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Posted on August 4, 2012 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Trinity Bellwoods
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4 Stars
– Crepes aren't just for dessert folks. That's what Dewey Truong, owner of Chococrepe wants you to know. Yes, they are paper thin, but they aren't as one dimensional when it comes to their meal potential. Walking into the Queen West restaurant on a hot summer day, the last thing that I wanted to eat for lunch was a Nutella and chocolate smeared crepe, so it's a good thing there was so much more on the menu.
Don't let the name fool you. At Chococrepe, the menu is divided into savoury and sweet options. So yes, they do offer the obligatory Nutella crepe along with a slew of other sinfully sweet creations, but they also have an impressive selection of crepes with fillings usually associated with sandwiches or wraps.
To start off we had the Pesto ($9.25) which came with egg, mozzarella , pesto and arugula served on a buckwheat crepe. Now I'm not an eggs anytime of the day person as I lump them into the breakfast only category, so this probably wouldn't be my go to crepe, but it was tasty nevertheless. The egg was fluffy, the pesto made its presence known without stealing the show, and arugula is never a bad idea.
All of the savoury menu items come served on buckwheat crepes which are a bit similar to whole wheat wraps in their texture and consistency. Despite the name though, it's interesting to note that buckwheat is gluten free, so while I can't speak for the filling, the crepe itself is a good option for those who are at least sensitive to gluten.
To round out our savoury options we tried the Country and the Chipotle Chicken (both $9.25). The Country comes stuffed with cheddar and punctuated with wood-smoked bacon and caramelized pear. I'm not even a huge fan of bacon (I know…sorry) but I loved this crepe. The saltiness of the cheddar, the smokiness of the bacon and the sweetness of the pear blended so nicely into a ménage a trois of flavour. (What? It's French…like crepes…)
The Chipotle Chicken though, with a generous amount of tender chicken breast, mozzarella, arugula, and chipotle mayo, might have been the winner, but I like anything that comes served with a side of heat.
At this point it's fair to say we were beyond full, and I was convinced that yes, crepes could be lunch, but it wouldn't be fair of us to ignore the dessert crepes completely. So we tried two. The Berry Banana ($8.75) is the Platonic ideal of a dessert crepe. Covered with sliced strawberries and bananas, then drizzled with dark and white chocolate, it looks like art (think Jackson Pollock). This crepe had a nice balance of tart, thanks to the strawberries, and sweet, thanks to everything else.
Our last crepe of the day came in the form of Crunchy Pear ($8.50), also beautiful in design with sliced Bosch pears, a generous sprinkling of crushed almonds, and painted with milk chocolate, it was a bit sweeter than the Berry Banana due in part to the milk chocolate, but won in the texture category.
All of the dessert crepes here are made with the typical sweetened wheat flour and served open-face which gives diners the artistic license to fold, roll, or just dive in as is. And it just looks prettier.
Oh, and I should mention that all of the crepes are huge, taking up plates that are larger than your average plate. My suggestion is to bring a friend, or two, and sample multiple crepes like we did.
Did I forget to mention the hot chocolate? Oh yes, we sampled a couple. They take their hot chocolate seriously here at Chococrepe. All flavours are made with melted Valhrona chocolate and you can have your choice of having it made with dark or milk chocolate (and in some cases, white) and with cream or milk. We really wanted to try the popular Fleur de Sel Dulce de Leche made with dark chocolate, but sadly it was unavailable, so we went with the Pumpkin and the Coconut. The Pumpkin ($5.95) was made with milk chocolate, so as not to overpower the spice and milk instead of its heavier counterpart. It was tasty, but I would liken it more to a chai latte than a hot chocolate.
The Coconut (also $5.95) however, made with white chocolate and cream was something else. It was rich without being cloyingly sweet and the coconut flavour came through nicely. I can definitely see myself going back for one of these once the temperature starts to drop, but if you're craving one now, Truong just installed a brand new air-conditioning system that he's very proud of.
I would also be remiss not to comment on the excellent service at Chococrepe. Truong himself is a living doll, and he goes out of his way to make your experience at Chococrepe a memorable one. He obviously loves what he is doing, and says that he wants eating at his restaurant to be a comfortable and social experience, not to mention a delicious one. Check, check, and check.
Footnote: Why doesn't the saying go "as flat as a crepe"? Let's face it, in comparison, the crepes pancake cousin from the West has a bit of a weight problem.
– Rebecca
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Five Doors North
Posted on March 16, 2012 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Davisville
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5 stars
- Five Doors North is my neighbourhood spot. I have visited it on several occasions, and each time I leave, I debate whether sharing this place with the world is worth having to wait for a table during an already busy dinner rush. My conscience prevails, as 5 Doors North is too great of a restaurant not to review, and share with my fellow TOFoodReviews readers.
A spur of the moment, "Thursday night out" decision, led Andy and I to Five Doors North, knowing we would get a great meal. We were seated in the front area of the dining room, perfect for people watching along the Eglinton-Davisville and Yonge street corridor. The furnishings are worn, kitschy, and mismatched, but only add to the warmth and charm of the restaurant. The restaurant menu is hand-written and photocopied, followed by an evolving list of specials on the chalkboard, which are carefully selected, and always guaranteed to be great.
The wine list is small and filled with some robust reds. I ordered the Pinot Noir, which I have to say, just didn't do it for me, it was a bit thin and wasn't quite what I was hoping for. Andy's Malbec was fabulous, so we both ordered another glass for the second round. Wines by the glass are anywhere from $7 to $11, and bottles in the $30-$50 range. Overall, wines are priced fairly well, but I would love to see a little more variety to match the diverse food menu.
The appetizer list is long, and everything sounds incredible. They have smoked salmon, Prosciutto, mussels, a delicious polenta dish, on top of the list of daily specials, which included cauliflower soup, avocado bruschetta, and crab cakes. We went with the soup, beef Carpaccio with Pecorino cheese & roasted onion, and the beet salad. First out was the roasted beet salad with scallion aioli & lotus chips, which was wonderful, the goat cheese soft and warm, and the beets sweet and crunchy. The roasted cauliflower soup was smoky and creamy, but not too heavy; a perfect start to the meal, and the beef Carpaccio was some of the best, the cheese and onion offsetting the beef perfectly.
For our mains, I ordered the gnocchi Gorgonzola special and Andy the braised brisket ravioli. The meals were incredible. The gnocchi was awesome, fresh and soft, but the real winner was the Gorgonzola cream sauce. So creamy, it certainly blew my cheese calorie allotment for the week, but so worth it. Garnished with scallions and fresh pepper, the meal needed nothing more to bring out the strong flavours in the Gorgonzola.
The braised brisket ravioli was probably one of the more interesting meals we have ever had. I was unsure what to expect, but the beef was perfect, melt-in-your-mouth, wrapped in fresh pasta, with beef au jus and cream to make up the ravioli sauce. It would be worth phoning in advance to see if this was on the specials menu, as this dish just has to be tried.
The prices are right, entrées run from $14-$20, with appetizers in the $8-$12 range. The service is extremely friendly, with everyone pitching in to seat, serve and check-in. It's a family run restaurant, and you can tell by the attitudes and the recommendations of the staff that they all love the food at Five Doors North as much as you will.
- Janine
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Aux Delices Cafe de Bayview
Posted on February 4, 2012 by TOFoodReviews Staff in North York
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5 Stars
- If you are on your way to go shopping at Bayview Village, and you need to stop for a quick bite, look no further than Aux Delices Café.
Situated at the main entrance of Bayview, now in its third year of business at the mall, and judging by the patrons that came through in our lengthy Saturday afternoon visit, this place is a hit with the locals. Being situated in a bit more of an upscale mall, Aux Delices caters to their clientele. Health conscious foodies will delight in their selection of fresh, gourmet ingredients, including Panini's, pastas, crepes, salads, and even specialties like duck l'orange and homemade gelato, just to name a few. There menu is ever changing, depending on seasonal availability, so there is always something new to try at Aux Delices.
We started our meal with the fresh manicotti and roasted mushroom caps, duck l'orange with mushroom and greens, and roasted eggplant salad. Everything tasted like fresh, home cooking. The manicotti ($6.50) was amazing, with melt-in-your-mouth ricotta, and ripe tomatoes that tasted like they were picked form the garden that morning. The stuffed Portobello mushroom cap with cheese and polenta was an awesome side dish, complementing the Italian flavours in the manicotti, but would be great as an entrée on its own.
The duck l'orange was cooked perfectly, tender and succulent, the sauce was sweet and tangy, and the accompanying side salads of oyster mushrooms and greens, and roasted eggplant were in a league of their own. I would have returned just to try a sampling of all their fresh veggie salads.
Next up, a roasted vegetable Panini, recommended by our host. The yellow pepper, red onion and eggplant were soft and easy to eat, with a nice portion of goat cheese on lovely focaccia bread. Moving into crepe territory, we decided to tackle the ham and cheese crepe ($9.50), with tomatoes as well, and would go back for more. Their crepes are light and fluffy, and packed with ingredients. Even better, your crepe is made right in front of you, and you can add any ingredients you like. A fun experience for kids, too.
For those looking for the "café" experience, they serve up delightful illy coffee, and Rahier desserts, that almost make you feel like you are dining in Europe. Their double espressos were great, nice and bold, and the latte was perfect, frothy and steamed to perfection. The homemade gelato was amazing. I love ice cream, and have been a latecomer to the gelato trend, but I am glad that I tried it. We sampled the chocolate, vanilla and pistachio, a must when having gelato, and they were all very well done. The vanilla and chocolate especially, both true to their flavours, with a natural, nuttier taste, rather than overtly sweet.
Aux Delices Café offers a fabulous dining experience, and allows you to stop in for a fast and easy meal, or linger over a cup of coffee and a pastry. All of their meals are available to go, making it a great option to stop in after work for a ready-made meal.
Gourmet meals ready as soon as you order, great coffee and homemade gelato should have you stopping for a break on your next shopping trip.
- Janine
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The Mascot
Posted on January 27, 2012 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Parkdale
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3 Stars
- Sometimes I ride the 501 streetcar just for something to do. It's a fun way to people watch, without really having to watch out for them, but it's also a great way to spot new businesses, or old ones for that matter. The past couple of times I took this trip, I wondered what was in the chalkboard-black building on the corner of Queen and Elm Grove. I assumed it was a gallery given it was such a big space, and I was half right. The Mascot is a coffee shop that showcases art…or an art gallery that serves coffee, depending on what you're going for I guess. I myself was going for the coffee.
At first the place is a bit daunting. It's quite large, with a lot of negative space, and very limited seating. There are two barstools at the counter, a few tables that can seat more than one, and a surprisingly comfy blue velvet couch in the front room, but patrons need to be ready to get creative if all of those are taken. The back room, which houses the artwork offers up a couple Victorian chairs for those who feel like working on their posture, an old elementary school chair/desk combo, and a springy antique rocking horse (???). I'm not quite sure if that last option is for display only, or for those who like their coffee with a little bouncy nostalgia, but I for one wasn't about to find out. I used to have one of those horses, and I remember getting pinched by the damn springs on a regular basis. Luckily for us, there was a free table.
My girlfriend ordered a latte while I went with just a basic drip to see what Reunion Island coffee is like in its most vulnerable state. I should've went with the latte. Not that the drip was bad, but the latte was fantastic. It was smooth and strong without being bitter. The Rosetta adorning the foam was a nice touch as well. (It should be noted that I went back a few days later for my very own).
As it was around the brunch hour, and breakfast had long worn off we decided to get a couple of treats to go with our coffee. The edible portion of the menu at The Mascot is provided by OMG Baked Goods, and like the seating, selection is limited. The cupcakes were tempting but we were in the mood for savoury, so we ordered a ham & cheese quiche along with a stuffed foccacia.
The quiche arrived looking a little bit sad and we faced off as to who would try it first. We both agreed that it was tastier than we would have guessed, but I've definitely had better quiche. The stuffed foccacia on the other hand was a nice surprise. It didn't come to the table looking like much… really just a bun on a plate. But as with all things stuffed, it's what's inside that counts. Filled with roasted peppers, artichokes and Asiago cheese, it was not unlike a grown-up Hot Pocket…one that got tired of all the negative attention so it moved out of its parents freezer, and adopted a healthier lifestyle. The quiche was pushed aside, but later finished – out of hunger alone.
Food however is an afterthought at The Mascot. From what I saw, the people of Parkdale go for the coffee, and rightly so. There was a steady stream of people coming and going, and judging by the interactions, quite a few regulars. With friendly laid-back staff, good ambience and amazing lattes, I would make it my local too – if only I lived anywhere near it.
Footnote: Seating doubles in the warmer months, when it's comfortable enough to sit on the driftwood looking bench that runs the length of their storefront. Another good place to do some people watching.
- Rebecca
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Mitzi's Cafe
Posted on November 18, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Roncesvalles Village
3 stars
- For the past year or so, I've been meaning to go to Mitzi's Cafe for brunch. Weekends however, draw a big crowd and my nine-to-five job prevented me from going during the week and avoiding said crowd. Fortunately, having resigned from my job to be a writer (see: unemployed) I am now afforded the luxury of going to brunch on say, a Tuesday…which is exactly what I did this week.
I love Mitzi's location. Tucked away on a quiet corner of Sorauren, surrounded by century homes, purple and yellow painted Mitzi's is a bit out-of-place, but that's the appeal. I have a thing for old neighbourhood general stores, and that's what Mitzi's reminds me of. Inside looked exactly how I both expected and hoped for; arborite tables with mismatched chairs, a glass display case that housed trays of muffins at the time, and walls adorned with local art. I really, really wanted to like this place.
And like it I did, however my friend was less than satisfied with her experience. Let's start with mine shall we? Mitzi's has a small but thoughtful menu, and I had previously perused it online, so I knew exactly what I wanted. Craving sweet over savoury, I ordered the French toast as planned ($10.95). Made with Challah bread it is then topped with a peach & ginger compote, covered in graham cracker crumbs and generously doused with real maple syrup (the last step done by yours truly). It was fantastic. The bread was thick and fluffy, and the compote had just the right amount of ginger in it. It had all the makings of a dessert…in a breakfast. It should be noted that this dish is typically served with whipped cream, but I decided it was too much of an indulgence (says the person who used so much syrup as to make her French toast wish it had signed up for swimming lessons).
Sitting just adjacent to the expanding pool of syrup, but not completely out of its reach, were the home fries, which offset the sweetness of the French toast nicely. Made with halved baby potatoes they were spiced perfectly. My only complaint is that there weren't more of them, but it's probably for the best in the long run. If the toast itself was the star of the show, then the home fries were the understudy.
As I had already had my morning coffee I chased all of this with a glass of their homemade orange/banana/mango juice. It was just thick enough to know it was the real thing, and at $3 I think it was good value.
The glowing endorsement ends with my friends order. She was so looking forward to her poached eggs (also $10.95). Served on Portuguese cornbread, topped with wilted spinach, and slathered in roasted red pepper & asiago sauce, it looked delicious when set down in front of her, but as she cut into the egg with her fork, the yolk failed to flow. Her poached eggs weren't poached at all… they were hard-boiled. Cue the violins. Tasty yes, but it wasn't what she wanted, and the accompanying rye bread would fail to serve its dipping duty.
This would have been a 4 star review had I made it a solo trip, but alas the poached eggs (or lack thereof) knocked it down a peg. Mitzi's is still worth a visit though for the French toast (and I hear the Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes are pretty killer too), but if it's poached eggs you crave, be specific,…if only for the sake of your toast and its reason for being.
– Rebecca
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Posted on October 4, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Yonge and Eglinton
4 stars
- Coquine Restaurant serves up an excellent weekend brunch, with all the charm and flavour of a European patio café. The restaurant is decked out art-deco style, with lots of white tile, dark wood and vintage posters lining the walls. Coquine boasts several large dining rooms and a quaint patio, perfect for people watching or a leisurely meal. A large group of us descended on Coquine one Sunday morning for a late brunch, and found the menu to be both classic and eclectic. Let me explain…
Traditional Sunday morning brunch normally sees a line-up of the usuals; pancakes, omelets and waffles. While Coquine serves up all of these items, they do it all with a pronounced French flavour, not afraid of adding a little gourmet to your breakfast. Coquine's wonderful Apple Jack's ($11) offers up a stack of fluffy pancakes, topped with delectable caramelized apple and maple syrup. The delightful Vanilla French Toast ($12) is flavoured with fresh vanilla bean and served with a berry compote and Chambord. The Steak Frites ($19) were delicious, and came with a side of Parmesan truffle fries and mayo. While you may not be able to fly to Paris for weekend brunch, you can certainly enjoy the savoury French-style cuisine just south of Yonge and Eglinton.
Everyone found their meals to be excellent, and I can personally attest to both the quality and quantity of the wild mushroom and shallot Quiche with chévre ($14). Coffee (and Bailey's) was always available, and attentive extras like water for the group, and non-stop breadbaskets make the service at Coquine both pleasant and under-stated.
Overall, the value for meals was very good, as portions were large, and fit for sharing. Both the hostess and the server were polite and attentive, but never obvious. With an excellent location between Davisville and Eglinton subway stops, and great food and service, Coquine should be on your list as a must-try for weekend brunch.
- Janine
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Uncle Betty's Diner
Posted on July 11, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Yonge and Lawrence
3 stars
- Uncle Betty's is a family foodie heaven: the sole Toronto provider of New York's famous Dreesen's doughnuts, a colourful ice cream and dessert bar, warm and fuzzy comfort food, and a small selection of beer and wine for the grown-ups in the crowd, all make this a popular place for parents and kids alike. Uncle Betty's has only been open for a few months, but it already seems to have garnered a dedicated following. We went to Uncle Betty's on a bustling Friday night, looking for a casual meal and easy-going atmosphere; Uncle Betty's certainly provided both. Painted in bright blue and cheery orange, lots of seating inside, and a small patio off the front, we felt right at home. Several families were enjoying meals with their kids in tow As the evening wore on though, most of those families were replaced with twenty and thirty-somethings looking for a cool place to hang out.
Offering sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, salads, and many other of Uncle Betty's specialty creations, the menu is fairly extensive and varied. We ordered the roasted vegetable sandwich with a salad, and the grilled cheese sandwich, which was made with homemade mac-and-cheese and meatloaf stuffed inside. Their grilled cheese also comes in a pulled pork variety, which I am sure we will try on our next outing. Both meals were great, the vegetable sandwich was warm, the cheese was nicely melted, and the bread was crisp. The grilled cheeses sandwich was deemed as one of the "best ever," however, the portion size was on the small side for a $15 sandwich. Both of us agreed that the sandwich could be a little bigger, but overall we were impressed with the quality and creative effort put into the food.
For dessert, we each tried a Dreesen's cinnamon sugar doughnut, made fresh on site, and although they were pretty tasty, I am setting my sights on the ice cream bar next time. It is far too bright and colourful to miss, with jars of candy toppings and a great selection of ice cream flavours to choose from.
The service was friendly and attentive, and we had a conversation with the owner, Samara Melanson, as we were leaving. Samara and her husband recently opened the restaurant, and it's always great to meet the owner while dining out and learn about the creation of the restaurant and where some of the ideas for the food come from. She told us that chef Paul Lampa was brought over from Coquine restaurant, which explains the "gourmet" comfort food bent and the locally sourced ingredients.
Most appetizers are priced from 6 – 10 dollars; entrees varied in price from about 9 – 15 dollars, and wine and beer was in the 6 – 8 range. And Uncle Betty's carries Kicking Horse coffee, which is an instant sell and a welcome find for this Toronto-transplanted Western girl.
Betty's also offers what looks to be a delicious weekend brunch, with homestyle blueberry pancake and Uncle Betty's own take on eggs benny, which comes served on a doughnut. We will definitely be back to Uncle Betty's to try some of the other great entrees on the menu, and of course to dig into their ice cream bar.
– Janine
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Hula Girl Espresso Boutique
Posted on May 17, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in The Junction Triangle
5 stars
- Man. This whole area is pretty packed with coffee shops. Just up the road in The Junction, there's Crema, The Good Neighbour, and a Starbucks; just down the road in Roncys, there's Alternative Grounds, Coffee and All that Jazz, and yet another Starbucks. And that's just to name a few… The neighbourhood, it seems, is littered with coffee shops. So how does Hula Girl stack up against all the rest of them? Really, really nicely.
Hula Girl isn't just another boring-old coffee shop; it's an 'espresso boutique', and they focus their boutique-ish expertise on blends of Kona coffee beans and turning those blends of beans into near-perfect cups of espresso. The owners are clearly not only passionate about coffee, but knowledgeable about it too; it becomes blatantly obvious with the first sip. The espresso is noticeably balanced and brewed with a high-level of skill. Simply put, they have some truly nice people that are dam good at pulling espressos standing behind their shiny brewing machine.
No worries if espresso isn't your thing. They have some of their Kona blends brewed and served as the standard coffee fare too, which is also seriously good. They've got a nice window at the front counter with some baked goods. There isn't much there right now, as I think they've only recently started serving food, but it sure would look good stocked with some interesting, local pastries and deserts.
The space is beautiful too. Chances are, after you pick up an espresso you're going to want to stay for a bit and soak up some of the killer atmosphere. Old wood, exposed brick, shiny chrome, the entire space is exquisitely designed and faultlessly put together. Fair warning though, the insides may be pretty to look at, but they sure aren't big. It's ok though. What Hula Girl lacks in space, it makes up in comfort. Sitting around Hula Girl and sipping an espresso just feels good. The space is nice, and there's a few wooden chairs and a little bar space where relaxing music, a comfortable vibe, and fantastic coffee is all in abundance.
Chances are, they'll be busy too. People around here seem to have already shifted their morning-coffee-loyalties over to Hula Girl, and that's a good thing, for Hula Girl and you. Somehow, in this small environment, more people just make it feel cozier, which you'll appreciate. And obviously it's good for Hula Girl because they get to succeed and stick-around, and honestly, there isn't much that's nicer to see succeed than an independent business run by nice people.
Good on the folks at Hula Girl for opening up on this tired part of Dundas with its old pizza joints and 2 dollar palm reading shops. This street really needed a place like this, and no doubt the people that live there will appreciate it too. Especially among all the artsy stuff that's crept up around here, pizza and palm-readings aside, Hula Girl seems perfectly at home.
Like I said, the coffee is spectacular. So if you want some near-perfect espresso made by people that truly know what that means, then Hula Girl should be on your to-do-list; but if you're looking for a place to grab a donut and suck up some free-WiFi, keep walking up the street to The Junction or down the street to Roncys.
- Andre
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P.S. Kona beans come from Hawaii, which is where the hula girl gimmick gets it's ground.
Holy Oak Cafe
Posted on April 17, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in Bloordale
3 stars
- Despite it's seemingly religious name, this little cafe has nothing to do religion. It's a little cafe chock-full of character and a cool, homey-sorta vibe. You know the type of place I'm talking about: mismatched plates and cutlery on the tables, Value Village-esque paintings and pictures on the walls, slightly damaged panelling on the ceiling. It sorta looks like one day someone decided: 'Well, we have a stove. Why don't we open a restaurant?' It seems random, but truthfully, it doesn't matter all that much. If anything, those details make it better and much more comfortable.
There really isn't that much for food here. They've got a couple of items that are fairly easy for the lone person working to make when the place gets busy, which it definitely does. Mostly it's just the standard pressed sandwich kind of thing. No soup, no fries, no salad, as a side anyways. The friendly guy working there told me that it's not that kinda place. He said that it's mostly a cafe and a place to drink booze.
The menu is up on a chalkboard, and like I mentioned, it mostly has pressed sandwiches, like grilled cheese with apples and Tandoori chicken stuffed Naan bread. The sandwiches certainly aren't bad, but sadly, the majority of the stuff they make seems to have been brought in with little of it made in-house, like the Naan bread. The Naan was the kinda stuff pressed and packaged somewhere distant, and then bought at some grocery retail giant. It definitely would have been better if they worked with someone local to get some truly authentic stuff. They do have quite a few baked goods too. I'm not sure if those were made in-house or not, but they look nice next to a cup of the great coffee they serve.
I've seen some pictures of brunch items at Holy Oak, like eggs Benny, but based on when I was there I couldn't see that happening. Maybe they do bring someone in on the weekends to cook, but they guy working never mentioned it to me when I asked him about the food or the limited menu.
I went during the week for lunch, and this little place was pretty packed. Mostly with twenty and thirty somethings in front of laptops. It seems like a pretty cool place to work for those of us that frequent coffee shops for that sorta thing, because there really isn't much else in the neighborhood that offers it. It's cozy and comfortable, and I could easily see myself sitting there with a coffee, comfortably typing away.
Holy Cafe is a neat place, but it certainly doesn't warrant a big trip to get to it. If you happen to be in the neighborhood and you're looking for a comfortable place to soak up WiFi and get a decent cup of coffee, Holy Oak can definitely provide. But it doesn't offer much more than that.
- Andre
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Posted on February 23, 2011 by TOFoodReviews Staff in The Junction
- As I'm writing this, I already know a lot of people are going to disagree with me. After all, the arrival of littlefish in the Junction has definitely been well received. The neighbourhood has been waiting an awfully long time for a cool, hipster-worthy brunch spot. Unfortunately, the arrival of littlefish hasn't completely filled that void just yet. They still have a few kinks to work out, but don't give up on them yet. I won't, but only because I really want to love it.
Ok. First off, this is a pretty cool restaurant. Besides the obviously brilliant name, littlefish is a great little place to grab weekend brunch. It's small, only about 8 tables or so, but that just makes it all-the-more cozier and comfortable. It's a long, narrow space filled with exposed red brick and shiny metal airducts. The daily specials, scrawled and displayed on a suspended chalkboard, are imaginative, original, and well-thought-out.
The brunch menu is pretty much what you'd expect to see. They have everything from French toast and eggs benedict to pancakes and crepes. Best of all, they seem to make everything from scratch with good ingredients.
The staff goes out of their way to be friendly and to make sure you have everything you need to feel comfortable. Constantly being checked on, I never found myself without a full cup of hot coffee, but I suppose that's sort of expected in a place that only seats about 30 people.
The thing that's not expected in a place this size is the ridiculous wait time for food. When I was there, it seemed as though everyone in the whole place waited 45 minutes to an hour for their orders to arrive; I know I definitely did. If they were understaffed, I couldn't understand it; there were at least 5 people in the exposed kitchen, none of them seeming to be moving with any sense of urgency. Definitely not understaffed here. The whole place seemed to be in a state of chaos. The front counter was covered with papers and dishes, and the visible part of the kitchen was overcrowded with food containers and crowded counterspaces. Possibly it was organized chaos, but just barely contained.
People rave about the food here, but I really don't see it. My eggs benny was, meh, not bad I suppose, but they certainly weren't anything to get excited about. They were warm but not hot, and the side of potatoes was mostly burned. My daughter had their now 'Internet famous' French toast. With burned edges on an overcrowded plate, they were even less than meh.
Make no mistake though, this place was busy. Newcomers are put on a couch to wait until a table vacates, but they are offered coffee. If you're planning on getting a table on the weekend, be prepared to wait. So why so busy? Personally, I think a lot of it has to do with the neighbourhood's lack of options. I'd be willing to bet that although littlefish may be doing well in the Junction, had they been on a more brunch heavy area, like West Queen West, they may not be doing as well as they are now.
So would I go back to littlefish? Sure. I'd like to give them another chance. I think the whole neighbourhood would. After all, the Junction needs a place like littlefish as much as littlefish needs a neighbourhood like the Junction.
– Andre
Review it on Yelp
Checkin to it on Foursquare
Nom it on Foodspotting


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Kusadasi Holidays
Club Hotel Lion in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyThe Club Hotel Lion is a lively hotel, with good facilities. Conveniently located in the Tuesday market area between the resort centre and Ladies Beach, it is ideal for those seeking a base for exploring the area, and the pools and waterslides ensure its popularity with adults and children alike.
Top offers
- from £301pp
- from £303pp
Aqua Fantasy Aquapark Hotel & Spa in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeySpeedy slides, a lazy river and friendly crocodiles. This is one Aqua Fantasy fantastic.Take pine-clad hills and the Aegean coast. Throw in the super-sized Aqua Fantasy hotel and you've got a winning combo.
Top offers
- from £334pp
- from £365pp
Paloma Rina Apartments in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyLocated in a great spot close to the heart of the Kusadasi, right across the street from the harbour, the Paloma Rina Apartments bring you a wide array of activities and facilities to make your holiday sublime.
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- from £336pp
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Pine Bay Holiday Resort in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyExperience the rush on the Kamikaze slide, just one of the adrenaline thrills available at the Pine Bay Holiday Resort's waterpark. Toddlers are well catered for too, with their own pool and selection of mini−slides.
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Batihan Beach Resort in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyBeautifully located beside Long Beach, this is exactly the hotel you're looking for if you want a laid−back holiday away from the hustle and bustle but still within easy reach of central Kusadasi.
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Hotel Palmin in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyLife at the Palmin revolves around the huge lagoon pool. It's split into three sections – a central main one, a kids' one and a splash area that has a couple of winding water slides.
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- from £418pp
Sealight Resort Hotel in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyFirst class facilities, top-notch restaurants and a beachside spot have given the Sealight Resort a devoted fan base. The Sealight Resort prides itself on its laid-back attitude. It's obvious from the moment you step into its marble lobby.
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Hotel Richmond Ephesus in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyA beachfront hotel with an exclusive edge, the Ephesus Resort makes for a stylish All Inclusive break. Set at the foot of a tree-stacked hillside and looking out over the beach, this place is in a really peaceful spot.
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Palm Wings Kusadasi Beach Resort in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyTripAdvisor reviewers rave about this place – mostly thanks to its great pool scene. Waterpolo and aquagym are on the cards at the mammoth pool. A trio of slides plunge into a separate splash zone, and kids get their own pocket-sized pool.
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Derici Hotel in Kusadasi, Aegean Coast, TurkeyHoliday offers in the nice three star Derici Hotel in the resort of Kusadasi, Turkey. The complex is well presented and is perfect for couples looking for a break from the UK.
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subset: commoncrawl


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'Jersey Shore's' JWOWW on Angelina's engagement: 'I had no idea she was dating anybody'
Even months after leaving "Jersey Shore," Angelina Pivarnick made headlines Wednesday (Feb. 16) when her boyfriend, David Kovacs, popped the question and she accepted his marriage proposal right on the red carpet at STYLE360's Sachika show at New York Fashion Week.
We met up with her former costar, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, on Thursday as she was promoting her new advice book, "The Rules According to JWOWW" at KTLA. And we had to ask her what she thought of Angelina's news.
"I just heard that last night and I thought they were talking about Angelina [Jolie] and Brad Pitt," she tells Zap2it. "I was like, 'What?' Those two are finally getting married?' And they were like, 'No, Angelina on your show.' I had no idea she was dating anybody."
Well, we guess they haven't really been keeping in touch, since Angelina left the Miami house in a huff during Season 2 of the MTV show.
JWOWW did have this to say to Angelina: "Best of Luck, you know."
Yeah, we know.


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Hi everyone,
I'm looking for any McFarlane Halo Master Chief figure (preferably one that's green or Grey) to use with a fixup/custom I'm making.
I bought a Revoltech figure recently, and it's arm was snapped off in the package. Since I hate the shoulder joints in some Revoltech figures anyway, I thought this would be a great opportunity to mod it using a Halo MC base.
I really just need the upper body (waist-up, minus a head) -- so if you have a Master Chief of some kind in your fodder bin, let me know.
Here's my list of figures available for trade:
Here's a link to trade list of parts:
PM me if you're interested. Thanks!


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The three automobiles of Yangfan Motors, two of which are new to the Ethiopian market were displayed at the lavishly decorated Lalibela Salon of the luxurious Sheraton Addis. Guests of honour including state Tadesse Haile , minister of Trade and Industry, and Gu Xiaojie , Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia.
Yangfan Motors Plc, registered in Ethiopia by Lifan Motors, the Chinese auto manufacturer, has unveiled its new model automobiles during the launching ceremony held on Tuesday, December 9, 2009, at the Sheraton Addis.
Yangfan has become the fourth car assembling plant in Ethiopia, all of which benefit from tax and duty incentives. The others are Holland Car Plc, BH Trading and Manufacturing Plc, and Belayab Enterprise.
The three Yangfan models, whose parts are supplied by Lifan, are LIFAN 320, 520 and 620. The 520 being produced by Holland Car Plc was using parts supplied by the Chinese company until the two companies ended their relations in June 2009.
The disagreements were over the amount of shares Lifan wanted to buy from Holland Car, which was established by Ethiopian and Dutch investors. It was described that the three models go 15km, 18km and 20km per litre. Their prices are 179,800 Br, 189,800 Br and 219,000 Br.
The benefits from foreign companies investing in Ethiopia to open assembly plants were discounted by a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The value-added factor of these companies would not be more than five per cent, he said. He did not think they deserved as much incentive as those companies who use local resources for up to 30pc of their inputs, interms of value adding.
Another concern, according to this official, would be the amount of foreign currency that would be lost if or when these companies opened letters of credit and repatriated their profits.
"The benefit of technology transfer is also minimal, as these companies produced to little locally," he argued.
State Minister of Trade and Industry (MoTI) Tadesse Haile, who was the guest of honour at the launching ceremony, disagreed strongly with this official.
"Even if the value adding factor of such a company would have is too small, we want to encourage them because we believe this is the first step towards building our technological capacity," he said. "It is also better than importing finished cars."
The amount of local raw materials the companies would use to produce the vehicles would increase through time, giving room for local manufacturers to produce parts, Tadesse said.
"Our people are also paying less for locally assembled cars than they would have paid for imported cars," he added.
The assembly plant is located on 8,464sqm of land in the Kality district rented from a private company, according to Juequan Pan, general manager of Yangfan.
Juequan's company will soon have its own plot either by purchasing the plot where it is now located or by acquiring land at the industrial zone in Mojo, he said.
Parts for 64 cars have already arrived at the Port of Djibouti while more parts for 24 other cars will soon be shipped from China, the manager said.
The company's initial investment was stated to be 1.5 million dollar, with plans to boost it to five million dollars by the end of 2010.


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Contested Forms of Governance in Marine Protected Areas
A Study of Co-Management and Adaptive Co-Management
By Natalie Bown, Tim S. Gray, Selina M. Stead
Routledge – 2013 – 204 pages
Routledge – 2013 – 204 pages
In this book, the authors examine the governance of marine protected areas (MPA), and in particular they compare two different forms of governance – co-management (CM) and adaptive co-management (ACM). CM is characterized by the decentralization of the decision-making process, incorporating the governed as well as the government. ACM is characterized by the dynamic process whereby co-management decision-making is made continuously responsive to the changing ecological and socio-economic circumstances of the MPA.
The authors carry out a comprehensive critical analysis of CM and ACM before applying these concepts to the case study of the Cayos Cochinos Marine Protected Area off Honduras to assess two successive management cycles, 2004-9 and 2008-13. The area was designated as an MPA in 1993, a governmental decision which was met with resentment by local communities. CM was introduced in 2004 to involve these local stakeholders in the decision-making process, but achieved limited success. In an attempt to deal with these deficiencies, ACM was adopted in the second management plan in 2008, but whereas the position of the local communities improved, it tipped the scales too far away from conservation. A third management plan is currently being prepared that promises to strike a better balance between ecological and socio-economic objectives. A central theme of the book is to examine how far the CCMPA adhered to the principles of CM and ACM respectively in its first two management plans.
1. Introduction 2. Four Modes of MPA Governance: Conventional Management, Co-Management, Adaptive Management and Adaptive Co-Management 3. The Ecological Impact of Co-Management and Adaptive Co-Management in the Cayos Cochinos MPA 4. The Socio-Economic Impact of CM and ACM in the CCMPA 5. Governmental Impact of CM and ACM in the CCMPA 6. Evaluation of CM and ACM in the Two Management Plans 7. The Future of Adaptive Co-Management (ACM) in the CCMPA. References. Index
Natalie Bown is Senior Policy Advisor in a Public Sector organization, UK.
Tim Gray is a Senior Research Investigator and Emeritus Professor of Political Thought, School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, UK.
Selina Stead is Professor of Marine Governance and Environmental Science, School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University, UK.
Name: Contested Forms of Governance in Marine Protected Areas: A Study of Co-Management and Adaptive Co-Management (Hardback) – Routledge
Description: By Natalie Bown, Tim S. Gray, Selina M. Stead. In this book, the authors examine the governance of marine protected areas (MPA), and in particular they compare two different forms of governance – co-management (CM) and adaptive co-management (ACM). CM is characterized by the...
Categories: Conservation - Environment Studies, International Relations, Marine & Aquatic Science, Resource Management - Environmental Studies, Environmental Geography, Environments, Environmental Policy, Environmental Politics, Environmental Issues, Political Ecology, Biodiversity & Conservation, Global Governance, Governance, Environmental Politics


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Home > Reviews
ChipChick Review: Subjekt TNT Headphones Review
"I used them on our last flight cross country for watching a movie on my iPad, and in short, I wont be using in-ear buds much in the future."
Music Row Magazine: Subjekt TNT Headphones Offer Sonic Surprise
"I did however, finally consent to take em for a work out. List price is $49.99 on these ear flaps which come in eight different bright styles/colors. My first question was, Would they be comfortable for my needs? Answer, Yes."
I4U News: Nice price and great sound with style on the side
"These headphones are priced well enough and if you are after on the ear headphones these are one of the better offerings out there. Most people will be happy with the sound quality the Subjekt TNT Headphones offer.


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Printable View
Nice KO by Savant. Hit him as Guymon was coming in.
That midget killed Joker. Also 2 things: 1. He had to have known Guymon was out and the ref was going to stop it, didnt need to throw that ground shot and 2. what the hell was guymon thinking running right at him?
Way to smash out of that arm bar.
Pretty good first round by these two (Newton and white guy I can't spell his name). Unless it ends quickly in the 2nd, I got a feeling that things will slow down by half way through the second.
Can't wait to finally see Bellator in HD.
RNC without the hooks in. That guy was dundee.


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December Student-Athlete Scholars of the Month
Dec. 17, 2013
U of M student-athletes are wrapping up the fall semester by placing some good impressions on the CAAS staff. Juniors Lauren Hawkins and Nykiren Wellington and Freshman Raul Gonzalez have been named the CAAS Scholarly Athletes of the Month for December.
Lauren Hawkins, volleyball player from Rowlett, TX, is a straight A student studying as a Physical Education Teacher Education major who has excelled significantly in the classroom during her athletic season. Hawkins always has an upbeat attitude about her demands of athletics and academics and is proactive about meetings with her advisors. Hawkins is also successful on the volleyball court by being named Second Team All-Conference and leading the team in hitting percentages.
Nykiren Wellington, football player from San Antonio, TX, has been successful while majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies this semester. Wellington holds A's and B's in all of his classes while having a positive attitude and strong work ethic during study hall. Wellington works independently to get ahead academically and is always seeking ways to be involved on campus.
Raul Gonzalez, men's soccer player from Ocean Springs, MS, has set a positive path for himself during his first semester as a student-athlete. Gonzalez currently is holding A's and B's in his coursework and is always improving. Gonzalez always has a great attitude and work ethic and is very respectful to the CAAS staff.
Dedication and determination are two ways to accurately describe these three student-athletes. Not only are they successful in their respective sport but also in their academics. CAAS is proud to have these student-athletes to work with each week.


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product details-Tab
New Olay Professional Pro-X is a scientifically advanced line of skin care products created by an inspired partnership of P&G Beauty scientists and renowned dermatologists.
Together, they took advantage of the very latest research, technology, ingredients, and thinking to create these advanced anti-aging products.
Product Features
Pro-X Deep Wrinkle Treatment is professionally designed for the deepestwrinkles. Containing the highest concentration of Pro-Retinol and Niacinamide available through Olay, this Specialized Treatment penetrates deep into your skin's surface, combating the appearance of wrinkles.
And as with all Pro-X products, it has been designed and tested to resignal skin to perform more like it did when it was younger.* And younger-acting skin means younger-looking skin. Guaranteed***.
Prescribed Protocol for Maximum ResultsProtectskin in the morning with Age Repair Lotion with SPF 30
Treatskin morning and night by applying Discoloration Fighting Concentrate to areas of discoloration, patting until absorbed
Transformskin at night with Wrinkle Soothing Cream or Hydra Firming Cream
Professional Skin ExpertiseOlay Professional is at the forefront of science and anti-aging technology. Leading dermatologists and Olay skin scientists have partnered to establish the Olay Professional Advisory Panel. This team has professionally designed and professionally tested these products by selecting anti-aging ingredients to treat your specific skin care concerns. Through this partnership, Pro-X was created to bring you prescribed regimens to Protect, Treat, and Transform your skin's appearance.
Olay Professional PromiseWe promise your satisfaction with this product or we'll refund your money. Guaranteed. Call 1-866-511-OLAY (6529) for information on the guarantee or visit olayprofessional.com for information and regimen tips.
*Resignals skin by increasing surface turnover and repairing the moisture barrier.**Discoloration Fighting Concentrate reduces appearance of discoloration in eight weeks.***Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. For details, call 1-866-511-OLAY (6529).
Avoid use on eye lids and eye contact. If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water. If skin irritation or sensitivity develops, reduce frequency or discontinue use. Keep out of reach of children.
Procter & Gamble
(based on 31 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Best Uses
Most Liked Positive Review
Excellent product
I believe this is a very effective product for improving the texture and condition of my 62 year old dry thinning skin, along with the ProX Age Repair Lotion spf30, and ProX Wrinkle Smoothing...Read complete review
I believe this is a very effective product for improving the texture and condition of my 62 year old dry thinning skin, along with the ProX Age Repair Lotion spf30, and ProX Wrinkle Smoothing cream. I initially purchased the trial size kit (when my dematologist's office was offering $5 off coupons on the product) and have since purchased the full size of this Wrinkle Treatment cream and the Repair Lotion and will purchase a full size of the smoothing cream next. It only takes about a pea size amount of the treatment cream spread over your cheeks, forhead, neck to be effective. This is not a moisturizer per se, and you still need a/the moisturizer lotion/cream to complete the result for supple smooth skin. It's relatively pricey for mass market shoppers, but so much less expensive than department store or spa line products .
Most Liked Negative Review
Have used as directed and every day I have a non-drying skin, but my number 11 wrinkles show no improvement. The fine lines around my eyes have improved, but for the money I...Read complete review
Have used as directed and every day I have a non-drying skin, but my number 11 wrinkles show no improvement. The fine lines around my eyes have improved, but for the money I can get the same results with other products. Once I tried using more on my skin and the next day I had a "slick" forehead in the shower that just felt too greasy
Reviewed by 31 customers
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Not Effective
By Citron
from CA
describe yourself Brand Buyer
See all my reviews
Comments about Olay ProX Deep Wrinkle Treatment, 1 fl oz:
I've begun to get vertical lines on my upper lip and bought this wrinkle treatment to minimize them. I used the entire tube and applied twice a day to clean skin. Unfortunately, there was no improvement in the depth of the lines.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
By Blakester
from Arizona
Great Item. Works effectively.
(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
gritty--no improvement
By Polly
from California
All products were a little gritty. (Never miss a chance to exfoliate?) But skin is clear and toned, just saw no improvement at all in fine lines.
Wrinkles no More!
By Doglover
from Dallas, TX
Absolutely fabulous. Use it daily and as recommended and you'll see results, slowly but you'll see them. You won't look like you're twenty but like yourself, only better, at the age you are. Terrific product.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Frown line repair
By taash
from Brooklyn! NY
describe yourself Budget Buyer
I use this in conjunction with moisturizer, and it definitely helps to reduce frown lines and the "elevens". When I use in the morning, I make sure to use moisturizer that has sunblock, because products that work on wrinkles can increase your skin's sensitivity to sunlight. It has definitely reduced the appearance of my frown lines.
(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)
By MAM
from NEW YORK
It worked on my undereye wrinkles.
By ET
from SFO, CA
I counted the lines under my eyes and the cream noticeably reduced the intensity of the lines, after about two months. I only used it under eyes, and the laugh lines. It looks like it reduced the laugh lines as well.
Looking Younger!
By Ellen
from Waltham, MA
I been using the product for a year. Just turned 65 and it's great to hear from a lot of people that I look younger than my age. I've noticed significant flattening out of those telltale smile wrinkles and draggy nose-to-lip corner crevices. Great product!
(9 of 9 customers found this review helpful)
Well, it works!
By Vada
from New Albany, IN
I started using this and about 3 weeks later my ex-husband came in town for a family function. He called after getting back home and said, "I forgot to tell you that you look about 10 years younger than the last time I saw you!" (OKAY!!) About a week later my granddaughter (12 yrs) came over and stood looking at me for a few minutes, then said, " Hey Grandmom, your wrinkles are going away!"'Nuff said.
(2 of 4 customers found this review helpful)
Still waiting
By Uebchen
from Mississippi
I am using it morning and night, but after several months of use see no noticeable results.
Treat skin morning and night by applying Deep Wrinkle Treatment to areas of concern, including crow's feet area. Avoid use on eye lids. Recommended for use with an SPF moisturizer.


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The apothem of a regular polygon is a line segment from the center to the midpoint of one of its sides. Equivalently, it is the line drawn from the center of the polygon that is perpendicular to one of its sides. The word "apothem" can also refer to the length of that line segment. Regular polygons are the only polygons that have apothems. Because of this, all the apothems in a polygon will be congruent and have the same length.
For a regular pyramid, which is a pyramid whose base is a regular polygon, the apothem is the slant height of a lateral face; that is, the shortest distance from apex to base on a given face. For a truncated regular pyramid (a regular pyramid with some of its peak removed by a plane parallel to the base), the apothem is the height of a trapezoidal lateral face.
A triangle has four centers, circumcenter, incenter, centroid, and orthocenter. The center that is used to find the apothem is the incenter.
An apothem of a regular polygon will always be a radius of the inscribed circle. It is also the distance between any side of the polygon and its center.
The apothem a of a regular n-sided polygon with side length s, or circumradius R, can be found using the following formula:
The apothem can also be found by
Both formulae can still be used even if only the perimeter p is known because


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It isn't often that someone tells you you might die. And actually mean it.
I'm sitting inside a tiny trailer right next to the lone stretch of concrete that encompasses Spadaros Airport and I'm watching the image of a middle-aged man, totally unremarkable except for the two-foot-long auburn beard that's invaded the bottom half of his face.
"You might die," he tells me. Just like that. "There will never be a perfect plane, a perfect pilot, or a perfect parachute," he reiterates as footage of a crumpled 'chute and an ambulance driving across the tarmac come up on the screen.
The man is Bill Booth, founder of the uninsured—that's right, uninsured—United Parachute Technologies, LLC and I've been forced to watch this footage of him essentially telling me that, moments from now, it's very conceivable that my body might be lying in bits and pieces on the runway just behind this trailer.
I had committed to hoisting myself out of an airplane two miles above the earth's surface with very little thought for the whole 'potential fatality' side of things.
I admit, jumping out of a plane is a crazy idea. And yet two other couples also made it to the tarmac that day to be among the 3,500 people each summer who willingly pay $209 (or more accurately, $338 with the DVD/Photo package) to get the chance to fall from the sky.
For both couples, skydiving was something the male counterparts had "always wanted to do." One of the women was up for the challenge, but the other—in a tight-fitting skirt and gladiator sandals—was clearly just there for moral support. (As to whether or not she would partake, she squealed: "No way!!")
I understand her reluctance. The arguments against such a life-threatening activity are more obvious than the pros.
This brings us back to the video.
Finally, the ridiculously bearded Booth finished harping on my potential demise and disappeared. His stoic image was replaced by heart-thumping rave music. Dozens of images of first-time and some seasoned divers flooded the screen; all jumping with reckless abandon; all emitting sounds too far off-key for most land-bound humans; and—most importantly—in spite of all noted perils, they were all uncontrollably smiling.
After signing my life away about two dozen times, I meet my instructor, Alex Allen, who is at least a foot shorter than me.
For no logical reason, this makes me mildly concerned. (Will I be too heavy for the parachute? Will he be able to see over my imposing head? Will my gigantic limbs get caught in some cord that's absolutely paramount to a safe and secure landing?)
I'm instantly relieved to hear that in the 16 years Allen has been on the sky-diving circuit he has completed over 11,700 jumps and has only had to use his safety chute four times. He tells this to me immediately, which I think is a strategic move on his part, as is his response to my question regarding what, exactly, I have to do for this jump.
"I'll tell you when we get on the plane," he says. And with no time to fret, we're off.
I'm sitting in the back of an airplane so small I'm backed up against the pilot's chair with my knees digging into my chest—and, still, there seems little space for me, my instructor, and the big-boned individual in the back of the plan. (He's just out for a "joy-jump.")
Our bodies lurch as the ill-humored pilot drops altitude without warning, a maneuver that is exciting for Allen who says he's always wanted to reach zero gravity but just makes me, well, want off this plane.
Finally at 10,000 feet—almost four times the height of the tallest building in the world—the side door swings open and I'm face-to-face with 10,000 feet of sheer air. Reality sinks in.
"Put your feet on the step," Allen finally explains, urging me to slide my body into this gravity-laden abyss. "I'll take it from there."
I had little choice. So I did.
Immediately, the air swept up against the sides of my face and held back my skin. Details vanished. The wind muted my senses. Everything from my neck to my toes was too far away to enter my realm of consciousness. I was nothing more than a set of eyes over windblown cheeks, peering out through plastic goggles at a hazy landscape smeared with blurry hues of green and brown. At this speed, everything was totally incomprehensible. There was nothing to focus my attention. And it was great.
In a few seconds, Alex would pull a cord to release the 340-foot parachute that would bring us both to a seated position and guide us swiftly and easily the rest of the way down—over rooftops, treetops, geometric city blocks, narrow strips of shoreline and open plots of land—back to the world below where life would come back into focus.
But for now, in the midst of this 45-second free-fall, none of that mattered.


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The Kardashians
Whoa! Did Kanye West Tweet a Photo of Kim Kardashian Naked? (Update)
UPDATE: Kanye West's representative made this statement to Us Magazine in response to the nude photo claims: "In regards to this 'story' that Kanye posted and then took down intimate pictures on his Twitter account: TOTALLY FALSE. Laughably so. This phantom tweet never occurred on his account."
With all their public dates, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West certainly seem eager to display their new love. But did Kanye take things above and beyond their usual hand-holding by tweeting a naked picture of his reality star GF?
Last night, a picture was posted on Twitter that purportedly displayed a bare-backsided, face-obscured Kim — and rumors have been flying that Kanye, never one to miss bragging opportunities, was responsible for tweeting the seductive photo. Click here if you want to see the photo (via TMZ).
But the scandal in question seems to have been much ado about nothing.
Not only did Kanye have nothing to do with the tweet in question, but the long-haired brunette in the photo most definitely isn't Kim.
According to E! Online, the Twitpic actually displays porn star Amia Miley, who tweeted the photo of herself last year and immediately spoke up about the brewing scandal.
"Apparently a naked photo of me eating is going viral...as Kim Kardashian...Im confused," she tweeted.
"im not going 2 argue about whether that pic is me or not...want proof? Look at the back dimple piercings. kim k doesn't have those...oh, and my right wrist piercing shows in the pic too...the end," she wrote last night.
Well, proof is proof! For now we'll stick to obsessing about the much-cleaner twitpics of His & Hers Air Yeezys.
Source: E! Online, Us Magazine
Can't get enough Kardashians gossip? Like us on our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter!


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THE Energy, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA), together with a UK-based company-Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution Company, have identified several rivers with potential to generate hydro-power in the country.
Paul Darrel an electricity consultant with the British company said rivers in Musanze District can produce electricity that can significantly contribute generation to the national grid.
Darrel said although most of the rivers depend much on rain water, they are to install generators to increase generation of power during the dry season.
"We plan to generate more hydro power from different rivers like Mazimeru, Musarara, Giciye and Mukungwa for Mukungwa III Hydro-Power project," he said.
He adds that the company is still carrying out more assessments on other rivers so that they build dams on them.
The UK based company is also behind the construction of a four hundred Kilo Watt power dam on the Gatseke River also in Musanze district.
The project which started in 2006 is slated for completion this year.
Vincent Hakizimana the site superintendent said they have had some delays but he is optimistic that by the end of this month all will be complete and in January the dam will be tested.
"We are sure that by the end of this month we will have the dam complete," he said.
The project consultant said they have also been delayed by the topography of the area.
"We have employed over a thousand people around the area, because most of the construction material is transported by the people on their heads like concrete, stones and timber among others," he said.
He said this project is intended to supply electricity mainly to health centres and hospitals which is the main reason the proprietor of the project Dr Caleb King wanted.


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Scallop-shaped patterns in the sand of a beach may be the result of a self-organising feedback, say oceanographers in the US. The suggestion flies in the face of the conventional wisdom, which holds that such patterns are caused by standing waves in the water.
The scallops, usually known as 'beach cusps', form a pattern of repeating curves. They are found near the shoreward edge of the 'swash zone', the region of the beach that is regularly exposed and covered by water as the waves wash in and out.
The standing wave model can explain their existence satisfactorily, at least in qualitative terms, and has also explained ripples and other patterns on the beach. But B. T. Werner, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla and T. M. Fink of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena have found that a completely different explanation holds up just as well. ...
To continue reading this article, subscribe to receive access to all of newscientist.com, including 20 years of archive content.


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...For Multiple Charges
The Management of the Afriland First Bank has been taken to court on multiple charges, including Theft of Property, Criminal Conspiracy, Criminal Mischief and Felonious Restraint.
The Bank was taken to the Monrovia City Court based on a complaint filed by the management of the F. M. T. Construction Company for reportedly breaking into its warehouses in Monrovia.
According to a writ of summon from the Magisterial Court, on July 17 up to and including November 14, 2012, the Bank, with wicked intent, purposely connived and conspired with others, broke and entered the warehouse of the company and took away several items valued at over US$116,000.00.
The writ said after taking away the items, the defendant locked and sealed the facilities and exercised unauthorized control, thereby restraining the complainant from having access to the warehouse.
The Bank's decision to have taken the defendant's materials or items was based on a US$100,000.00 loan that was reportedly taken from the bank, payable over six (6) calendar months.
The loan was intended to purchase 100 metric tons of scrap metals from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the payment should have been completed by December this year with a 10% flat rate discount.
The complainant reportedly commenced the repayment of the loan since June this year with the deadline still ahead, December.
The defendant's action being unlawful, wicked and intentional and in violation of Chapters 15, 14 and 10 Sections 15.51, 14.25 and 10.2 of the Penal Law of the Republic of Liberia.
When the Management of the Afriland First Bank was contacted, a branch manager at its Crown Hill Offices, said he was not aware of the information. The manager who didn't state his name told reporters to contact the Bank's lawyer but also declined to give the name and contact number of the lawyer.


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Bill Minutaglio Guest On "The Dickson/Chappell Report" July 8th
The first and only biography of the most controversial U.S. Attorney General in recent memory.
In defiance of expectations, statistics, and stereotypes, Alberto Gonzales has risen to become one of the most powerful men in America. Gonzales has been the nexus for key policy points for the Bush administration, and holds inflammatory and very influential positions on issues that seize and polarize the nation -- privacy, capital punishment, and torture.
Gonzales's unyielding loyalty to George W. Bush -- during a time when to call his presidency "controversial" would be an understatement of massive proportions -- is a fascinating study in the politics of ambition.
Bill Minutaglio is an award-winning journalist and author of First Son: George W. Bush and the Bush Family Dynasty and City on Fire. He has written for many publications including Talk, the New York Times, Outside, and Details, among others. His work was featured, along with that of Ernest Hemingway, in Esquire's list of the greatest tales of survival ever written. He lives with his family in Austin, Texas.
Labels: http://www.drudgereport.com/


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Photo by Noel Barnhurst
YIELD: Makes 6 servings
Preheat oven to 350°F. Pierce potatoes all over with fork. Place on baking sheet. Toss garlic with 1 tablespoon oil in small bowl. Enclose garlic in foil; place on baking sheet with potatoes. Bake until potatoes and garlic are tender, about 30 minutes for garlic and 1 hour 15 minutes for potatoes. Cool garlic and potatoes slightly. Remove peel from garlic. Remove skins from potatoes. Combine potatoes and garlic in bowl. Mash until smooth.
Add shrimp, cilantro, panko, chili, onion and 1 1/2 teaspoons Latin Spice Mix. Stir to blend well. Season with salt. Form mixture into six 3-inch-diameter patties.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat cakes in flour. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook cakes in batches until brown, adding more oil if necessary, about 2 minutes per side. Place on baking sheet. Bake until heated through, about 5 minutes.
Spoon Chayote Slaw in center of plates. Place 1 cake on each plate. Spoon Chipotle Tartar Sauce atop cakes; serve.
*Available in Asian markets and in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets.
**A fresh green chili, often called a pasilla, available at Latin American markets and some supermarkets.


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3. Watch a DVD
Gap-fill exercise
Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if you don't remember the word. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!
Please read the instructions above the ads.
He took a DVD out of the package.
DVD was for Season 2 of the TV
"Lost." He pointed the remote at his DVD
. He pushed the Open button on his remote.
tray slid out of the player. He placed
DVD onto the tray. He pushed the Close
on his remote. The tray slid back into
player. Some words came onto the TV screen.
words said that the FBI would arrest people
they did anything illegal with the DVD. Then
picture appeared saying Season 2. He pressed the
button on his remote. The show began.


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Pet-Tent Bedcomments (4) November 12th, 2008 in gallery
Pet Tent, Fish Style. The Tent has a removable cushion and is washable.
Pattern or design used: My Own Design - Pet-Tent
Comments (4)
Posted: 2:19 pm on February 28th
Posted: 2:16 pm on February 28th
Posted: 1:07 pm on November 22nd
Posted: 6:19 pm on November 15th


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by Jack Binder
'Where Wild Winds Blow' is a remarkable adventure story of two modern-day explorers. It tells of a sea voyage in a home-built yacht, Banyandah, which takes Jack and Jude Binder twice across the Great Southern Ocean, half way around Australia through some of the roughest seas known to man.
Banyandah in a well-earned rest
'Where Wild Winds Blow' is written in Jack's inimitable style – sometimes brash, often touching but always heart warmingly honest. The author has a masterly way of seeing and appreciating Nature in all its awesome beauty, and an engaging way of describing their connection with it.
Bookcover Sailing the Southern Ocean
The book exudes the child-like enthusiasm Jack and Jude experience when investigating new places – windswept islands where few people have walked before – and of the trials they encounter along their journey.
But 'Where Wild Winds Blow' reveals more than the intoxication of a sea voyage in the company of dolphins, whales and sea eagles, it also relates to the pain of a perfect storm, of an encounter with modern-day pirates, of broken equipment and of being nearly shipwrecked, of the intense chill of Antarctic winds, and of course, the constant challenge and changing moods of the sea.
'Where Wild Winds Blow' is a great complement to their earlier book 'Two's a Crew' and a recommended read for anyone who loves the sea.
eBook with more than 90 photos and maps, available in formats for all eReaders ….. Priced at $5 with immediate download available from their website - http://jackandjude.com/books/ebook-wwwb/
Banyandah 2


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Bihar India's Poorest State, Begins to Turn Around
OVERVIEWMarch 10, 2010 - The state of Bihar in India is home to some of the country's poorest people. But a new reform effort by the Bihar government, backed by World Bank funding and technical support,... Show More +
Date: March 10, 2010
Type: Feature Story
Language: English
South Asia: Is There a Need for Counter-cyclical Fiscal Policy?
June 9, 2009 — The ongoing global financial crisis has significantly reduced South Asia's growth prospects for 2009-10. "The initial fear of high inflation has now been replaced by declining growth and... Show More +
Date: June 9, 2009
Type: Feature Story
Language: English


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Boston, MA (PRWEB) July 13, 2014
Updated ezTimeSheet attendance tracker from Halfpricesoft.com will allow for growing businesses to add employees easily. Businesses can now get peace of mind for tracking both temporary and permanent employees easily and inexpensively with many unique features .
"We have enhanced EzTimeSheet for adding new employees to the software easily," Halfpricesoft.com founder Dr. Ge says.
Developers have also added a step by step quick start guide as well as no cost customer support for customer satisfaction. EzTimeSheet makes it easy to track employees attendance even for new business owners. The most recent version allows employers to track PTO, leave time, vacation time, sick time based on the accrual plan with ease too. EzTimeSheet also allows businesses to review, modify and keep track of employees time effortlessly.
Customers can use the employee attendance data for business analysis, including scheduling and other essential day-to-day functions.
ezTimeSheet is easy to use and doesn't require a background in accounting or computers. Despite its extreme usability, ezTimeSheet delivers great diversity in features to meet the needs of today's business environment.
This time clock software is compatible with Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, 2003 and XP. Halfpricesoft.com developers are encouraging employers and HR manager to download this new version and try it free from http://www.halfpricesoft.com/time-tracking-time-sheet-download.asp with no obligation.
ezTimeSheet has an amazing array of features that make time-tracking and payroll tasks simple and easy, including:
Business owners, who hate to track employee attendance manually and get overwhelmed by accounting and payroll headaches, can learn more about ezTimeSheet software at http://www.halfpricesoft.com/time-sheet-tracking-software.asp
About halfpricesoft.com
Founded in 2003, Halfpricesoft.com has established itself as a leader in meeting and exceeding the software needs of small businesses around the world with its payroll software, employee attendance tracking software, check printing software, W2/1099 software and barcode generating software. It continues to grow in the philosophy that small business owners deserve affordable, user friendly, and totally risk-free software.


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Narrow your search
Want to use an iPad to wirelessly control your dSLR or send shots straight to your smartphone for easy sharing on the go? Here's what you need to give you and your camera some freedom from wires.
The company claims that the version of the specification it has reviewed will infringe on some of its patents.


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Photo of a parakeet at a backyard bird feeder
Dear Gary:
I saw a parakeet at our backyard bird feeder! Where in the heck did it come from? Will it be OK? It flew off with a bunch of house finches.
Lisa, Oakland
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008
Under: Escaped pet birds, Exotic wildlife, Parakeet | 5 Comments »


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Interpreting the knife blade DNA results in the trial of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito
Filed Under: Opinion, US | Posted: 11/29/2012 at 12:38PM
Comments | Region: United States
The most important and apparently decisive evidence advanced by the prosecution was DNA evidence found on a knife seized by the police from the kitchen of Raffaele Sollecito's apartment, and on the hook of the bra worn by the victim, discovered in the room where the murder was committed. According to the Scientific Police – Amanda Knox's DNA profile was present on the handle of the knife and that of Meredith Kercher on the blade.
This article discusses whether Meredith Kercher's DNA was on the knife blade, or whether the result was due to contamination.
According to the Hellmann report, Dr Stefanoni "performed a second electrophoretic run of the same amplified sample and compared the two graphs". Thus we have two sets of readings, which are set out below:
Run 1: {41,28}, {23,0}, {48,15}, {87}, {47,32}, {30,29}, {32,27}, {21,45}, {55,27}, {99,36}, {41,25}, {30,51}, {75,39}, {113,36}, {27,43}
Run 2: {108,55}, {80,35}, {64,51}, {140}, {33,37}, {17,0}, {56,39}, {42,0}, {32,66}, {49,61}, {57,0}, {65,76}, {40,0}, {53,59}, {0,0}
Here each number is the height of a peak in the electropherogram, representing (in rough terms) the amount of DNA found at that genetic location.
For each item enclosed in brackets { }, except as noted below, we have a pair of numbers, one marker is inherited from Meredith's father, and one from her mother.
For the fourth item in each run, only a single number is given : this is because for this location in Meredith's DNA, the marker from here mother and father happens to be the same.
There are some missing peaks (zeros) : just one in the first run, the second location, {23,0}. In the second run there are 6 missing peaks.
A problem
The major problem here is simply that the two runs did not give similar results. This is quite inexplicable if we accept that the second run was analysing the same amplified sample. Electrophoresis is an accurate process, and the results should be essentially the same, For example, at the ninth location, we have {55,27} in the first run and {32,66} in the second. At the 14th location we have {113,36} in the first run and {53,59} in the second. This is simply impossible if we are analysing the same sample. For examples of multiple electrophoresis runs on the same sample see this blog post
Also, by looking at the 5-digit sample numbers in http://kermit-analysis.wikispaces.com/file/view/Quantificazione.pdf ( some hand-written, others printed ), we can see that Stefanoni's method of working was to divide each sample into two wells for amplification. There is no reason why she would have deviated from this method for this particular sample.
Thus my first conclusion (contrary to Hellmann) is that either Stefanoni was confused, or she was misunderstood by the court. These cannot possibly be the same amplified sample, and we should assume that the sample was split into two wells before amplification, the same as for the hundreds of samples shown in the "Quantificazione" pdf linked above.
The main issue
The main issue is whether the results were due to contamination. When a DNA sample is analysed, it is first "amplified", that is a chemical reaction is performed known as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), which duplicates selected portions of the DNA. This produces millions or even billions of copies, which can then be accurately measured using electrophoresis. Thus there is an ever-present risk of contamination of a sample by the amplified material from an earlier test.
In fact the results from the two runs, now assumed to be distinct amplifications, very strongly suggest contamination.
The difference ( between contamination and no contamination )
How is it possible to tell the difference? Well, the difference is that when the DNA from a small number of cells is analysed, we start with an equal number of copies of each marker. Thus we expect peak heights to be approximately equal (after combining the two runs). Why not exactly equal? Well, the chemical reaction is not 100% reliable, in fact a duplication fails 20% of the time. This means that there can be some variation in the output. The variation will tend to be larger when we start with a small number of initial copies.
By contrast, when the sample is contaminated, we do not start with an equal number of copies of each marker – it is a small random sample from a practically infinite source ( the billions of fragments from earlier tests ).
So the big question is : can the variations (imbalances) seen be attributed to chance variations in the amplification process?
We can find out by running a large number of simulations of the amplification process, and see how often the imbalance in the peaks matches (or exceeds) the imbalance in the actual results.
Simulation results
As explained above, the variation will tend to be larger starting with a small number of initial copies. We don't need to consider a single copy, since at many locations there are peaks in both runs.
In fact there are just two cases to be considered : two initial copies and three initial copies.
For three copies, after 10 million simulations, only 23 times were the peaks as imbalanced as the actual results, a 1 in 435,000 chance.
For two copies, after 100,000 simulations, only 110 times were the peaks as imbalanced as the actual results, a 1 in 900 chance. But two copies is unlikely for another reason : in the first run, there is only one missing peak. Starting with two copies, the chance of this happening is only 1 in 350. Considering this could have happened in either run, lets say 1 in 175. Multiplying the odds together, we see that for two copies we have a 1 in 157,000 chance.
The program used to perform these simulations is at http://kermit-analysis.wikispaces.com/file/view/montecarlo.txt
It's highly improbable these results could occur without contamination, and thus PCR contamination is proven with high probability.