances and personalised e-mail contacts. The examined internet companies also seem to have employed a variety of traditional, offline methods and leading-edge online tools in communicating their key e-brand values and promoting their online platforms and offerings. These communication vehicles included newspapers, radio, magazines, television, public relations, trade events and promotions, personalised e-mail notifications, affiliate programmes with other websites and banner advertisements. It further emerged that a few of the study companies had taken major steps towards internationalising their e-brands, and had responded appropriately to the concomitant localisation/adaptation challenges. The managerial and future research issues raised by these preliminary findings are discussed.
Item type: | Article |
ID code: | 4456 |
Keywords: | brand building, e-branding, communication strategies, brand profiles, Marketing. Distribution of products, Strategy and Management, Marketing |
Subjects: | Social Sciences > Commerce > Marketing. Distribution of products |
Department: | Strathclyde Business School > Marketing |
Depositing user: | Strathprints Administrator |
Date Deposited: | 18 Nov 2007 |
Last modified: | 04 Sep 2014 15:31 |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | http://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/4456 |
Actions (login required)
View Item |


text:
Monthly Archives: May 2009
I played one hand of the Two 1/4M on PokerStars today. I looked down to A-A on the first hand. It's a bad sign. You can almost feel the air around you turn to ice and start pressing in on … Continue reading
PokerWorks 8 Game Tourney
Time to play poker with all your friends, us kids at PokerWorks. We'll be waiting at PokerStars, 21:00 EST, May 31st, just bring $5+.50 and use the password 'donkeys' for a good time. You'll find the tournament under the private … Continue reading
Stopping by the Rio
As I got ready to head out of Las Vegas on Thursday, I stopped by the old digs and picked up Riot for a few days. It created a small dilemma. I had also planned to pick up my media … Continue reading
Dentist survival rule #1, take a drug before you go if you have one, if not, ask for one from a friend that has their own supply.
The WSOP and Vegas on the horizon
Tomorrow it's up and on the road. The Rio is going to be one of my stops as I check in for my media pass, but it's not my primary reason for going to Vegas. I'm checking into a hotel … Continue reading
Rain, Please Come Back
My blogging team member, Dr. Dad AKA Clearspine, wants the rain to leave. I want her to come back. This little angel face turned one year old yesterday and cut her first tooth all in the same day. She's a … Continue reading
The TiSP
OK, OK, that wasn't what I originally started to write about but it's too damned funny to let it just go without a mention. Read it!
Just when I never thought I'd make it back
I did! I'm happy to announce that the biweekly PokerWorks 8 Game tournament ran with 6 players. I couldn't make it but did check back to see what happened. The results:
Tomorrow is…
yes it is a day. A day of beginning, the end of the week for some, the beginning of the week for others, a day of worship for some, a day of big Money Sundays for others and always a … Continue reading