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HRIBF Newsletter, Edition 18, No. 2, August 2010
Feature Articles
Regular Articles
1. HRIBF Update and
Near-Term Schedule
The funding outlook for FY 2011 is much more uncertain than it appeared when the last edition of this newsletter was drafted. The outlook for FY 2012 appears even more uncertain. However, we have had a period of strongly enhanced funding since the extended FY 2009 continuing resolution ended. This has enabled us to begin our long-planned staffing enhancement (see my update article in the February 2010 Newsletter) and to enhance our spare parts and maintenance materials inventory after several years of operation with badly depleted inventories. This should substantially improve our ability to respond rapidly to equipment failures. In addition, the IRIS2 project is now complete and awaiting ORIC beam for commissioning. The enhanced facility efficiency due to the availability of a second RIB production station, plus the new beam production and purification capabilities that IRIS2 will enable us to deploy, will have a dramatic impact on HRIBF operations.
We have been unable to operate ORIC reliably since the nine-month enforced shutdown that followed the July 2008 Operational Emergency. Consequently, we have been unable to launch an extended neutron-rich RIB campaign. In February 2010, one of the ten ORIC trimming coils failed. Previous trimming coil failures occurred in 1986 and 1997. The most recent failure left us with only seven operational coils (see ORIC Operations and Development for details). We were unable to operate ORIC successfully in this configuration, so the decision was made to install the replacement set of trimming coils fabricated after the second coil failure in 1997. We expect this installation to be complete in early November, 2010.
While the work on ORIC was ongoing, we provided radioactive beams of four long-lived species (7Be, 10Be, 26Al and 82Sr) to user experiments. We have also carried out stable-beam runs, almost exclusively in support of the PAC-approved RIB experimental program. Only about 300 hours of stand-alone stable beam experiments were run.
Kate Jones and her collaborators are to be congratulated on a high profile paper on the Magic Nature of 132Sn published in Nature [1] during the period covered by this newsletter. Nature provided a commentary on this work written by Paul Cottle of Florida State University in the News and Views section of the same issue. More details about the public interests generated by this paper is summarized by Witek Nazarewicz in this issue of the Newsletter.
Another high-profile result was the discovery of a new superheavy element with atomic number Z=117 by a US-Russian collaboration that included a HRIBF scientist, Krzysztof Rykaczewski, as a key member [2]. The experiment was made possible by a target prepared with 249Bk material made at the ORNL High Flux Isotopes Reactor, and separated by ORNL chemists. This result was featured on the cover of the April 9 issue of Physical Review Letters. More details about this experiment is described by Krzysztof in a separate article in this Newsletter.
On August 2-6, HRIBF hosted the Ninth Summer School on Exotic Beam Physics under the leadership of Michael Smith and Caroline Nesaraja. More details about this very successful Summer School is given by Michael in this Newsletter.
On May 17, 18 and 19 DOE held an Operations Review of HRIBF. We have not yet received a final report from this review; however, in the closeout session strong concern was expressed about the negative impact of ORIC reliability on the HRIBF science program. The preliminary indication at the closeout was that the sole recommendation of the review would be that HRIBF hold an additional review with a panel of cyclotron experts focusing exclusively on ORIC, and including a deeper investigation into ongoing ORIC maintenance as well as possible future reliability and performance improvements. After further consultation with DOE Office of Nuclear Physics, we have scheduled this intensive ORIC review in the last half of August. HRIBF staff looks forward to the opportunity to discuss issues related to ORIC in more detail, and to profit from outside expertise. The only regret is that this review will deal only with ORIC, and will not consider the many advantages of replacing ORIC with a commercial cyclotron (see the article on the HRIBF driver upgrade in the February 2009 Newsletter, and the report on the HRIBF User Workshop in the February 2010 Newsletter).
The near-term schedule at HRIBF will be constrained by the trimming coil assembly replacement, which is expected to extend through October. The schedule from now to October will be filled with experiments using long-lived radioactive beams along with stable beam runs in support for RIB experiments. We anticipate very few stand-alone stable beam experiments will be scheduled. A tandem tank opening is scheduled to begin in October and last for seven weeks. Before the tank opening is complete, we intend to have ORIC operational. When the tank opening is complete, we plan to initiate an extended neutron-rich RIB campaign that will run well into CY 2011.
1. K. Jones, et al., Nature 465, 454 (2010).
2. Recent HRIBF Research -
Inelastic 17F(p,p)17F Scattering at 3 MeV and the 14O(&alpha,p)17F Reaction Rate
The 14O(α,p)17F reaction is an important trigger reaction in X-ray burst nucleosynthesis, and despite several indirect [1], direct [2,3], and time-reversed [4,5] studies, significant uncertainties remain. In particular, a recent direct measurement [2] observed an unexpected peak in the thick-target excitation function at Ec.m. = 1.45 MeV. Since no known 18Ne resonances exist at that energy, their conclusion was that the peak arose from a known 4+ resonance at 1.95 MeV (~3.1 MeV in the time-reversed 17F+p frame) and populating the first excited state of 17F at 495 keV in the exit channel. This was somewhat surprising because previous studies had not found such a large branch populating the first excited state of 17F. In principle, such a resonance should also be observable in a measurement of the 17F(p,p')17F* excitation function at 3 MeV.
To confirm the existence of this resonance, the inelastic scattering reaction was studied at the HRIBF with a 17F beam bombarding a CH2 plastic foil. Several beam energies between 52-58 MeV were measured with 17F beams of intensities of ~4x105 17F/s and purities of17F/17O ~ 2/1. Protons were detected in the SIDAR Silicon Detector Array in coincidence with beam-like recoils detected at forward angles in an isobutane-filled ionization chamber. The ion chamber could distinguish 17F from 17O recoils and was thus used to unambiguously identify the reaction events of interest.
Data collected from SIDAR in coincidence with recoil 17F ions are shown in a Q-value plot in Fig. 2-1. The large peak at Q=0 arises from elastic scattering 17F(p,p)17F events whereas inelastic events should result in a peak at -495 keV. No evidence for inelastic scattering was observed at these energies in contradiction to data gated on 17O recoils (Fig. 2-2) which show clear evidence for inelastic scattering as a peak at Q=-871 keV. Upper limits [6] on the 17F(p,p')17F* cross section are shown in Fig. 2-3 in comparison with what would be expected if the Notani et al. [2] interpretation of their data were correct. Clearly more work is needed to understand the mysterious peak observed in their data.
3. Recent HRIBF Research - Measurement of 10Be(d,p)
11Be Cross-Section in Inverse Kinematics at Several Energies
Light neutron-rich nuclei present an excellent arena for studying the evolution of nuclear structure as they represent the nuclei with the most extreme neutron to proton ratios. 11Be, in particular, is commonly used as a benchmark for theoretical studies because it exemplifies the distinctive properties of neutron-rich nuclei such as level inversion, and weakly bound ground states, leading to halo structure. Two recent experiments have been performed at HRIBF to study low-lying states in 11Be via the neutron transfer reaction 10Be(d,p) in inverse kinematics at a range of energies between 60 MeV and 107 MeV. The cross sections measured in these experiments will be used to help characterize sources of uncertainty in cutting-edge reaction calculations.
Data analysis is nearly complete for the experiment at 107 MeV. The preliminary differential cross-sections for the two bound states and first resonance are shown in Fig. 3-1. Analysis of the data at 60, 75, and 90 MeV and reaction calculations are ongoing. Several new experimental tools were used for these experiments, including batch-mode 10Be RIB beams, the first full implementation of ORRUBA, the QQQ silicon detector array for recoil detection, the Dual MCP for beam counting with real-time efficiency measurement, and a new Fast Ionization Chamber.
3. Doubly-Magic Tin and HRIBF in the News
A recent paper published in Nature reporting the results of transfer studies at HRIBF on the doubly-magic 132Sn, the nucleus sometimes called a Cinderella of the periodic table, has attracted great interest and been reported in a wide circle of public media. The team, led by Kate Jones and involving physicists from the University of Tennessee, Rutgers University, ORNL, Tennessee Technological University, Michigan State University, Ohio University, Colorado School of Mines, and University of Surrey, demonstrated for the first time that 132Sn is probably the best closed-shell nucleus. NATURE provided a commentary in the News & Views section of the same issue, explaining in layman terms the significance of the discovery. Following the publications, ORNL, UT, Tennessee Tech, NSCL, and Rutgers issued press releases. The work was also reported in Science Daily, Physics World, and in Physics Today as a cover article (August 2010 issue). For more details about the experiment and related science, see YouTube Interview with Kate Jones. Congratulations to the team on the outstanding result!
5. Element 117 And Beyond
The synthesis and identification of new elements is a long standing challenge, with major experimental contributions made over the last 50 years by the US, Russia, Germany and Japan, see, e.g., [Due10, Hof00, Mor04, Oga04, Oga05,Oga07,Oga10, Sta09]. The questions like "What is the heaviest atomic nucleus which can be bound against immediate disintegration?" or "Where does the Periodic Table of Elements end?" are of large interest not only to physicists but to the whole scientific community and general public. Most theoretical calculations point to the existence of elements 119 and up, to at least 126, and this has motivated many scientists to continue the effort of searching for the next superheavy element.
This year a team including scientists from Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR Dubna, Russian Federation), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Las Vegas University, and the Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (RIAR, Dimitrovgrad, RF) reported the discovery of new chemical element Z=117 [Oga10]. The synthesis of 293(117) and 294(117) isotopes and other 9 new isotopes of Superheavy Elements (SHE) was achieved through a close collaboration of Russian and US laboratories. Unique ORNL contributions to this discovery included 22.2 mg of very high purity 249Bk (T1/2=320 days) material with only 1.7 ng of 252Cf, and no other detectable impurities. The 249Bk material was produced in a two-year campaign at the High Flux Isotope Reactor and was purified during the three-month long chemical separations at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center at ORNL.
Six arc-shaped targets, of total area 36.0 cm2 area and about 0.3 mg/cm2 thick, were made at RIAR. Target disk was rotated at 1700 rpm perpendicular to the beam direction during the irradiation with over 1 particle-microAmp of 48Ca beam. This high intensity beam was accelerated at the heavy-ion cyclotron U-400 at JINR. The experiments were performed by means of the Dubna Gas-Filled Recoil Separator (DGFRS) [Oganessian1998]. A total target exposure to 4.4 x 1019 48Ca ions was achieved during a 150-day bombardment.
Evaporation residues (ER) passing through the DGFRS were transmitted and registered by two Multi-Wire Proporional Chambers with a total detection efficiency of over 99%, and were implanted into a Si-detector array with 12 vertical position-sensitive strips (10 mm wide, and 40 mm long) surrounded by eight 4cm x 4cm side detectors. The preamaplifier outputs with two amplifications allowed to measure alpha-energies in the range of up to 12 MeV with a reasonable resolution as well as to detect high energy fission events. The energy resolution for implanted alpha-particles was 60 to 140 keV. The total kinetic energy released in the spontaneous fission (SF) of nuclei with Z>101 was determined from the measured energy release Etot + 23 MeV. The 23-MeV correction corresponds to the mean energy loss of fission fragments in the dead layer detector as determined from a 252No measurement. The position resolution of the strip detector in registering correlated decay chains of the ER followed by alpha chain and SF event, was below 1.2 mm. The 48Ca beam was switched off for several minutes after a recoil signal was detected with parameters of implantation energy expected for Z=117 ERs, followed by an alpha-like signal with an energy between 10.7 MeV and 11.4 MeV, in the same strip, within a 2.2-mm-wide position window.
Two 70-day long irradiations were performed, at 252-MeV and 247-MeV energies of 48Ca projectiles, corresponding to about 39-MeV and 35-MeV excitation of the compound nucleus 297(117). Five decay chains observed at higher beam energy, with three subsequent alpha emission and ending in fission with Total Kinetic Energy (TKE) of 218(5) MeV, were assigned as starting at 293(117) nucleus, see Fig. 5-1. A single event consisting of six alpha decays and again ending with fission of TKE=219(5) MeV was observed at lower beam energy. The observation of this single long decay chain has been very recently confirmed at JINR Dubna, by two events observed during the chemistry-focused experiment using stationary 249Bk targets of 0.5 mg/cm2 [Dmi10].
The properties of 11 new isotopes identified among the products of 249Bk+48Ca reaction [Oga10] indicate a strong rise of stability for heavier isotopes with Z=111 to 117, validating the concept of the long sought island of enhanced stability for superheavy nuclei, see Fig. 5-2.
Presently, most of nuclear models point to the N=184 spherical shell closure. However, the superheavy nuclei identified to date are still several neutrons away from N=184. The observed decay properties do not point clearly to the one of predicted proton shell closures at Z=114, Z=120 or Z=126. Therefore, more experimental data and more theoretical work on the production and properties of superheavy elements are needed before the coordinates of the Island of Stability can be determined with high confidence.
One of the methods to push towards new isotopes of the heaviest nuclei is to employ intense 50Ti beams as well as new targets like 251Cf and even 254Es, see Fig. 5-3. One should note that attempts to use heavier beams like 54Cr, 58Fe and 64Ni on 238U and heavier radioactive targets have not been successful, probably due to the drop of the cross section, see, e.g., [GSI120, Oga08,Oga09]. 50Ti projectiles represent the stable beam closest to 48Ca, with the same magic neutron number of N=28 and Z larger by 2 protons. While larger Z helps to create heavier elements, the 2-proton excess with respect to the doubly-magic 48Ca will likely make the cross section for production of new isotopes smaller. It implies that the reaction between 50Ti and actinide targets should be well mapped and understood before attempting a long experiment aimed at producing new element (e.g., 249Bk + 50Ti to create new element Z=119). The development of high intensity50Ti beams and the excitation function mapping can be pursued using the longer-lived targets between 238U and 248Cm. However, since the production rates are expected to be low, an upgrade of the detection system to higher sensitivity is necessary. We believe that it is possible to reach these nuclei using ORNL-made target materials and a set of improved detectors.
The first step to meet this challenge is to build a new detector system using novel techniques. ORNL main contributions to the research on superheavy nuclei are currently related to the world-unique production capabilities of actinide target materials and to the theoretical work on the structure of the heaviest nuclei, see, e.g., [Cwi05]. These ORNL contributions to the SHE studies are getting extended, by constructing new detectors and their signal processing system at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility. This new detection scheme should be capable of identifying the radioactivities having sub-microsecond lifetimes and offer a better discrimination between the high energy alpha signals and partial recoil energy deposition. This will be achieved with a large area and high granularity Double-sided Silicon Strip Detector with matching alpha-escape detectors around, all connected to the digital signal processing units like 100 MHz Pixie-16 modules of Xray Instrumentation Associates (XIA) [Grz2007]. The new recoil detection chamber should be able to distinguish the recoils having atomic number around Z=118 from the Z=84 contaminants, by tracking their energy loss. The new detection scheme should allow us to largely purify the alpha decay spectra and would increase confidence in the obtained results, even the cases where a single event is observed. New detectors and data acquisition system proposed for the SHE research will profit from the experience gained at the at HRIBF [Lid06, Maz07, Dar10] as well as from the joint experiments performed with Optical Time Projection Chamber [Mie07] in collaboration with the Warsaw University team at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (Lansing, MI).
6. The Exotic Beam Summer School (EBSS 2010) Was Held in Oak Ridge in August
HRIBF hosted the Ninth Summer School on Exotic Beam Physics on August 2-6, 2010. The aim of this annual school is to educate young researchers on the excitement and challenges of radioactive ion beam physics and associated theoretical approaches. Through these schools, the research community will be able to more fully exploit the opportunities created by the next generation exotic beam facilities, such as the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) in the U.S.
Lecturers and topics of their lectures for the summer school were:
A unique feature of this summer school series is the hands-on activities where students spend their afternoons in the lab of a radioactive beam facility, learning about the techniques and instrumentation needed to carry out experiments with unstable beams. This year, the nine hands-on activities were:
On one evening, attendees had a poster session where they presented their research projects. On another evening, they had a tour of the ORNL Jaguar Supercomputer [the fastest in the world at 1.75 Petaflops and 250,000 processors] and EVEREST Visualization Center, followed by a Question and Answer session with the Lecturers.
Directors for the school were Michael Smith [ORNL], Kim Lister [ANL], Augusto Macchiavelli [LBNL], Mark Stoyer [LLNL], and Remco Zegers [MSU]. Caroline Nesaraja [ORNL] played a pivotal role in the local organization efforts. This annual school, which rotates between the organizing laboratories, is specifically designed for graduate students, senior undergraduate students who are actively involved in research, and postdocs (within 2 years of the PhD degree).
Additional information, lecture notes, and photos can be found at
the EBSS
2010 website.
Regular Articles
RA1. RIB Development
Seven on-line experiments were performed at the OLTF during the last six months. This beam time was used to test two different uranium carbide targets, to optimize ion source performance for radioactive beams of Sr, and to test neutron detectors for the VANDLE array. A novel uranium carbide material with a density of 5.2 g/cm3 was tested with mixed results on the release rate. Also, a target of uranium carbide disks produced for the SPES project at Legnaro was tested using a 40-MeV proton beam from the Tandem. At three target temperatures (1600 C°, 1800 C°, and 2000 C°), we measured yields of fission fragments and release rates for comparison with other uranium carbide target geometries. These targets had an average density of 4.25 g/cm3 and the release rates compared quite favorably with our standard HRIBF uranium carbide targets.
Substantial efforts at the three off-line ion source test facilities have resulted in a number of improvements and better understanding of ion sources that will impact RIB production at HRIBF in the near future. At ISTF1 work continues on the design of the gas-filled RFQ negative-ion cooler that will be used to purify radioactive beams of F, Cl, and Ni at IRIS2. The design and fabrication of the deceleration and reacceleration regions need to be finished before the system will be implemented at IRIS2. At ISTF2, a campaign has been under way to better understand the design and operation of the HRIBF hot plasma ion source, the EBPIS (Electron Beam Plasma Ion Source). The extraction efficiency of Xe has been used to diagnose the effects of various hardware designs and operational modes. Investigations include the gap distance between the anode and cathode, the percentage of open area in the anode grid, the anode potential, the size of the source extraction aperture, and the strength and direction of the magnetic field of the solenoids that surround the plasma region. So far, Xe efficiencies of about 33% have been achieved when the parameters listed above are optimized. At ISTF3 a project is underway to develop a He-jet transport system to move radioactive atoms from an actinide production target to a Bernas-Nier ion source. Since the recoiling fission fragments are stopped in He and transported to the ion source without touching any surfaces, this is a chemically-independent ISOL technique and will allow refractory fission fragments to be ionized and post-accelerated for experiments. A modular room has been built in Bldg. 6010 and the assembly of equipment in this room has begun. While waiting for the room to be completed, the ion source chamber was designed, fabricated, assembled and tested, and it is now ready for use. Also, the He-recirculation cart has been refurbished and is now fully functional.
The laser system for the laser ion source was originally purchased and tested at ISTF2 in 2009 with a Nd:YAG pump laser and three tunable Ti:Sapphire lasers in a single package. We have decided to separate the system into three independent and identical packages each consisting of a Nd:YAG pump laser and a Ti:Sapphire laser with the ability to change the optics to deliver a beam of the fundamental wavelength or the frequency doubled, tripled, or quadrupled beams. These units will be interchangeable and a spare unit will be purchased to reduce downtime due to laser failure. A new laser table has been installed in the IRIS2 laser room and most of the optical components of the IRIS2 laser system have been ordered.
A new long-lived radioactive ion beam was developed during this
period. With maintenance activities on ORIC underway, a number of
beams of long-lived radioactive isotopes have been accelerated using
the multi-sample Cs-sputter ion source on IRIS1. These beams have
included Be-7, Be-10, and Al-26, and now Sr-82 (half-life is 25.4
days) has been extracted and delivered to an experiment. We purchased
10 mCi of Sr-82 from the DOE Isotopes Program. This isotope is
shipped with the Sr-82 atoms dissolved in weak hydrochloric acid.
This liquid is transferred to a metal powder sample and pressed to
form a solid sputter target. This first attempt resulted in beams
with low intensity, with a peak of about 2000 ions per second on
target and an average of about 1200 ions per second over a seven-day
period. Improvements in the transfer of activity to the cathode and a
different metal powder should result in higher quality beams
(intensity and purity). These improvements will be tested later this
year and we are also considering a similar process to deliver beams of
Fe-59 (half-life is 44.5 days).
RA2. Accelerator System Status
ORIC Operations and Development (B. A. Tatum)
RIB Injector Operations and Development (P.E. Mueller)
Tandem Operations and Development (M. Meigs)
RA3. Experimental Equipment - Digital Pixies at HRIBF
After a succesfull series of experiments[1-9], the nearly decade-old digial-data acquisition sytem based on CAMAC DGF4C boards found its new-generation successor in the Pixie16 modules. These boards were developed and are manufactured by XIA LLC, a Silicon Valley high-tech company who also developed the DGF4C units[10]. The main advantages of the Pixie16-based system are: higher digitization frequency (100MHz), higher channel density (16 ch per board) and implementation of the fast readout (PCI), which enables much higher data throughput than previously used CAMAC-based system. Pixie16 is much better suited to systems with high channel count.
The main task of intergration of the Pixie16 at HRIBF was unertaken by the University of Tennessee researchers and postdocs. The libraries provided by XIA LLC were used in order to build the readout codes. Pixie-generated data-stream is formatted in such a way that it is compatible with the HRIBF's acquisition system. The new analysis codes (including event builder) were written. The software evolved from the original DEC-Fortran code (used with the DGF4C units), to the new C- and C++ based codes with built-in possibility of using either SCAN or ROOT suites for histogramming. A control software was developed using command line and GUI. All Pixie16-based systems use PC computers running Linux operating system.
This new system was already used in several experiments serving a broad range of detectors, including semiconductor, gas and scinitillator detectors. Only parameters of the on-board codes need to be modified to suit particular detector type. The new system proved to be very stable and reliable . Recently Pixie16 was used during the EBSS 2010 Summer School to demonstrate the advantages of digital electronics [11]. Presently at HRIBF the prototype-generation boards Pixie16 Rev A, and a newest type pixie16 Rev D are avialable. The latter uses a revamped internal architecture and a new, more efficient readout scheme.
One example of the experimental application of the Pixie16-based system is in decay-spectroscopy studies at LeRIBSS facility [12]. A purely digital system was used to acquire gamma-ray data from clover detectors and beta decays from fast-plastic scintillator detectors[13]. The main advantage of using the Pixie16 system was the time stamping allowing for flexible-time correlations between decays. Pixie16 was also used at the Recoil Mass Spectrometer (RMS) [14] in experiments searching for new proton and alpha emitters. These experiments took advantage of the board's capabilities for real-time operations, in particular, the complex-pulse shape-based triggering ability and large data throughput. There are also future plans to employ the Pixie16-based system in super-heavy element research [15].
Recently significant development was made in exploring the capabilities of using the Pixie16 for fast-timing applications with plastic scintillators of the VANDLE detector system[16]. The timing resolution of 200 ps have been demonstrated using new algorithms [17,18]. Presently a new 500-MHz-based system called Pixie500 is being impleneted at HRIBF for specialized electronic fast-timing applications.
1. W. Kr�las, et al., Phys. Rev. C 65, 031303 (2002).
RA4. Users Group News
The HRIBF will not hold its annual Users Group Meeting this year. In conjunction with ATLAS and NSCL a joint users meeting will be held at one of the labs sometime in 2011. A survey of users was taken earlier this year and the response was overwelmingly positive to such a move. The motives behind the joint meeting are:
It is expected the meeting will take place over a two-day period and will rotate between the laboratories. Several users suggested other facilities or groups may also wish to hold meetings at this forum. It is unclear at this time if any of the suggested expansions will be implemented.
The HRIBF Users Executive Committee Election will be held soon to replace Art Champagne (UNC) and Alfredo Galindo-Uribarri (ORNL). They formed a committee together with Witek Nazarewicz and nominated the following slate of candidates who have agreed to serve if elected. At-large candidates have been solicited from the entire users group. The current ballot is:
For the seat of Art Champagne
For the seat of Alfredo Galindo-Uribarri
Ballots are to be sent sometime in October.
RA5. Suggestions Welcome for New Beam Development
HRIBF welcomes suggestions for future radioactive beam development. Such suggestions may take the form of a Letter of Intent or an e-mail to the Liaison Officer at firstname.lastname@example.com. In any case, a brief description of the physics to be addressed with the proposed beam should be included. Of course, any ideas on specific target material, production rates, and/or the chemistry involved are also welcome but not necessary. In many cases, we should have some idea of the scope of the problems involved.
Beam suggestions should be within the relevant facility parameters/capabilities listed below.
RA6. HRIBF Experiments,
January through June 2010


text:
latest posts
I was honored to have been invited to speak on a panel with superstars (from left to right above) Rachelle Carson Begley (married to Ed Begley), Sophie Uliano (NYTimes best selling author), Izabella Miko (actress), Carly Harrill (blogger ghost writer), Karen Stewart Brown (fashion designer), Kris Willey (host of WotGG), and Alexandra Spunt (author).
The focus of this panel was how we came into our careers. I explained how I used to work in a corporate environment that was not recycling, was wasting energy, and was using styrofoam cups for one 4 ounce shot of water. I realized my raw food catering and the weekly events I was hosting (to feed myself good food) was a successful business. So, I decided to leave corporate America to focus 100% on my prepared packaged foods, catering, and events. I followed my bliss because I believed raw foods helped people feel better and healthier. It also helps us tread lightly on our Planet.
This event was held in Culver City, Los Angeles, CA on Saturday May 14, 2011. These beautiful photos are courtesy of photosbyKailas.com. Thanks Kailas!
Video TRT: 4 min, 42 sec
This is a book trailer for my latest book Ani's Raw Food Essentials. In it, I show you how easy it is to make a delicious, fast, raw food Tomato Chili with Taco Nut Meat, from pages 145-146.
Tomato Chili with Taco Nut Meat (bean-free)
A vegetable chili made with chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, celery, mushrooms, and corn kernels. Spiced with cumin, and oregano for a real chili flavor similar to the cooked bean version. Top with Taco Nut Meat for an added layer of texture and south west flavor.
Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl, and mix well. Scoop about 1/3 of the mixture into blender and puree. Scoop puree back into mixing bowl.
To serve, scoop into 4 serving bowls. Top with Taco Nut Meat, and enjoy.
Taco Nut Meat
Walnuts are ground and spiced with cumin and coriander to make this taco flavored nut meat crumble. Use it to top salads, soups, and inside wraps to add taco flavor and texture.
Place walnuts into food processor, and process into small pieces. Add remaining ingredients, pulse to mix well.
Will keep for 1 week in fridge.
For organic ingredients and kitchen tools, visit my estore and Go Super Life!
For weeks, friends had been calling to say they saw a poster of me on Beverly Blvd. Now I can see why. Erewhon is the greatest store in the world for everything raw. Juan Hernandez has been the Erewhon force behind this great raw department. I'm holding a print gift from Tyler Golden, my food photographer, of my Mandu Dumpling recipe from Ani's Raw Food Essentials. I love it!
Another photo in front of my poster, this time with one of my favorite actors and directors Vincent Gallo. He directed and acted in Buffalo '66 (1998) with Christina Ricci, who I love too. I attended high school in Buffalo, and enjoyed watching this film years ago. Buffalo '66 was the first time I saw the camera effect when the set stays still and the camera pans 360 around the characters. This was a year prior to the same effects in the Matrix film.
It was another packed house on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Erewhon in Hollywood. I demonstrated how to make my Strawberry Kream Pie using dates, cashews, vanilla, and strawberries. The lovely Christy Morgan (in purple) volunteered to help me portion out the tastes and get them into the crowd. Everyone loved the dessert, it was fast and easy to make, and tasted delicious.
I talked about the importance of probiotics in our diets. In America, we take antibiotics, which kill off all our healthy intestinal flora. Probiotics will help us to regain balance in our digestive tract. My new book includes a chapter on probiotic drinks including kefir and kombuch, and another on probiotic pickled vegetables inspired from my Korean heritage.
I always love signing books after a talk and food presentation. It's when I really get to connect with people and hear their stories. These two lovelies are getting married soon, and told me they're planning to have 3 raw cakes at their wedding.
I had previously met Dana at one of the Community Services Unlimited gardens, where she was elbow deep planting greens in the dirt. Her garden is beautiful, very well maintained, and full of the most delicious plants. Read my post on the CSU, Inc gardens.
Thank you to Juan for hosting, Christy for helping, Tyler Golden for taking photos, and Raw Sangha's Brother Echo for filming yesterday's event. Brother Echo said he'd have a video up that I'll link to in a day or so. Thanks everyone for joining me and celebrating my new book!
Friday evening was the first stop along my book tour for Ani's Raw Food Essentials. Book Soup arranged a special and very early drop shipment of my books to be delivered 3 weeks early. Official sale date isn't until June 1st. So, Book Soup is where I got to see my new book in person. It's always super exciting to hold a copy in my hands. And the book looks great. Hard cover, 2 color with beautiful color food inserts taken by Tyler Golden.
Tyler brought me a gift! A large print of my Mandu Dumplings framed. I love it!
I talked about my goals for Ani's Raw Food Essentials, which is to strip away the misconception of raw or healthy being expensive or time consuming. I hope to make raw food preparations easy and accessible to everyone. I begin with stripped down BASIC recipes, then build up from there to create variations and different, new flavors.
Minah is a fellow Korean American who lives near Pasadena and goes to college in NYC. Check out her book on my lap. It's dog eared, marked up, and worn. I love this! A sign that Ani's Raw Food Kitchen has been put to good use. Minah shared with me how my raw recipes feed her, gave her mental clarity and focus, and charged her through school. Bravo!
Belita, to the left in the above photo, is a mother who I had a discussion with about how her little girl gravitates to fresh fruit while her boy reaches for vegetables. It's natural for kids to love whole, fresh fruits and vegetables. After all, candy colors are inspired by fruit and vegetables. In the center is Tyler Golden, food photographer, and then Minah.
To the right is Kurt, who I discovered works in South Los Angeles (which used to be called South Central LA) with kids. He lives in Venice, all the way West at the ocean, and takes public transit downtown daily to work and back. I'm very impressed! He found his way to Hollywood from downtown via public transit, and luckily got a ride back to the west side from Belita. It's rare to meet people who don't drive their own cars here in LA.
I'm now working with Community Services Unlimited in the same neighborhood as Kurt, so we'll be seeing more of each other this summer through our gardening, cooking classes, and fund raising dinner events for kids and the community in South Los Angeles.
The lovely Thea took these photos for me, and unfortunately, we didn't get a photo together.
Professional photos taken by Tyler Golden from last weekend's kick off book tour events. The first two are from Book Soup in Hollywood on Friday May 7, 2010.
The following images are from Saturday May 8th at Erewhon in Hollywood.
Thanks Tyler Golden for the beautiful color food photos in Ani's Raw Food Essentials, and for these lovely pictures too.
More photos were taken and a video was shot by Brother Echo of RawSangha. Check out photos here, and video coming soon.
Raw Energy raw food article in the UK's Health & Fitness Magazine in the May 2010 issue featuring 3 recipes from Ani's Raw Food Essentials:
I made a batch of Kanga Dog Treats for my Rhodesian Ridgeback canine companion. She loves these, and asked me to share the recipe with you here on my blog so other dogs could also enjoy these treats.
It's important to keep your dog's gums and teeth healthy, especially if they aren't crunching on dry kibble. These easy to make, crunchy treats will help remove plaque and freshen dog breath.
Your dog may not be used to these at first. Just like other new foods, you may need to teach pooch how to eat them by taking a bite out of one first, then giving it to pooch to try. Dogs always love what they see us eating. Especially when accompanied by yummy, delicious sounds.
Kanga is a dessert dog. She hates water and baths. She was rewarded after her lavender bath today with these treats, and was very happy.
I realize this is a recipe section where I list food for people. The good thing about raw food is that even treats for dogs could easily be enjoyed by humans. Many times, friends have come over and said "your dog eats better food that I do!" And this is so true, since Kanga eats organic, local, seasonal, and many times stuff that I eat. I joke that she's my compost bin, eating up all my leftovers.
Kanga Dog Treats
Place sweet potatoes on dehydrator trays, and dry at 104 degrees F for 12 hours, or until completely dry.
The sun was out for Day 1 of Expo West, and I was happy it was warm outside for the folks visiting from colder climates.
My first stop was the Sequel booth, where I found my good friend Brendan Brazier. He's the formulator of Vega. He has a new Sport line out for pre and post workout fueling. Brendan's the author of Thrive and Thrive Fitness books. I love Vega drinks and bars.
I also found my friend Robert Cheeke at the Sequel booth, vegan body building champion. He also has a new book out soon called Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness.
Next stop was the Ohgave booth, where I found Matthew Kenney with his new raw agave product. Matthew's latest restaurant, 105degrees, is opening up the world of raw food to mainstream America in Oaklahoma City, of all places. Matthew's the author of numerous cookbooks including Everyday Raw, which I've often found my Ani's Raw Food Kitchen book sitting next to on store shelves. What a cutie pie.
Excited by the huge jump in new raw products at this year's Expo West, I forgot to take anymore photos after this point, and got carried away into the thousands of booths and new products. I found several raw kale chips, tons of raw chocolate, a couple raw kombuchas, new raw bars, and several flax crackers. The raw food explosion was quite a sight to see.
I had my preview copy of Ani's Raw Food Essentials with me, and folks were stoked to see a sneak peek at my new book. In addition to several awesome meetings, I was also video interviewed for VegNews and Delicious Living Magazines. I'll make sure to post up the videos right here as soon as they are live.
Ani Launches New VitaMix TurboBlend VS
I was invited to the VitaMix headquarters to shoot a 60-minute DVD they'll include in...
Ani's Raw Food Essentials
My new book, Ani's Raw Food Essentials, will be available everywhere May 3rd! I was...
Ani's Recipes in the 2009 Food & Wine Cookbook
Two of my recipes are included in the 2009 Food & Wine Cookbook: my Zucchini Noodles with...
ani's books
©2007-2010 ani phyo. all rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


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BackHome » Luxury Hotels UK Search » UK Luxury Country Hotels » England Luxury Country Hotels » South West England Luxury Country Hotels » Cornwall Luxury Country Hotels » St Agnes Luxury Country Hotels
Luxury, 4 Star and 5 Star Country Hotels Truro
Included below are 4 star, 5 star and luxury country hotels, such as Rose-in-Vale Country House Hotel, in Truro. If you are looking to escape from the stress and noise of the towns and cities, we feature luxury hotels in the country throughout the UK.
Rose-in-Vale Country House Hotel
Mithian, St Agnes 6.1 miles away
The Rose-in-Vale is a hotel which truly lives up to its name - a lovely Georgian Country Manor House dating from the 18th century, hidden away in its own Cornish wooded valley just outside the picturesque village of Mithian on the magnificent North... more
Editors' Picks containing Rose-in-Vale Country House Hotel
Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa
Esplanade Road, Fistral Beach, Newquay 10.5 miles away
Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is all about the incredible views, the laid back, luxurious rooms and the great opportunity to wind down and relax with a variety of treatments. We're talking about one of Cornwall finest beaches here, so checking into... more
Editors' Picks containing Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa
Budock Vean - The Hotel on the River
Helford Passage, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth 11.4 miles away
Budock Vean - The Hotel on the River is a privately owned, friendly 4 Star hotel nestling in 65 acres of award winning gardens and parkland on the banks of the tranquil Helford River. The majority of guest rooms have open views over the golf course... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Budock Vean - The Hotel on the River
Editors' Picks containing Budock Vean - The Hotel on the River
The Cornwall Hotel Spa and Estate
Pentewan Road, Tregorrick, St Austell 12.1 miles away
A luxury four star hotel, with five star standard woodland holiday homes to buy or rent and a stunning Spa set in 43 acres of Victorian wooded parkland. Within touching distance of many of the most popular beaches and attractions in Cornwall... more
Editors' Picks containing The Cornwall Hotel Spa and Estate
The Carlyon Bay Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
Sea Road, St Austell 14.7 miles away
The Carlyon Bay Hotel is the perfect hiding place in glorious Cornwall. Perched atop cliffs overlooking St Austell Bay with dramatic views, it really is a photographers dream! All guest rooms are furnished to a high standard many with breathtaking... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Carlyon Bay Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
Treglos Hotel
Constantine Bay, Padstow 18.5 miles away
With a deep afternoon winter chill in the air, arriving at the Treglos near Padstow to find a pot of piping hot Earl Grey and an array of buttery scones, a fluffy bowl of clotted cream and some locally-made strawberry jam awaiting me in the lounge... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Treglos Hotel
The Horn of Plenty
Gulworthy, Tavistock 42.1 miles away
This 4 Star Country House has been thrilling guests for almost 50 years with some of the very best food, views and accommodation you'll find in the South West. Awarded Silver in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2015, Located near the... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Horn of Plenty
Langdon Court Hotel
Adams Lane, Down Thomas, Plymouth 42.7 miles away
Langdon Court Hotel and Restaurant is a historic 16th Century grade II listed country house hotel nestled in the South Devon countryside near Plymouth. The Hotel is just a short stroll away from the silvery sandy beaches of Wembury and is surrounded... more
Editors' Picks containing Langdon Court Hotel
The Arundell Arms
Fore Street, Lifton 42.9 miles away
The Arundell Arms exudes warmth and comfort and in small thoughtful things such as the home-made chocolates placed in the sitting room for the guests after dinner and the vases of fresh flowers. In the restaurant, guests are treated to a dining... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Arundell Arms
Moorland Garden Hotel
Yelverton, Plymouth 44.3 miles away
Moorland Garden Hotel sits on the edge of Dartmoor National Park but just a short distance from the bustling city of Plymouth. With 9 acres of stunning moorland gardens to explore, this is a perfect location for business, leisure or special... more
Boringdon Hall Hotel
Colebrook, Plympton, Plymouth 45.1 miles away
Just five minutes from the vibrant city of Plymouth and on the edge of the idyllic Dartmoor National Park, Boringdon Hall retains its traditional charm and historic character of a bygone era combined with the comforts of modern day living. With a... more
The Two Bridges Hotel
Two Bridges, Dartmoor National Park, Dartmoor 52.6 miles away
The Two Bridges Hotel nestles in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park. A perfect retreat to relax and unwind in beautiful surroundings. Staff are friendly and attentive yet unobtrusive. Bedrooms are individually furnished, some with four-poster... more
Editors' Picks containing The Two Bridges Hotel
Prince Hall Hotel
Dartmoor 53.9 miles away
Prince Hall Hotel, built in 1787, is an intimate country house hotel which retains the atmosphere of a most welcoming home. This beautifully proportioned hotel enjoys a spectacular setting in its sheltered, south-facing position, and the view over... more
Editors' Picks containing Prince Hall Hotel
Soar Mill Cove Hotel & Self Catering
Soar Mill Cove, Marlborough, Salcombe 54.9 miles away
Soar Mill Cove is a superb family owned hotel which sits dramatically by the seaside, near the fashionable harbour of Salcombe and within two hundred acres of National Trust countryside, this is a walkers and country lovers paradise. The well... more
Editors' Picks containing Soar Mill Cove Hotel & Self Catering
Bovey Castle
North Bovey, Dartmoor 61.4 miles away
Bovey Castle owned by the Eden Hotel Collection has recently received a £2 million restoration and refurbishment with the renovation of the entire ground floor completed in early 2015. The transformation has included both restaurants, with our... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Bovey Castle
The Edgemoor
Haytor Road, Bovey Tracey 64.1 miles away
A former grammar school, The Edgemoor in Dartmoor is a quintessentially English country house hotel complete with lush grounds, roaring log fires, four poster beds and lovely views. And from the mouth-watering cream teas served in the Old Devon... more
Northcote Manor Country House Hotel
Burrington, Umberleigh 67.7 miles away
Northcote Manor Country House hotel provides a level of unsurpassed luxury in North Devon, offering an opportunity for complete relaxation and refreshment. The sixteen luxury bedrooms and suites are very individual in size and décor, offering... more
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Kentisbury Grange
Kentisbury, Barnstaple 78.8 miles away
Country getaways don't get much more glam than this. At Kentishbury Grange, a Victorian pile in beautiful North Devon restored to its original splendour, expect a right royal welcome and touch of British class. Book into a Luxury Room or Lodge and... more
Combe House - Devon
Gittisham, near Honiton, Exeter 88.4 miles away
A grade I Elizabethan country house in Devon, Combe House has pretty much all you could wish for in a luxury rural retreat. From the airy Linen Suite (the house's original laundry room) with its huge sitting room in cool, modern style with natural... more
Penally Abbey Country House Hotel
Penally, Tenby 97.7 miles away
Penally Abbey is a fine country house hotel rich in character and old-world charm. Standing in five acres of gardens and woodlands, with magnificent sea views over Tenby golf course and Carmarthen Bay. This hotel offers all the home comforts,... more
Editors' Picks containing Penally Abbey Country House Hotel
The Mount Somerset Hotel & Spa
Lower Henlade, Taunton 102.7 miles away
The Mount Somerset Hotel & Spa is privately owned by the Eden Hotel Collection, winners of the 'AA Small Hotel Group of the Year' 2014-2015. This elegant regency country house, cradled by both the Quantocks and the Blackdown Hills, is noted for its... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Mount Somerset Hotel & Spa
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BridgeHouse Beaminster
3 Prout Bridge, Beaminster 108.9 miles away
Step into the BridgeHouse hotel, and you can sense some of the 700-year-old former priest´s house oozing its character. Thick stone walls, stone mullioned windows, ancient beams and inglenook fireplaces, makes the BridgeHouse the quintessential,... more
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Editors' Picks containing BridgeHouse Beaminster
Warpool Court Hotel
St David's 111.9 miles away
Warpool Court Hotel is a haven of peace at the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, overlooking one of the most beautiful coastal stretches in Europe. All bedrooms are attractively furnished fourteen of which are sea facing. There is a... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Warpool Court Hotel
- October Dinner, Bed and Breakfast Special
- To view the full details of all (1) Special Offers & Deals for Warpool Court Hotel, click here
Editors' Picks containing Warpool Court Hotel
Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant & Spa
9 Fore Street, Evershot 115.1 miles away
Enjoy the comfort and serenity of Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant & Spa, a Relais and Chateaux property, set in the picturesque village of Evershot in the heart of the beautiful Dorset Downs. Accommodation at Summer Lodge is exceptional... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Restaurant & Spa
The Farmhouse Hotel
Route des Bas Courtils, St Saviour, Guernsey 120.6 miles away
Originally built as a working farm, a complete renovation in recent years has established The Farmhouse as one of Guernsey's leading 4 star hotels, providing outstanding levels of accommodation and superb cuisine in contemporary surroundings. All 14... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Farmhouse Hotel
- 3 Night Festive Break from £259 per person
- To view the full details of all (4) Special Offers & Deals for The Farmhouse Hotel, click here
Bella Luce Hotel & Restaurant
La Fosse, St Martins, Guernsey 124.3 miles away
The Bella Luce is an exclusive Boutique Luxury Hotel, Restaurant & Spa situated on the beautiful island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands just off the coast of Normandy. This 12th century manor has recently been lovingly refurbished with great care... more
Editors' Picks containing Bella Luce Hotel & Restaurant
St Pierre Park Hotel & Golf Resort
Rohais, St Peter Port, Guernsey 124.4 miles away
Fancy taking on nine Tony-Jacklin designed holes, playing a spot of tennis, spoiling yourself with a massage or simply taking a stroll in acres and acres of rolling Channel Islands countryside? The St Pierre Park Hotel, which proudly states it is the... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for St Pierre Park Hotel & Golf Resort
Fermain Valley Hotel
Fermain Lane, St Peter Port, Guernsey 124.4 miles away
Fermain Valley Hotel nestles in Guernsey's prettiest valley, perched above Fermain Bay. The hotel, set in several acres of landscaped gardens enjoys a peaceful and secluded setting yet the charming harbour capital of St Peter Port is easily... more
Editors' Picks containing Fermain Valley Hotel
BEST WESTERN PLUS Swan Hotel
Sadler Street, Wells 124.7 miles away
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Swan Hotel in Wells has been sympathetically restored, offering a unique charm combined with modern amenities. Located in the shadow of Wells Cathedral and steeped in over 600 years of history. The forty eight bedrooms are... more
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The Celtic Manor Resort
Coldra Woods, The Usk Valley, Newport (Gwent) 131.6 miles away
When in Wales, choose Celtic Manor. That's the choice many luxury seekers and golf enthusiasts make, turning this expansive 2,000-acre estate in the beautiful Usk Valley into their home. It's got five stars written all over it: indulge in fine dining... more
Editors' Picks containing The Celtic Manor Resort
Stock Hill Country House Hotel & Restaurant
Stock Hill, Gillingham 132.8 miles away
Joint owner Nita Hauser has left no stone unturned when searching for period furniture for her 19th century country house hotel in Gillingham, Stockhill House. And her efforts have resulted in what can only be described as a simply fabulous... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Stock Hill Country House Hotel & Restaurant
- Lazy lunches now available ALL WEEK INCLUDING SUNDAY
- To view the full details of all (1) Special Offers & Deals for Stock Hill Country House Hotel & Restaurant, click here
The Priory Hotel
Church Green, Wareham 133.2 miles away
Steeped in history, The Priory Hotel dates from the early 16th century and stands in over 4 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens nestled on the banks of the River Frome, with commanding views of the open countryside and the Purbeck Hills. The... more
Editors' Picks containing The Priory Hotel
Mortons House Hotel & Restaurant
East Street, Corfe Castle 134.9 miles away
Situated in the heart of the Isle of Purbeck, Mortons House provides the perfect centre from which to enjoy this beautiful corner of England. Built in 1590 in the shape of an 'E' to honour Queen Elizabeth I, the building has been sympathetically... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Mortons House Hotel & Restaurant
- 7 nights for the price of 6
- To view the full details of all (2) Special Offers & Deals for Mortons House Hotel & Restaurant, click here
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The Falcondale
Falcondale Drive, Lampeter 135.2 miles away
The Falcondale hotel and 2AA rosette restaurant near the University town of Lampeter is only 30 minutes from the coastal villages of Cardigan Bay and hilly, marshy regions of the Cambrian Mountains. A wealth of walking, cycling, fishing, and open... more
Editors' Picks containing The Falcondale
THE PIG-near Bath
Hunstrete House, Pensford, Bath 135.3 miles away
Tucked in the folds of the Mendip Hills...Come and experience our newest pig - a 29 bedroom mellow country house perfectly situated near Bath and Bristol. This is a real get-away location, truly rural, with quintessentially english views of this... more
Gliffaes Hotel
Gliffaes Road, Crickhowell 137.8 miles away
This clergyman's house above the River Usk has the feel of a family home with its Italianate campanile (bell tower) giving away Victorian origins. The entrance up steep steps is decorated with fishing impedimenta to prepare you for a weekend of... more
Homewood Park Hotel & Spa
Abbey Lane, Freshford, Bath 141.7 miles away
Homewood Park hotel & Spa is set in 10 acres of award-winning gardens and mature parklands. Step inside and you'll find the house still retains many of its original features, including exposed wooden floors, antique paintings and roaring log fires. ... more
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Combe Grove Manor Hotel
Brassknocker Hill, Monkton Combe, Bath 142.2 miles away
With just awesome views across the breathtakingly beautiful Limpley Valley, the elegant, Georgian-era Combe Grove Manor Hotel just two miles outside Bath is the sort of place you imagine a Richard Curtis movie to be set in. Rooms are super smart (we... more
Bath Spa Hotel
Sydney Road, Bath 142.5 miles away
The Bath Spa hotel has taken to heart the concept of the English country house retreat and produced an experience you won't want to end. Think thick pile carpets, plush upholstery, swagged curtains, croquet (and tennis) on the lawn and five-star... more
Bailbrook House
Eveleigh Avenue, London Road West, Bath 143.5 miles away
Just a hop, skip and a jump away from the historic centre of Bath, Bailbrook House is set on a hill within 20 acres of rolling west country grounds and has impeccable views over the city and the Avon Valley beyond. Built in the 1790s, the mansion... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Bailbrook House
- Classic two night breaks
- To view the full details of all (2) Special Offers & Deals for Bailbrook House, click here
The Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa
Boreham Road, Warminster 143.5 miles away
Welcome to The Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa. Without doubt one of the finest, luxury hotels in Wiltshire. Located within easy reach of Bath and Salisbury (off the A36), only 6 miles from the famed Longleat Safari and Adventure Park. Set in 27 acres of... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa
- Stay at Bishopstrow and visit to Longleat Safari Park
- To view the full details of all (1) Special Offers & Deals for The Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa, click here
The Lake Country House Hotel & Spa
Llangammarch Wells 144.3 miles away
This former Victorian hunting lodge has been sympathetically converted into a luxury spa hotel hidden away down a series of Welsh country lanes. Fifty acres of grounds are laid out with rolling lawns, rhododendrons and riverside walks. Guests can fly... more
Editors' Picks containing The Lake Country House Hotel & Spa
St Brelade´s Bay Hotel
La Route de la Baie, St Brelade's Bay, Jersey 145.0 miles away
St Brelade's Bay Hotel is situated in the popular Channel Island location of Jersey, known for its natural splendour, historic attractions and island walks. The hotel is based amidst award-winning gardens, that include a tennis court and children's... more
Howard's House
Teffont Evias, Salisbury 145.6 miles away
Howard´s House hotel is set in 2 acres of glorious gardens in one of the most beautiful villages in Wiltshire. Hidden away in the quietness of the lovely Nadder valley. The nine luxury bedrooms have been created, using floral prints and pastel... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Howard's House
The Park Hotel Pandy
Abergavenny 145.6 miles away
The Park Hotel is an 18th century Georgian gentleman's house set within manicured country gardens at the foot of the black mountain. The Park hotel has 8 individually designed bedrooms with original features, all en-suite with bath and shower.... more
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
Colerne, Chippenham 148.4 miles away
Sweep up the mile-long drive past the beeches and limes towards the grand entrance of 17th century country house Lucknam Park and you get a sense of the luxurious treats that await you. This Palladian mansion, held to be one of the finest British... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
- One Night Midweek Brasserie Treat
- To view the full details of all (5) Special Offers & Deals for Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, click here
Editors' Picks containing Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa
Beechfield House
Beanacre, Melksham, Bath 150.3 miles away
Beechfield House - Country House Hotel in Wiltshire. A gem of an independent country house hotel, near to Bath, Longleat, Lacock and Stonehenge. The outdoor heated pool is glorious in the summer, whilst in the winter, open fires are as warm as the... more
Longueville Manor
Longueville Road, St Saviour, Jersey 150.4 miles away
Longueville Manor hotel is a 13th century Norman Manor house, restored and converted into one of Europe´s most celebrated hotels. Elegantly and stylishly decorated with rich, warm colours, fine antiques and fresh flowers, there is a perfect ambience,... more
The Manor House, an Exclusive Hotel & Golf Club
Castle Combe, Bath 151.2 miles away
Sitting quietly in the Bybrook Valley in the picture perfect Cotswolds village of Castle Combe, The Manor House ticks all the rural country bolthole boxes. Michelin-star dining? Tick. Herbs and produce sourced from the kitchen garden? Tick. Luxurious... more
Latest Special Offers & Deals for The Manor House, an Exclusive Hotel & Golf Club
- Tasting Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
- To view the full details of all (6) Special Offers & Deals for The Manor House, an Exclusive Hotel & Golf Club, click here
Chateau La Chaire
Rozel Bay, St Martin, Jersey 151.9 miles away
An historic country house, the elegant Château La Chaire has been enhanced and transformed into a luxury 14 bedroom hotel providing exceptional levels of comfort and service. Many of the bedrooms feature balconies overlooking the remains of the... more
Editors' Picks containing Chateau La Chaire
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|Superintendent Bill Kowba, left, Whole Foods Marketing Supervisor Liz Kahler, Board President John Lee Evans, Whole Foods Marketing Ray Kau, Farm to School Specialist Vanessa Zajfen and Food Services Director Gary Petill.
The Farm Bus, a farm built inside a bus, was conceived to expand the Farm to School program by creating a living-learning lab that will travel to schools and teach students about sustainable agriculture and nutrition. The Farm Bus's goal is to inspire healthy eating through interactive learning.
"Additional financing will be required for completion, but a big thank you is necessary to Whole Foods Market who stepped up from the beginning to support this project," Zafjen said.
For more information about the Farm Bus project, contact Zajfen at firstname.lastname@example.com or 858-627-7310.


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$13,328 – $14,088 Invoice
30 / 33 MPG City/Hwy
Enter your information and a representative will contact you for this 2006 Scion xB !
What's New
The Scion xB, a very boxy model that looks like nothing else on the road, gets new wheel covers, a new audio head unit, and a new wheelchair-accessible Rampvan configuration for the 2006 model year. The Scion xB Rampvan allows wheelchair or scooter access from the rear and provides the physically challenged with a compact vehicle rather than a minivan or larger-sized set of wheels.
The xB has an appearance that is unique on American roads. It looks like a mini delivery van, but actually is a four-door crossover utility vehicle from Scion, Toyota's vehicle line designed for very young customers. Toyota launched Scion with 2004 xA and xB models, both based on products already sold in Japan. The xB may be a crossover vehicle, but it has front-wheel, not all-wheel drive. It also has a large catalog of specialty parts that are available so your xB is different from anyone else's.
Though sub-compact in its footprint, the xB presents a large canvas for such work with its bread van styling. Toyota says the xB "hunkers down low over its wheels and rises tall and wide with flat panels and 90-degree angles," which helps it achieve maximum space from minimal exterior dimensions. Because of its small size and weight (around 2,400 pounds), the xB uses a 108-hp, 1.5L four-cylinder engine. Even with a shape that looks like it would have horrible aerodynamics, the xB is fun to drive at highway speeds and is rated at 31 mpg in town and 34 on the highway with a manual transmission, and 31 city/35 highway with an automatic.
The xB comes with anti-lock brakes, Vehicle Stability Control, a 160-watt, MP3-compatable AM/FM/CD audio system by Pioneer, with a new head unit for 2006. Optional is an iPod-compatible system and a navigation system. Also standard are a 60/40-split and removable rear seat, air conditioning, front air bags, intermittent windshield wipers, power locks/mirrors/windows, a rear wiper, and tilt steering wheel.
The Competition
The Scion xB competes in the extremely competitive Compact CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) segment, which is one of the fastest-growing in the American light-vehicle marketplace.
The sales leader in the group is the Ford Escape, with 165,122 units sold in calendar year 2005, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report.SM The Honda CR-V was next, with 150,219 units sold in 2005, followed by the Chrysler PT Cruiser (133,740) and Chevrolet Equinox (130,542). The Scion xB ranked 10th among 18 models, with 54,037 units sold.
$17,845–$23,745 Base MSRP
$16,864–$21,964 Invoice
19/24 MPG City/Hwy
$20,395–$25,450 Base MSRP
$18,857–$23,520 Invoice
21/26 MPG City/Hwy
$20,050–$27,750 Base MSRP
$18,961–$25,954 Invoice
16/21 MPG City/Hwy


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Before you think that Gen. Abdul-Fatah al-Sisi's booting of the Muslim Brotherhood from power and legitimacy in Egypt has restored a sort of Mubarak-y order, consider this week's grim report: The senior fellow for the Mideast at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York says the country must confront a "solvency crisis."
If the bleak picture that Steven A. Cook paints is correct, then not just Cairo but many world capitals face difficult choices. Already, various "
moderate" Arab states have committed $20 billion-plus to righting the region's traditionally most important ship of state after years of revolution and misrule. The U.S., famously, long has been a huge giver to Egypt in the hopes of fostering comity with Israel. But Cook's research suggests all that may not be enough to cover Egyptian obligations and sustain its foreign-currency reserves.
"No single event alone would trigger a solvency crisis," Cook writes, "but multiple political and economic factors already present could potentially make Egypt default." He cites as one particular danger a sweeping wheat-crop failure (currently there's a global surplus) that ultimately would trigger bread riots in a society especially sensitive on that score.
Although the world has grown somewhat used to national collapses and bailouts in recent years, Egypt because of its size and place is special case. Its political upheavals of late have so captured attention that its stark economic picture often has fallen out of focus.
Indeed, the International Monetary Fund continues to find matters improving, both in reality and in prospect. In the tables here you can see that its latest biannual survey shows solid GDP growth in Egypt (as well as most other countries affected by the "Arab Spring"). I have commented several times previously about the IMF's seeming optimism in the face of on-the-ground evidence.
Now, however, the agency's numbers include upward revisions with realized economic data. I asked Cook how he would square such tabulations with his own dire assessment of Egypt.
He emailed me that the measures in his report "are the result of months of piecing together information from a variety of sources. As I'm sure you are aware, the information that the IMF and World Bank produce for public consumption relies heavily on information provided by governments. Egypt's CAPMAS is notorious for its inaccuracies." That's the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, whose name tends to underscore the point.
I would be happy to be proved wrong in my pessimism about the picture for Egypt and similar states, and I assume Cook would also. But for anyone doing business or handling statecraft there, the situation does seem to be ringing alarm bells, if you're inclined to hear them.


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The Bachelorette
Ashley Hebert's Wedding Dress Designer: "She's a Petite Barbie Doll"
Ashley Hebert and J.P. Rosenbaum's fairytale wedding on December 1st was an affair to remember, and we can't wait to see these two become man and wife during their ABC wedding special on Sunday, December 16th!
Ashley wore a stunning Randi Rahm fit-and-flare gown, which was fitted to hug all her curves, and a hand-beaded, removable train. "She's like a petite Barbie doll," Randi tells InStyle. "I wanted to accentuate her rear end—it had a real Jessica Rabbit hug-the-tush feel!" Ashley's train was 14 feet long and 40 pounds, but Ash says it was completely worth it. "It was connected to the top of my back, so walking up and down the steps was like I was at the gym!"
Ashley paired her dress with soft pink 4.5 inch Manolos — the exact same style that Carrie Bradshaw wore in the Sex and the City movie! She chose Fiji by OPI for her nails (to match wedding colors of pink, champagne and ivory), and kept her hair and makeup "soft and romantic."
Meanwhile, J.P. wore a Hugo Boss tuxedo, paired with suspenders — Ashley's favorite. "I made a comment once when he wore suspenders that he looked sexy, so I'm glad he did it," Ashley says. "There's nothing sexier than a guy in suspenders!"
Amen to that, sista. Are you feeling inspired by Ashley's wedding? You can buy her dress (The Ashley Alli) at Randi Rahm, and her shoes are available for special order at Manolo Blahnik!
Source: InStyle


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Miller's crossing pays a lot of attention to Gabriel Byrne's hat.
Does it symbolize anything in the movie or have any significance to the plot or is this a bit of a red herring?
Miller's crossing pays a lot of attention to Gabriel Byrne's hat.
Does it symbolize anything in the movie or have any significance to the plot or is this a bit of a red herring?
The hat is a tangible representation of Byrne's dilemma. The point to be noted is that his dilemma has so much prominence that it deserves a character of its own. There are many scenes in the movie when the hat disappears at moments of clarity and magically reappears on the stairs, exactly at the birth of some new confusion.
A scene in the movie provides a lovely explanation of the hat:
Verna: What're you chewin' over?
Tom Reagan: Dream I had once. I was walkin' in the woods, I don't know why. Wind came up and blew me hat off.
Verna: And you chased it, right? You ran and ran, finally caught up to it and you picked it up. But it wasn't a hat anymore and it changed into something else, something wonderful.
Tom Reagan: Nah, it stayed a hat and no, I didn't chase it. Nothing more foolish than a man chasin' his hat.
I've only seen the movie twice, but this is the impression I got from the hat. It represents composure and control. While Tom would never chase his hat through the woods, he does express a want for his hat every time he loses it. And he seems to lose it every time he loses control of a situation: someone ambushes him, he gets drunk and gambles it away, or he gets socked in the face.
The reason he wouldn't chase his hat is because he's very worried about the impression he gives others. He values dignity and the image of keeping a cool head even when he's in very hot water. If he has his hat, he's composed, and if he's composed, he's still got some control of the situation.
To me, the hat symbolizes letting go of everything and being in the moment. In that moment, he doesn't chase the hat. He's out of hope, out of future, head full of static.
Tom and Verna kill Leo at the end. There's not another soul alive that thinks this other than me and yet it seems so obvious. The hat at the beginning is Leo's hat. The stretch of woods it is blowing down is the same stretch of woods that Leo is walking down at the end of the movie. Why does Verna take the car at the end? Why does Tom tip his hat and give a sinister look? He tips his hat to firstly show that it's not the same hat as the one in the opening scene and secondly he tips it because he's about to do something: murder Leo. Seems obvious. Or maybe not.........


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Choose the Environmental Studies Program at CSUF?
Our program offers a transdisciplinary perspective on Environmental Studies at an advanced level. Students have access to faculty expertise in the natural sciences, engineering, social and behavioral sciences, business and economics, the arts, and humanities. The Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies is an important qualification for environmental professionals, and signifies the skills to independently conduct and supervise environmental research and environmental impact assessment. Some graduates continue in academics, pursuing doctoral degrees. Still others are educators at the K-12 or community college level.
for admission to ENST Program:
Admission to the Environmental Studies Program is competitive. We accept students as a cohort, and we are limited in the number per cohort. The following are minimum requirements necessary to apply, but meeting these in no way guarantees admission to the program
Admissions Process
Letters of Recommendation
Conditional Admission Policies
ENST Program Pre-Requisites
Transfer Coursework from Other Schools
Fee Information and Graduate Funding Opportunities
Residency Requirements
Open Secrets of Successful Applications
CSUF USDA MS ENST Fellowship 2014
Admissions Process
• The Environmental Studies Program only reviews applications for admission to enter the program during Fall semesters. In order to be competitive with the admissions decisions of comparable schools, we begin reviewing applications on 1 March. To ensure that your application receives full consideration, please apply by that date.
• All prospective students must apply DIRECTLY to the CSUF office of Admission
and Records for admission prior to being evaluated by the Environmental Studies
• Once prospective students start the application process, their
applications are acknowledged by the university
and each student is sent a letter with a student identification
number and PIN number. These numbers allow students
to track the progress of their applications online.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing an application
once all of the documents have been received.
Please refrain from making enquiries regarding your application
before then.
Students may reach the Titan Admissions Status office
at (657) 278-7904 or on the web http://www.fullerton.edu/prospective.htm
• Please Note: Applicants must send copies of all application materials to both 1) the CSUF Applications and Records Office and 2) the Environmental Studies Program Office, with the exception of the two letters of recommendation (which only need to be sent to the Environmental Studies Program Office). If the required documents are not received by both the Admissions and Records Office and the Environmental Studies Program Office, the application will be rejected.
Letters of Recommendation
• Reference letters must be written on official letterhead.
At least one of the two letters must be submitted
from a past academic instructor or advisor. The other letter
may come from an employer or someone who has had
a close working relationship with the applicant (in a
supervisory capacity).
• These letters must clearly indicate the nature of
the relationship between the person writing the referral
and the applicant to the ENST Program, and it must
be indicated why it is believed that the applicant
would be able to successfully undertake this degree.
The ENST Program does not provide a special form,
does it require a specific format for the reference
letters to follow.
• Please have the 2 letters of reference sent to:
California State University, Fullerton
C/O Environmental Studies Program Office
Humanities H-420A
Fullerton, CA 92834-6850
Conditional Admission Policies
Upon acceptance to the ENST program, each student
should receive a "Graduate Recommendation Sheet" from
the Admissions and Records Office. This sheet lists
any and all deficiencies of the prospective student.
This means, for instance, if a student has not taken
an ecology or quantitative methods course prior to
applying to the program, he or she may be conditionally
admitted to the Program; however, ALL deficiencies
must be made up within one year of program admission.
Note: Should an applicant
not receive a copy of the Graduate Recommendation
he or she should be sure
to contact the ENST Graduate Advisor.
ENST Program Pre-Requisites
The program has two 'tracks' of emphasis, 'Environmental Sciences and Technology' and 'The Environment and Society.' Each track has slightly different prerequisite courses. In order for an applicant to be admitted to their track, they must demonstrate that they have fulfilled the prerequisite courses. If an applicant does not meet the ENST Program course pre-requisites upon admission to the program, the student is given a maximum of one year to meet the deficiency (ies).
Prerequisite coursework for the Environmental Sciences and Technology track is 9 semester equivalent units of upper division coursework in the natural and/or physical sciences, mathematics, and/or engineering.
Prerequisite coursework for the Environment and Society track is 3 semester equivalent units (one course) in ecology and 3 semester equivalent units (one course) in quantitative methods (or statistics).
List of appropriate examples of courses that will meet the Ecology and Quantitative Methods/Statistics course pre-requisites for the Environment and Society track (Suggested CSUF Pre-requisites).
Applicants will work with an academic advisor to determine suitability of coursework to satisfy the prerequisite coursework for the Environmental Sciences and Technology track.
Suitable pre-requisite courses may be taken at another university or community college.
Transferring Coursework from Other Schools (also
see catalog)
If approved by the Graduate Advisor, ENST graduate students
may transfer up to fifteen (15) units worth of coursework
from other universities to their Study Plans. Special
Note: only nine (9) units worth of graduate level
coursework that has been earned through CSUF's Extended
Education University may be transferred to the ENST
study plan. See the "Graduate Regulations" section
of the CSUF catalog for more information regarding
transfer requirements.
Students wishing to enter the ENST Program
should recognize that completing ENST courses
to acceptance into
the Program does not guarantee University or
program admission nor acceptance of these (or
other post-graduate)
courses on any future ENST study plan. In order
to transfer coursework to your ENST study plan, applicants
are required
to provide a copy of
from the University's Catalog and speak with
the ENST Graduate Advisor. Past coursework may NOT
be transferred if it meets any of the following
(1) The courses have been used to complete:
(a) General education requirements
(b) Bachelor's degree requirements
(c) Graduate degree requirements
(2) It has been more than 5 years since the course(s) was taken.
(3) The course(s) is not graduate level, upper division,
(4) A grade below "C" was earned for the
Fee Information
For information regarding university fees and estimates
for cost of living in Southern California, please refer
to the following website for more information: http://www.fullerton.edu/catalog/admissions_and_registration/feeinfo.asp
For information specifically regarding International
students, please refer to: http://www.fullerton.edu/international/
Graduate Funding Opportunities
At this time, the ENST office does not support graduate
assistantships or other kinds of subsidized funding
opportunities for students in the program. If you are
interested in information regarding financial aid opportunities
offered through the university, please go to the following
link: http://www.fullerton.edu/catalog/admissions_and_registration/finaid.asp
The Interclub Council (ICC) at CSUF offers some funding
for conferences and research. Check with the ENST ICC
Representative for information on the proposal/funding
request process. Also be sure to check postings on
the bulletin board outside the ENST office (H-420A).
Open Secrets of Successful Applications
Many applicants call to ask me what makes an application stand out. I figured that I might as well stave off all of the calls and post an 'Open Secrets' list for all to see.
* First, tell us how you think our specific program will help you attain your professional or academic goals. This is best located in your letter of intent. Do your research on the program, contact potential faculty advisors, talk to alumni, contact us via email, and do whatever else necessary to figure out how we can help you get to where you want to go. We routinely reject high quality applicants who haven't made the link between their interests, our capabilities, and how they fit our program. We don't want to waste your time and our resources if we can't help you achieve your goals.
* Second, in parallel to my first point, find a faculty advisor at CSUF. We give preference to applicants who have already identified an advisor and have a note from the advisor that they are willing to work with the student. Look through our list of affiliated faculty, identify those with interests that overlap with yours, and start contacting them. You could set up an appointment with them to ask them about your research interests and what they look for in students to advise. Any efforts in identifying a potential advisor pay significant dividends when we look at your application.
* Third, good letters of reference really make a difference. Wisely choose the people who will write these letters and make sure that they arrive on time (see next point). These people should be able to point to concrete examples of what you have done or how you have performed. Prior to them writing a letter for you, you should meet with them or otherwise discuss why you want to go to graduate school and what you want to achieve with this additional schooling. Give them a sufficient amount of lead time (before the deadline) to write a solid letter.
* Fourth, complete your application prior to March 1st. When I say complete, that is what I mean. Check your application status online via the student portal. We start reviewing applications during the first week of March. In the past we have made a 'first cut' list and started notifying students almost immediately. The final deadline for applications is April 1st and we make a final cut around that time. If we are waiting on documents, you are likely to be cut.
*Fifth, you have to send all of the application materials we request, but feel free to send a resume, an additional letter of reference, or other documents that help us understand who you are. Just don't swamp us with loads of unimportant materials.
* Finally, if you are accepted into the program and you have competing offers, let us know. Space in the program is limited, so we may ask you to tell us if it is likely you will attend. Please don't lie. The best thing you could do for us is to give us a couple of minutes of your time over the phone to discuss your options. Sometimes we will be able to help you sort out your options, even when that suggestion is to take a better offer somewhere else.
This page is maintained by the Environmental Studies Program, College of Humanities and Social Sciences at California State University, Fullerton. © 2003. All rights reserved. Contact the webmaster for comments or problems with the website.


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By John D. BanusiewiczAmerican Forces Press Service
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Feb. 24, 2004 Expressing America's gratitude for Uzbekistan's help in the war on terror, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld met here today with key leaders of this former Soviet republic.
Rumsfeld arrived this afternoon from Kuwait, and met with President Islam Karimov and Defense Minister Kodir Ghulomov to discuss what the secretary described as a wide range of military, political and economic issues.
A senior defense official told reporters traveling with Rumsfeld that the United States has about 1,000 military people and some contractors in Uzbekistan working on support operations and humanitarian missions at Karshi- Khanabad, known as "K2." Service members populate Camp Stronghold Freedom and an airfield there in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
At a news conference following his meetings with the Uzbek leaders, Rumsfeld said the United States and Uzbekistan have a framework of a strategic partnership with military-to-military relationships, and look forward to strengthening political and economic relationships between the countries. The secretary cited Uzbekistan's participation in NATO's "partnership for Peace" program as part of the path toward that stronger relationship.
"The relationship between our two countries is important to us," he said, "and we certainly value the friendship of Uzbekistan and the people of Uzbekistan, and are grateful for the stalwart, steadfast support in our efforts against terrorism."
Rumsfeld said thanks to Uzbekistan's cooperation, "we have benefited greatly in our effort to liberate the people of Afghanistan. A prosperous, successful Uzbekistan is important to stability in the region, he added.
Uzbekistan is about the size of California, and is home to about 25 million people. It borders Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Rumsfeld steered clear of addressing in detail whether the country's human rights record was part of today's discussions, but a broad range of topics "political and human rights issues, as well as economic issues and military-to-military relations" are discussed "in all our meetings," he said. "Relationships between sovereign nations tend not to be on a single pillar," the secretary said. "They tend to involve economic, political, in this case human rights, as well as security issues."
With the Defense Department looking at redistributing its forces and changing its military "footprint" around the world, speculation rises about plans to establish bases in nearly every country Rumsfeld visits. Uzbekistan is no exception.
The secretary said that while no final decisions have been made, the United States has "no plans to put permanent bases in this part of the world." He added, however, that periodic support or access to specific "operating sites" that would not be permanent bases is one way of attaining the flexibility that is key to reshaping the U.S. military presence around the world.