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Movies, books, and songs to capture the essence of Singapore and get you in the mood for travel
Saint Jack (1979)
Ben Gazzara plays an American ex-patriot and pimp for the Hong Kong mob in post-colonial Singapore. Director Peter Bogdanovich never got official government approval for the unflattering depiction of the city-state and the movie was banned from showing in Singapore.
Rogue Trader (1998)
Ewan McGregor plays the infamous Barings Bank trader Nick Leeson who, while living in Singapore in the mid '90s, brought down one of the oldest and most storied banks headquartered in England through a series of bad financial trades and cover ups.
I Not Stupid (2002)
Directed by Jack Neo, this satirical, locally produced film examines the Singaporean school system through the eyes of several students who have been deemed slow learners, in a system where weak performers are left behind.
That's the Way I Like It (1998)
A Singaporean Bruce Lee fan gets dragged to a showing of Saturday Night Fever and finds his life transformed forever when he embraces disco, white leisure suits, and the cult of John Travolta.
King Rat, by James Clavell (1962)
Clavell's novel examines life in Singapore's Changi prison during Japanese occupation during World War II. Since Clavell was a young POW held at Changi, the novel resonates as a first-person account into the brutality of life in wartime Singapore.
Foreign Bodies, by Hwee Hwee Tan (1997)
Hwee Hwee Tan's novel looks at Mei, a Singaporean lawyer who has to defend Andy, her British English-teacher boyfriend unjustly accused of being the ringleader in an international soccer gambling operation. Lightly examines the Singaporean justice system, as well as a modern cross-cultural romance.
The Battle for Singapore: The True Story of the Greatest Catastrophe of World War II, by Peter Thompson (2005)
Although strategists said it could never happen, "fortress" Singapore fell to the Japanese shortly after Pearl Harbor. Considered one of the great defeats of the war.
From Third World to First: The Singapore Story, by Lee Kuan Yew (2000)
Often referred to as the "Father of Singapore," Lee Kuan Yew examines his three-decade struggle to transform Singapore from one of the poorest nations on earth, to one of the wealthiest.
Kinda Hot: The Making of Saint Jack in Singapore, by Ben Slater (2006)
In 1978, Peter Bogdanovich made a movie in Singapore about prostitutes, starring Ben Gazzara. Here is the story of how it was made, the ensuing controversy when it was released, and the eventual ban by the Singapore government.
Singapore: A Pictorial History, by Gretchen Liu (2001)
A carefully researched book of 1,200 drawings and photographs that detail Singapore's transformation from a colonial shipping port run by the East India Company to a wealthy, independent business center.
Singapore doesn't have much of an original music scene. Most of the "native" music is from elsewhere: Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, or Malaysia. However, the HMV music store in the Heeren, 260 Orchard Road, has a selection of local artists. Most local pop music is produced in Mandarin.
My Story, Your Song, Sun Yan Zi (Stefanie Sun)
A new pop and rhythm and blues compilation in Mandarin. Sun Yan Zi is one of the most popular contemporary vocalists in Singapore.
Westside, Lin Jun Jie (JJ Lin)
Love songs and rhythm and blues.
Release, A-Do (Do Cheng Yi)
One of the most popular Mandarin pop albums in Singapore.
Goodbye and Hello, Cai Jian Ya (Tanya Chua)
New to the local Mandarin pop scene.
Life, Dick Lee
Lee, a local actor, singer, and stage personality, released this compilation of original English songs in 2004.
All Because of You, Taufik Batisah
Hot with young Malay women, Taufik Batisah's All Because of You, and Aliff Aziz's new CD Aliff.
About Singapore
Singapore City Guide
Get travel tips, see photos, take a quiz and more with National Geographic's Ultimate Guide to Singapore.
The Singapore Solution
How did a sleepy little island transform into a high-tech powerhouse in one generation? It was all in the plan.
Top Picks for Travel
2016 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year Contest
Who Will Win?
Browse photos of nature, cities, and people and share your favorite photos.
Shop National Geographic
Travel Wallet
"My Town" Custom Map Puzzle


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Latest Boba Fett News | Archive | Fett Fact Check
About Our NewsBreaking news, fact checking, exclusive interviews, featured fans, and much more reportage about everything Boba Fett.
This year's Star Wars Day (May 4) has only a few Boba Fett collectibles on sale or newly available. Nevertheless, here is our to-the-point guide to help you collect your bounty.
We'll be updating this page throughout the day as we see sales.
While it's a re-pack, and the box art has an unusual "Battlefront" illustration with a backwards torso, Walmart has an exclusive Black Series Proto Fett starting tomorrow. The barcode for the item is 55187084. (Thanks to Dennis Cronin for that info.) You can check out the website listing on walmart.com. (Thanks to @LostStarWars on Twitter for the URL.)
Pottery Barn Kids has "The Empire Strikes Back" sheets from 2013, part of which has a vintage #BobaFett design! Get 20% with promo code PKSTARWARS before midnight EST on potterybarnkids.com.
Zak Designs has 25% off all Star Wars merch until May 8th (midnight EST), including this Boba Fett soup bowl! It's part of their "Star Wars Soup Bowls (Set of 4)." See zak.com for more.
Hyp Comix has 50% off a box set of Star Wars socks, including a Boba Fett pair! Use STARWARSDAY17 at checkout by midnight EST on hypcomix.com.
ICUP has 20% off today, including their 2013 Boba Fett apron! More info on icuponline.com.
In a late-night tweet, Nixon just revealed a 100-piece edition variant of their Boba Fett watch. You don't want to know what it costs, do you? Take a look on nixon.com.
Let us know in the comments. You can also reach us quickly via Twitter or Facebook.
Here's our Sunday highlights video!
We hope you've enjoyed our four-day coverage of Star Wars Celebration Orlando -- Boba Fett style!
Clips by regular BFFC contributors James Clarke and Dan Lo. Music by Squidnova. Edit by BFFC.
Saturday brought some more incredible cosplay and sights of all the collectibles on display at Star Wars Celebration Orlando (SWCO)!
Any favorite parts or things we missed?
Video and photo content by regular BFFC contributors James Clarke and Dan Lo. Music by Squidnova. Edit by BFFC.
See more on our YouTube channel!
Just some of the awesome Boba Fett and Jango Fett stuff we saw today at Star Wars Celebration Orlando (SWCO)!
So many awesome people in here.
Clips by regular BFFC contributors Dan Lo and James Clarke. Music by Squidnova. Edit by BFFC.
Part of the massive live stream at Star Wars Celebration Orlando today included this well-crafted filming of Jeremy Bulloch, Daniel Logan and Temuera Morrison interviewed and bantering on stage!
One of the hosts of The Star Wars Show threw down some questions, but each Fett held their own with some great zingers.
Any favorite parts?
Never before seen "Clone Wars" Boba Fett vs. Cad Bane animatic shown at the "Animated Origins and Unexpected Fates" panel moments ago.
Hosted by Dave Filoni and Pablo Hidalgo, this clip shows how Fett got his helmet dent.
This unreleased episode changes the "legends" storyline shown in "Enemy of the Empire" where the dent is caused by Darth Vader.
Video for BFFC by James Clarke.
[UPDATED 4/13 7:00pm PST: Bluefin added with Ronin Fett lowdown. // 4/13 10:30am PST: Funko price added for the Proto Fett Wobbler. // UPDATED 4/12 6:30pm PST: Sideshow info and some booth numbers added.]
We will be covering all four days of Star Wars Celebration Orlando (aka SWCO), live from the convention with photo and text posts.
For real-time updates, see our Facebook and Twitter feeds!
This guide is available in advance of the convention and we will be intermittently updating it as we know more of what's confirmed, when, and where.
Besides two Boba Fett actors and two of the volunteers who help run the Boba Fett Fan Club attending, here's our preliminary guide on where to go when!
Official Merch
Sure, you could get a Star Wars hoodie or a BB-8 as an orange... but one of the six official merchandise releases for SWCO is a Sarlacc Plush with Removable Mini Boba Fett!
Pin Trading Program
As of March 28, IGN shared an exclusive reveal of all the pins in the series. Here's the "Bounty Hunter 3-Pack" with Boba Fett, IG-88, and Bossk. It will be sold at the show store during the convention.
Originally, the official Celebration site showed a silhouette of yet-to-be-announced pins right now, but the image's filename clearly says "Boba Fett." Whoops!
Sideshow Collectibles
Their yet-to-be-released Premium Format Jango Fett was shown at SDCC 2016 but it's out on display at SWCO this year. (Thanks to Jaycepticon for the heads up on Wednesday afternoon.)
Cartamundi USA @ Booth 2922
They have a Ralph McQuarrie card set and a Boba Fett giveaway card on Sunday!
Star Wars Authentics
This is the new vendor for official photos, usually for autographs but also suitable for framing.
Gentle Giant
They have their giant Boba Fett bust on display, just for conventions like this. It's based on a much smaller 2003 bust.
This booth has the Ronin Jango Fett on display and what appears to be a free catalog which shows a new Ronin Prototype Boba Fett coming in July.
Funko @ Booth 3444
[UPDATE: These are going for $15.]
Funko was expected to have a convention exclusive Fett and they announced it on March 21st. It's a Funko Wobblers Prototype Boba Fett. There's also a lottery to deal with, so get in that in advance! Note that they have a limit of one of each exclusive item per person.)
There's a rumor that this will be a "shared" exclusive, possibly with Toys"R"Us... More details to come.
Artists at the Star Wars Art Show by ACME Archives
Also: Ralph McQuarrie Archives has a table in the exhibit hall: booth 1624!
Road Squadron
Rebekah Knuth's car, Ivor Fett, which is decked out in a one-of-a-kind Boba Fett wrap, is on display at SWCO.
Caletti Cycles just announced a pro bike called "The Bounty Hunter" that's clearly inspired by Boba Fett.
Made from a lot of premium parts *, this isn't for everyone. But for a bounty hunter who's all about precision, this fits the bill. It's also one-of-a-kind.
Check out their site for more information including pricing, details, and more.
* Helmet nod to Dark Matter Finishing, North American Handmade Bicycle Show, SRAM, ENVE Composites, Chris King, Precision Components, Kogel Bearings, and Hutchinson Bicycle Tires among others for being a part of this.
Passion can elevate people above and beyond what they thought was possible, and Rafael Robles is a perfect example of that. An attorney by trade, Rafael previously had no interest or background in art until one fateful day he stumbled onto the world of Star Wars toy photography and instantly knew he had to be a part of it.
To say that he has achieved this goal would be a profound understatement. Within a year, not only has he mastered the technical aspects of toy photography but has also succeeded in establishing a style of his own, something that commonly evades much more experienced artists.
This is certainly not the first time we will mention it and probably won't be the last, but the old adage is worth repeating: great photography always tells a story, and Rafael's images do exactly that. They are full of both style and intrigue, whether on the battlefields of World War II, within the Star Wars universe, or somewhere in between. Rafael is also not afraid of thinking outside the box, as one of the featured photos here is of a lightsaber-wielding prototype Boba Fett on a speeder bike. Fantastic.
Rafael was kind enough to grant us an interview, and was both thoughtful and philosophical about his answers. They serve as great reminders of how Star Wars can unite people from all walks of life, and that we only grow when we are outside of our comfort zone as illustrated by Rafael's journey that saw a lawyer become a world-class toy photographer.
Tell us three interesting facts about yourself.
I don't think I have any interesting about myself. I think I am just one of the eight billion people who live in this immense rock called Earth, with some virtues and many defects. I work everyday to improve myself, moving away from my comfort zone, and avoiding judging other people. Life is short and death is certain. Walking with love and understanding everybody wants to be happy, no matter how they can reach their goals. I think the world will change only when I can change myself
What was your earliest Star Wars memory?
I remember my dad bought some classic Kenner action figures every Saturday for my brother and me in Mexico City, the city where I was born. I remember I had Luke Skywalker, Admiral Ackbar, and Darth Vader in my collection. Three decades later, I only have C-3PO. Waiting for Saturdays to get a new figure is the earliest memory of Star Wars in my life.
How did you get into toy photography?
One day I was looking through my Instagram timeline I found some pictures of Star Wars figures. Being a lawyer, I used to be a man with no interest or education in arts, but those pictures unleashed a need to follow suit. I immediately went to my nearest flea market and I found a Obi-Wan Kenobi 3.75 inch figure and that's how I began this adventure in photography.
Who is your favorite Star Wars character to photograph?
Definitely Mandalorian warriors Boba Fett and Jango Fett, and masked figures in general are the best to photography. That's because one important thing in photography is the emotion reflected in the face of people, or action figures in this case, and the eyes in the figures don't always accurately convey that. That's not the case in masked figures where the body language can replace the eyes' emotions.
How would you describe your style as a photographer?
I try to capture emotions in inanimate objects such as action figures. Many of my pictures are product of images I have seen before in my mind and I try to recreate in camera exactly as I saw them. In addition to Star Wars figures, I also love to take pictures of World War II soldier action figures. I imagine myself being a (toy) combat photographer. I'm a self-taught photographer, and I mostly work with practical effects with the exception of lightsabers.
In the featured photo, Boba Fett prototype is fighting alongside Death Troopers. Who is he fighting and what is the scenario?
Boba Fett as a bounty Hunter sometimes requires from his costumers support to accomplish his missions. In this case, a high risk hunt, he demands personal support from the Empire's best soldiers: the Death Troopers.
Boba Fett shows leadership and fearless conduct being in front of the group. It is not enough to know about weapons; the real bounty hunter needs to understand strategy and how to hunt in a pack.
What advice would you offer someone who is new to toy photography?
As in any other aspect of life, never compare with other photographers. Other photographers may have more experience, more equipment, more information, or fewer resources, less time, or less talent. You are unique and you should enjoy YOUR own process of being photographer. You are a photographer from the very moment you begin to take pictures, regardless of others' recognition or fame. Take pictures that you like. Begin with your first client: yourself. Prepare each image with love and respect and share with others.
Be open to learning something new. Always learn new techniques. Be humble, learn, and be proud of showing your work and receive critiques. Don't evaluate your work by the number of likes or applause. Do the job and don''t expect anything. Be grateful of the teachings from others. Remember, enjoy the way of toy photography.
Rafael Robles is a lawyer who lives in Hermosillo, Sonora, México. He teaches Criminology at a local University and currently works in local government in Crime Prevention policies. Rafael loves shooting sports such as archery and pistol shooting, and starting in late 2015 he has discovered the joys of photography. Rafael's work can be found on both Instagram and Twitter.
(Originally published on WhiteBobaFett.com.)
Today, Chuck Windig's conclusion to the Aftermath trilogy, "Empire's End," hit the shelves.
In "Aftermath," an acid-damaged set of Mandalorian armor -- discovered by a sheriff named Cobb Vanth within the confines of a Jawa sandcrawler -- has captivated many fans with the idea that it may be Boba Fett's.
With "Life Debt," we discovered that the Jawas have been plundering the depths of the Great Pit of Carkoon and the Sarlacc had been damaged by the explosion of Jabba's Sail Barge. Charred pieces from "a luxury barge" were also found in the aforementioned sandcrawler.
Now in "Empire's End," if you were hoping for any direct, hard-as-duracrete answers about Boba Fett's ultimate fate, well... we're just going to have to wait.
"Bring him out!"
Two Red Key raiders—Yimug the Gran, Gweeska the Rodian—drag the man in all-too-familiar Mandalorian armor out into the center of so-called Freetown."
"You don't deserve that armor," Lorgan says, his voice a hiss like sand against sand.
"Is it even real Mandalorian armor? Looks like something hammered out on a swindler's forge. Besides...wearing a strong man's armor doesn't change how weak you are. Take his helmet off."
(Bold emphasis added.)
The book gives us a little more character development for Cobb Vanth -- the man wearing the familiar armor here -- who is turning out to be quite the interesting character himself. Not to spoil any of his details, but suffice it to say that he has a massive agenda against the Red Key Company that threatens his town.
While the character of Cobb Vanth is unexpectedly a compelling one, we cannot assume that he is Boba Fett nor Boba Fett's replacement.
Despite this latest description of the gnarled Mandalorian armor, there is no trace of Boba Fett in this book, nor any implication of his presence. We also don't get any proof that this is really Fett's armor, although it is strongly implied in these Tatooine interludes.
So, what are your thoughts? Do you think the armor is truly Boba Fett's? Would you like to see him make a miraculous return in the new canon? If so, how would you like to see his story continue?
(Artwork at top of Boba Fett by Kevin Prangley. Not related to the "Aftermath" trilogy, but close to the look-and-feel of what Cobb Vanth may look like in this scene.)

subset: commoncrawl


text: A mother fears her daughter's interest in her troubled step-brother will lead to disaster. She decides to take steps that will ensure her teenage daughter is protected. But her plans for her step-son are more extreme than that of a typical overprotective parent. Sela steps in to prevent her from doing something she will regret for the rest of her life. However, this time SelaÆs lesson goes terribly wrong and she realizes that maybe sheÆs the one making the mistakes!


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Xentry Systems Integration Joins PSA Security Network
The partnership grants Xentry Systems access to PSA's purchasing power, resources and technologies of the security industry's top manufacturers.
By SSI Staff · July 10, 2014
WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Xentry Systems Integration has joined PSA Security Network's growing list of integrator partners.
As a PSA-aligned integration firm, Xentry will gain access to the organization's purchasing power and the resources and technologies of today's largest and most innovative manufacturers, according to a press release.
"We are excited to announce our relationship with PSA and look forward to capitalizing on the benefits of PSA owner-membership for many years," said John Nemerofsky, President and CEO of Xentry Systems Integration. "
The Miamisburg, Ohio-based Xentry Systems Integration has a broad reach in the Great Lakes region and Southern Florida. Last month, the firm expanded its footprint through its purchase of of Acree Daily.
Xentry, which is a division of Matrix Systems, now accounts for more than 40 highly trained technicians and a service fleet of 30 vans. The firm has built a reputation as a leading electronic systems integrator in its targeted markets of healthcare, education, manufacturing and transportation.
"We are pleased to add Xentry Systems Integration to our network of leading systems integrators," PSA Security Network President and CEO Bill Bozeman says. "Companies like Xentry that provide enhanced value to end users through the delivery of robust technology solutions and a dedication to customer service are an ideal fit for the PSA organization."


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Despite spending more than ever on maintenance, states face difficult budget decisions as one quarter of the nation's bridges are deficient or functionally obsolete, according to Reason Foundation's 18th Annual Highway Report.
"This shows the difficulties states are having when it comes to making across-the-board progress in road conditions," explains David Hartgen, lead author of the nonprofit think tank's report. "In many cases, we see two steps forward, one step back."
The number of deficient bridges had declined for 22 consecutive years. But in 2007 (the latest year for which figures are available), 151,101 bridges were deficient and/or functionally obsolete, a 1% increase over 2006. The trend continued into 2009; in the two worst states, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, more than half of all bridges need improvement.
Arizona reported the lowest percentage of deficient bridges at nearly 11%, while Rhode Island reported the highest at 53%.The highest-percentage states are primarily in the northeast, where the structures are among the oldest in the nation. Maine, for example, fell six slots from 22th to 28nd from 2006 to 2007 because of worsening conditions on rural arterials.
Ironically, maintenance expenditures increased faster than the rate of deterioration, from $17 billion to $20 billion; and account for 18% of state highway budgets. Administrative costs rose from $7 billion to $8 billion, accounting for more than 7% of spending. Capital improvements represent 57%. Total highway maintenance spending jumped 17% between 2006 and 2007, although capital investment in bridges increased from $54 billion to nearly $63 billion, a 15% increase.
Delaware improved the most, moving from 28th to 11th by cutting spending without sacrificing road conditions. Michigan jumped from 42nd to 30th thanks to better rural pavement conditions. Mississippi also posted double-digit gains.
Top-ranked North Dakota, which has had the best-performing roads system each year since 2001, scored well by having the least interstate and rural mileage in poor condition and ranking first in maintenance spending.
New Mexico continues its impressive improvement. The state was 27th in 2000, but now ranks 2nd in overall performance and cost-effectiveness.Kansas is 3rd overall, while South Carolina, with one of the largest state-owned highway systems in the country, is 4th. Montana rounds out the top five.Four states -- Missouri, Oregon, Vermont, and Indiana -- fell by double-digits: which fell 16 spots, from 15th to 31st, because of a sharp decline in urban interstate condition and an increase in spending per mile.
The foundation generates its annual report based on data states submit to the federal Department of Transportation for the year 2007. The overall ranking weighs 11 indicators that include highway and bridge expenditures, pavement and bridge condition, congestion, fatality rates, and lane width.


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Pretty quilts! Great bright colors, and fun butterflies!
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
Pretty quilts! Great bright colors, and fun butterflies!
Be a blessing to others, as you may entertain angels unaware!
So sweet. I love the way the background colors bring out the colors in the butterflies. You did a wonderful job!
These are darling gifts for the twinnies - they are already lucky girls. Hope all goes well with their entry into our world!
KEEP CALM and CARRY ON!!
They are sure to be well loved....i always favor baby quilts that are bright colors. Great choices and lovely work.
Of all the things i've lost, i miss my mind the most.
Very nice quilts. They will love them as they get a little older. Thanks for sharing.
Nami to 6
Love both colorways, they are bright and cheery. Thanks for sharing two great quilts.
Sweet quilts!
Oh so cute! They are great!!!
Mom to 2 Future Stitchers....Wife to One Great Hubby!
"Once A Phi Sigma Sigma, Always A Phi Sigma Sigma!"


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Indexes local news stories, feature articles, and reviews primarily from the The Plain Dealer from 1983-1999. Since 2000 it only selectively indexes Cleveland Magazine (1983- ), Northern Ohio Live (Sept. 1990- ), and Ohio (Oct. 1990- ). Searching is by subject. No full-text is available.
Classic Catalog | OhioLINK | Lane Public | WorldCat |
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Find your summer read!
Faculty stipend and workshop offered for exploring open textbooks
Staff Spotlight: Nate Floyd
Celebrate National Poetry Month 2017 with Miami University Libraries


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Tibetan / Vajrayana
Vajrayana Buddhism is most closely associated with Tibet and can be characterized by the figure of the siddha, the master whose spiritual realization is so profound that he or she has power over the phenomenal world, and in whom the profundity and vastness of absolute truth is fully and completely manifested. Many of our most well-known authors come from this tradition of Tibetan Buddhism .
[Note: The tags for the various schools are not definitive as many books span multiple traditions, etc. They are meant to use as a starting point for exploring this collection.]
Niguma, Lady of IllusionProviding a rare glimpse of feminine Buddhist history, Niguma, Lady of Illusion brings to the forefront the life and teachings of a mysterious eleventh-century Kashmiri woman who became the source of a major Tibetan Buddhist practice lineage. The circumstances of her life and extraordinary qualities ascribed to her are analyzed in the greater context of spiritual biography and Buddhist doctrine. More than a historical presentation, Niguma's story raises the question… Read More
Hardcover$39.95+ Add to Bag
The Practice of the Six Yogas of Naropa
The Tibetan tradition known as the Six Yogas of Naropa is one of the most popular tantric systems with all schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Structured and arranged by the eleventh-century Indian masters Tilopa and Naropa from various Buddhist tantric legacies, this system of yogic practice was carried to Tibet by Marpa the Translator a generation later. These six yogas—inner heat, illusory body, clear light, consciousness transference, forceful projection, and bardo… Read More
- edited by
- Glenn H. Mullin
Paperback$26.95+ Add to Bag
The Six Yogas of Naropa
Tsongkhapa's Commentary
Tsongkhapa's commentary entitled A Book of Three Inspirations: A Treatise on the Stages of Training in the Profound Path of Naro's Six Dharmas is commonly referred to as The Three Inspirations. Anyone who has read more than a few books on Tibetan Buddhism will have encountered references to the Six Yogas of Naropa, a preeminent yogic technology system. The six practices—inner heat, illusory body, clear light, consciousness transference, forceful projection,… Read More
- edited by
- Glenn H. Mullin
Paperback$34.95+ Add to Bag


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May 21-27, 2017
The front line of public education begins with that first school bus ride in the morning, and ends when the custodian turns off the lights at night. As educators, we know the crucial role played by the thousands of paraprofessionals, office workers, bus drivers, custodians and maintenance staff in our schools.
Every child deserves a chance to learn and no child succeeds alone.
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Stay connected with us to get the latest health and fitness news, innovative workouts, healthy recipes and wellness tips.
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ACE Fit Share
This lemon and dill vinaigrette is a natural complement to green beans. It's also great tossed with steamed asparagus or drizzled over sliced fresh tomatoes.
Nutrition Profile:
Diabetes Appropriate
Healthy Weight
Heart Healthy
High Fiber
Low Calorie
Low Carb
Low Cholesterol
Low Sat Fat
Low Sodium
Serves 4
Prep Time 15 min
Total Time 25 min.
Step 1
Bring an inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Add green beans, cover and cook until tender-crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Step 2
Meanwhile, whisk dill, shallot, oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the green beans and toss to coat. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving to blend flavors.
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Flatten your stomach and build strength in the muscles that provide stability and mobility for the spine, pelvis, ribs and hips.
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This workout provides a challenging total-body workout that can be done from the comfort of home with no equipment other than bodyweight and space.


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November 13, 2012
American Public Media
Jeff Horwich
With political pressure mounting, Diane Lim Rogers, chief economist for the Concord Coalition, a think-tank committed to balanced federal fiscal policy, believes politicians won't have much trouble working together to avoid the quickly approaching fiscal cliff.
Instead, Rogers wonders if Congress will be able to hash out a solution that serves longer-term goals.
"The pressure is exactly the opposite of what you need because the short-term worry about recession concerns gets mixed up with the longer-term need to reduce the deficit, raise national savings and kind of get ourselves on a more sustainable path," she says.


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I have met him several times and he is a royal prick.
Cajun Invasion
he is a good guy and would give you the shirt off his back
And no I am not Towery
I have known Towery for a long time, he is a good guy and would give you the shirt off his back! I'll bet most of you negative posters have never even met him, just going off what someone told you or whatever. He'll be the first one to admit the mistakes he has made, especially at Winnfield. The honesty and lies thing is totally false, he's just the opposite honest to a fault, tells it like he see's it. As far as the funky motion thing, that's inaccurate too, he works with several QB's in the Baton Rouge area, including the last three starters from Central, the two possible starters for Central next year, the starter at Catholic and several others in the Baton Rouge area. The Briscoe kid would be the starter at McNeese right now if it wasn't for all the knee injuries. They came to him for some reason? You figure it out. Why get on here and trash the man for something that happened 6 years ago? He know's the things he did wrong and he accepts that he made mistakes. Leave it alone!
Overall talent may have a little to do with this! It's not like he had JaMarcus Russell or anything. By the way genius, when Tebow tried to get his motion right for the NFL, go look at some of the drills he did to SHORTEN his motion!
Who have you seen with that motion that plays at a high level Chris?
Come throw the ball with me buddy! Show me how to throw a football! You know who I am and where I am! It's nice to get on a message board and talk about someone, without anyone knowing who you are!
Again, I am not Towery. Chris coaches high school quarterbacks so he is trying to get the most out of these players. If he had a high level thrower in high school, i don't think he would try to change them that much. But he has never had that so he tries to get the most of them that he can. Sounds like he's doing his job to me.
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FORT WAYNE, Ind.—The Distinguished Lecturer Series presents a special evening with Elaine Blakemore, interim dean, College of Arts and Sciences, and professor of psychology at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW).
"Why Do Boys and Girls Behave Differently: What I've Learned in 30 Years of Studying Children's Gender Development" will take place Friday, March 21 at 4 p.m. in the Walb International Ballroom on the IPFW campus.
The lecture will explore what Blakemore has learned through her research into children's gender development. This event is free and open to the public; the lecture will be followed by a reception with cash bar.
Elaine Blakemore has studied children's gender development for more than three decades. She received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Northern Illinois University in 1978 and has an active research program involving many IPFW students over the years. In 2009 she and two coauthors published a highly-regarded book, Gender Development. In addition to the book, Blakemore has published many articles and book chapters and delivered lectures and presentations on topics related to gender development and the psychology of gender. Her work has been cited widely by other scholars and appears in many textbooks in developmental psychology and the psychology of gender.
The Distinguished Lecturer Series is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences (COAS) and gives faculty members the opportunity to share interesting aspects of their research in an relaxed setting.
For more information on this event visit the COAS website.


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21 May 2008
The Department's Rocket Car Derby "an enormous success"
14 May 2008
Undergraduate exchange programme set up with École Centrale Paris
12 May 2008
Irene Vidyanti receives Sir William Siemens medal.
07 May 2008
Dr Michelle Oyen explores potential uses of synthetic bone-like material
29 Apr 2008
An invention by Salah Elmoselhy is set to shape the next generation of vehicle suspension systems.
28 Apr 2008
Students in the Department will be exhibiting their projects to visitors from across the University and from industry on Monday 12 May.
23 Apr 2008
The Department of Engineering hosted a pilot secondary education programme aimed at stimulating informed change to consumption practices through Ecological Footprinting.
16 Apr 2008
For the first time, the EU's three most prestigious science awards have been presented together.
09 Apr 2008
Dalek building, it turns out, is something of a thriving pastime in the toolsheds and garages of Britain.
03 Apr 2008
The Prime Minister today named Professor Mark Welland FRS FREng as the new Chief Scientific Adviser at the Ministry of Defence.


text: So today i drove the equinox around town quite a fair deal. by the end of the day late at night there was a very distinct and audible rumbling/groaning sort of noise coming from the front center area under my car. It was raining all day today, and the only other times this has happend before have been in torrential downpours. so im pretty positive whatever it is is caused by water? At first i thought it had something to do with the engine/intake-exhaust however when i open my window to listen if i can hear it better outside while driving i cannot, and when i parked in the garage and gave her some gas to see if i could hear the rumbling in the quiet of the garage i heard nothing. so since i only heard it while driving it leads me to believe i has to be something with the tranny/axle/tires.(?) im assuming someone else has to have encountered something similar. (seems like most people have with the 'nox). any info would help. only info i could find was possibly water into the manifold?


text: Seriously, what exactly is it that Darko did that screwed up the Pistons? I can think of two things, he hated playing in garbage time, and when he couldn't get into the lineup, he wanted a trade. What he did do was practice, work on his game, workout, and avoid being tazered.


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Vero Beach Wedding at Orchid Island Beach Club from 1313 PhotographyThere is pretty and then there is this next little Vero Beach number from 1313 Photography. Perfect parts pretty and preppy, with elegance weaved throughout - it's safe to say we are smitten with every.single.image. The gallery is overflowing with all the
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Oahu Private Airport Shuttle Transfer for up to 11
Travel in style via private airport transfer between Oahu Airport and your Oahu hotel or resort. Each private shuttle accommodates up to 11 passengers.
Please choose your transfer according to the Zone your hotel is in. Transfers are available between Oahu Airport and the following hotel zones:
- Waikiki
- Kahala
- Ko'Olina
- Turtle Bay
- Private one-way or roundtrip Oahu Airport transfer via shuttle
- Baggage assistance
- Gratuity
Transfer times vary based on the location of your hotel and traffic conditions.
Airport pick-up location
Arrivals at Oahu Airport (see How It Works for details)
Hotel pick-up location
Outside the lobby (curbside) of your hotel
Please choose your transfer according to the Zone your hotel is in.
How it works
Reservation confirmation is required. To confirm your transfer reservation, you will receive an email from a Local Expert Activity Specialist, requesting your flight details and the name of the hotel or resort at which you are staying. If you miss your flight or change your itinerary, you must immediately reschedule your transfer.
Airport pick-up: Upon arrival, please collect your luggage and proceed through security. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall outside the baggage claim area with a welcome sign displaying your party's name.
Hotel pick-up: Your driver meets you outside the lobby (curbside) of your hotel.
Please present voucher(s) and photo ID to the driver upon pick-up.
Rate is per vehicle and valid for private transfers between Oahu Airport and your Oahu hotel only. If your hotel falls outside the listed zones, you may need to pay an additional charge directly to the driver at the time of service. Each vehicle accommodates up to 11 passengers.
Terms & Conditions
This Activity can be changed or cancelled without penalty at any time prior to 48 hours before the scheduled start of this Activity. Otherwise the product is 100% non-refundable and non-transferable.


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On Sunday afternoon, when Greg, Jeff and Murray Wiggle told an Auckland crowd of hyped-up toddlers and their weary parents at Vector Arena that they wouldn't be touring again, there were a few lumps in throats.
Maybe that was just my throat; maybe it was the remnants of the $7 stick of candy floss I had brought for my daughter that I ended up eating - and wearing. But it was a genuinely sad moment, because at the third Wiggles concert I have been to in my years as a mother, I realised I would really miss this group of dorky, musical gems.
I am one of those annoying people who continue playing Wiggles DVDs long after my kids have left the car. I sang every note at the concert, much to the horror of my six-year-old (who actually didn't want to be there, but took the ticket to deprive his sister of being able to take a friend, he fiendishly explained half way through). Not me though - I wanted to be there. I love the group's music; I'm a Wiggles groupie, if you will.
I simply can't take to the new Wiggles, even though with a child just turned one and on his way into Wiggles mania, I may have to. But, a girl Wiggle (the new yellow)? A muscley Wiggle (the new red)? A Wiggle who looks like he's just gone through puberty (purple)? Teamed up with the only remaining old Wiggle, Anthony in blue, who appears to be still going through a mid-life crisis judging by the number of handstands he insisted on performing?
Granted, the three leaving probably did have to be replaced. Jeff looks like he needs a Zimmer-frame; he reminded me very much of the Chinese pensioners that gather in parks around Auckland to do Tai Chi every morning, right down to his karate slippers. Greg looks better than he did when he left the group five or so years ago, but still, not overly-fresh. And Murray still likes riffing on his gee-tar but somehow finds ways to do it without moving more than a metre either side.
This muddle of styles and slow changing of the guard made this most recent Wiggles concert, for me, somewhat disappointing. There was too much chatter between band members, too many adult-pitched jokes (stuff about Deep Purple and Jeff's pace maker, which yes, are funny, but don't exactly keep the littlies glued to their seats) and not enough from the band's extensive - and hugely popular - back catalogue. Instead there was new material, and even a new plushie (honestly, is someone in the group a plushophile?) - Dmitri, the chuckling dog. An extended dialogue about Dmitri's origins in a Russian circus did nothing much for anyone.
The first Wiggles concert I saw in 2007 in Christchurch was the absolute business, I reckon - fast paced, full of musical favourites, chatter aimed solely at the kids and just long enough to keep everyone's attention. The next one in 2009 was full of acrobats and the music was not overly familiar to New Zealand audiences, so that was a bit of a drag. This one, trading on our love of these magnificent performers who - for me at least - have made the early childhood years just a little more bearable - gets a B+ from me.
Despite that, I'll be listening to their music for a few more years yet, I predict.


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Weave this flagstone garden path just about anywhere in your yard. There's no thick base to install or difficult cutting and fitting—you just lay the stone over a simple sand bed.
Mark the path's edge with special upside-down spray marking paint. Spray along the path's edge outlined by the stakes.
Remove the sod in the area of the path with a sod cutter. Set the sod cutter to maximum depth to minimize additional digging. Dig out the path area to about 5 in. deep to allow for 3 in. of sand and 2-in.-thick stone.
You don't have to be a skilled mason to lay a natural stone path like this one. If you have a strong back and an eye for fitting jigsaw puzzles, you can weave a casual garden path like this just about anywhere in your yard. There's no thick base to install or difficult cutting and fitting—you just lay natural stone over a simple sand bed.
You'll be moving a lot of dirt and stone, so a good shovel and wheelbarrow will pay off here. To simplify the grass removal, we rented a power sod cutter (you'll need a pickup truck to haul this brute). For smaller paths, a kick-type sod cutter would work fine. Buy a heavy rubber mallet or deadblow hammer to settle the stone into the sand bed. If your project requires a step or retaining wall like ours, you'll also need a level and a hand tamper (Photo 5). You can buy or rent a tamper. Finally, you'll need a garage broom to sweep the soil mixture into the cracks, and a good pair of heavy leather gloves to protect your hands.
For our path, we chose a locally quarried limestone called Chilton. The 1-1/2- to 2-1/2-in.-thick "steppers" are sold by the ton (a ton covers about 90 sq. ft.), but costs vary widely depending on what's locally available. Measure the length of your path and multiply this by its width to determine the square footage. Then add about 15 percent. Our 3-ft. wide by 70-ft. long path required about 3 tons of stone.
Check online, or the yellow pages under "Stone, Natural" or call local landscaping suppliers to find stone in your area. Visit the stone yard to select the stone, since it varies in color, texture and cost. This is also a good time to discuss delivery options. Usually the stone will be stacked on pallets and dropped off near the street.
In addition to the steppers, we needed about a ton of 8-in. wide by 3- to 5-in.-thick stone for the wall and a few 6-in.-thick stones to build the step (Photos 4 and 6). Your stone dealer can help you figure the amount of stone you'll need for special projects like this.
Pour and pack gravel into an 8-in.-deep trench for the retaining wall footing only. Spread the gravel in 2-in. layers, packing each layer with a hand tamper before adding the next. Use a level and straightedge to level the final layer before you pack it down.
Stack the stone for the low retaining wall on the compacted gravel base. Stagger the joints in the stones and set each row back 1/2 in. behind the face of the stones below so the wall "leans into" the hill. Pack soil behind the stones as you build the wall.
Tamp gravel in 2-in. layers to form an 8-in.-deep base under the step.
Set 6 x 8-in. wall stone into a 3-in. bed of sand to form the step. Settle and level the stones with a rubber mallet or a hammer and block of wood. Then fill behind the step stones with packed sand and set the path stones even with the top of the step.
Because this garden path is informal, we decided to set the stone on a 2- to 3-in. thick sand bed rather than the 6-in. deep compacted gravel base used under more heavily traveled walks and patios. Although you'll spend a lot less time digging and moving dirt with our method, you may have to reset a sunken or tipped stone every few years, because the base isn't as stable.
Landscape suppliers, sand and gravel companies, or your stone supplier sell and deliver sand by the cubic yard. Divide the square footage of your path by 108 to calculate how many cubic yards of sand you'll need for a 3-in. deep base. You'll also need some potting soil and mulch or compost to fill the spaces between stones. We mixed equal amounts of soil and sifted compost in a wheelbarrow and swept it into the cracks (Photo 10).
You can lay a stone path like this almost anywhere that's not too steep for comfortable walking. If after laying out your path (Photo 1), you notice a section that seems too steep, plan on building in a step to break the path into sections that are more level (Photos 5 and 6). You'll have to buy a few stones about 6 in. thick and the right length to form the step. Then level them on a bed of packed gravel and fill behind them with sand before you continue laying path stones.
If your path runs along the edge of a slope like ours, level it by digging it into the slope and building a low retaining wall (Photos 3 and 4). We simply stacked wall stones on a compacted gravel bed for our retaining wall, but if it's more than a foot tall, consider stronger construction techniques.
Spread a 3-in. layer of sand over the path. Use a rake to smooth the sand about 2 in. below the surface of the lawn.
Arrange the stone on the sand, mixing shapes and colors to create a natural-looking path. Leave about 2 in. between stones for plants to fill in.
Tie a string to stakes about an inch above the finished height of the path for a guideline. The string should follow the natural slope of the path; it doesn't have to be level. Adjust the depth of the sand so the tops of the stones align under the string. Wiggle the stones into place and settle them down into the sand by pounding on the top with a rubber mallet.
Fill the cracks between stones with a 50/50 mix of potting soil and sifted compost or bark mulch. Spread the soil mix and sweep it into the cracks with a broom.
Plant creeping thyme or another durable spreading plant in the larger spaces. Dig down into the sand base to provide room for the roots. Loosen the roots and spread them out in the hole, then refill around the plant with potting mix and water the plant.
Laying the stone is like assembling a big, heavy jigsaw puzzle (Photo 8). Spread the stones out on the ground so you can pick shapes and colors that fit. Use a wheelbarrow or a two-wheel dolly to move heavy stones, and always lift with your legs, not your back. Don't worry about tight fits. The path will look more natural if you leave a few irregular spaces and an occasional stone jutting out into the yard.
Start laying stones against walls, steps or other established borders. Then work out and along the path (Photo 8). Loosely assemble a half dozen stones and stand back to take a look at the arrangement. Reposition the stones if you like, and then set these stones before moving on.
The goal for placing the stones is to keep all the tops even. Adjust the height of each stone by scooping out or adding sand (Photo 9). As you gain experience, you'll be able to look at the thickness of the stone and judge how much sand to leave. We staked up string as a rough guide so that instead of waving up and down, our path dips gradually over its length to follow the natural terrain (Photo 9).
Complete the path by filling the joints between stones with soil mix and planting a durable ground cover (Photo 11). We planted creeping thyme in the larger spaces. Eventually the thyme will spread and fill the cracks for a low-maintenance, fragrant path. Check with your local nursery for advice on durable, spreading plants for your climate. If you'd rather not grow plants, fill the spaces with mulch or finely shredded bark.
Have the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you start—you'll save time and frustration.
You'll also need a sod cutter and a tamper, along with leather gloves and a broom.
Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a list.


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Well actually I only need motion on XY-Plane(no rolling motion…cuz flat pieces as shown in the fig. below)
As in fig. During AI's turn it needs to pit a piece (aka balls in pool) in hole, it only tries to pit its white/black pieces only.
Now the Final AI Function should return 3 values
1. Striker's position on the Strip.
2. Striker's Aim's position (where to put cross-hair….where to hit !) and
3. Initial velocity (How hard to hit !)
Now lets assume for-now 100% hit rate….later random garbage value can then be added to these 100% Hit value to get lower difficulties of AI(missed hits !).
Now the Striker can hit a piece in a hole
1. Directly (Striker hits piece, piece falls in hole).
2. Indirectly (Striker hits a piece,……. that piece hits our intended piece then it falls in hole).
3. Rebound Shot (Striker hits a board wall and then rebounds to hit our intend piece which then falls in hole)
Now I was thinking like
Loop through all holes { For current hole -> Loop through all available piece to hit { Now if( a line passing through curr hole's pos and curr piece's pos also intersect Striker placing strip and does not hit any other piece on the way) { Well, we got an answer for 1st case Striker Hit Add this Shot to Available shots array along with its "Shot Weightage". Now How to get those other case also ? } } }Then finally shot with highest/lowest Shot weightage will be chosen as current shot.
This will be required because we will be looping for every piece on board and every piece will probably be shot to hole using 2nd case of Striker Hit(multi-level collisions)….and we don't want our AI to pull "Super Human" or "Vulcan" or "Rajnikanth" precision shots.
So how to put weight to these selected shots ?
Now this is what I came up with. Anyone with any other brilliant idea…….And people please talk !
Some Points To Note :
1] Now there is a StackOverflow post with exact same heading...(So the NEW in the Heading)
But the guys there have discussed "What needs to be done"......we want "How" so a functional code can be put together.
2] NO we cant go for "RandomShots>>genetic algo>>assessed using neural network" because we are in very limited CPU time and memory budget..Mobile platform.
3] We need to find those shots directly(without any kind of simulation) using maths,trigonometry,distance formula, etc
4] For velocity...we know final max velocity allowed to pit a piece so we just go on adding the amount of velocity reduce
due to friction and between collisions....to get initial velocity to fire the shot, which will be also in limited so if required initial
velocity is greater than "max allowed initial velocity" than assign Highest/lowest "Shot weightage" to current shot.
Thanks in advance for the patience.
Edited by rahulpawar, 30 May 2012 - 06:57 AM.


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'The World's End' : Zak interviews the Director and Cast of this movie!
Overnights film reviewer Zak Hepburn discussed the movie 'The World's End' with Trevor Chappell.
The final film in the Cornetto trilogy, following Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, The World's End presents an apocalyptic tale of a different sort, with five friends reuniting in their home town to discover that they and the town have changed. They go on a pub crawl - the final pub is called 'The World's End' - when they get there things get interesting!
You can listen to his review here :
Zak recently caught up with the Director and some of the cast - Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to discuss this new work.
Zak speaks with the trio about the challenges of staying fresh three films in and the influences behind the project. You can see these interviews via our links below:
Director Edgar Wright
Actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost


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New chapter in Deschutes farm-wedding debate
Sisters-area man to seek private park permit
BEND, Ore. - Deschutes County has been grappling for many years over whether and how to allow property owners to host weddings on land zoned for farming.
A Sisters-area man said Thursday he's hoping to get a private park permit for his proposed wedding venue, and believes it will boost the local economy.
John Shepherd owns 216 acres of land, with breathtaking views of the Cascades and miles of land in a canyon below. It's a place many brides would dream of getting married.
"There's nothing I would rather do than participate in a wedding," Shepherd said. "There's all the joy, and a new life, and a new union being formed."
Shepherd has a one-stop shop for weddings. He has a deck for the rehearsal dinner, an arch for the ceremony and a pavilion for the reception.
But state and local officials have wrestled with those requests, and balancing them with neighbors' concerns about traffic, dust and noise.
A new state law allows people to apply for commercial venue permits, but it has to be a working farm, which Shepherd's land isn't.
But Shepherd's land also is far from neighbors, so instead, he's applying for a private park permit.
"It's untested waters at the state level, so there's really not precedent," said Deschutes County Planning Director Nick Lelack. "There's no certain path. It's not clear yet or not whether he could gain approval on it. So it's a big risk."
Just to even apply for the permit, it will cost Shepherd $8,200. He was hopeful the fee would be waived, because of the economic benefits his venue could have.
"It would provide employment for vendors, for dress shops, for florists, for DJs, photographers," said Shepherd. "It would generate so much income and economic activity, that it's a shame the county isn't helping me move this forward in a more expedient matter."
But county commissioners refused to waive the fee on Wednesday. They say the Community Development Department is fully fee-funded, and it could set a precedent for others.
"The board only decided on the fee waiver request yesterday," Lelack said. "A couple of the commissioners showed support for considering this issue, and seeing an application at some point in the future."
With lots of interest from brides from out of town already, Shepherd is ready to get started.
"It's a win for me and my family, so I can pay my taxes," Shepherd said. "It's a win for the brides and their guests, and it's a win for the county because of all the people it employs and all the taxes it generates. It creates this tremendous engine of economic activity. So who's losing? No one is losing."
While the permit fee is a challenge, Shepherd is hopeful and optimistic about moving forward with the process.


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Hit the Vacation Jackpot in St. Louis
Hollywood Casino St. Louis • Maryland Heights, MO
Escape Kit
- A One-Night Stay for Two in a Premium King or Queen Room, Sundays through Thursdays, with $40 Dining Credit at Kelly English Steakhouse and $20 Breakfast Credit at Eat Up! Buffet ($99)
- Or, a Two-Night Stay for Two in a Premium King or Queen Room, Fridays and Saturdays, with $50 Dining Credit at Kelly English Steakhouse, $20 Dining Credit at Sammy's Beach Bar & Grill, Sunday Brunch for Two at Eat Up! Buffet, Admission for Two to Boogie Nights, Late 1 p.m. Checkout, and Nightly Turndown Service ($329)
- Combine Vouchers to Stay for Up to Six Nights
The Destination
Historically dubbed the "Gateway to the West," St. Louis, Missouri, still buzzes with the adventurous spirit of a new frontier, where trendy neighborhoods, cozy cafés, and thumping music stages favor just about any fancy. The sports set will cheer for year-round sporting events and 13 professional championships; music junkies will dance to live tunes at the bevy of bars that dot the downtown strip; and beer enthusiasts will want to sip and sample what's on tap at the historic microbreweries. Truly a "City of a Thousand Sights," St. Louis is a gateway city for any taste.
The Digs
Just outside the city in Maryland Heights, Missouri, Hollywood Casino St. Louis is a gamer's dream vacation. The hotel's Premium Rooms offer one king or two queen beds with pillow-top mattresses, plus granite countertops and spacious bathrooms. On the casino floor, more than 2,100 slot machines, 60 gaming tables, and a 24-hour poker room await to test your luck. And once you've hit it big in the casino, Hollywood's seven restaurants serve up everything from juicy steaks to Asian fusion cuisine.
The Diversions
• Kelly English Steakhouse
• Eat Up! Buffet
• Boogie Nights
• Poker Room
• Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
• Gateway Arch
"The staff I encountered was great, and the room was clean and comfortable. We had dinner at the buffet and had a ball in the casino. I would stay here again."-- Hotels.com
escapes 30-day promise
LivingSocial gives you up to 30 days to return your unused voucher for a full refund. Once you've made a reservation, you are subject to the merchant's cancellation and refund policy. If you want to secure your preferred dates of travel, we strongly recommend that you complete reservation with the merchant within 30 days of your purchase—after that, LivingSocial will not issue any refunds.
the fine print
- Limit 5 per customer, additional as gifts; up to 5 vouchers may be combined to extend stay
- Only valid for stays now through August 29, 2013
- Reservations required and subject to availability
- Not valid toward existing or room block reservations
- Option A (Sundays through Thursdays) includes: One $40 Dining Credit to Kelly's English Steakhouse, One $20 Dining Credit to Breakfast Buffet
- Option B (Fridays and Saturdays) includes: One $50 Dining Credit to Kelly's English Steakhouse, One $20 Dining Credit to Sammy's Beach Bar and Grill, Sunday Brunch for Two, Two Passes to Boogie Nights (Friday or Saturday only), Late 1pm Checkout, Nightly Turndown Service
- Nights must be spent consecutively; all inclusions must be redeemed during one stay
- Voucher valid for 2 guests
- Merchant cancellation/rescheduling policy and fees apply once booking is made; voucher subject to forfeiture
- Taxes/resort fee not included; payable directly to the property
- Incidental charges, charges for additional services and gratuity at the property are not included
- Blackout date(s): July 4-6, 2013
- Other conditions apply • PAID AND PROMOTIONAL VALUES EXPIRES ON August 29, 2013 • PAID VALUE DOES NOT EXPIRE • PAID VALUE EXPIRES ON August 29, 2018 • PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES ON August 29, 2013 • Enjoy By August 29, 2013
Other conditions apply
Except where noted in the fine print:
• Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion
• Tax and gratuity are not included
• Merchant is responsible for the quality of the products or services provided to you at redemption
• LivingSocial Terms and Conditions - https://www.livingsocial.com/terms


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Tool Storage Finder
Whether you have a small or expansive tool collection, a tool storage chest, cart or carrier can help keep them organized. When you're in the middle of a project, convenient tool storage solutions make it easy to reach for the right pieces every time. Featuring stainless steel construction, smooth-rolling wheels and adjustable drawers, tool storage chests have everything you need to keep your essential supplies easily accessible. Storage supplies are also durable enough to withstand the elements or major tasks, so you can even take portable chests to a construction site.
Tool storage solutions are available in a wide assortment of sizes, shapes and colors to suit your specific needs. If you're looking for a durable, compact storage solution for your apartment or office, a hard-plastic toolbox is ergonomically designed to hold your screws, measuring tape and hand tools. Customize your workspace with a stackable tool chest combo. You'll find a rollaway model with variable-size drawers for your fully-stocked home garage. The side brakes provide extra stability, while the fold-out work surface keeps you productive no matter where the job takes you.
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text:
Here we go again:
I have hives and divides that are on their 2nd round of two patties per feeding and a 1st or 2nd filling of Mother Lode style inside feeders.
The bees can empty one of those inside feeders overnight!
The Carniolans shut down brooding and the Italians are going 2 frames of brood to their one!
A Russian breeder queen and her colony also just about stoped brooding.
Very few drones and some robbing going on.
We do not get a late summer honey flow in this part of Calif.
The recent fires in the area have devastaded the buckwheat.
No, it is not the kind of Buckwheat that is used in baking.


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1. Re: Lots of layout problems w/ the kids books?Strayer Jul 22, 2011 7:13 AM (in response to SarahF11)
I registered last month and just read your post.
I would think it is the publisher, not BN or nook.
I am a PubIt! and figured out how to get the book on here without glitches, except one picture looked like green and white striped wallpaper in the preview.
It looked pretty, was better than my drawing and I wasn't sure what I had done wrong to cause it. It was me, not nook. I didn't change it because the rest was okay and I was afraid I'd foul up the rest.
That's how come I think that it is the publisher.
I am so sorry your experience was bad.
I'd would have returned the books and let BN know why.
2. Re: Lots of layout problems w/ the kids books?Strayer Aug 9, 2011 12:40 PM (in response to Strayer)
I need to make a correction.
A friend downloaded and read my book. It is fine with no problems.
It is important to me that the reader not have any difficulty reading my book.
If a book is full of errors and is a Pubit! book, I would write to that writer and let him/her know. It would be good for the writer to know such things.
If a major publisher has put up an ebook full of errors, I'd blast the publisher. There's no excuse for that.
3. Re: Lots of layout problems w/ the kids books?Jefferson_Thomas Oct 5, 2011 11:23 AM (in response to SarahF11)
SarahF11 wrote, in part:
I've bought a bunch of kids nook books to have for the baby, and a good number of them have significant layout issues. Entire pages are blank, or the pictures aren't lined up with the text and I have to keep scrolling through.
Sarah, you just provided a perfect example of an issue I tried to raise in a different discussion! I must not have expressed myself clearly there, because at least one person who replied indicated that he didn't know what I was talking about. The context of my earlier conversation was that someone said he was happy he'd bought an iPad (and was getting rid of his Nook), and I wanted more information about how the two compare with each other, especially as regards EXACTLY the issue you raised: wouldn't a device with more real estate to begin with like an iPad stand a better chance of keeping the text and pictures aligned the way the author intended them?? And this issue would also apply to things like textbooks that have charts and graphs and so forth that need to be near the text to which they apply. To me, a book with those kinds of formatting and alignment issues just wouldn't "feel" right!
How about it, everybody? Do I have a point? Or am I just some old fogey who should shut up and get with the program? (It's a distinct possibility, ya know!)
4. Re: Lots of layout problems w/ the kids books?Strayer Oct 6, 2011 8:22 AM (in response to Jefferson_Thomas)
You are right and it was nice to read your post.
Even if you are an old fogey.


text:
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text: Whenever a mother gives birth to a baby the happiness which can be seen on the faces of the parents at that time is simply impossible to express in words. A child is considered to be the greatest gifts of god to any couple. A baby is the pearl of every eye including all the relatives from both sides. He gets unconditional love and care from everyone especially his parents.


text:
About the Show
Mrs. Wilkinson's ballet class just gained two new students. Drew Minard and Mitchell Tobin have assumed the title role in the national tour of Billy Elliot. The actors will alternate performances as Billy and will become the 12th and 13th actors to perform the part in the national tour. The musical is currently playing Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre through December 30 and will visit Costa Mesa, Jacksonville and Kansas City in 2013.
Minard, 12, is an Iowa native who began dancing at age 3. He won the 2012 Hope Award in New York during the Youth America Grand Prix.
Tobin, 12, is also making his professional theater debut. The Boca Raton, Florida native began dancing when he was 3-years-old and has won several national dance competition titles.
Minard and Tobin will alternate the role of Billy with current cast members Ben Cook and Noah Parets. Other members of the cast include Rich Hebert as Dad, Janet Dickinson as Mrs. Wilkinson, Cullen R. Titmas as Tony and Patti Perkins as Grandma.
Billy Elliot tells the story of one boy's journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small British mining town, the plot follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. Based on the Academy Award-nominated film, Billy Elliot 'sTony-winning creative team includes director Stephen Daldry, choreographer Peter Darling and writer Lee Hall. Music legend Elton John composed the film's score.


text:
From soup kitchens to animal shelters, there are loads of volunteer opportunities for altruistic residents. This week, Roving Reporter Stan Wharton asked volunteers at CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) in Walnut Creek and those at Museum of the San Ramon Valley ==B Why do you volunteer?==
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, September 13, 2012, 1:57 PM
Town Square
Streetwise: Volunteering
Original post made on Sep 14, 2012
Like this commentPosted by Alamo resident
a resident of Alamo
on Sep 14, 2012 at 7:33 am
We are so blessed with so much living in the San Ramon Valley. Another great resource for volunteer opportunities is: CPC Goodwoorks.org. Community Presbyterian Church is based in Danville and has many mission partners that could use your time and talents in a variety of ways. CPC just hosted a summer food drive in which their goal was to collect 6000 food bags for the less fortunate in Richmond. Where your heart is, your treasure will follow.


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Five Annoying Status Updates That Will Get Your Unfriended On Facebook
"Playboy is...writing an article." Don't bore your friends with asinine status updates. Find out if your committing any social media sins.
A national poll was taken from selected individuals (and by that I mean a couple of my friends who've been to four states and screwed at least one hairy French guy) regarding Facebook statuses that make them want to gnaw off their toe nails and spit them in your face. However, since they're no longer "bendy" like they used to be in high school, hiding your statuses from their newsfeed is about the best they can do.
Here are five Facebook statuses that qualify for an instant newsfeed ban:
"Johnny Haircut is…so super excited……..!"
Example: "Joan Lotadrama is: sick and tired of it."
"Vaguebooking' is defined by the Urban Dictionary as an intentionally vague Facebook status update that prompts friends to ask what's going on, or is possibly a cry for help. It leaves your Facebook friends feeling like Chris Brown after a Good Morning America interview; provoked, confused and getting a sudden urge to throw a chair at a window. Especially if you're complaining about a nameless someone because it's about as useless to your friends as Justin Bieber is to lesbians.
Most likely, your selected recipient is totally oblivious that you're even talking about them while all your other Facebook friends are now left wondering who/what you're talking about and your egocentric Facebook friends inundate you with comments desperately wondering if you're talking about them. Nut up and say what you need to say or leave your secret status messages for your decoder ring.
Serial Complainers
Example: "Walter Waahmbulance is: wondering if he has the energy to get through the day."
We've all complained about a bad day, a bad cold, a bad haircut and a bad case of the runs every once in a while, but when every other Facebook status is an invite to your own personal pity party, you can guarantee that, by now, all your friends are wishing that your next ailment will put you into a coma so that you can no longer pollute their newsfeed with your incessant whining. The next time you feel like complaining about your non-ergonomic chair that makes your left butt cheek go numb, take a moment and think about what children from Calcutta would post as their Facebook status today.
Baha Udeen is: "Happy I didn't get malaria from walking barefoot three miles to get a cup of brown water. Yay!"
So unless you woke up and your colon fell out and rolled under the bed (because THAT we want to hear about!), shut your pie hole already.
Captain Obvious
No fucking shit.
Example: "Ugh Mondays!" "TGIF!! " "..it's raining."
The weekend is everyone's favorite two pump chump, it feels wonderful in the beginning but after only a short two days, just when it gets really fun, here comes Monday dribbling all over our good time. If anything can bring this world together, it's our mutual hatred for Mondays and our uncontrollable urge to run around naked with glee on Fridays. So yeah, we get it, which is why there's absolutely no need to express your hatred or love for either day every week unless you really want your car keyed.
Your weather reports are also a pain in the ass considering, if we live near you, we can do a thing called "look out the window" and if we're somewhere else, we don't give two shit piles if you're getting some mileage on your raincoat. Al Roker and his freakishly large head (that creepily still look like it belongs to fat Al Roker) have cornered the market on weather reports, so your services are not needed.
"Ya George, we know: you're eating gnats. We're all eating gnats. We're always eating gnats!"
Example: "Heather Snorecastle is: ….at the bank."
Before you whip out your phone and proclaim to your FB friends that you're at KFC waiting for your heart attack in a bucket, take a moment and look around. Is there someone choking on a chicken bone? Do you see a strange man rubbing one out to the picture of Colonel Sanders? Is Tom Cruise there dressed like Katie Holmes being probed by John Travolta's disco stick by the double fryers? If the answer is no, then the chances of friends being interested in your sudden craving to rape your face with a Double Down are ZERO. Unless you're taking orders, in which case we'll take a doublicious with some potato wedges and a Diet Coke. (We don't like to drink our calories.)
Needy Re-posters
Just put the cursor down slowly and walk away, man. No one wants to get spammed here.
Example: "It has been said that if I don't have anything interesting to say, reposting a badly written, pointless repost that requires my other friends to repost if they love me is a good attempt at being a needy douche wad. These friends have probably deleted me from their friends list no matter how long it has been or how far away they live. They all wish for hornets to fly up my ass and out my eyeballs for being an annoying twat. Re-post if you still haven't deleted me. They will know who they are."
Repost statuses are a stale, three layer cake of annoying. It's unoriginal, needy and you're ordering people to also be annoying to their other friends. It's the Facebook locust, eating up all the interesting things on your newsfeed and replacing them with soul withering reposts. Even if the repost has good intentions, posting up a status for an hour to "show awareness" for club footed people doesn't make their feet less clubby or do anything for their awkward gait.
Don't feel bad if you're guilty about posting one or more of these statuses, most of us have done it at least once, but the secret ingredient that forces friends to ban you from their newsfeed is repetition. Facebook statuses aren't meant to be a dumping ground for every thought that squeezes out your ears or every bowel movement you have because hello, that's what Twitter is for. On Facebook, status scarcity makes the heart grow fonder. Before you post your status, remember that you have an audience who's probably on company time and being very ninja about their Facebook visits, don't let it be all for naught.


text:
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Angel Studios
Release Date: October 26, 2000
The secret life of the off-road smuggler has a merciless, singular
rule: Deliver the goods and get rich, or fail and get arrested—or worse.
As a new member of a gang of rugged individualists known as "The Forgotten,"
you must prove to your teammates and potential clients that you have
the driving ability and smarts to successfully deliver expensive goods
while surviving extreme terrain full of hazards—some of them manmade!
Early successes earn you the chance to take on more prestigious missions
with richer payoffs.
Many forces stand in your way: Ruthless gangs of rival smugglers will
try to steal your stuff. Police, Border Patrol, CIA, and military from
the United States, Mexico, and Canada will do their best to chase you
down and bust you. Even the rugged terrain itself seems like it's made
to stop you.
This PlayStation 2 game combines the action of off-road racing with
the lawless adventure of being a smuggler. Gameplay takes you beyond
tracks and into truly open and vast wilderness areas along the Mexican
and Canadian borders of the United States. Your challenge is to climb
in fast off-road racing vehicles and take on missions to smuggle contraband
across tightly guarded international borders.
The 30+ missions mostly involve picking up and delivering contraband
quickly, without getting busted by the law or robbed by rival gangs.
Along the way, living the life of a criminal, escaping the law in high-speed
chases, and building a dangerous career accompany the sheer fun of driving
like mad across rough terrain. Excellent vehicle physics and responsive
controls will keep you playing for hours at a time. On every level,
Smuggler's Run delivers the goods.


text:
The Really Important News
Maker's Mark will not be watered down. I find it hard to believe that UK getting their doors blown off by Tennessee and this heartening development are coincidental.
…via DJA, some interesting stuff here.
Maker's Mark will not be watered down. I find it hard to believe that UK getting their doors blown off by Tennessee and this heartening development are coincidental.
…via DJA, some interesting stuff here.
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
That's Tennessee. I believe there is a rhyme for that.
I'm not sure Maker's has a lot of room to raise prices before pricing themselves out of their tier, though. Right now they're kind of "top of the middle shelf", and they can't compete with the top shelf.
Reducing the proof was probably the better decision, but whiskey drinkers can be prickly about these things.
To be fair, they really can't compete with the middle-shelf in terms of the quality of the product. If you're drinking Maker's, you really ought to think about drinking something else that's just as good but cheaper, or just as expensive but better.
This. Maker's Mark is really in no man's land.
As I say below, I'm a fan of Maker's (though now that I can afford better stuff, I rarely drink it, as I now mostly drink Woodford Reserve or Blanton's.) It's a smoother, slightly sweeter bourbon than similarly priced bourbons. If you're looking for spicier or more complex bourbons, Maker's won't be to your liking, but there's a reason that it has a large and devoted following.
I'm with you, elm.
Shades of New Coke…
What's the best bourbon?
That's a hard question to answer for a couple of reasons: tastes vary so much that if you ask ten different people, you'll get 10 different answers and it's hard to compare distillers if their product isn't widely available. There's a local distiller just outside of Seattle that I think makes very good bourbon, but you wouldn't get it outside of Washington (or even in most parts of Washington, for that matter).
My favorite value bourbons are Elijah Craig and George Dickel No. 12 (a Tennessee whiskey). If I want to kick it up a bit more, I go with Bulleit.
Whiskey distilled in Washington is not bourbon.
Not true. "Bourbon" can be distilled anywhere in the US.
Sure it is. See 27 C.F.R. 5.22(b).
What is the name of the Seattle product and what is the location of the distillery.
(ex Seattleite living in Phiulippines.)
It's called Woodinville Whiskey Company and it's located in, not surprisingly, Woodinville, WA.
I've always thought of Woodinville as pretty surprisingly…
Subjective, of course. This one has been getting a lot of heat with the Bourbon geek crowd lately: http://sourmashmanifesto.com/2013/01/20/review-four-roses-limited-edition-small-batch-bourbon-2012/
You can also check the rankings here: http://www.whiskyadvocate.com/whisky_reviews.asp?Search=Y
Personally, I love the Evan Williams Single Barrel editions. Available and affordable ($30 give or take), and the barrel-to-barrel/year-to-year variability keeps me coming back to it. More of a "minty" bourbon than a big spicy fireball, I've gotten a lot of "wow, I usually don't like bourbon, but…" responses when sharing this one with friends.
+1 for Four Roses. Small batch is my preferred normal bourbon. It's relatively cheap ($30 here… I'm awful close to the source though), but I have been itching to try the private reserve. However, I'm always afraid to get a bad barrel or turn out not liking it after spending $50 on a fifth.
If I could afford it, I'd get Knob Creek – it's the best of the non-boutique/none-small-distillery bourbons.
It's not too expensive, and has great a taste – to me.
The thing about bourbon, like with scotch, is you have to taste to see what you like.
Some bourbons are too 'vanilla-y' for some peoples tastes, not enough for others – like some scotch's which people say are too peaty, while others say it's not peat-y enough.
Find what you like, and stick with it.
Most of the fun is in the trying! :-)
How much money do you want to spend?
As with all whiskys…
Price correlates strongly (though not precisely) with quality.
Single-barrel bourbons are overall much better than the batch-distilled stuff, though individual ones might not be.
Age also tends to correlate strongly with quality.
Beyond that, it's a matter of personal preference.
Ditto what everyone else has said about tastes varying. There are actually a ton of good bourbons at various price levels (and for what it costs, I wouldn't include Maker's, though a case could be made that the more expensive Maker's 46 gives you good bang for your buck).
For my tastes, good bourbons at (various non-extreme) price ranges include (in no particular order):
Buffalo Trace
Four Roses (Yellow Label, Small Batch, and Single Barrel)
Old Forester (esp. Birthday Bourbon)
Wild Turkey 101
W. L. Weller 12 y.o. (a much better, mid-priced wheated bourbon than Maker's IMO)
Elijah Craig
Evan Williams Single Barrel
Old Grand-Dad (114 and Bottled in Bond)
(That's without going into the bourbons that are usually talked about in "Best Bourbon" discussions, which tend to be very prices, hard-to-find, superpremium whiskies like Pappy Van Winkle and the annual Three Roses special bottlings.)
very pricey*
Am not!
I have a strong preference for wheated bourbons, but I'm actually not a fan of Weller's. I strongly prefer regular Maker's (and, as you note, Maker's 46 as well.) On the other hand, I haven't had Weller's in a number of years and perhaps I should give it another try.
Elijah Craig (12 yr)
Is the correct answer, money-per-awesomeness speaking.
I've been telling anyone I know who is interested in bourbon that in terms of value, Elijah Craig 12 is one of the best out there. 94 proof, too!
You haven't seen the xkcd on hotel reviews. Where giving bad reviews to good places keeps their prices low for you?
I hadn't seen that, but now that I have, maybe I need to enact that strategy.
This is true; I know that EC has raised price due to demand over the past decade. Whoops.
Still a freaking steal though.
Jim Beam Black.
Pappy van Winkle is hands down the best but, depending on vintage, can cost around $200. (And even the 'cheaper' stuff is up near 100.)
More affordable (~$50) bourbons that are excellent are Blanton's and Woodford Reserve.
Knob Creek and Maker's Mark are also both good at even lower price points. I'm not a huge fan of Bulleit personally, but it's high quality at an affordable price.
Oh, and IB above reminds me I should have put Buffalo Trace in that last category.
As of today's exchange rate, Maker's Mark is $54.18 in Manila and Cebu.
Dang! Even as a fan, I'll say Maker's is not worth $55. I suspect, though, that the bottle that run $55 here are going to cost you $75 or so in Manila. Is there a Filipino whiskey that you could get cheaper?
There is one made by San Miguel called Ginera, but I don't know it's price (They also make gin, but by far the most common hard liquor here is Tanduay rum and brandy, at about $1.00 for 750 ML and $1.30 for 1 L.
Sugar is here in huge abundance for the rum, and I have some suspicions that the brandy might actually be grapeless….
Agreed with all above about bourbon being very much a matter of taste. As far as commonly available bourbons go, it's Knob Creek for sipping, Elijah Craig for drinking, and Evan Williams for swilling. (And for mixing with Coke or whatever, if that's your thing.)
Maker's Mark is popular because it's a very smooth-drinking bourbon (this has a lot to do with the mix of grains in the mash). I actually think it goes nicely in coffee, but it's kind of too expensive to justify mixing.
Now, rye…
Now, rye…
Yes, what about rye? I like rye but don't have a favorite as all the ones I like so far are expensive. I tried the Bulliet and it was nasty.
I love the Wild Turkey 101 rye, which, like their bourbon, is very reasonably priced (though, again like the bourbon, it's getting a little harder to find relative to the less good 81 proof version). I've heard great things about Rittenhouse, which is also reasonably priced (I'm planning to pick up a bottle when I finish my bottle of the WT rye).. Bulleit rye is ok, but totally overpriced IMO.
Rittenhouse 100 is fantastic, and at $20, completely off the charts in terms of value.
Yup, it can be hard to find but Rittenhouse is an incredible bargain. Sazerac isn't quite as good and is pricier, but it's solid. Old Overholt is acceptbale in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.
Anchor Brewing now distills and makes Old Potrero rye whiskey, which is better than Old Overholt, but not by enough to justify the price difference.
Only having experience in the under $30 or so price range, I'd say Buffalo Trace
I developed insomnia, and the meds for it both don't work well and have side effects.
I've never been a drinker because I fall asleep before I sense any of the touted effects. I don't like wine or beer. However, I accidentally learned that bourbon is delicious. Then I learned that not all bourbon is all that delicious.
A blog post about bourbon ought to be a good place to learn something about it, before I commit to ongoing nightcaps, and it has been.
George Dickle #12 is good for that (I know) and quite affordable. I also second the recommendations for Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, and Wild Turkey 101.
Since nobody has mentioned it yet, let me put in a good word for Eagle Rare, which is usually reasonably priced ($20-30 in both TX and NM).
Old Crow for bottom shelf
Bulleit for mid-shelf
Black Maple Hill or Angel's Envy for upper mid-shelf
Pappy Van Winkle for top shelf
Old Crow is pretty underrated, but it is important to remember this:
Do NOT get drunk on Old Crow. It tends to result in Lucky Jim-style hangovers.
I'm always secretly glad when the bar's well is Old Crow, and I always have to take a stiff neat double. It's not good, but there's this weird appeal to drinking something that basically tastes like someone put out a burning oak branch in it.
Around here it costs about the same as Evan Williams Green, which is superior, but Old Crow has nostalgia value.
Stuff like Pappy is beyond top shelf to me. I sort of feel like cheapness is one of the fundamental qualities of bourbon. The few tastes I've had were sublime, though.
Of all the whiskeys that up in the well, Old Crow is far and away the best. I drank a lot it in my grad school days, for probably obvious reasons. Thank god for being lucky enough to get a tenure track job, though, as I have thankfully not had Old Crow in about a decade.
I'd love to know what percentage of Maker's Mark's customer base drinks the stuff straight and therefore might actually have an argument for not wanting it watered down.
I drink it straight.
I bet most people don't, however. I slung drinks in a bar many years ago and hardly anyone ordered whiskys without some kind of mixer. Commenters here are probably not representative of the broader liquor-consuming public.
I drink all whiskeys and whiskys straight or on the rocks. Bartenders do react with some surprise when I order a Maker's Mark or Wild Turkey neat, though they don't when I order something more expensive. So, you're probably correct.
UK getting their doors blown off by Tennessee
Britain has a basketball team?
Ultimate Kylie, an album by Kylie Minogue
Still probably glad Tennessee beat her…I guess?
I don't know who makes it as it is store label, but Costco has "Kirkland Premium Small Batch Bourbon" for $20 per liter. Kentucky, aged seven years, 103 proof and yummy yummy yummy. Spicier and more interesting than Makers. My favorite bourbon under $35, it's good for drinking and cheap enough to use for mixing. A huge bargain.
Buffalo Trace is pretty good too, but not as flavorful. Black Maple Hill if you can find it is quite tasty.
Sounds like the one they drink in Donald Westlake's Dortmunder novels: Amsterdam Liquor Store Bourbon ("Our Own Brand"). But probably better.
If you like spicier bourbons, the Old Grand-Dad 114, which goes for less than $20 for 750 ml here in Oklahoma, is a great mixing bourbon …. especially for use in drinks with a lot of ice. My go-to mint julep bourbon, e.g.
Kirkland Vodka is reputed to be Grey Goose in mufti, so I wouldn't be surprised if their bourbon is equally high-end.
If your going to go to the mid-premium range I much prefer Booker's and Amos T. Stagg, the mouth feel is amazing but admittedly the super high proof stuff isn't for everyone.
turkey 101. why bother with anything else?
OK, while I've got you all here and we're talking booze, I was wondering if y'all wanted to share your favorite quality but not outrageously expensive choices for:
And also too do y'all usually put this stuff in cocktails (what kind?) or drink them straight up or on the rocks?
For a decent, simple, cheap martini, I'll use Gordon's. It's cheap, sold in volume, and gets me to my happy place.
For a martini with a lemon garnish, I'll use Plymouth or Bombay Sapphire (or maybe Hendricks).
For a martini with a cucumber garnish, I'll use Hendrick's.
Don't care for an olive garnish, personally. If I did, I'd probably use Tanqueray 10.
I've really come to like Bombay Sapphire. I'm not a HUGE gin fan, but it has this really nice complexity that really grabs ya.
Gin: Broker's and Plymouth
Oh, and the vermouth: Noilly Prat, Dolin, or Vya, depending on the gin and the garnish.
Thanks! I will keep your brands in mine next time I hit the liquor store.
What is the Vya dry vermouth like? I have the sweet for Manhattans, and while it is very tasty, it is really floral and herbal, and while totally overpower a smoother bourbon. Great with a spicier rye though.
Sweet Vermouth: Carpano Antica (also: Punt e Mes, which is a little more bitter than a vermouth, is a wonderful drink and mixer)
Luksusowa is quite good and pretty reasonably priced. I drink it chilled by itself or I'll mix it when I make Moscow Mules or Bloody Marys. If you want to go up a step, Russian Standard is pretty good too.
Gordon's and Bombay Sapphire are very solid choices; I like both for martinis and I would use Gordon's for gin & tonics or a Tom Collins. Junipero gin is also good if you've got a few more bucks to spend.
When I'm not drinking bourbons that I mentioned above, I tend toward Irish whiskey. Jameson or Tullamore Dew are what I usually drink. I don't typically drink those in cocktails, although I will have bourbon in an old fashioned.
Ditto on the Whiskey. I'll often substitute Jamesons or Tullamore Dew for my bourbon. Both are very tasty and relatively well-priced. I've also tried the Jamesons single-barrel, which I didn't find to be worth the upgrade in price over the regular.
I've also tried the Jamesons single-barrel, which I didn't find to be worth the upgrade in price over the regular.
Never tried that, so that's good to know.
Luksusowa is a potato vodka, which is more unusual than you might think. My wife swears she can tell the difference between potato and corn (and prefers potato), and if you say she's wrong I will mess you up. I can't tell, myself, but Luksusowa is good stuff.
Ditto on Irish whiskey as the alternative to bourbon. My regular choice is Clontarf, and Jameson and Tullamore are quite good. Someimes I'll get Redbreast or one of the other single malts for special occasions. Peaty. If you like that kind of thing.
I like Redbreast, too, but don't get it often.
I suspect most people wouldn't notice a difference between a potato vodka and a grain vodka, so I didn't get into that. I myself don't notice a difference, but I recommend Luksusowa based on value.
Vodka: Don't pay too much for it. Most vodkas are just food-grade ethyl alcohol diluted with water and an ad campaign. Some of the fancier ones use fancier water and really pretty bottles. It's all the same stuff. Find the cheapest vodka that works in the drinks you like it in (for me, white and black russians) and stick with that. If you don't care about money and want the smoothest vodka drink possible, Grey Goose will do the job and isn't a ripoff.
Gin: I like the cheapness and nostril-kicking quality of Gordon's, so that's the gin I keep around for me. I keep Tanqueray or Plymouth on hand in case someone wants a gin drink but turns up their nose at Gordon's, and sometimes I dabble in others for fun.
I don't really like martinis, I've come to realize. I'm not a huge fan of dry vermouth, is the thing.
My gin drink of choice is a negroni. A negroni converted into a long drink over ice with some lime and soda water is the ultimate hot day lazy drink for me.
Tequila: Unless you're doing cheesy lime-and-salt shots or making a bunch of margaritas (both perfectly valid things to do that I enjoy quite a lot), drink 100% agave. It's honestly very hard to go wrong from that point, assuming you like tequila. If you don't really like tequila, try an anejo, which is more like a whiskey.
If you are doing those cheesy fun things, nobody's really going to care if you use Sauza, although they might also not mind if you go with the Hornitos.
Bonus round: Campari, fernet, basically any Italian bitters. If a place has a good pisco sour, have one. The dark and stormy is the perfect summer late afternoon drink — real ginger ale and either Gosling's or Myers' (or Kraken if you're into that).
(Okay, that's enough of that, you lush.)
Take any mid-low grade vodka and run it through a Brita filter 5 or 6 times….
So, I'm supposed to jump through meaningless hoops to prove I am of legal drinking age to enter a WEBSITE having to do with whiskey? And special notice if I'm on a shared machine, lest I corrupt my three year old sister who having sampled the loose life moves to Boston, denounces god, votes democrat and marries a dusky hued woman. You can't be too careful these days.
OT: This is really rich, considering what Jacobson had to say about Loomis in L'affaire Pierre.
I like G'Vine Floraison for martini's, but then again I also like a dash of orange bitters in them. For general mixing I use Bombay Sapphire Gin, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Pinch (Dimple for those outside the US) Scotch, or Bowmore if I want a single malt (such as in a Blood and Sand), and whatever potato vodka I have on hand. I'm also partial to "Spice Tree" vatted scotch for a Rob Roy, and my wife swears by Talisker in a Blood and Sand. I recommend whatever cognac is on sale for brandy drinks.
And you can taste the difference between a potato vodka (or at least a non-antiseptic ultra distilled vodka) and a wheat vodka when drinking them neat.
And you can taste the difference between a potato vodka (or at least a non-antiseptic ultra distilled vodka) and a wheat vodka when drinking them neat.
No you can't (and double0blind taste tests prove this). When you distill to 95% alcohol (as vodka is), all trace of the base ingredients are wiped out. Any flavor differences in vodka are attributable to the water used, not the base ingredients.
I enjoy, result in I discovered just what I was having a look
for. You have ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man.
Have a great day. Bye
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text:
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- Google fonts
- Help file included
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FontsWe recommend to download and install these fonts before editing your PSD files.
Images used in the preview files are not included into the release archive. All images are licensed under Public Domain CC0. Learn More — http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
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