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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Bright Purple Arabic Eyes - EDIT Pics Added
I recreated the look from the makeup for the last Indian Wedding I did. Many of you liked it so I said, hey, why not do a tutorial. This is more of a wearable arabic eye. I didn't go too dramatic with it (for me at least, lol) because I wanted to mimic what my client actually wore for her reception.
I've been doing a lot of more neutral, understated looks lately, and I wanted to bang out what I love - Bright Eye Makeup! I adjusted this look a little bit to fit my eye shape. When I look at it, this is pretty much a Pandemonium Quad (throwback) tutorial...I just added in hepcat e/s and lots of black liner.
Here's What I Used:
-soft ochre paint pot
-pandamonium quad - all three colors except pandamonium
-hepcat e/s
-NYX liquid liner
-revlon falsies
-feline kohl power pencil
-NYX mascara
-Rimmel primer
-Bobbi Brown corrector
-Bobbi Brown concealer
-studio tech foundation NC43
-select sheer pressed powder NC40
-shadowy sculpting powder
-sunbasque blush
-dame edna highlighter
-dervish lipliner
-thalia lipstick
-viva glam VI lipglass
Atlanta Makeup Artist
12 comments:
- Shen said...
great arabic tut ren. :) love it!
- March 10, 2009 at 9:31 AM
- Askmewhats said...
I enjoyed this video Renren :)
- March 10, 2009 at 10:16 AM
- Makeup by ReRe said...
Beautiful and in my fave color!
Visit Tigress Or Tame? Beauty for Wild & Mild Kitties for makeup giveaways, contests, reviews, freebies, and more!
- March 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM
- Syn@3sTh3sI@ said...
wow... it's look so great...i love purple eyeshadows but dunno y it always makes my eyes seem puffy
- March 10, 2009 at 10:39 AM
- ♡ Nic Nic ♡ said...
the blending and colours are gorgeous!!
- March 10, 2009 at 11:29 AM
- Girl with Curl said...
Very pretty.
- March 10, 2009 at 1:02 PM
- FuN and MakeUp said...
oOhhh im reallyy like this one!!!
- March 10, 2009 at 5:28 PM
- Tina Marie Online said...
gorgeous gorgeous look ren!
the pandamonium quad is one of my favorites! [:
- March 10, 2009 at 6:22 PM
- Yas said...
No one does brights like you Ren! Girl you are always stunning and hot. Love you girl!
- March 10, 2009 at 11:28 PM
- Product Junkie Diva said...
You should totally be on tv Ren!
- March 11, 2009 at 10:48 AM
- Eclecticldy said...
beautiful...maybe one day I will get to do an arabic look on someone :) can't wait for the hair tut.
- March 11, 2009 at 2:04 PM
- rockSTARbeauty said...
these purples look beautiful on you!
- March 11, 2009 at 4:03 PM


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I don't usually use them but I saw these Gia Russa DOP San Marzano tomatoes at a local grocery store so I figured that I'd give them a try. They were $2.99 for a 28 oz. can. This seemed pretty reasonable to me but I have never bought them before. Is this a good price?They tasted great.
Too much.
I've mentioned it a few times but this seems like a fitting time to mention it again. My local Costco has carried DOP San Marzano Tomatoes for about a year now. They are from Flora foods, they come in a 3 28 oz can pack and last time I was in the price was down to $6 for the 3 cans. I've been very happy with them.
I found this at COSTCO, 4 cans for $13 have any of you guys used? thanksFirst time posting pictures, I do not really know which is the best way to do it to get the best size/quality ratio...
Can you post the Costco Item Number? I would like to check with my local Costco and see if they can get it in. Thanks.TomN
landras,What Costco location did you purchase the San Marzano tomatoes from? It appears that they are only in the CA and TX locations at this time. ThanksTomN

subset: commoncrawl


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""It's not so much a frenzy as it was before, but in the long term it's going in the right direction." "
Size Matters
With manufacturers adding a dizzying number of derivative models to their lineups, classifying the available crop of business jets is becoming harder than ever. In an attempt to make better sense of the groupings, Business Jet Traveler uses cabin volume as the chief attribute defining the cutoff points for each category. After all, the first thing you usually notice when stepping aboard an airplane you've not been on before is how spacious-or cramped-the passenger quarters are.
According to our criteria, personal jets such as the Diamond D-Jet are on the bottom rung. Compact jets such as the Eclipse 500 are next, followed by categories for small, midsize, super-midsize and large jets and, finally, bizliners like the Boeing Business Jet and Airbus Corporate Jet.
Classifications by weight, range and price are used to further define the categories when needed. This means we still use terms like "very light jet" and "ultra long range" where appropriate, but interior room is considered the top trait. And for good reason: research by aircraft manufacturers has shown that the size and comfort of the passenger compartment is often judged to be the most important attribute of a business airplane.
The chart (link below) lists popular business jet models by cabin size.
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Sinclairville 76ers receive birthday donation
SINCLAIRVILLE – The Sinclairville 76ers recently received a birthday gift from members of the community – thanks to a very charitable celebrant.
Kari Gustafson, the granddaughter of 76ers social worker Patti France, celebrated her 16th birthday. In planning for her birthday party, Gustafson sent a note in all invitations saying that monetary gifts would be welcomed and would be donated to the 76ers Meals on Wheels. Gustafson was inspired by her grandmother, who very much believes in the Meals on Wheels outreach program. At the birthday party, $180 was donated to the 76ers, and recently was presented to some of the personnel at the luncheon site.
The Sinclairville 76ers is the Meals on Wheels program for the Cassadaga Valley area, designed to provide hot meals to many through delivery or to those who can attend meals at the Sinclairville Firehall dining room. The program is very worthwhile as an outreach to those in need. Meals are prepared in the Sinclairville dining room, and delivered by many volunteers. The 76ers is a part of the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging.
For more information on the Sinclairville 76ers Meals on Wheels program, call 962-3455. New members are always welcome.


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iHerb Commentaires des clients
Économie de: €10.37 (41 % de remise)
Product contains magnesium stearate
Publié par Jeffrey-Singapore le Oct 08, 2013
I ordered this product as the ingredients list shown on iHerb did not include magnesium stearate. But when I got the actual product, I saw that the ingredients list label stating that it does contain magnesium stearate. I am disappointed that iHerb has either sent me the wrong product (I understand that Nutrition Now has an original formula which includes magnesium stearate, but that bottle has a blue cap), or Nutrition Now has sent iHerb the wrong information. Either way, I would not order this again if it does contain magnesium stearate.
not thrilled
Publié par Reviewer1539219 le Dec 06, 2011
Doesn't do much for me. I usually use Dr. Ohhiras, but ran out before pay day. Not to mention they use corn as a filler, which I cannot use.
Not yet get the result
Publié par mingyu le Nov 29, 2012
will see
Publié par 5334769480850180827 le Jan 06, 2014
I have been using this product 2x a day for 3 weeks. So far, I don't see or feel any benefits. I will continue to use this until it is gone and see if I feel any different or better.
No difference
Publié par 4883014465784798422 le Nov 11, 2014
I have not noticed any changes in my digestive health. I normally take Culturelle, and notice a difference after the first dosage, I have not with this pro biotic.
i didn't found any result with this product
Publié par 4808438253444025655 le Aug 11, 2016
i didn't found any result with this product .
Publié par 4906376002742160013 le Sep 22, 2016
After trying a few other probiotics, this was the first I felt disappointed in. The low price prevented me from being too bitter, however...
articles 1-7 sur 7


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Google+ Hangout: Learn How to Access Health Care Coverage for Your Small Business Through Cover Oregon
Comments welcome on this page. See Rules of Conduct.
Google+ Hangout: Learn How to Access Health Care Coverage for Your Small Business Through Cover Oregon
SBA and Cover Oregon have teamed up to host a series of Google+ Hangouts on the Affordable Care Act. The final Hangout on Tuesday, September 17 will cover what small businesses need to know about Oregon's Marketplace, Cover Oregon, and how they will access coverage through the web portal – www.coveroregon.com Cover Oregon will address specific small business needs including:
- Requesting real-time carrier quotes including available plans and rates
- An employer's process to search for and select a medical plan and dental plan
- Setting up the employee open enrollment period
- How to use the e-signature and carrier submission
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 | 12:00-12:30 p.m. PDT
Natale Goriel, Online Media Coordinator, U.S. Small Business Administration
Jennifer Morgan, Business Readiness Expert, Cover Oregon
Watch from either SBA's YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/sba or SBA's Google+ Page www.google.com/+sbagov.
Registration: Registration is not required for this Hangout. Simply click on SBA's YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/sba or Google+ Page www.google.com/+sbagov to watch the Hangout live on September 17. The Hangout will also be recorded and will be available on SBA's YouTube Channel and Google+ Page.
About the Author:
Natale Goriel
SBA Official


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Teaching Themes
Winter: Everything You Need
Online activities, lesson plans, discussion guides, and other teaching ideas for celebrating winter
Extension Activities
Time to Sleep Extension Activities
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2
Children paint seasonal pictures, adding clay figures of animals featured in the book by Denise Fleming.
Activities and Games
Frosty Fun
Grades: PreK–K
Children create their own snowmen and observe how long it takes for the snow to melt inside the classroom.
Readers Theater Scripts
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb: A Reader's Theater Script
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2
Capture the excitement of spring by having students perform the "In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb" Reader's...
Teachers' Picks for Winter Craft Supplies
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5, 6–8
Tools for brightening winter days. Plus, resources and software to help kids channel their inner scribes.
Lesson Plans, Book Resources
The Magic School Bus in the Arctic Lesson Plan
Grades: 1–2, 3–5
Join the Magic School Bus kids as they discover how heat flows from hotter to colder things and find ways to keep the heat in!
Articles, Activities and Games
Web Resources: Measuring the Weather
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
Supplement a lesson on weather measurement with these links.
Snow and Blizzards
Grades: 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
Where does it snow the most in the United States? What causes a Nor'easter and how often do they occur? Meteorlogists answer students'questions...
Aurora Borealis
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
Explanation of the Aurora Borealis, a magnificent, naturally-occurring, sea of light seen in the arctic sky on winter nights.
Clothing and Insulation Worn in the Arctic
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
Find out the kinds of clothing — both traditional and modern — that are worn in the Arctic regions. Topics include the similarities of caribou...
Lesson Plans, Book Resources
Cold Little Duck, Duck, Duck Lesson Plan
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2
Duck returns to her pond while the weather is still cold. When she is told to return to a warmer place, Duck thinks of the best things about...
The Science of the Olympic Winter Games
Grades: 6–8, 9–12
Olympic-caliber short videos make key concepts like inertia, velocity, and momentum meaningful and exciting for your students.
Winter Crafts and More
Grades: 1–2, 3–5
Valentine's Day arts and crafts, ideas for a historical field trip, and ways to use the iPad in class.
Winter Idea Exchange
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5
Teachers discuss their favorite winter-time science and art activities for the classroom.
Snowfall Surprise Excerpt
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
Read an excerpt from Snowfall Surprise (Candy Apple #21) by Jane B. Mason and Sarah Hines Stephens
Discussion Guides, Book Resources
Clockwork Discussion Guide
Grades: 6–8
Explore the suspenseful book by Philip Pullman, which takes place on a snowy winter's evening.
Discussion Guides, Book Resources
Here Comes the Snow Discussion Guide
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2, 3–5
Everything is bright and cold and white in this simple rhyming story about a snowy day.
Extension Activities, Book Resources
Here Comes the Snow Extension Activities
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2
Use this chart to compare and contrast Here Comes the Snow! by Angela Shelf Medearis and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats.
Discussion Guides, Book Resources
The Winter of Red Snow Discussion Guide
Grades: 3–5, 6–8
A discussion guide to The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777 by...
An Interview with Kristiana Gregory about The Winter of Red Snow
Grades: 6–8
Kristiana Gregory was interviewed about The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge,...
Lesson Plans
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow Lesson Plan
Grades: PreK–K, 1–2
The Jacket I Wear in the Snow is a great introduction to dressing appropriately for winter weather. Students love the predictability of...


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PTS Home |
In This
Issue |
Features |
Departments |
& Off Campus |
Class Notes
| inSpire
2002 Volume 7 No. 1
Summer/Fall 2002
Volume 7 Number 1
& Off Campus
Class Notes
On the Shelves features book recommendations from Princeton Seminary faculty and staff to help alumni/ae choose books that contribute to their personal and professional growth.
Sang Hyun Lee, K.C. Han Professor of
Systematic Theology
Rachel's Cry: Prayer
of Lament and Rebirth of Hope, by Kathleen D. Billman and Daniel L. Migliore (United Church Press, 1999). In the process of discussing the
importance of lament in Christian prayer, the authors address in a very
informed and helpful way the issues involved in caring for bereaved
persons going through the grieving process.
Galilee, Jesus, and the Gospels: Literary Approaches and Historical
Investigations, by Sean Freyne (Fortress Press, 1988). One of the most
important books (including several recent works by Richard A. Horsley) for
an understanding of the theological significance of the Galilean context
of Jesus' ministry.
Kathleen E. McVey, Joseph Ross
Stevenson Professor of Church History
Hidden Pearl: The Aramaic Heritage of the Syrian Orthodox Church, by
Sebastian Brock, David G.K. Taylor, and Witold Witakowski, 3 vols., with
three videos produced by Giacomo Pezzali (books and videos published by
Trans World Film Italia, 2001); available through the Syrian Orthodox
Church in the USA
(firstname.lastname@example.com). An accessible three-volume
history of a major branch of the Christian church: 1) the pre-Christian
Aramaic background; 2) Syriac literature and history of the patristic
period; and 3)
subsequent history in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and eastern Turkey and now
also in Europe and America. Grounded in critical scholarship, beautifully
illustrated, and accompanied by professionally produced videos, this is an
important contribution to understanding the multicultural dimension of
Christianity throughout history.
under Siege: The Deadly Impact of Sanctions and War, edited by Anthony
Arnove (South End Press, 2000). This collection of essays, which includes
contributions from Ali Abunimah, Edward Said, Howard Zinn, and Noam
Chomsky, offers perspectives different from those usually represented in
the media. My interest in the history of this region has brought these
materials to my attention. As our national policies increasingly involve
this part of the world, American clergy and laypersons of all churches
will need to be better informed about all sides of the issues.


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2013 China Tours > China & Hong Kong > Tour Itinerary
12 Day China & Hong Kong (2013)
Tour Itinerary
Your exotic journey to China begins as you board China's national airline, Air China non-stop flight bound for Beijing. En route, cross the International Dateline and lose a day. You'll recover this day on your return trip. (IM)
Board Air China non-stop flight to Beijing
Air China Flight Schedule
Arrive in Beijing in the afternoon. Meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel. Relax and enjoy the evening in China's historic and vibrant capital city. Traders Hotel Beijing by Shangri-La, or similar 4-star hotel (IM)
Bird Nest, the main venue of 2008 Summer Olympics
After a hearty breakfast and a tour briefing, you visit the Tiananmen Square. At 100 acres, it is the world's largest public square, flanked by an assortment of historical buildings, huge museums and Communist monuments, including Mao's Mausoleum. One visitor has written, "An army could be massed, and all the kites in the world could fly." You roam the Square; and walk through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, under the famed portrait of Chairman Mao, to enter the Forbidden City, the symbolic center of the Chinese universe and a lasing monument of dynastic China, from which 24 emperors of the Ming and the Qing Dynasties ruled the Middle Kingdom for nearly 500 years (1420-1911).
The Forbidden City
Visit old Beijing's Hutong on pedi-cabs
Completed in 1420, the Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world's largest palace complex and China's most magnificent imperial architecture, consisting of many buildings with 9,999 rooms, on a 250-acre compound, protected by a 20-foot-wide moat and a 32-foot-high wall. Now known as the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City was the exclusive domain of the imperial court and dignitaries where outside visitors were forbidden for 5 centuries. Here you will explore the imperial treasures in the grand palaces and pavilions, exquisite courtyards and gardens in what was once the residence of China's rulers.
Afterwards, join our Culture InSites™ Program for a rickshaw ride along Old Beijing's Hutongs (narrow ancient alleys) to discover the sights and sounds of local Beijing life in these traditional Chinese neighborhoods. See the locals as they go about their daily activities; and tour the maze-like alleyways and courtyard houses before it's gone forever. Highlights include visits to a traditional courtyard home, to a local market, and a leisure walk along the "Lotus Lane" lined with bars, restaurants and tea houses. This unique tour features a delicious lunch served at a local family home with a Chinese dumpling-making demonstration.
Later, you are at leisure to explore Beijing on your own. In the evening, we are gathering for a welcome dinner of a specially prepared meal of Beijing Duck, cooked to crispy perfection. (B,L,SD)
A memorable day awaits! You will take a full day excursion to the Sacred Way of Ming Tombs and the Great Wall of China.
Visit the "Great Wall" of China
The "Sacred Way" of Ming Tombs
In the morning, you take a drive to the northwest of Beijing to visit the Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, regarded as China's finest example of imperial tomb architecture. En route, enjoy a visit to the jade factory with a presentation and some time for shopping. Situated in a peaceful valley, the Sacred Way was chosen by the Ming emperors as their burial place for its auspicious Fengshui alignment—a ridge of mountains to the north cradles the tombs on three sides, opening to the south and protecting the dead from the evil spirits carried on the north wind. Here you will walk along the elegant Sacred Way that leads to the tombs. Beginning with a grand marble gateway more than 400 years old, the long avenue is lined with 36 massive stone sculptures of officials, lions, elephants, camels and mythical beasts.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you take a scenic drive through the countryside and mountains to reach China's most renowned monument—the Great Wall. The wall was begun in the 5th century BC to keep out foreign invaders. Construction continued for centuries, eventually linking up the walls of the former independent kingdoms. The Great Wall meanders through China's northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert—a distance of over 3500 miles! Chairman Mao once said "You haven't walked on the Wall, you haven't been a good Chinese". Today you will have ample time to climb a section of the Great Wall and to get a sense of the enormity of this ancient edifice. (B,L,D)
In the morning, you visit the Temple of Heaven, the largest temple complexes in China and a paradigm of Chinese architectural balance and symbolism. One key element in China's architectural genius was the blending of the monumental with the delicate, and the Temple of Heaven is perhaps the finest expression of this mixing of near opposite.
Hall of Supreme Harmony, Temple of Heaven
The "Summer Palace" for Empress Dowager Cixi"
During each winter solstice, the Ming and Qing emperors would perform rites and make sacrifices to Heaven praying for good harvest for their empire. The most striking edifice is the "Hall of Prayer of Good Harvests", which according to the emperor's Fengshui masters, is the exact point where heaven and Earth met. Built in 1420 (without the use of a single nail), this masterpiece of Ming architecture, features triple eaves, dramatically carved marble balustrades, and gorgeous glazed azure roof that symbolizes the color of heaven. This 120-foot-high structure is fixed by four inner pillars represent the seasons, and two sets of 12 columns denote the months and the traditional Chinese division of a day.
Lunch stop at a pearl factory; afterwards, you tour the idyllic Summer Palace, once the summer retreat and playground for the imperial family and royal court during the late Qing Dynasty. Considered the finest Chinese imperial garden, the Summer Palace spans over 700 acres with breathtaking views, temples, pavilions, palaces and halls including the lavishly painted "Long Corridor". It is most associated, however, with the Empress Dowager Cixi who paid for the extravagant Marble Boat with funds meant for the modernization of the Imperial Navy. Time permits, you take a photo stop at the "Bird Nest" and visit the exterior portion of this huge complex—the main stadium of 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Later, transfer to the airport for a flight to Xian to experience the historical side of your China trip. Located in the Yellow River Basin in China's heartland, Xian is one of the birthplaces of civilization. It has seen 3,100 years of development and 11 dynasties, giving it equal fame with Athens, Rome and Cairo as one of the four major ancient civilization capitals. Xian reached its peak during the Tang Dynasty at 10th century with a population of one million and is rich with cultural and historical significances. Xian Grand Noble Hotel (B,L,IM)
Today's excursion will take you to modern China's greatest archaeological discovery – The Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses, which silently guarded the tomb of China's First Emperor for over 2,200 years. In 1974, a local farmer uncovered the first of three massive earth and timber vaults, while digging a well. The extensive excavation, still in progress, has yielded over 6000 life-sized terra cotta warriors, each individually sculpted, with the physical characteristics of the humans they were modeled after. Archers, infantrymen, horses and bronze chariots have also been unearthed. A Circle Vision documentary is available on site. Lunch at a local restaurant and see a noodle making demonstration. Later, you will have a chance to shop at a workshop that makes replica Terra-cotta Warriors.
6,000 Terra-cotta Warriors in Xian
Tang Dynasty stage show
Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), traditionally regarded as the golden age of China, was a time of patricians and intellectuals, Buddhist monks and Taoist priests, poetry and music, song and dance – a period of peace and exceptional creativity lasting 300 years. This evening, you attend a feast of culinary and cultural delights with a special Dumpling (dim sum) banquet followed by a fascinating Tang Dynasty stage show. Indulge yourself in this remarkable show and reinvent your China dream with a travel back in time to the world of China's Golden Age, then come back to the present with a greater understanding of this amazing time. (B,L,SD)
In the morning, you tour the Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty landmark. This seven-story pagoda was initially constructed in 652 AD to house the Buddhist sutras brought back from India by the monk, Xuan Zang, who later translated them into Chinese. His pilgrimage to India is immortalized in the Chinese classic – The Journey to the West.
The Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang Dynasty landmark
The Bund, a landmark of Shanghai
Afterwards, you are transferred to the airport for a flight to Shanghai, China's vibrant financial and artistic center. Shanghai, literally means "above the sea", is China's largest and most dynamic city, with a population of 18 million. In the 13th century it became a minor county seat and so it remained until the mid-19th century when British commercial ambitions led to war with China. The ensuing Treaty of Nanking allowed the British to trade freely from certain ports including Shanghai. The city soon became an outpost of glamour, high living, and ultimately decadence. In the 1930s, Shanghai is renowned as "the Pearl of the East".
Some places are forever associated with a single landmark and in the case of Shanghai it is surely the Bund. Today, you take a leisure walk along the waterfront promenade of the Bund. The Bund was at the heart of colonial shanghai, flanked on one side by the Huangpu River and on the other by the hotels, banks, offices, and clubs that were the grandiose symbols of western commercial power. See the ships and barges on the Huangpu River, en route to the sea or going upstream to the interior of China. The modernistic Oriental Pearl TV tower looms in the background redefining the skyline. You visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, for a 360-degree, bird's eye view of the city. Later, you tour Shanghai Municipal Wax Museum to learn the history of this magnificent city. Dinner tonight is followed by an unforgettable performance of the Shanghai Acrobats. Shanghai Ocean Hotel (B,IM,D)
In the morning you travel by motor-coach to Suzhou, which is often referred, by the Chinese, as the "Venice of the East" Suzhou is a 2,500-year-old city renowned the world over for its traditional gardens, ancient canals and silk production. In 1997 Suzhou's classic garden was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pavilion of Watching the Moon, Master of Net Garden
Canals, arched bridges, and cobbled lanes at Tongli
The construction of the Grand Canal in the 7th century created a means whereby silk, the prized commodity from this region could be transported to the Northern capital, Beijing, a distance of over 600 miles. With prosperity came prestige as merchants and artisans plied their trade. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Suzhou flourished as a place of refinement, drawing an influx of scholars and merchants, who built themselves numerous elegant gardens.
The Chinese garden developed as a synthesis of two concepts linked in Taoist philosophy - scenery and serenity: the contemplation of nature in isolated meditation led to enlightenment. Therefore, the educated and wealthy built natural-looking retreats for themselves with an urban environment. The garden creates poetic and painterly concepts, and aims to improve on nature in creating a picture that looks natural but is in fact entirely artificial. For this the Chinese garden designer used four main elements: rocks, water, plants, and architecture.
Upon arrival, you visit the Garden of the Master of Fishing Nets, and experience all of the elements of a classical Chinese garden. It is said that the Master of the Nets Garden was named after one of its owners - a retired official who wished to become an accomplished fisherman. Dating to 1140, it is considered by many, the finest of all Suzhou's gardens. Although exceptional small, it succeeds, with great subtlety, in introducing every element considered crucial to the classical Chinese garden. It includes a central lake, discreet connecting corridors, pavilions with miniature courtyards, screens, delicate latticework, and above all, points which "frame a view", as if looking at a perfectly balanced photograph. The best known building is the "Pavilion for Watching the Moon", from where the moon can be viewed in a mirror, in the water, and in the sky.
Later, you tour the Silk Spinning Mill, where you will learn how silk is created from the mulberry-munching silkworms to produce thread and fine cloth. Afterwards, you travel to Tongli, a pretty little water town typical of the region. Tongli gives visitors a good idea of what Suzhou must have been like in its heyday. Reminiscent of scenes from traditional Chinese paintings, it is complete with canals, arched stone bridges, cobbled lanes, and tile-roofed wooden houses. Visit a courtyard mansion to learn about the lavish life style of its residents. Then, learn about traditional Chinese wedding customs at a local folklore museum. Take an exciting ride on a gondola and experience the charm of Tongli's waterways. You will have free time to browse and buy some local specialties along Old Street, which is lined with Ming style homes and storefronts. In the late afternoon, you travel by motor coach to Shanghai and enjoy your evening at leisure. (B,L,D)
Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Shanghai on your own. Your tour guide is standby to assist you with the tour information you may need about Shanghai's hidden treasures, eating, playing and shopping. For your convenience, group transportation can be arranged at a very reasonable rate. Or, join our optional day tour to Shanghai's many famous sites, attractions and shopping.
Yu Garden Bazarr
Nanjing Road is bargain shoppers' paradise
Optional Excursion: Begin your tour in the heart of old Shanghai at the 16th century city bazaar. This complex, with its classical architectural details, maze of walkways and reflecting pools, has been a marketplace and social center for the locals in the past 200 years. Afterwards, we visit the Jade Buddha Temple, which houses two exceptional Buddha statues, each exquisitely carved from a single piece of white jade. Built in the Song-dynasty style, the temples architectural design is also very impressive—with sharply curved eaves and figurines on the roof.
Continue to the People's Square, the center of life in today's Shanghai, where you will see Shanghai's many predominant architectural masterpieces: the Shanghai Grand Theater, MOCA Shanghai, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai Art Museum, and Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, which traces the huge urban development projects which have taken place in recent years, with a whole floor dedicated to a scale model of Shanghai, showing all existing and approved buildings.
Tour the famed Shanghai Museum, an unique and inspiring piece of architecture, home to more than 120,000 cultural relics of ancient China, including a priceless collection of jade, bronze, ceramics, paintings, furniture, etc. Later, you are at leisure to explore and shop at Nanjing Road's emporiums. Shanghai is well known as bargain shopper's paradise. Today, you will find out why.
Your optional tour concludes with an exciting evening cruise on the Huangpu River, offering you an opportunity to see many of Shanghai's famous sites, from the Bund, a relic of Shanghai's golden age, to the dramatic skyline of the futurist Pudong. ($50 per person, including a private, escorted tour, entrance fees, a lunch, and transportation) (B)
Bid farewell to Shanghai as you are transferred to the airport for a flight to cosmopolitan Hong Kong, a fascinating city of contrasts—a place where East meets West. Ranked as world's freest economy since 1970, Hong Kong is China's dynamic financial center and home of the world's busiest port. The ex-British colony is known as the "Pearl of the Orient" with its cultural diversity and serves as a major gateway to mainland China.
Take tram to Victoria Peak, the summit of HK Island
Victoria Harbour at night
Upon arrival, meet your local representative and visit Victoria Peak, the summit of the Island and home to Hong Kong's elite. Take the original tram to the summit and get a bird-eye view of the magnificent skyline of the Victoria Harbor, where ferries and pleasure junks glide by. At night, this scene is transformed into a spectacle of lights.
Your tour continues to the nearby floating village of Aberdeen, where a 20-mintues optional cruise ($8 per person) is available to bring you an up-close look at the disappearing fishing community before this area is abolished and becomes a distant memory. Thousands of people still live on the junks and sampans in the harbor. Their traditional lifestyle is in sharp contrast to the modern life style of those living in the high-rise communities that hugs the nearby hillsides. Later, you have some free time to shop at the Stanley Market and see where Hong Kong plays and prays as you visit the beach of shrine-dotted Repulse Bay.
Afterwards, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Your hotel is centrally located in the bustling heart of Kowloon, near the scenic Victoria Harbor and the "Golden Mile", Hong Kong's famous shopping district. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure for independent exploration. Royal Pacific Hotel Hong Kong (B)
Hong Kong is bargain shopper's Mecca. And the prime location of your hotel offers everything you possibly need from shopping, dining, entertaining, touring etc. Enjoy your free day to explore this vibrant and fascinating cosmopolitan independently.
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong is shoppers` paradise
There's no better way to acquaint yourself with Hong Kong than to ride the cheapest cruise in China. The century-old green-and-white Star ferries weave between tugs, junks, and ocean-going vessels in a 5-minute harbor crossing to Hong Kong Island. In the evening, you can enjoy the spectacular show of "A Symphony of Lights". The show is awarded the world's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show by Guinness World Records, a nightly spectacle which combines interactive lights of 33 key buildings on both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with musical effects to showcase the enchanting night view of the Victoria Harbor.
If you like, you can also take a vacation from your vacation with an optional tour to Macau and experience the uniqueness of this former Portuguese colony, which is an hour's turbojet ride from Hong Kong. Macau was first settled by Portuguese merchants and Jesuits in the 1500s. The Jesuits were ousted in the 1800s, but the Portuguese remained in control until 1999, when the colony was handed back to China. Often referred to as the "Monte Carlo of the Orient", 24 hour gambling is Macau's major draw, as well as its unique cuisine and its quaint European ambience. Meet your local representative upon arrival. Visit the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral, once a powerful presence. The crumbling facade is all that remains. Tour the beautifully tiled Largo do Senado, the main public square, an area of fountains, colonnades, and stately Portuguese architecture. Visit the A-Ma Temple, dedicated to the goddess of the sea, and for whom Macau was named. The temple is over 500 years old. After an included lunch, you will have the chance to go to the Casino Lisboa, Macau's largest casino. Take the turbojet back to Hong Kong and transfer to your hotel. (B)
Transfer to the airport for your home bound flight. If you book transpacific flight with China Spree, you will fly from Hong Kong via Beijing, the hub of Air China, to U.S. and you will arrive in U.S. later today. (B)
Hong Kong's Tsing Ma Bridge
Air China Flight Schedule


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- G Living | Dark Twisted Space Monkies Go Green - http://gliving.com -
H&M Steps Up Organic Cotton
Posted By G Living Staff Monkies On November 6, 2008 @ 10:36 pm In Style / Fashion / Beauty | No Comments
They've scored a niche in the fashion world by creating stylish yet budget-friendly clothing. And now H&M is getting noticed for another growing fashion trend — the use of organic cotton. The world's biggest clothing retailer already incorporates the eco-stylish material into their lines, but they're stepping it up big-time this fall.
"Naturally our customers are concerned about the environment, but it's also important that garments are up-to-the-minute trend-wise," says H&M's head of design Margareta van den Bosch. They're even doing due dilligence by labeling all organic garments with a special hang tag.
The ladies can expect to see tunics, short dresses, t-shirts, trousers and leggings, all made from organic cotton. The men's collection includes plain and striped tees, jeans and sweaters.
H&M says the cotton it uses is certified by the Control Union and has been cultivated without the use of harmful chemicals. H&M has also been a member of Organic Exchange, an organization that promotes organic cotton cultivation, since 2003.
Article printed from G Living | Dark Twisted Space Monkies Go Green: http://gliving.com
URL to article: http://gliving.com/hm-steps-up-organic-cotton/
Click here to print.
Copyright © 2010 G Living | Modern Green Lifestyle Blog (Darker Side Of Green). All rights reserved.


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (18 votes).
In short: What a brilliant atmosphereIn full: From start to finish what a great race. I had a slow steady start to the race. All the Marshals need an award for all there support, patience & cheers. This to date was over & above my best race. I had the support of a brilliant pace maker a local from the island too Vanessa. You are my hero!! What amazing time we had going across the island, the views were amazing.Date of review: October 5, 2014
In short: Great weekend, ran an new PB. Thanks Date of review: October 15, 2013
In short: Well Organised and wonderful atmosphereIn full: I had not run a marathon for 30 years and decided that 2013 was going to be my second. In addition I had never been to Jersey and therefore the opportunity for both was the driver to tackle this one.16 weeks of training however was nearly wrecked by a calf strain in the latter part of week 15 but with two sessions of physio and strapping for the event I was all set to go.A downside to the race, if there is such a thing is that you have to register on Jersey as the number and chip are not sent out. When initially booking ferries and hotel I had not realised that and almost missed the opportunity to register and ended up having to alter the outgoing ferry and booking another night in the hotel. Having arrived on the Friday afternoon I went to register at the marathon village. I arrived early but the really nice people at registration gave me my envelope before the due time - thanks for that. Now the envelope basically contained my number and a chip, most organisations now send these out to runners and perhaps the organisers could consider that for the future.The pasta party was a good opportunity to carb up but also to meet other runners and to realise that they too have the same degree of trepidation you do. The food was good though the servers did not seem to understand what was expected of them and the owner/ manager of the catering had to continually tell them.The day of the race and a short walk from the hotel to the start for me.The race takes the runners through the town of St Hellier and then out into the country before returning along the seafront. At 1.5 miles unfortunately my calf started to cramp up and caused a lot of pain but I had come to Jersey to run and I was determined to finish, though my hope of 3.50 hours was dashed.The first four miles are fairly flat but then you are taken up fairly steeply and a lot of the runners who had dashed off found the climb difficult. Once at the top though there is slight undulation but mainly flat. All along, even in the smaller hamlets there was amazing support and brilliant marshalls. The run takes the runner around the airport and then almost to the 'Lands End' of Jersey before heading back. From mile 21 for about two miles there is a wonderful downward stretch, again steep but gives the opportunity of regaining a bit of speed.At the base of the hill is the seafront and then a few miles to the end still with brilliant support and as you approach the finish the road and the run in are crammed with people willing you on.At the finish there is an area for runners to collapse and also obtain water before moving into the tent to collect your tee shirt, goody bag and medal.There are about twelve water stations on route and some have the choice of poweraid as an alternative.Personally I didn't like having the marathon relay running at the same time but only because after change over 2 for the relay I was being overtaken on a regular basis by relay runners which I found off putting.The calf? I made it to the end in 4.17.12, disappointed but at the same time pleased that I had achieved my goal despite the constant pain.Date of review: October 14, 2013
In short: Loved itIn full: I have done several marathons, and this one is my favourite for the route and scenery. The organisational and marshalling was fab and the route was stunning, with great villages, gentle hills and a fab finish along the sea front back into town (I didn't even mind the head wind). A great marathon to do.Date of review: October 16, 2012
In short: brilliantIn full: first marathon in over 5yrs and enjoyed ever minute (well nearly). Glad to see previous comment about headwind - thought it was just me :-).One for your diary folks!! Date of review: October 10, 2012
In short: Well organised, friendly, great atmosphere, picturesque sceneryIn full: Thank you to all involved - the race was so friendly and well organised, with fantastic local support. Plenty of water stations & energy drinks too if you want them, and handy that the water is in bottles. Easterly headwind for the last 4 miles was taxing, more so than the gradual climb up Waterworks Valley.Date of review: October 9, 2012
In short: The best route ever, would defo recommend itDate of review: October 9, 2012
In short: Well organised, marshals at all key points, awash with water stations, too much traffic at one point, other than that a super event well done to all.Date of review: October 8, 2012
In short: loved it despite it being a personal disasterIn full: Trained hard for this. Flew out on the Saturday from Birmingham and stayed in ST Hellier. Went to the pasta party(small plates) and had two dinners. The marathon was interesting. I new I was injured but my left calf tore at 0.8 miles. It was strapped up but I wanted the medal.The climb up past the fishing lakes is lovely. The course heads left and off to the airport. A few twists and turns then a nice run in the shade to StAubins then 4 miles of, er , hell. I actually loved the course although its a bit wonky in places. Went to Aquasplash and did all the chutes, wave pool etc. McDonalds and flew back that afternoon. Had a brilliant time and would recommend it to anyone. Best thing is I think the course is a tad short.Date of review: October 8, 2011
In short: Well organised race, friendly atmosphere but circumstances outside the organiser's control i.e. the high temperatures meant a slower race for quite a few.Date of review: October 6, 2011
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Philip Pullman
News about Philip Pullman, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.
Highlights from the Archives
Fate of the Cosmos (and of a Studio) Hangs in the Balance
For the last year New Line has been wrestling with its London-based production of "The Golden Compass," an ambitious fantasy based on the Philip Pullman novel.August 30, 2007 moviesNews
'Britain Is No Home to Me': Five Artists Respond to 'Brexit'
Britain's vote to leave the European Union has led to intense soul-searching for the country's cultural establishment.
July 6, 2016, Wednesday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Great Britain Withdrawal from EU (Brexit) , Theater , Writing and Writers , Elliott, Marianne , Rahman, Zia Haider , Shafak, Elif , Bartlett, Mike , Pullman, Philip , European Union , Great Britain
The Grimms' Catalog, Revisited and Told Anew
In "Fairy Tales From the Brothers Grimm," the British children's author Philip Pullman retells 50 stories, including "Cinderella" and "Little Red Riding Hood."
December 18, 2012, Tuesday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Pullman, Philip , Books and Literature , Fairy Tales , Grimm, Wilhelm , Grimm, Jacob
Once Upon a Time
Philip Pullman tells 50 fairy tales in a straightforward manner, hewing closely to the Grimm originals.
December 2, 2012, Sunday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Pullman, Philip , Books and Literature , Fairy Tales , Grimm, Jacob , Grimm, Wilhelm
Throw Out the Rules! Read a Fairy Tale
Return to the Grimm brothers to find plots that veer vertiginously and realms where trouble comes in threes.
November 18, 2012, Sunday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Fairy Tales , Grimm, Jacob , Grimm, Wilhelm , Books and Literature , Psychology and Psychologists , Andersen, Hans Christian , Pullman, Philip
New Victory Season To Feature Shakespeare
The 2012-13 season for the New Victory Theater, an Off Broadway presenter that specializes in productions for all ages, will include a new opera based on a novel by Philip Pullman (author of the trilogy ''His Dark Materials'') as well as two new...
May 28, 2012, Monday
Mr. Pullman's Compass
The author Philip Pullman eloquently defended public libraries against Britain's harsh deficit-reduction plan.
February 1, 2011, Tuesday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Pullman, Philip , Libraries and Librarians , Great Britain , Budgets and Budgeting
In the Name of the Father, the Sons . . .
Philip Pullman's retelling of the Gospels distinguishes between the human and the divine nature of Jesus, with Mary giving birth to the twins of the title.
July 11, 2010, Sunday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Pullman, Philip , Books and Literature , Christians and Christianity , Jesus Christ
Literary Luminaries Hold Forth at Storied Paris Bookshop
Shakespeare and Company brought poets and authors from Breyten Breytenbach to Philip Pullman to a three-day festival called "Storytelling and Politics" in Paris.
June 22, 2010, Tuesday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Pullman, Philip , Books and Literature , Paris (France) , South Africa
New Pullman Novel to Tell Life of Jesus
After drawing the ire of religious conservatives with his young-adult book series "His Dark Materials," Philip Pullman is again taking on a potentially controversial subject matter.
September 10, 2009, Thursday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Pullman, Philip , Books and Literature , Christians and Christianity
Authors Object to British Antipedophile Registry
Philip Pullman, near right, the British author whose books include the "His Dark Materials" trilogy and "The Golden Compass," said he would no longer visit schools in Britain because of a rule that requires him to register with an...
July 17, 2009, Friday
MORE ON PHILIP PULLMAN AND: Writing and Writers , Children and Youth , Pullman, Philip
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18 Day China's Imperial Wonders & Yangtze (2015)
Featured Accommodations
Yangtze Cruise
Hong Kong
|Please note that we closely monitor all the hotels we use, reading our customer's feedback about their experience with the hotels listed below. Based on this feedback, if any of these hotels does not live up to China Spree's standards, we will change them immediately. Sometimes this may be a last-minute decision. Customer satisfaction is always our priority.
Victoria Anna
Inaugurated in 2006 and renovated in 2010, the Victoria Anna sets the standard for fine luxury river cruising, not just in China, but throughout the world. Upon completion in spring 2013 after the scheduled rebuilt, Victoria Anna will lead the Yangtze cruise being the first boutique ship on the river, offering a luxury cruise experience.
Recognized as the leader of the Yangtze River cruise, Victoria Cruises, the only American cruise company on the River, distinguishes itself from all other Chinese cruise lines with its superlative services, top dining experience, enrichment lectures, shipboard activities and shore excursions.
While all other cruise lines on the Yangtze are competing by building bigger ships, Victoria Cruises reinvented the river cruise with its philosophy of small ship, boutique ship, enhanced by its exclusive Executive Deck Program.
Over the past few years, China Spree has been working with all major cruise lines on the Yangtze for our China cruise tour programs. Forming the strategic partnership with Victoria Cruises for our 2013 sailing season, China Spree cruise tours 2013 feature quality boutique ship cruise experiences with improved onboard services, food and shore excursions, enhanced by the included Executive Deck Program, with full privileges at Executive Lounge. These Executive Deck Program features includes A La Carte dinning, complimentary beverage package, free laundry, complimentary WiFi, and other privileges that were initially designed exclusively for travelers on suite accommodations. Now, however, these excellent comforts are available for China Spree travelers as well.
Book selected China Spree Cruise Tours by the promotion deadline as specified on our website to
receive Victoria Anna's Executive Deck Program.
The most elegant and special vessel in Victoria Cruises fleet, Victoria Anna encompasses five decks of sheer elegance highlighted by a rich tapestry of colors, gleaming woods, sparkling chandeliers, and American and European influences with Asian accents. The ship is also one of the most technologically advanced river cruise ships in the world.
Victoria Anna is the first Victoria Cruises' vessel to feature two separate kitchens and an à la carte dining room with western menus introduced by Chef Walter Staib. The five-star cruise line introduced its Executive Deck program and its goal–in addition to providing a refreshing new look and enhanced amenities such as concierge service–is a major leap forward for its culinary program.
Passengers aboard the Victoria Anna enjoy the most elaborate culinary program on the Yangtze, as the ship's chefs are trained by award-winning Philadelphia-based Concepts By Staib, to prepare high-quality Western dishes in addition to authentic Chinese delicacies. The Dynasty Dining Room offers the most seating, while the upper deck VIP Club restaurant offers a la carte dining, as well as omelet & egg stations for breakfast, noodle and sandwiching stations for lunch, and Carving and Peking Duck stations for lunch or dinner (varies by day).
The Victoria Anna also features a lecture room, library/reading room, cocktail lounge, beauty parlor and mini-spa, gift shop, spacious observation deck, business center, health clinic, lavish atrium lobby and two elevators for guests' convenience. In addition to onboard activities such as Tai Chi lessons, the Yangtze Club offers a host of invigorating nightly entertainment options as well as computer terminals for Internet access. Passengers traveling with their own laptops can also rent Wireless 3G USB modems through which they can use to access the internet from most areas of the ship.
The scheduled Victoria Anna ship refurbishments in spring 2013 will include upgraded interiors and enticing enhancements that include a new lobby and public areas.
Elegant in design and style, Victoria Anna is setting new standards in service, food, and comfort of boutique ship river cruise. Discover China's greatest river and savor the ambience usually found only on small boutique ships. Read more >>
Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street
Find yourself at the center of one of the world's most vibrant financial districts, the Ritz-Carlton Beijing Financial Street is the ultimate luxury destination for travelers seeking to enjoy the many treasures of this timelessly beautiful city - the vibrant, cultural, educational and political capital of mainland China.
The sparkling, modern glass and chrome exterior never fail to impress, while the interior exudes elegance and warm hospitality with traditional Chinese elements. From its ideal location in the heart of the thriving financial district in Beijing, The Ritz-Carlton offers business and leisure travelers a memorable trip to China's capital city.
The hotel features Free Wi-Fi in lobby and public area.
Visit hotel e-brochure.
Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai
Stroll down the famous Nanjing Road, past the magnificent Bund buildings and restored architectural icons, to a place where the traditions of the past intersect with the ultra-modern. Here, in the heart of Shanghai, you'll find The Portman Ritz-Carlton hotel Shanghai - a timeless symbol of luxury, perfectly at home in a constantly changing metropolis.
A distinctive landmark of Shanghai, the Portman Ritz-Carlton Hotel features 610 luxurious guest rooms and suites with convenient access to world-class shopping, cultural opportunities and entertainment. This award winning hotel has been the pinnacle of luxury travel in Shanghai for over a decade.
Setting the standard for hotels in Shanghai, The Portman Ritz-Carlton features:
Shangri-La Hotel Xian
Shangri-La Hotel, Xian has the very best of the city right on its doorstep, from leading multi-national businesses to the finest in shopping and entertainment. The hotel is just a 30-minute drive from Xian International Airport, and is within easy reach of many top tourist attractions, including the Terracotta Warriors Museum and Xian's breathtaking city walls.
The hotel's 386 guest rooms and suites set a new standard for deluxe accommodation in Xian. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer picturesque views of the city and the hotel's landscaped gardens. Each room's contemporary design also includes complimentary wired or wireless broadband Internet access, ensuring that guests stay connected around the clock. The 57-square-metres Premier Rooms are the largest hotel rooms in Xian.
The Shangri-La Hotel, Xian offers four trendsetting designer restaurants and features the largest and most sophisticated meeting and banqueting facilities in Xian. And with luxurious spa treatments and a fully equipped health club with heated pool, it's the perfect place to soothe mind, body and soul.
Whether you're travelling on business or for pleasure, Shangri-La Hotel, Xian offers exceptional levels of hospitality to further enhance your enjoyment of this magnificent destination. It is this compelling experience that separates the hotel from other Xian China hotels.
Shangri-La Hotel Xian offers the most impressive range of dining options in Xian. Hotel restaurant options provide the choice of indulging in Cantonese, Japanese and European cuisines in a contemporary setting. Our four trend-setting designer bars and restaurants are to see and be seen in and where some of the best celebrated Chefs showcase their culinary magic, purely for your indulgence.
Lounges & Bars
Lobby Lounge provides the perfect setting to adjourn to, for a private getaway, relaxation or just that important business discussion. An ideal spot for afternoon tea and evening cocktails, with floor to ceiling windows, engaging views and nightly live entertainment.
Siam Garden
Serving the finest traditional Thai cuisine in Xian, prepared by our Thai Master Chef, Siam Garden offers the very best for the discerning diner.
Tian Xiang Ge
Authentic Cantonese cuisine ranging from traditional dim sum to freshly homemade noodles. Tian Xiang Ge also serves famous dishes from other regions of China and local Xian specialities. For those who prefer privacy, the restaurant features its own modern and traditional private Chinese dining rooms.
Yi Cafe
Yi Cafe is an international culinary journey, where the entire kitchen is a stage featuring show kitchens set in a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere. The walk-through market style design, with gourmet showcases and spectacular live cooking stations presents cuisines from China, Southeast Asia, Japan and Europe. It offers a fabulous dining experience offering a vast array of flavors, uniquely combined in one concept. A perfect spot to relax after sightseeing, a busy working day or simply just to meet friends.
The hotel features Free high speed internet access in hotel room, and Free Wi-Fi in lobby.
Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin
Guilin's newest international five-star luxury hotel, the Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin sets new standards for luxury and service in this remarkable city. Click Hotel Link
Overlooking the picturesque Li River, the 449-room Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin is ideally located for both business and pleasure. Guilin's leading tourist attractions, including Diecai Mountain and the city's charming pedestrian tourist area, are all easily accessible. For business travellers, both the city centre and the International Exhibition and Conference Centre are less than 10 minutes' drive away.
Starting at a spacious 42 square metres (452 square feet), the hotel's guest rooms are the largest in Guilin, and Executive River View Rooms have outdoor terraces. Suites at the Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin, offer some of the largest and most luxurious accommodations in the city.
With some of the finest restaurants and bars in the region, Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin offers a sensational culinary experience. From elegant cocktails and fine dining to casual poolside snacks, the hotel's restaurants and bars provide a great venue for any occasion.
With the finest restaurants and bars in Guilin, dining at Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin is a culinary experience to savour. From elegant cocktails and fine dining to casual poolside snacks, the hotel's restaurants and bars provide a venue for any occasion. The signature Shang Palace features a menu of the finest Cantonese, Hunanese, Huaiyang and Guilin delicacies, while Li Cafe offers a wide selection of international cuisine in a contemporary and relaxed setting.
The signature Shang Palace features a menu of the finest Cantonese, Hunanese, Huaiyang and Guilin delicacies. This outstanding restaurant also offers eight luxurious, individual private dining rooms, which are ideal for an intimate meal with family and friends, or formal business entertaining.
Li Cafe: This all-day dining restaurant is located on Level 1, and offers a modern, relaxed and comfortable environment. Five live cooking stations, including tandoori and teppanyaki, showcase the best of international cooking styles. Li Cafe serves daily breakfast and dinner buffets, as well as a full a la carte menu of Asian and international favourites, all of which can be enjoyed while diners gaze out across the hotel's spectacular outside terrace. It also offers 24-hour room service.
U Bar at Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin is the best bar & grill in the city, offering the widest variety of beers and the most authentic western grill in town, making it "the" place to be. The Chinese character for "U" means "relaxed, free and easy", which is exactly how this outlet is designed to make guests feel.
Health & Leisure
Shangri-La Hotel, Guilin offers a comprehensive range of recreational facilities to keep guests on their feet. These include a fully equipped gymnasium, indoor and outdoor swimming pools with separate children's pools. Guests may also enjoy a game of tennis at our two fully lit open-air tennis courts. If your idea of fitness is of a more subtle nature, you can adjourn to our Jacuzzi and sauna facilities.
Visit hotel e-brochure.
Kowloon Shangri-La
The award-winning Kowloon Shangri-La, known for its legendary warm and friendly hospitality, is conveniently situated in the Tsim Sha Tsui East shopping and entertainment district overlooking the world famous Victoria Harbor. All its 700 guest rooms and suites, amongst the most spacious in town, offer the ultimate in luxurious comfort and feature a floor-to-ceiling bay window commanding breathtaking harbor views or exciting city vistas. Complementing its exemplary services are state-of-the-art fitness facilities and a range of fine restaurants and bars enhanced by our warm and caring people.
Kowloon Shangri-La's distinguished restaurants have elevated dining to an art form, successfully winning the hearts and seducing the palates of the most discriminating diners. The hotel's 24-hour Health Club takes care of physical fitness and relaxation, and its state-of-the art conference facilities, supported by attentive staff and events management specialists, make every event and occasion the most memorable.


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Promote news literacy by creating and supporting good media
Part Two of The Global Media Literacy Curriculum emphasizes Freedom of Expression. The PROMOTE framework is the second section in Part Two.
The lesson plans in Part Two highlight the connections between media literacy and civil society—including good governance, economic development and informed citizenship. Part Two of the curriculum teaches students to defendpromote news literacy by creating and supporting good media, and to motivate media to better cover global issues and events. the importance of freedom of expression, to
PROMOTE the importance of citizens participating in media
PROMOTE freedom of expression and civic responsibility
PROMOTE alternative forms of news media
PROMOTE digital media as watchdog
PROMOTE using media to educate others
PROMOTE free speech and a free press
PROMOTE skeptical thinking, not negative thinking about news and news organizations
PROMOTE how media is absolutely necessary for the healthy functioning of civil society
Students who complete some or all of these lesson plans will have worked through the following points:
- Freedom of Expression promotes a true sense of ownership within society by allowing ordinary individuals to examine and express different thoughts and opinions. Media must fairly and accurately represent that diversity.
- Freedom of Expression, at its core, combines access to information and citizen participation in media.


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Trails Map
Calhoun County
Point to an icon within the map for the trail name, then click for information about the trail. Depending on which browser you are using, the trail name may be displayed at the icon, or in the lower left of your screen.
© 1996-200
South Carolina State Trails Program
South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
1205 Pendleton Street :: Columbia, SC 29201 :: 803-734-0173
Home | Trails Map | Trails Program | Trails Inventory | Agencies & Organizations | Bibliography | Links
Also See Disclaimer Information
© 1996-2008 South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.


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Topic: Mac users: install this NOW!
From the same guys that brought you Quicksilver: Visor.
Ever play quake, with the console that drops in and out of view? Now you can have this effect with the terminal on your Mac. I have the key combination for showing/hiding set to alt+space, similar to my ctrl+space Quicksilver combination. This is totally replacing iTerm for me


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About ESL At SLU
About ESL
Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit university ranked among the top research institutions in the United States. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River and the second-oldest Jesuit university in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 14,000 students.
ESL Mission Statement
Using a content-based focus, the SLU English as a Second Language (ESL) Program strengthens the English language and intercultural communication skills of international students while introducing them to university-level academic expectations. The ESL Program's mission is closely linked to the mission of Saint Louis University, a Jesuit institution, which is to use "values, knowledge and skills . . . to transform society." This is done through the study of topics such as contemporary issues, intercultural communication and service learning.
To learn more about our ESL program, view this video:
Watch this video in Spanish
Watch this video in Chinese
Student Life
SLU has more than 150 student clubs and organizations of all types, including cultural, arts, media, leadership, academic, athletic and more. In addition, SLU often hosts campus-wide events, bringing famous names in entertainment for concerts and performances.
Made up of both historic and modern buildings, with beautiful green spaces in between, against the backdrop of bustling St. Louis, SLU's campus is a great place to live and study. Exploring the city is easy, too. A short walk or ride on the MetroLink, St. Louis' light-rail transit system, will bring you to restaurants, shopping and entertainment.
Urban Environment
With a metropolitan area of nearly 3 million people, St. Louis is a thriving urban center in the middle of America, less than 500 km south of Chicago.
Identified by its Gateway Arch, St. Louis' varied skyline reflects the diversity of its many neighborhoods, each with its own uniquely vibrant atmosphere. St. Louis is also home to many corporations and Fortune 500 companies.
Traveling to St. Louis
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is the primary airport in the area. Many major airlines provide service to St. Louis, and there are frequent flights available to other major cities in the United States.
Click to view maps and directions to SLU, as well as parking and campus maps.
Get additional information about St. Louis.


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You limited your search to:
Decade: 1980-1989
Year: 1985
Collection: Congressional Research Service Reports
Acid Rain: Does it Contribute to Forest Decline?
Date: January 24, 1985
Creator: Backiel, Adela
Description: This minibrief describes the major hypothesis explaining why acid rain may be contributing to forest decline, along with the major arguments against this hypothesis. For additional information on acid rain and current legislation for pollutant emissions controls, see IB83016 -- Acid Rain: Current Issues, and IB83005 -- Clean Air Act: An Overview.
Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department


text: David Hall: The 1958 is the fourth lowest mintage 1941-1964 Washington quarter, yet it one of the most common in Gem condition. The low mintage caused a large number of original rolls to be saved by collectors and speculators in the year of issue. Today, all those saved rolls are the source of the many frosty white Gems that survive. There are also a number of beautifully toned Gems from original Government mint sets.


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Why These 3 Companies Tanked: WTW, ARIA, AVP
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers issued an unexpectedly negative 2013 forecast on Thursday, dragging shares down 20% to $32.11.
"While we are working aggressively on both near-term commercial activities and longer-term strategic initiatives, 2014 will be a very challenging year," CEO Jim Chambers said in a statement.
The weight-management company said it expects memberships to continue to decline through the company's next financial year, contributing to a decline in revenue expected to reach as high as the low double-digits.
The New York-based company reported third-quarter earnings of $1.07 a share on revenue 8.5% lower than a year earlier of $393.9 million. Analysts surveyed by Yahoo! Finance had expected 84 cents a share on $386.5 million. Management said cost-cutting measures allowed the business to surpass third-quarter expectations but that the trend would not extend to the fourth quarter.
"To maintain financial flexibility and fund the company's transformation, the board has elected to suspend the dividend," said Chambers.
TheStreet Ratings team rates WEIGHT WATCHERS INTL INC as a Hold with a ratings score of C+. TheStreet Ratings Team has this to say about their recommendation:
"We rate WEIGHT WATCHERS INTL INC (WTW) a HOLD. The primary factors that have impacted our rating are mixed -- some indicating strength, some showing weaknesses, with little evidence to justify the expectation of either a positive or negative performance for this stock relative to most other stocks. Among the primary strengths of the company is its expanding profit margins over time. At the same time, however, we also find weaknesses including a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself, deteriorating net income and weak operating cash flow ."
- You can view the full analysis from the report here: WTW Ratings Report
Ariad Pharmaceuticals
Ariad Pharmaceuticals plummeted 44% to $2.20 after news it had suspended marketing and distribution of its sole approved product, Iclusig. The drug maker said it was a temporary suspension while it "continues to negotiate updates to the U.S. prescribing information". Ariad agreed to the measure after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expressed concerns Iclusig, a leukemia drug, increased the chances patients would develop blood clots.
Earlier in the month , late-stage trials of Iclusig revealed higher prevalence of side effects in patients, causing shares to plummet. Sales of the drug generated $13.9 million in revenue for the second quarter 2013.
In after-markets trading, shares had managed to climb 1.4% to $2.23. In the year to date, share value has sunk 88.5%, the majority of losses suffered in October .
TheStreet Ratings team rates Ariad Pharmaceuticals (ARIA) as a Sell with a ratings score of D. The team has this to say about their recommendation:
"We rate Ariad Pharmaceuticals (ARIA) a SELL. This is driven by multiple weaknesses, which we believe should have a greater impact than any strengths, and could make it more difficult for investors to achieve positive results compared to most of the stocks we cover. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its feeble growth in its earnings per share, deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself."


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SUBJECT: *HOLLY/HOLDRIDGE TRAIL DAY* Sat 6/29 10am-2pm
Location: Hess Rd., Holly, MI, 48442
Description: Meet at the Holly/Holdridge trailhead for a Trail Day.
Participants should bring sturdy shoes, leather work gloves, eye protection, bug deterrent, and drinking water.
Trimming is priority #1. Without that, the trail does not stay open.
After trimming is under control, improvements will be addressed.
Holdridge trail maintenance is 100% dependent on volunteer efforts.
Take some time out to give back to the trails that you enjoy!
NOTE: Holdridge is now part of CRAMBA. Check out cramba.org Membership for details on joining!
Ron Arnott/Andy Fraser
Holdridge Trail Coordinators
Holly State Recreation Area
CRAMBA - Clinton River Mountain Bike Association
A Chapter of IMBA - International Mountain Biking Association


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Just a little food for thought on IDY v ADY. IDY is best suited for doughs which need to be ready in a hurry, that's the whole idea behind instant yeast, fast action. In a dough which will be cold ferment for a period of time, IDY really isn't necessary, and ADY might actually be a better choice. Both will work, I've used both, but lately I have returned to using ADY for all my doughs which will cold ferment over days, and that includes my NY style pizza doughs. ADY will not proof as quickly, and since quick proofing is not needed in a long cold ferment, I think that using ADY makes more sense. Just my thought, you're free to do as you see fit.
Baking tonight?
looks fantastic. i like the nice golden/browing. sometimes people I serve (wife & kids) like it this way, over the char that I tend to look for.the preferement is a great method. I will try your formulation, using KAAP....My wife grew up in Mamaroneck NY, & when I bake pies like this, she says they remind her of Sal's, which is mentioned in Ed Levine's book....-clay
I intended to bake it last night, but I just did not have the energy to do it. My wife is gone and I have the kiddies on my own. She is back tonight, so maybe when I get home. If not tonight, I think I am looking at a re-ball.
How is the dough looking?
It was looking a bit underfermented yesterday, but a couple hours on the counter may have fixed that.
Made the pies last night. The dough was extremely easy to open - probably the result of its 4 days in the fridge. I baked it in the Blackstone. I did not get the sort of micro blistering you got. The crumb was very good, except where I had man handled it. Overall, I would say the crust did have more flavor than my regular recipe. I am not sure what role the preferment plays in that versus the longer than usual rise. I'd say it was definitely worth a second try. Thanks.
So, the actual recipe for this pizza is as follows (please correct me if I'm wrong):100% - Hi Gluten Flour58.2% - Water 2% - Salt, olive oil and sugar.5% - IDYWhat thickness factor do you use?I really like the look of the pizzas baked with this recipe and want to give it a try with a steel plate bake.
1/2 are ziploc brand and 1/2 are store brand. All from the local grocery store. Punch a pinhole in the let to let the gasses out our the lids will pop off.
Awesome. Gonna have quite the pizza party I see Yes it is a sticky dough (62% hydration?). What flour did you go with? After 12hours my preferment is pretty bubbly on top but there will be some water beneath too. Keep your eye on them in the fridge. They take off real fast.
When you say 62% are you factoring in the oil? Water alone you were at 58% I believe?I used 75% all trumps bromated and 25% KAAP. I used water = 59%
I use the exact same ones.
Good results with this dough. Was airy and had good flavor. By the time I opened the fifth one it was on the verge of being over-blown. I did not use the sixth and I might reball it for later in the week. This is will be my go-to dough going forward. Thanks.


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Republicans, Democrats both seem wrongheaded
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton's proposed state tax overhaul has generated criticism from various quarters, including in this space, although we believe he is moving in the right direction.
Dayton has a wide-ranging plan in mind. It would expand the sales tax to more transactions, including services, but lower the overall rate from 6.875 percent to 5.5 percent. It would raise taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans and on cigarettes, by $1 per pack. At the same time, his plan includes a $500 yearly property tax rebate to all Minnesota homeowners. Schools, colleges and job-creation programs would get more funding.
Criticism seems to come from two sources: Those on the right who do not want to see any tax raised. And those lawmakers in Dayton's own party who want to know how the changes are going to affect their legislative districts. Both criticisms are coming from the wrong place policy-wise.
Republicans need to understand that there is nothing sacred – nothing – about the current tax system. In fact, it is an abomination, chocked full of giveaways to special interests. It is not fair and it is out of date.
For newly elected Democrats worried about the impact on their constituents, their concern is misplaced as well. The goal of a state revenue system should be fair, broad and low taxation. Start there. Not with who will lose what if the system is revamped to meet that goal. If someone is "losing" some giveaway through the reforms, they probably should not have been receiving it in the first place.
We agree that the governor's plan could be tweaked. But his courage in suggesting a major overhaul should be applauded, not undermined.


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So... has this list been of much use to you?C PERKINS wrote:i'm a vegan baby still - 3 mnths, 12 days, 14 hours... and not finding it easy as I used to survive on a junk food (albeit vegetarian) diet for most of my adult life.
It was therefore no consolation when the health shop owner, provided me with HEMP POWDER and QUINOA as staples, and per my request for something just delish to nibble on, presented me with dried go-ji berries.Ack!
C PERKINS wrote:Although I was also devastated that olives got a 'could try harder in the protein department' report card.
I have been feeding my salt craving by guzzling buckets of these.
The unrefined sea salt that I've seen contains 90% sodium chloride. Not much lower in sodium than refined salt, so I wouldn't recommend anyone 'eat loads' of it.Papaya wrote:You might want to try switching to unrefined sea salt. This stuff is grey, not white, and feels sort of damp because it doesn't sprinkle. It can come coarse or fine. It has much lower sodium, so you can eat loads without getting into the risk category. It also has other good stuff - refined table salt has 2 elements, unrefined sea salt has about 83.
Lots of people purposely eat 1/2 teaspoon day minimum. I've switched to it completely and glad I did.
Man On Bike. wrote:It contains other minerals - calcium, magnesium, potassium. But is it really that much 'healthier' than normal salt because of this? I doubt that very much. You will easily get all the above minerals from a good diet. I like salt but other than improving the taste of my dinner I don't think it's particularly beneficial even in its unrefined form.
I noticed that Goodness Direct lists this salt as 'organic'. Salt is an inorganic compound, a mineral; it comes from neither plant nor animal. How the f*** can it be considered organic in any way?!
fredrikw wrote:I noticed that Goodness Direct lists this salt as 'organic'. Salt is an inorganic compound, a mineral; it comes from neither plant nor animal. How the f*** can it be considered organic in any way?!
are you serious? I thought it was common knowledge that 'organic' isn't a describer of the chemical compound of food, bur rather a describer of the manufacturing of it. otherwise all food would be organic, and surely that's not the case, right?
Man On Bike. wrote:If you can call salt organic then by the same logic I could pick up rock from the street and call that organic. I'm sure it would sell for £40 a gram to some dumb rich person in a health food store.
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We're playing not to lose and that's a recipe for losses.
I have one flippy. My favorite team in another sport, Manchester United, had Sir Alex Ferguson coaching into his mid 70's, sharp as ever and won another English league title last year. He resigned, the team underwent very little change from what was on the field last year (with exception of Ferguson), and after 6 games they are the lowest in the standings that they've been in several years and just lost to a team that has pretty much never beat them. He was a legend in the Lombardi mold though, so he could be an exception. I just think it can be done. And I'm of the mindset that it's his scheme that is past it's prime in this league more so than Lebeau (I guess if you feel the fact that he is 70 and that is why he isn't willing to change, I suppose that is arguable).
Lebeau was a great coach, we should be lucky to have had him.
All good things come to an end.
You can cite all the seventy year old businessmen you want but they are still doing it because their businesses are still making money. LeBeau's is failing and will soon be bankrupt
Lucky to have HAD him... but its over. Same thing happened with Aaron Smith and some of our older players. We kept talking about how great they were, how special they were.... but on the field we saw them slipping.
Everyone has used those rankings for the last few years but TO's.... sacks and TO's and the whole zone blitz has fallen off a cliff. Tim Tebow shredded us... Cassell shredded us... we make the worst QB's in the league look like HOFers.
Zone blitz is an aging dinosaur.
Holding on to aging players and coaches has been detrimental to this team the last few years.
I have seen enough, time for fresh blood
Trial lawyers? Smh.... this is football folks. DL is a genius but even geniuses get old... we need new blood on D. Its time to stop playing chess on D and just play good D.


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""It's a massive, unbelievable competitive advantage. Having access to a private jet is the single most important asset to any national political campaign." Source: WALL STREET JOURNAL "
Supercharged Range Rover
To a car driver deprived of his view of the road ahead, an SUV hogging the left lane is hardly a welcome sight. The longer it sits there, the more deeply the car driver ponders its often wasteful bulk, its appetite for gasoline and how brilliant it would be to confine these bloated conveyances to their own clogged stream over there on the far right. Who could possibly love an SUV? The people perched high driving them, that's who.
The vista from the bridge of the 1996 GMC Suburban we used to own was splendid, and the vehicle never failed to accommodate all we could stuff into its cavernous cabin or attach to its hitch. To Nova Scotia, it carried four people and two weeks' vacation supplies; on the way back home, we also loaded a few Maine purchases-two Adirondack chairs and a large copper heron weathervane and its roof-peak cupolas.
But the driver in me could never warm to the heaving and swaying and ponderous motivation that accompanied the Suburban's progress across the landscape. Later models are more car-like in their handling, but ours was a truck-a truck with carpet, three rows of leather seats and a big wayback area for dogs, coolers, lacrosse gear and the Christmas tree, but a truck nonetheless. The vehicle suffered two catastrophic transmission failures, although both times it at least had the decency to expire on our driveway. A 42-gallon tank encouraged its drinking problem, in the mid-teens for mpg.
How does this tale of life with an old Suburban relate to the vehicle at hand here? While not as capacious, the supercharged Range Rover has none of the performance shortcomings of the GMC behemoth I used to live with. For our GMC, SUV stood for serious utility vehicle. The Range Rover, on the other hand, excels as a high-rise sports sedan that can tackle a broad menu of tasks, from swift highway hauling for up to five people to absorbing speed bumps, from fording a streambed in Big Bend country to clambering over rhino dung and bleached bones on the plains of Africa.
Like a Rolls-Royce Phantom, the Range Rover has air suspension for a poised but silken ride on the highway but also, unlike the Roller, for absorbing punishing wilderness terrain. The Range Rover's off-road capabilities warrant a sizeable section in the owner's manual, and they will go to waste without due scrutiny of the book, which explains exactly what all the terrain switches and icons in the vehicle mean.
For example, in the center console is a "terrain response" thumbwheel with five settings: general, for typical road surfaces; grass gravel snow, for firm but slippery surfaces, including ice; mud ruts, for soft, muddy, uneven or deeply rutted ground; sand, for soft, predominantly dry, yielding, sandy ground such as dunes and desert; and rock crawl, selectable only in transfer LOW range and suitable for crossing wet or dry, solid, unyielding ground requiring extreme wheel displacement, such as clusters of boulders or rocky river beds.
The Range Rover's terrain response system is a leap from (and more intuitive than) the simple two/four-wheel/high/low-transfer selector levers in cruder off-roaders. It embraces engine management; gearbox management; intelligent differential control; the dynamic-stability, traction-control and hill descent-control systems; and the air suspension. This intelligence manifests itself as variable throttle response, ranging from cautious for slippery conditions (small effect on engine power from even large pedal movement) to boosted responsiveness-for example, for sand, where engine power is allowed to rise more quickly. It also affects ride height and gear-shift points.
I suspect that one of the more deep-seated subconscious lures of an SUV is its perceived ability to clamber through some indistinct vision of future apocalypse and whisk the family gene pool, along with the kitchen sink, to the safety of the high ground. I've seen this instinct at work in the relative tranquility of the Whole Foods parking lot. Higher gas prices are already eliminating the traditional big SUV as an option for many American families, and I for one can't say I'll mourn its extinction. Still, if one old-school vehicle is allowed to survive, I think it should be the Range Rover, for several reasons.
Yes, it is the original Chelsea Tractor, usually bought more for its whiff of wealthy landowner than for its genuinely capable off-road prowess. Regardless of one's thoughts about the people who buy such a vehicle for suburban errands, however, the vehicle itself is no poser. This swamp buggy looks like a million bucks, and with its supercharger emitting a muffled whine, it will trounce many a "sports car" on the straightaway and harangue it in the curves.
The styling is a bull's-eye: low window sills for surveying the Serengeti or hunting for a parking spot in Kensington; a tapered glasshouse and wide, hefty feet to give the vehicle a solid, stable stance missing from boxier SUVs; and an understated luxury interior of stitched leather and wood, with a headliner that appears to be made of some fine-woven woolen Her Majesty might wear to ward off the chill at Balmoral Castle. The only options (for $2,500) on our well-equipped test car were wood trim (cherry or walnut) and a rear-seat entertainment system consisting of a six-disc DVD player, two headrest displays and remote control. Standard equipment included a 710-watt Harman/Kardon Logic 7 sound system, GPS nav, fine-wire heated windscreen and Brembo front brakes with 14.2-inch rotors.
The credentials for rock-hopping, mud-slogging and wading through up to 27.6 inches of water are there for those who actually need them, but in the environment where most Range Rovers accrue their miles, these vehicles are appreciated for their effortless performance as the same 400-hp, 420-ft-lb supercharged V8 found under the hoods of Tata stablemate Jaguar's XJR and XKR propels the luxuriously appointed cabin from the apocalypse receding in the rear-view mirror. This is a heck of a good place to be when all hell breaks loose, or even if it never does.
Supercharged Range Rover stats
Engine: V8, 4.2 liters, supercharged, 32 valves
Engine output: 400 hp @ 5750 rpm; 420 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Weight: curb, 5,842 lb
Power loading: 14.6 lb/hp
Drag cd: 0.39
Top speed: 130 mph
Zero to 60 mph: 7.1 sec
Fuel capacity: 27.6 gals
City/highway (EPA): 12/18 mpg
Test average: 14.3 mpg
Standard retail price (2008): $94,100
Price as tested (2008): $96,600
Chevy Tahoe Hybrid: The Incredible Thinking Hulk
If you're wincing at the cost of running a full-family vehicle that can tow your three-ton boat, GM has the Hybrid Tahoe. It's the familiar big GM SUV but with a "two-mode" hybrid gas-electric propulsion system that GM claims improves on the standard Tahoe's mpg by up to 50 percent. Over the course of a weekend earlier this year, I drove the hybrid 346 miles on open highways and in traffic and achieved 21.9 mpg, in line with GM's claim.
Like other hybrids and depending on the demands placed on it, this one moves three ways-on gas alone, on electric alone or on a combination of the two. Unlike most hybrids, the Tahoe retains a massive six-liter V8 to provide towing grunt, but this one can shut down half its cylinders when they're not needed. The transition between eight and four and back again is almost imperceptible, and a far cry from GM's failed "V8-6-4" of the early 1980s.
The Tahoe also has more brain power than your average hybrid, says GM, the better to evaluate the conundrum of how best to keep the vehicle moving for the least expenditure of energy. It conceals its machinations well, and about the only insight into its decisions and adjustments comes from the "economy" gauge in the instrument cluster. Its needle moved counter-intuitively, however, swinging left (toward empty on a gas gauge) as the gas engine cut out or I touched the brakes and gave back some energy usually lost overboard. As the Tahoe accelerated and burned more energy, the needle swung right, as if toward the F on a gas gauge. This $50,000 smart behemoth has figured out how to save gas, no doubt, but it's still working on the lingo.
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You will find the conversation here where I was told about the floor replacement. I would guess you are going to trust the source as much as I do:http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,14506.msg222514.html#msg222514As you'll see I also always assumed it was as simple as removing the castings to access the oven, but I guess that isn't the case. There is masonry around the cast iron arch behind the cast iron plate in all the builds I have seen, so I guess once you remove that it get's pretty involved.
forgive me if you guys already know this, or its obvious, but I have heard numerous people who work with, own, or sell real neapolitan ovens talk about how fragile and quick to wear down the biscotto de sorrento is. Simply having an oven operator thats not gentle with their peel could cause it to need replacing in just a few years. Of course, in a home environment it would take a lot longer than that to wear down and become hard to manage. I am speaking of a commercial setting.
Ive thought about this a lot. My ideal would be a 5 piece floor that is the four pie pieces with a square center piece sized so they fit in the door.
I am not sure of the mathematics, but I am sure of the process. An extruded brick body is not by any means what you would consider to be "wet", it is about 1/3 the moisture level of commercially sold wet clays, and to a normal eye and hand is hard as a rock. There are methods to achieve a dry pack with any (fine) granular material and minimal moisture and no specialized machinery, that is how most cast stone is made.
Adding air decreases abrasion resistance but it increases the ability to withstand thermal shock.
Insulating fire bricks often suffer from thermal spalling problems, particularly in an environment of rapidly changing temperature. Since these bricks are good insulators, a substantial temperature gradient will occur between the hot and the cold face of each brick. The hot face will expand more than the cold face. The thermal gradient thus, gives rise to a mechanical stress in the body of the brick.
Are we discussing insulating firebrick or thermal mass (dense) firebrick?
These are not an insulating brick, they are a dense brick weighing somewhere in the 7 pound range. I've run hundreds of fires on them in two ovens and have yet to have a brick spall, crack or chip.
Jeff is discussing a dense firebrick with abnormally low conductivity. While the W-G bricks are extremely encouraging, I'm still holding out hope for something a bit lower, something that can match the lower end of the .3-.6 W/m-K spectrum that Craig references for biscotto. Unless I'm missing something, the only way that I can see a .3 W/m-K material is by adding air- and thus creating something between a dense and insulating brick. Once you enter this middle ground, though, it seems impossible to achieve the features we're looking for: abrasion resistance, thermal shock resistance, very low conductivity
Jeff, I've been examining the formula, density and porosity of the W-Gs and comparing it to other firebricks and, I have to admit, I can't find anything that would explain the lower conductivity. The vacuum aspect is odd, but, if it is impacting air in the bricks, it's only drawing it out and creating a denser brick, not a more porous one, so the vacuum aspect can't be responsible for the freakishly low conductivity.These are dense bricks, and density should bring conductivity- unless the formula is atypical- and there doesn't seem to be anything atypical about the W-G formula.
Why? What positive do you see from a lower conductivity at the cost of strength? I cook on these at traditional Neapolitan temperatures and get traditional Neapolitan results. I see no positive out of an even lower conductivity. With my experience and the data I now have on these If I could get them in larger slabs I would take them over Biscotto any day. I agree, I don't see anything out of the ordinary, but again, we have data from a major brick and tile laboratory at a major university that directly correlates to every cooking experience I have on this material. For a couple years I have been baffled by people complaining about their firebrick hearths be too hot and burning while mine worked perfectly. Now it all makes sense.
Why? What positive do you see from a lower conductivity at the cost of strength? I cook on these at traditional Neapolitan temperatures and get traditional Neapolitan results. I see no positive out of an even lower conductivity. With my experience and the data I now have on these If I could get them in larger slabs I would take them over Biscotto any day.
FYI, I have replaced fibrament panels in a deck oven with W-G split firebrick and the owner really liked it.
Btw, while we're talking about deck ovens, the best deck oven on the market, the Marsal MB, takes the top position because the low conductivity of the fibrament decks allows it to be be run at hotter temps while still maintaining good balance. The W-G bricks have even lower conductivity than fibrament, and, since you're using them with direct flame, they are most likely far more thermally durable as well. I, like you, would like to see these in larger sizes, but, other than that, these could easily blow fibraments out of the water and be the cornerstone for the next ultimate deck oven.