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Congrats Jeanie, hope everything goes well with your DIL and little Jeanie!
Bev, congrats to you too! It's too bad the movers backed out
Welcome to the Quilting Board!
Congrats Jeanie, hope everything goes well with your DIL and little Jeanie!
Bev, congrats to you too! It's too bad the movers backed out
Eat, quilt, sleep, repeat
Oh dublb - do please be careful with your back. You can't afford to be injured when you have to unpack all that stuff you just packed.
New granddaughter, Hannah Jean, was born at 5:30 p.m. today in Phoenix, AZ. She weighed 8 lb 6 oz, and was 19" long. Mom and baby are just doing great according to my son. Too hot to go to Phoenix, so it will be a few months before we can make the trip!
Painter was suppose to start today, but was not able to. He called and said he would be here Tuesday. That is okay, because once he is done, we just have to wait for the cabinets, which won't be shipped until August 7th. I'm just so pleased that there has been some progress the past two weeks.
"You have enough quilts made when your soul is filled, your creativity satisfied and your fingers just won't work anymore."
YEAHHHHHHH Jeanie, congrats on the new granddaughter. I'm so happy all is well ! ! ! !
QuiltE, sorry but no black/white ones. I just made a short trip just outside the village. We're supposed to have severe thunderstorms today so I'll try again another day.
Eat, quilt, sleep, repeat
Looks like a herd of Red Pied cattle in the field. Groningen is the white headed cow in the first photo. A nice field of corn (maize) in the background! Wish ours looked that good.
Don't worry spider.
I keep house
I donate quilts to the AAQI.
Got home 3 hours ago to a lovely hot cup of coffee and dinner cooked for me, I am exhausted, we ended up with 125 in attendance on Thursday, boy what a day. When I have had a good nights sleep I will catch up on the goings on and I will go through my camera for any good photos but it seemed every photo I took someones head popped into view Talk to you all tomorrow
CarrieM ... those lemon cake bars were meant for the family! Or better still maybe the Lemon Squares are? I have never bothered with the sprinkled icing sugar .... too fiddly for more! And they are sweet enough without.
DublB ... take your time on the move. It's not like you have new owners moving in as you leave! Maybe wait til you find some other movers?
Anael ... And here I thought you were going to prove to me that Jerseys were in The Netherlands! Oh but some R+Ws will do! Such a scenic ride for you when out on your bike. ITA with OKSGlad ... great looking maize aka here as corn.
JeanieG ... Congratulations on Hannah Jean's safe arrival!!! New baby quilts on the way? Too bad about the painter, but as you said, so long as he's done for the cabinets.
MiraB ... Congratulations on such a success! Rest up my dear ... and when you get to your camera ... heads will be allowed!
Sew many ideas ... just sew little time!!
Aneal--some more nice scenic pictures (w/cows of course).
Jeanie--sounds like the painters new timing will help that you aren't waiting too long for cabinets after it dries...YAY!!
Karen--can't wait to hear how your day went. Hope you got some good sleep.
QE--the bars are all cut and put into throw-away containers (don't want to to have to worry about getting the pans back to me). I need lemon juice for your Lemon Bars or they *would* be in the oven today. I was sure I had some in the fridge when I was shopping the other day. Guess they will wait until my next trip to town (Monday). Might just sew instead of baking today.
Could those Lemon Bars be made with Orange juice too?
Eat, quilt, sleep, repeat
I like orange flavored stuff too (and have OJ)...might have to see what others think.
Dublb, get creative in your seeking help in moving....call a few churches in the area and check with their youth group directors who have kids willing to help and earn money for their groups....call the football coach at the high school and junior high and seek youth help there as well. Teenagers are often looking for 'jobs' for some money and pizzas. Check with the carry out help at the grocery store for friends wanting jobs or feed store. Run a quick ad for help. Save your back and your family's bad backs.
Anael, great picture of cows and corn.
Yes, Carrie, get original squares going and try it with orange...should work out fine. I keep orange zest and lemon zest spices on hand to put into my cookies, etc. And orange juice, too, when I can afford to put it on the list.
I wanna see more MBsssssss.


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Out of a pool of 120 aspiring opera singers from across the country, eight were selected to compete at Centre Stage: Ensemble Studio Competition on November 3, 2015, our annual celebration of the next generation of opera stars selected from nationwide auditions for the COC Ensemble Studio—Canada's premier training program for young opera professionals. The competition features the young singers vying for cash prizes ranging in value from $1,500 to $5,000. We interviewed our eight young finalists to learn more—check out all of the interviews, linked by name as they become available, here (or here if on a mobile device).
Stratford, Ontario native and soprano Eliza Johnson studied at the University of Toronto, where her roles included Governess in The Turn of the Screw, Adina in L'elisir d'amore, Despina in Così fan tutte, Rob Ford's Mother in Rob Ford: The Opera and Lucy in The Telephone. Additional credits include Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro (Highlands Opera Studio); Berta in The Barber of Seville and Soeur Valentine in Dialogues des Carmélites (Opera Theatre of St. Louis); Pamina in The Magic Flute (Opera Lyra's Opera Studio); and concert appearances with the University of Toronto and Stratford symphony orchestras, and Stratford Summer Music. Recently, Ms. Johnson won First Prize in the Brian Law Opera Competition with the National Capital Opera Society and was a finalist for the Ryan Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Is this a trick question? I am literally obsessed with opera and honestly can't imagine myself doing anything else. If my passion for anything else were equal to or greater than my passion for opera, I definitely would not have chosen this career or invested so much in it!
That said, if I had all the luxury of living multiple lives, I think I would pursue a career as a painter. When I was younger, it was a constant toss-up between art and music. I still work when I can, but paints and canvases are not very compact for a travelling opera singer; gowns and shoes take up a lot of space! I'd love to see what would happen if I devoted myself fully to painting, but for now that's a question that will remain unanswered!
I love to paint and love to cook. I love reading and feeding myself artistically from a variety of mediums. I love to travel and learn about other cultures and communities. I love to bike and move my body! I love my friends: musicians and non-musicians (whose perspectives and ideas can be very refreshing!).
There are so many! The repertoire is so vast and each piece is so unique. In a way, any role that is a good vocal fit is a "dream role" since any opportunity to sing is exciting and rich.
If I have to choose, I think my absolute favorite opera of all time (for now) is Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw. I had the opportunity to sing the role of Governess when I was studying at the University of Toronto and the experience has yet to be topped. I would love to perform this role again!
I'm also very interested in working with living composers and developing new works. I hope I am able to experience more of this process throughout my career.
Learn more about Eliza at elizajohnson.ca or follow her on Twitter at @ElizaJohnsonSop or on Instagram at @elizajanejohnson
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit COCCentreStage.ca, call COC Ticket Services at 416-363-8231 or visit the Four Seasons Centre Box Office (145 Queen St. W.).
To buy competition tickets, click here.
To buy Under 30 competition tickets sponsored by TD, click here.
For more information about the the Centre Stage Dinner event and how to purchase tickets, please contact the PC Office at 416-363-5801
Posted by Kiersten Hay / in Centre Stage / comments (1) / permalink
Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, soprano Samantha Pickett studied opera at McGill and Wilfrid Laurier universities. Her credits include Anna in Crush (Banff Centre); the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro (Opera McGill and Opera Laurier); La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, understudy for the title role in Suor Angelica and Elle in La voix humaine (Opera McGill); Micaëla in Carmen and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (Opera NUOVA); Mrs. Demers in City Workers in Love, Lady Gerstein in One Lump or Two, Sophia in May 23, and First Lady in The Magic Flute (Opera Laurier). She recently participated in the St. Andrews by-the-Sea Opera Workshop and the Bel Canto Summer Voice Program in Munich.
I fell in love with music at the tender age of three. My mother took my brother and me to see The Phantom of the Opera, and I cried at intermission because I thought it was over. My parents signed me up for piano, dance and voice lessons when I was five and I have been singing ever since.
I can't remember precisely when opera became my life's passion; I think that it is because large, intense music has always been close to me. I began singing opera when I was 16, and at that point I had a hope that it would become my career, but, as any 16-year-old should, I had many lofty ambitions for my future self. Opera is a long-form art; it is a process, and to be an opera singer is a protracted endeavour.
One of the things I love most about opera is the commanding power of the narrative throughout its sensory facets. The total, aggregate nature of opera is truly irresistible. In many ways it is the ultimate art; exposing the senses to the total power and fragility of the human body.
Somewhere between massage therapist, yoga teacher, stage director, make-up artist, animal rescuer, interior designer, writer, and nanny. But who's to say you can't be all of those things?! Certainly not all at once, but we shall see where life takes me.
I have been practicing Moksha (hot) yoga for seven years. The combination of dynamic physicality and deep meditative practice is essential to my daily life. I have been a Moksha yoga ambassador, both here in Toronto and in Montreal, for three years.
I am an avid reader. My favourite book is A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali, a historical fiction account of the simultaneous, but nearly uncorrelated destruction of Rwandan genocide and AIDS in the same country.
I adore poetry. I'm particularly smitten with Shakespeare, but I am also partial to Robert Frost and James Joyce. I also have an encyclopedic knowledge of The Simpsons.
Learn more about Samantha from her blog, The Emerging Project at theemergingproject.com, and follow her on Twitter at @SamoSoprano
Posted by Kiersten Hay / in Centre Stage / comments (0) / permalink
A native of Laval, Quebec, mezzo-soprano Pascale Spinney studied opera at McGill University and is a current member of the Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal. Her recent credits include Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly (Opéra de Montréal); Dora in A Little Too Cozy (Banff Centre); Fatmé in Zémire et Azor (Violons du Roy); Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel (VIVace); Véronique in Le Docteur Miracle (Stu&Jess Productions); the title role in Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Third Lady in The Magic Flute, Epicene in Volpone, and Eustazio in Rinaldo (Opera McGill). Upcoming roles include Stephano and Gertrude in Jeunesses Musicales du Canada's touring production of Roméo et Juliette.
I find two things that I can't live without in opera: music and the theatre.
I was introduced to classical music while studying jazz voice in CEGEP, and was fascinated by the level of technical skill that opera singers needed to achieve. I applied to classical voice performance in university, took an extra year to catch up to my peers, and never looked back.
I would have been a pilot!
I like to do yoga and I have a passion for fitness and nutrition. I also enjoy reading a great deal.
Photo Credit: Brent Calis
Sara Fulgoni in the COC production of Bluebeard's Castle. Photo: Michael Cooper © 2001

subset: commoncrawl


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May 21, 1977
Houston, TX US
The Summit
The Song Remains The Same, (The Rover intro) Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, In My Time of Dying, Since I've Been Loving You, No Quarter, Ten Years Gone, Battle of Evermore, Going to California, Black Country Woman, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, White Summer ~ Black Mountainside, Kashmir, (Out On the Tiles intro) Moby Dick, Jimmy Page solo, Achilles Last Stand, Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, Trampled Underfoot.
Click here to view the US '77 Tour Programme (flipbook)
Submit your personal review of a particular show you attended, updates, corrections, etc., which will be considered for addition to the official online archive.
You may also contact the webmaster at: firstname.lastname@example.com
Submit your personal review of a particular show you attended, updates, corrections, etc., which will be considered for addition to the official online archive.You may also contact the webmaster at: email@example.com
Houston 77
I was at the same Warehouse records store in Montrose that early morning when the cops tried to take two lines of people (one going east down Westheimer & the other going west) and form a single line. That was when the chaos ensued & everyone rushed the front of the store. I remember the glass breaking & the black car (I think it was an older 4 door Lincoln) that was parked near the front door. That car got Trampled Underfoot!!! I was not fortunate enough to buy tickets that day (wasted 5 hours that morning) but, my sister found a pair of tickets that some stupid fool brought to school (finders keepers) and we went to the show together. They were obstructed view seats behind the stage to the right (Jimmy's side) but in reality, were some of the best seats in the lower prom. We not only had a clear view of the whole stage, we saw the band enter & exit & did not miss a single movement by any of them.
Awesome show & I am glad I was able to see them, if for only one show. Thanks Jimmy, Percy, John Paul & especially my hero, Bonzo. He is the reason I had the desire to learn to play the drums.


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This whole assumption that Kyle Williams lost the game for you, or that you "gave" us the game is so asinine that it's borderline hilarious.
Last I checked he was stripped of the football by a team that was clearly going for the ball and recovered. You guys act like it happened as he was cruising into the end zone on our 1 yard line or something, or that you clearly would have won the game (and apparently obviously the super bowl too) even if it didn't happen. If memory serves me correct at that point in the game it had been about an hour since your offense had been able to do anything effective against us.
Like I said earlier, I'm not quite sure where your fan base gets this inflated sense of dominance over everybody. Really where does it come from? You've had 2 seasons even worth mentioning in the entire 21st century and both fell short. You were ready to kill your QB 2 years ago in favor for our back up. And lastly, but most importantly -- you have not won the Super Bowl in ages, yet the way you guys talk it seems like you have 5 of them this decade alone.
Truth hurts, the niners are a real good team that could go all the way but it hasn't happened yet. This whole "we never lose we beat ourselves" crap is nothing more than sour grapes.
You guys seem fine with talking the talk before you walk the walk.
Oh...and when you lose a play-off game, you are "knocked out of the playoffs"...
This is all hearsay and idiocy
We will destroy the 49rs.......Book it
They have one thing- a good Dline........unfortunately for them Eli is no longer getting any grass stains on his pants this year.
Eli will pick them apart............Stevie Brown will Pik Six them apart- Bradshaw and Wilson will run wild
and.............I think Fewell has been hiding his hole card and will finally put 7-8 in the box this week
Did anyone notice my comment was to a poster who said that there was a difference between the 49ers beating the Giants and the Giants beating the Giants?
In any event, the teams were evenly matched last season. 5 out of 10 times either won would win. While the poster Cowboyssuck disagrees (apparently in his world the Giants are the only team that beats themselves- when any other team loses to the Giants, it's because the Giants beat them), can we all agree that whichever team wins Sunday will do so because they were the better team that day?
Let's just make sure we all are aware that I was responding to the claim that there was a difference between the Giants beating themselves and the 49ers beating them. I did not bring this up, Cowboysucks did.


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(Kirk Meche / Special to the American Press)
Lance Gardener and Christopher Johnson will take the stage Saturday night in "Dear School Board, Can We Pray?" at Mount Olive Baptist Church.
Last Modified: Friday, January 03, 2014 5:02 PM
By Alex Onken / American Press
Lance Gardner's production of his gospel stage play "Dear School Board, Can We Pray?" will take place on Sunday, Jan. 5. at the Mount Olive Baptist Church, 600 N. Simmons St. Doors will open at 5 p.m.
"I never set out to be the next Tyler Perry," said Gardner on his experience as a gospel-play writer.
Gardner is a Lake Charles native and graduate of Washington-Marion High School. His first stage play, "A Chair and the Bible," premiered at the Lake Charles Civic Center in 2011 after a series of mishaps forced him to write his own play.
After another local playwright backed out of the production, Gardner wrote and assembled an entire play in three weeks.
"Dear School Board, Can We Pray?" is his seventh stage play. It is an ensemble piece with 10 different performers (including Gardner) set in a public school where a number of students and faculty come together and learn the meaning and power of prayer. Many of the performers have acted in other productions.
"I picked this stage play because I feel the schools have done all they can do to reach the kids. They have maxed out all that they can do except for fall back on the Lord. I feel like if they do that, a lot of kids would be saved."
"We need God back in the schools," said Briana Rankins, who plays Viola. "It's like the devil is taking over the young kids' minds, 'cause all this drama and all these killings (in schools) is too much."
The play is also being presented in conjunction with Grambling State University's Ray D. Molo Alumni Association chapter as a scholarship fundraiser.
Donations will be collected after the play.


text:
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Richard talks about the darkness lurking in his past and its connection to his role as a Nazi loot-hunter at the auction house, Sothebys.
Brian describes how his ambivalence at having served in the Iraq war, and the awe to be found in extremes, provided the basis for his novel.
On National Brothers Day, Stuart Heritage reflects on fraternal dynamics, how he came to write about the 'whirlwind of aggressive single-mindedness' that is his brother Pete and how their relationship is reflected by that of brothers everywhere.


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I can't get the song "Like the Angel" by Rise Against out of my head...**** is like 10 years old, but it's just so damn good!!
Its a game of homor that all players who compete accept.
Are there amateurs who cheat? Once in a while. I know a couple. But they are usually exposed and as I said, no one wants to play with them.
I'm not expecting you to like it. I'm just telling you the way it is. Having "golf referees" would ruin a great game.


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Nine must do's when bringing young producers on board
by Gary Sipiorski
The author is the dairy development manager for Vita Plus, Corp., of Madison, Wis. He is a member of the board of directors with Citizens State Bank of Loyal, Wis.
With the current assets needed to milk cows, it is tough to bring new young producers into the game. Despite this situation, I am asked the same question frequently by younger dairy producers, who have established a starter herd, and well-established dairy producers, "How do we bring our herds together?"
The thought process involves "I want to get into the business" and "I want to bring someone else in." However, the right question to ask is, "How can the arrangement be set up to create fairness for both parties?"
The first step is to have two agreeable parties that believe they can work together. This process begins with a verbal understanding as a starting point. After that initial step, getting it in writing and seeking professional advice are two must do's. These partnerships may not necessarily be formal partnerships. However, the business arrangements should be drawn up with the help of an accountant, lender, and attorney. During this process, the following steps will need to be taken:
1. Both parties should sit down separately, first, to put their thoughts down on paper. Initially, consider what would be a fair business arrangement.
2. Each party should complete a current balance sheet. If you are not familiar with these documents, hiring the services of a financial consultant will make the process more understandable. This does not have to be shared immediately. But, eventually, the new person coming in should be quite open with the assets they have and any liabilities.
3. The current owner should review their cash flow to make sure they are relatively profitable before combining their herd with anyone.
4. Then, the two parties should sit down together to compare notes. Be prepared for an open discussion. This includes being open to ideas from each other. It should be mentioned here that if spouses are involved, they should be present at each discussion. Eight key discussion topics can be found in the sidebar.
5. An appointment should be made with the lenders of both parties. If there are liens on the cattle, the lender will want to know that cattle will be combined into one herd. Ideally, both parties should have cattle financed with the same lender. Lenders get concerned when there is mixed collateral with different lenders under the same roof.
6. At this point, an appointment should be made with an accountant. Balance sheets will need to be shared and projected cash flows completed. Preliminary cash flows should be run ahead of this meeting so the accountant has something to go by and knows there has been some thought put into the arrangement. Terms of the agreement should be discussed with the final version for the attorney to complete.
7. Work with an attorney who understands agriculture. Give this professional balance sheets, cash flows, and the preliminary agreement. No need to start from scratch. This homework should be well under way before the attorney meeting occurs. You will also save yourself money by not having extra hours to pay an attorney for the groundwork. Many attorneys will have template documents that they can use by filling in the blanks.
A good entry agreement always contains an exit agreement. No one likes to walk into a meeting when you are talking about working together but also talk about splitting. It does happen under good and bad terms. It is necessary to build this into an agreement when everyone is talking. Structured business models should be considered and discussed with the attorney such as a LLC (Limited Liability Company), LLP (Limited Liability Partnership), or other recommended entities.
8. Some people think there is no need to write things down. When they are written, everyone understands what is really being said. This is particularly helpful in the future when questions come up. Some think there is no reason to spend money on the help from accountants or attorneys. The more professional help you can get, the better ideas you will come up with.
9. Lastly, make sure you talk with others who have done this before. You can learn from their experiences to make a professional partnership.
Eight key discussion topics
Before comparing notes in Step 4, give consideration to these important issues:
a. How many cows and young stock does each party have on their balance sheet? These numbers will have to be tracked, once an agreement is completed, with ear tags if the cattle are to remain under separate ownership on one facility.
b. Is there adequate housing and feed available for all of the cattle? How about as the herd grows?
c. The incoming party may need to pay some rent to house their cattle, depending on the agreement. Monthly rents will range in free stall barns from $10 to $20 per head per month, tie stall barns $5 to $10 per month, dry cow barns at $2 per head and heifers at $2 per head. Charge includes upkeep and repairs.
d. The expenses should be split on a percentage basis. If 30 percent of the herd will be incoming cows, that is the percent of the expenses charged to the new party. Additional expenses can be charged to the incoming party or existing party if there are special costs such as genetic work. The expenses for the incoming party should not include other nonrelated expenses such as depreciation, interest, or principal the current owner has on real estate or personal property.
e. Providing both herds have similar calving intervals, the milk check can also be split based on a percentage basis. It becomes very complicated to try to use monthly testing, component differences, or specific milk pounds to decide on a milk check split.
f. If the incoming party is contributing some specific pieces of machinery, a financial consideration should be given to the monthly hours used to cover depreciation and a future replacement.
g. A consideration should also be given to a possible hourly wage due to the fact that the new party may only have 30 percent of the herd but is working full-time.
h. The agreement and earnings of the new party should show a reasonable return at the end of each month and at year's end. They need to be building their balance sheet to see that they are getting ahead. The exception may be in times of very low milk prices when breakeven or losses can occur. This needs to be discussed and recognized by both parties during the writing of the initial agreement.


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Magnificent, thank you
Photographs are beautiful
I hope you have a White Xmas
We love you both
Merry Xmas
Ali & Michaelxxxx
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Before the sun had even kissed Lucca we were up and getting ready for our trip to Bellagio. Lake Como. We set our alarms and made sure we were packed and on our way to the train station early. The sun had just come up while we were walking on the wall, it was sending the most beautiful light through the trees and streets of Lucca…real photo opportunities all round.
Greg and Jacinta called earlier as they were about to board their earlier train to Firenze and we all wished each other a fond farewell …
We made our way to Lucca Stazione and immediately on boarding were told that there was a problem on the line ahead and that there were going to be delays…GREAT!!
The transfer to the Frecciarossa at Florence was seamless…we even managed to talk a couple into swapping their seats with Mark and Kerry so that we were all sitting together. After 1hr and 40 minutes we arrived at Milano, my favourite train station with its towering ceilings and almost cathedral looking foyers and lounges that have been cleaned and refurbished to make you know that you are one of the busiest cities in the world. We got into Milan with plenty of time to get on the train to Lake Como, as well as buy 4 cups of coffee and a couple of (very dry) panini to take on board the train
The trip up was exceptional….very comfortable…very fast…very cool… We got off the train and made our way through beautiful Como to the departure area at the lake port and bought 4 tickets to Bellagio, leaving by fast ferry about 5 minutes later. What followed was some of the most picturesque scenery i had ever seen!!! We (Mark and I) were poised outside, in the middle section of the ferry with cameras in hand and ready to take photos by the dozen…thank God for digital photographs… The ferry trip took nearly 1 hour to get from Como to Bellagio…with about 4 stops in between (sorry girls, we never saw George once!!). We must have taken over 50 photos between us…
When we finally arrived at Bellagio we were greeted with a beautiful little town with magnificent scenery all around us. From the moment we stepped off we felt as if we had walked into a postcard…We couldn't get the smile off Marks face (not to mention the rest of us)…with all the world travels he has been on and still he looked like a kid that had just tumbled into a candy store…it was amazing. We stopped at a local restaurant /bar and ordered some prosciutto/melon/cheese and bread as well as some wine and beer….perfect!!
After we finished our very late lunch we called the hotel and they advised us that they would send someone down to pick us up…so while waiting, we took in the local scenes including a remote mini-helicopter that had a camera attached to capture all underneath it…again…GREAT!!!
The shuttle dropped us off at the reception where we were met by the Manager (one of the owners) in charge, who booked us in and showed us our rooms…Oh My God!! What a place…huge bed…huge living area…huge bath and bathroom…but above all a view that you would kill for….…Perfect!!! After the receptionist had left and we had booked our restaurant for the evening we just stood outside our rooms looking up to the Swiss Alps and pinching ourselves thinking how lucky we were…(i have to admit, Kerry and I were just a tad overwhelmed by the beauty of what we were seeing and we were quite emotional at this stage...one of those moments where you would love all the people who are dear to you to be with you. Descibing it, and the photos, will never do it justice)
We talked for a while...then left each other alone for a couple of hours while we had a shower/bath and got ready for dinner. Later we met up in Mark and Kerrys room for a predinner drink, then we were collected by a car from the restaurant, a complimentary service. (The restaurant is a 5 minute drive from the hotel and is owned by the same people who own the hotel (both are run by the family too)). An open wood fire in a huge fireplace greeted us as we were led through to the dining room. We were given the menu that consisted of mainly seafood and we all ordered accordingly…I don't think I would be selling the meal short by saying it was one of our best meals yet….we all had fresh succulent fish caught and cooked this afternoon…and all so different and so tasty
What a perfect way to start our holiday within a holiday….I so underestimated Como and Bellagio, I'd heard it was beautiful, but…what a place….
28/10/11 Friday
Every hour from 4.00am I was waking up checking to see if the sun had begun rising…lying back on our bed we had a perfect panorama of the Swiss Alps in the distance…we knew it was going to be a magnificent moment and we didnt want to miss it. We both were awake and it was something very special… still very dark on the lake and going up the mountain but with the new days sunlight hitting the top of the snow covered alps…breathtaking!!!
After witnessing that I quickly tucked myself back into bed for a few more hours of sleep…the temperature was quite nippy but the room was very toasty…even a little too warm but who's complaining!!!
We were meeting up with Mark and Kerry for breakfast so Mary woke me up in time and looking out of the window was a cloud…at the same height as us …right in the middle of the lake…a picture ready to be taken but by the time I took out the camera …it was gone. . I have already said what a lovely hotel the 'Borgo le terrazze' is. It is only a 3 star Hotel mainly because there is no restaurant or bar to speak of but they do have a very tasty breakfast available every morning which we took advantage of… (they also are able to sell you bottles of wine or some snacks...we definitely took advantage of the availability of the wine. In the 3 days we were in Bellagio, we were not able to find a supermarket)
During breakfast we decided that we would spend the day walking the 2 kms into the Bellagio centre and then do the touristy things and checked the place out….this we did. The walk down was very pretty with absolutely unbelievable views of mountains, buildings and lake views… even if at times we found ourselves walking down the main road in and only a few centimetres from oncoming buses and cars…we managed to stay alive and most of the walk was downhill so not too tiring
Once in Bellagio we walked and shopped for a few hours through streets that seemed to be built out of a story book… and then found our way back to the lake front and ordered lunch at the same place that we had eaten yesterday when we first arrived. Did the trick and we then decided to catch the ferry across the lake to another town that looked equally tempting.
We bought tickets on the smaller car ferry that exists to take cars and people to and from Bellagio and Cadenabbia, many times a day, every day of the year… (you wonder whether the Captain of that particular boat sees the view anymore, how sad would that be, if he didnt...We have spoken to many people over these last few months, while telling them what we are doing, and how beautiful Italy is and how lucky they are to live here, with the views, the mountains etc and everyone has come back with 'but you are from Australia, THAT is such a beautiful place, the weather, the beaches...i guess the ole saying comes to light 'the grass is always greener'…)
Once across the other side, we immediately realized there is difference from one side of the lake to the other
We caught our ferry back to Bellagio and called the Hotel to come and pick us up…we had to wait for awhile this time but eventually we were back in our room, warm and toasty.
After a lovely hot bath we took our time getting ready for dinner…again the restaurant staff picked us up to take us to Silvios Restaurant where we enjoyed another magnificent meal…(we normally enjoy trying out different restaurants but after wandering around Bellagio during the day, we really didnt notice that many that were going to be open and we had enjoyed our meal so much last night, we decided that this is where we will continue to come for dinner. The staff, owners, decor and food were all just too irresistable )
29/10/11 Saturday
Today we decided to make our way to the ferry and visit the two nearest towns to Bellagio. After visiting these towns I must admit that they are all very similar…probably the biggest surprise is that everything closes down for the 'winter' season. So many hotels close down for the period between October and April…in other words for 6 months the hotel is closed
We also made it a point to find out where the train station is in Varenna and how long to walk there from the ferry drop off…for tomorrow.
The whole of the Lago Como region is truly spectacular …and the four of us have been spoilt with where we are staying…with the food we are eating …and the things we are doing. It has been a very special time…to be remembered, always.
We returned back to Bellagio returning to the hotel to have a couple of hours R&R before dinner.
Once at the restaurant we were taken to our table by Christian and offered menus…we thought we would be smart (well, it was really Kerry and dont forget, this was our 3rd night there in a row, so we were getting to know the staff & Christian, the partowner) so we told him we knew what we wanted to order (as we had all discussed it that afternoon)…at which point he took the menus and said to Kerry 'ok, i will play your game'
Well!!! The food that was served was incredible…all fish with some absolutely perfect pasta to start with followed by fish mains and the largest special icecream you have ever seen followed by some serious coffees…magnificent!!!! (it really was an experience, plus we kinda felt a little special)
We finished dinner very late and made our way back to our hotel and waddled to our rooms…another great day and a special last night…
30/10/11 Sunday
We were up early this morning, quick breaky and then down at the ferry terminal by 10.00am…we also had to take into account that daylight savings ended during the night. We took the ferry across to Varenna, ready for the 10.37am train to Milano.
We will miss Bellagio, it was everything we had expected (and so much more!)…Thankyou Kerry & Mark...The clouds were still hanging over the lake as we boarded the train and from the one track leading out of Veranno we watched the lake for as long as we could
We arrived into Milano and left Mark and Kerry to do their own thing while we visited Tatiane and Zio Enrico for a couple of valuable hours…they were both in fine form and it was so good to have been able to see them.
We all met up again to board our train back to Florence and Lucca.
Now, Paul had been keeping us updated on the Comic festival that was on this weekend in Lucca and how amazing and chaotic it was. He also mentioned that there were a lot of people around. (We definitely knew something was going on, as every train between Florence and Lucca, going in the opposite direction, was packed with people all dressed up in different characters etc.) Anyway… we pulled into Lucca to the largest amount of people waiting at the station we had ever seen. (ever!) They were at least 6 deep waiting to jump on the train (at one stage, i didnt think we were going to be able to get off!!, it was like something you would see on a movie) It was a huge effort just to get off the train, then we had to push our way through people
The whole town was buzzing with thousands of, predominantly, teenagers wanting to have a good time or ready to go home. There were food tents situated outside the Wall, opposite the train station...there were people huddled in groups sitting on the grass. There was just a HUGE carnival atmosphere to Lucca. It was unbelievable but very exciting.
We quickly walked back along the wall to our Brunella and then unpacked and talked about what we would do for dinner. We decided that Mark and I would go for a walk to the centre and buy some wine and nibblies…which we did and enjoyed thoroughly.
After we had finished I took off again to purchase some nice home-made gnocchi and ragu but unfortunately the store was closed so I decided to buy a couple of pizzas from Mare Meo. I took off to order and when it was ready I was surprised to find out the credit card wouldn't work…so i needed to get cash. Believe it or not but I had to walk to 4 ATM's before I found one that actually had cash. With so many people in Lucca, the ATM's had run out of money. This 'Festival' is really boosting the economy…go for it!!! This all took about an hour (we all thought he had been hijacked by Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker!!) but we all finally sat down to tasty pizza.
31/10/11 Monday (Halloween) - 01/11/11 Tuesday
Today was also the second last day of the Comic Festival and we were all hoping that there would still be lots happening
The whole of Lucca was still heaving with characters from every comic ever written… we walked all over the main areas bumping into 'starwars' characters…'Captain America'…'living dead'…'vampires'…'star trek'…'sexy fairies'…'cowboys and indians'…and many many more. Most have gone through so much trouble to make sure they looked the part…and it's not as if there is a prize for the best looking or most true to character. They are all just excited to get dressed up and are only too happy to stop and make a pose for anyone who wants to take a photo…and EVERYONE wanted to take photos…it was very surreal!!
To add to all the hype it was…of course…HALLOWEEN. This elevated all the histrionics up a couple of levels with more characters than normal. The whole of Lucca is caught up and the stores and restaurants that may usually be subdued are right into it and it seems everyone is having a good time. I have to mention…yet again… that even with all these people in town we have still yet to see anyone behaving badly or walking the streets drunk or being a nuisance…it's fantastic and uplifting
All the marquees that have been set up are full of 'comic enthusiasts' …all my concerns about there being so many tents and marquees were unjustified…it was packed. Apparently by the end of the festival there will have been nearly 160,000 visitors to Lucca in the 5 days…
We made sure that we checked out as much as we could all around the city including the main Marquee outside the wall. Most of these areas you needed a pass so we couldn't get in but they were packed. They also had a large stage set up at Baluardo San Paulino with bands playing to thousands of people every night right through until about midnight …and good bands as well.
Every year they have some famous celebrity that joins up…last year it was Hugh Jackman…(Wolverine!!) this year a certain 'red head' from Harry Potter turned up…even though we never saw him. The other amazing thing is the amount of professional photographers that were everywhere…taking photos all the time…all very exciting.
We decided to get 'Tron' the movie out for the night as it seemed fitting with what had been happening through the last five days…good movie…great special effects …
Tuesday night was the last night and it all ended with much fanfare with
the concert area going full on with so many people watching…and very
totally over…no hangers on …no stalls open an extra day…no more
costumes in the street.
That night we all went out to San Georgio with Michelle and Paul so that Kerry & Mark could meet Michelle (M had been in England). Again another fantastic meal, drinks and night…really looked after by Piero and his team and everyone was over the moon with everything.
We all returned to Brunella for after dinner drinks and more chatting, Kerry & Mark soon retiring to bed, as they had an early start in the morning...they were off to Cinque Terra for the day.
02/11/11 Wednesday
Mark and Kerry took off for Cinque Terre. Mary and I had discussed with Mark and Kerry about all the great places to go. We were well aware that there had just been a huge disaster in two of the villages due to the rain. There was a good chance that they may noy be able to walk anywhere or visit all the towns but they decided to go anyway…which ended up being a great decision
They were gone all day and had a wonderful time. There were a few restrictions such as the walk being closed and the ferries not taking passengers as they were being used to help with the devastation but they did manage to see the first two towns (Riomaggiore and Manarola) and had a great time. I caught up with them as I took off for my afternoon walk around the wall and they were just coming from the train station…they both looked very happy.
I made a pretty special 'Osso Buco' that night and we all enjoyed our second last night together.
The weather has been just fantastic all this week…. No rain to speak of (except for a night) and the sun has been shining brightly. Apparently, there has been a lot of rain all through this side of Italy and we have had telephone calls from Australia and Milan to see if we are OK…but the bad weather has not touched us at all…perfect 'Tourist' weather…not too cold …not too hot.
The autumn season is also starting to take its hold with nearly all the trees around the Wall and Lucca all beginning to lose their leaves…(its a lovely sight as you are walking, a calm breeze blows and ahead of you are leaves falling...its beautiful). The Lucca Comune are also right on the ball and have large machines that collect the leaves off the wall everyday…every day it seems clear and ready for more leaves to fall.
03/11/11 Thursday
On our last night with Mark and Kerry we took off for the restauarant on Baluardo San Colombano – we have seen and walked past this certain place a hundred times but we finally decided to go there…(we had had a coffee there with them on Tuesday and thought it would be nice for dinner)
We felt a bit strange when we first walked in as we were the only ones there. We ate well. Kerry and Mary treating themselves to lobster (both reminded me of a scene from 'Splash' with Tom Hanks and the mermaid)…(neither of us realized it would be served the way it was...we started to get very nervous when we saw the 'nut cracker' and another little tool served to us before the dish arrived...it was very nice but a bit too fiddly) The waiter also informed us that the restaurant combines with the main bar after everyone has left the restaurant and it becomes one of the night hot spots after the eating. We will definitely remember that and we will be back .
We got back to Brunella in time for the Hoppys to pack up their bags ready for their train trip to Rome tomorrow.
04/11/11 Friday
All of a sudden …all those months ago, late last year, when we told the Hoppys that we were going to Italy for the year, and they decided then a there that they would come over for a holiday… all those months of anticipation…has now come to an end!!
We all woke early with Mark and Kerry using all their travel skills to make sure that everything was safely packed away. We ate our breakfast and I had my last game of 'Zombie Highway' on Marks i-pad….it was very teary…knowing I would never play that game again…we had become very close over the last couple of weeks… I had killed so many …it will be hard to part. (you and those games!!!..as i said, if you want you can get me an Ipad for Christmas and i will let you use it :):))
We were all quite sombre as we came down the stairs (Mark was quite happy about coming down the stairs for the last time!!) and walked our way back up onto the wall and to the train station. We arrived in plenty of time…validated the tickets Mark had purchased the day before and stood in the station coffee/bar (another of my favourites) and all had our last coffee together, then big hugs and a few tears goodbye before boarding the train. (Thanks guys, we hope you enjoyed it...safe trip home & getting back to normal...until your next adventure! :))
We waved the train goodbye and slowly walked back to Brunella…and even as we were leaving the station the weather started to change. The clear blue sky was quickly changing to an overcast sky and by the time we returned to Brunella the heavens opened and Lucca and her streets and houses were being cleaned. Mark and Kerry managed to leave just in time…safe journeys you two.
Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures
Magnificent, thank you
My goodness the pair of you are really having a ball,the photos are out of this world,a least some of the family are seeing what a beautiful world we live in,but most will never see what both of you are seeing,you are our ambassitors to the world,enjoy enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Uncle Christy


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Former Dos Pueblos football coach arrested for stalking
Victim is a former student athlete
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A former football coach at Dos Pueblos High School faces felony charges for stalking a former student athlete.
Santa Barbara police arrested Justin Anthony Sell, 27, on June 21 at his home on the 4600 block of Tajo Drive.
The police investigation began on June 6 when the victim reported - that Sell had been harassing and stalking them since mid-May. The victim who lives in Santa Barbara told police the harassment included annoying phone calls, surveillance, confronting the victim in public and even creating a fictitious Facebook account. Police said Sell used the Facebook page to post demeaning comments about the victim and to befriend the victim's contacts. The victim told police the continuous stalking caused significant and sustained fear.
On June 21, police obtained a felony arrest warrant for Sell and searched his home. Officers arrested him without incident. Investigators who questioned Sell said he admitted to nearly all of the acts described by the victim and other witnesses. Sell allegedly told police that he stalked the victim because he perceived that his friendship with the victim was failing.
The following the press released issued by SBPD on Thursday:
Subject: SBPD Media Release - Stalking Arrest MEDIA RELEASE Stalking Arrest SANTA BARBARA, CA - June 27, 2013 Justin Anthony Sell, age 27, of unincorporated Santa Barbara, was arrested for stalking, a felony. Sell is a former football coach at Dos Pueblos High School and the victim is a former student athlete. On June 6, 2013 officers from the Santa Barbara Police Department began investigating instances of harassment and stalking perpetrated by Sell against a former student. The victim and the victim's family are Santa Barbara residents. Sell's behavior in this case started in mid-May 2013 and included annoying phone calls, surveillance of the victim and the victim's residence, confronting the victim in public, creating a fictitious Facebook account for the purpose of posting demeaning comments about the victim and befriending the victim's contacts, and articulating the intent to move to the state where the victim will be attending college. The totality of the circumstances caused the victim to experience significant, sustained fear. On June 21, 2013 SBPD Crimes Against Persons Detective Charlie Katsapis obtained a $150,000.00 felony arrest warrant for Sell for the crime of stalking and a search warrant for his residence on the 4600 block of Tajo Drive. On June 25, 2013 a team of detectives executed the search warrant and arrested Sell without incident. When interviewed by Detective Katsapis, Sell admitted to committing nearly all of the acts described by the victim and other witnesses. Sell's motivation for stalking the victim was his perception that his friendship with the victim was failing. Sell was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on the aforementioned charge. Photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.


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LOS GATOS >> A few firefighters with the best vantage of wildfire season in the Santa Cruz Mountains this summer have been battling fires from the air, dropping hundreds of gallons of water from a Cal Fire helicopter and guiding ground crews to remote areas.
Although the rural areas in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara counties have been spared from a large wildfire in recent months, members of Cal Fire's Alma Helitack Base said the worst may be yet to come. Brush and grass continue to dry out as the region's drought wears on.
"Most of the fires start in August or September, so this summer's just starting for us," said Cal Fire Capt. Eric Gomberg.
Firefighters such as Gomberg at the Alma station near Lexington Reservoir often respond to wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains, but they cover from Monterey to Mendocino County and Interstate 5 to the ocean. The crew also rescues stranded beachcombers at places such as Panther Beach on the North Coast and mangled mountain bikers in the Soquel Demonstration State Forest.
This week, while training on the dusty banks of a very low Lexington Reservoir, members of the Helitack crew took a moment to explain how they work and how they've compensated for shallow ponds and other water sources they use to fill the helicopter's tank.
"We're having trouble with low water supply all throughout the state," said Cal Fire Capt. Matt Sterck, who works at the Alma station.
"And we're getting fire behavior at the end of July that we'd normally get in September or October."
No matter how small a wildfire initially appears, firefighters said they hit as swiftly and aggressively as possible.
How it works
When the crew is dispatched, a pilot and a captain sit in the cockpit and six firefighters pile on to bench seats in the back of the Alma Helitack's 1969 Bell UH-1H "Huey" helicopter, similar to those used in the Vietnam War.
Wearing helmets with integrated two-way radios, they take off from the Alma helicopter pad without water in the tank in part because the helicopter must balance the weight of fuel and the firefighters on board.
With a rough location of a wildfire, the firefighters in the helicopter talk to firefighters in engines on the ground via radios, guiding each other to the fire.
The pilot usually finds a spot to drop the six firefighters on the ground — whether it be in tight canyons as the chopper hovers about 5 feet above the ground or a clearing in the woods. Finding a spot to land can be a challenge, pilots said.
Firefighters on the ground can hook up a hose from a fire engine to the helicopter's 370-gallon tank and fill it with water.
Alternatively, the helicopter crew can leave the crew and find a pond, swimming pool or other water source, sucking up water via a "snorkel" hose. That water is dropped onto the fire. One, two or three doors of the tank can be opened depending on how much water they want to drop.
The whole process of dropping off a crew and finding water typically happens at the same time a ground crew of firefighters is hitting the fire with water. A plane or planes — typically from Cal Fire Hollister Air Attack Base — also drop retardant on the fire simultaneously.
Cal Fire's goal is to contain 95 percent of wildfires to 10 acres or less.
"The mantra is: Hit it hard and keep it small," said Cal Fire Capt. Dave Manson.
Manson, a 45-year-old from Santa Cruz, said he started as a seasonal firefighter after he finished high school.
His father was a San Jose firefighter, "And I just wanted to be a fireman, you know?" Manson said.
Now a part of the Alma Helitack crew, he said it's become routine to be dispatched to a wildfire on the helicopter.
Yet it still gets his heart pumping when he sees wildfires from the air. Some of his fellow firefighters shrugged about it during a training exercise Thursday. He called them out.
"C'mon, when you see that smoke? It gets you going," Manson said.
On July 24, firefighters used planes, the Alma Helitack helicopter and ground crews to douse two quarter-acre wildfires north of Boulder Creek near highways 9 and 236. It took about 50 minutes to stop forward progress on the two fires, according to Cal Fire. While the helicopter crew was in the air, it also spotted a third hot spot near China Grade Road and helped stamp that out as well. No one was injured and no buildings burned.
Two days later in South San Jose, the Alma Helitack crew helped battle a 15-acre brush fire near Almaden Quicksilver County Park.
"It's been a little slower in our area than in some years. But sometimes it's three to five (calls) a day," said Cal Fire Capt. Sean Ketchum, who also works at Alma Helitack.
The helitack base and its helicopter pad are just downhill from Cal Fire's Alma Fire Station 13, which is a normal fire engine unit on a frontage road of Highway 17 near Bear Creek Road. The two stations are spartan, with a dirt and rock parking lot, worn wooden benches, a clothes washer and dryer and living areas.
The helicopter crew said its attacks have become a bit more difficult this year because it's been harder to find water.
Drought woes
Some of the ponds in the Santa Cruz Mountains and surrounding area are used to "snorkel" water in to the helicopter. Many of those ponds are now shallow because the drought, and the "snorkel" suction hose can pick up dirt and small rocks.
That can lead to a brown, dirty water in the helicopter's tank, which might not be as effective on a wildfire as pure water.
To compensate for that lack of water, leaders at Cal Fire's Alma station this year added portable water tanks that can be filled near wildfires instead of ponds. Firefighters on the ground find water from fire engines, water tanks or other sources, and fill those 1,500 gallon yellow tanks — which resemble a large, collapsible hot tub. They can be filled.
Thursday, firefighters practiced hovering their helicopter about 15 feet over a portable tank — also known as a buoy walled tank — and sucking up water with a red snorkel hose.
Anyone standing anywhere near the chopper's booming blade got blasted by dust, or "peppered," as firefighters call it. The dirt gets into eyes, ears, noses and clothing. Firefighters usually wear ski goggles so they can see something besides dust near the chopper's rotor blade.
"You're usually sweaty, so it's sticking to you — all the dirt and bugs on your back," said Manson.
Cal Fire Capt. Dan Clark, a 54-year-old who also works at Alma Helitack, piloted that helicopter.
Originally from Los Angeles County, Clark started flying planes U.S. Army in 1979 and helicopters about 1984. He said his military work was similar to firefighting.
"We're actually at war with the fire," Clark said.
Clark said the crew usually flies only during daylight hours because wires and other obstacles aren't visible at night. Hitting an electrical wire could be catastrophic if it wrapped around the rotor blade.
Clark said he lives in Washington state, working for Cal Fire seven days on and seven days off. Typically, firefighters on the helicopter crew work in 72-hour shifts.
He called the Huey helicopter model "stone-cold" reliable, and they're maintained better by Cal Fire than they were by the Army.
"Even the firefighters can't break them. And they can break just about anything," Clark quipped.
Tips for rural homeowners
Clean: Create a 30-foot 'lean, clean and green' area around the home and 100 feet of defensible space around it.
Mark: Clear vegetation around address markers and use contrasting colors for visibility.
Map: Have wildfire escape routes planned.
Mow: Don't mow grass or use other equipment that could create sparks after 10 a.m.
Trim: Clip unnecessary wires that could hinder a helicopter crew.
Visit: Log on to www.readyforwildfire.org for more information.


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Bolivia: Divided Over Natural Gas
Divided Over Natural Gas
Franz Chávez
May 25, 2005
Indigenous protests over natural gas and demands for autonomy by the wealthy eastern provinces are on a collision course under the watchful eyes of the armed forces, which have indicated that they will not accept any division of the national territory.
Indigenous protesters, joined by teachers, miners and students, have clashed with police in La Paz, the seat of government, over the past few days.
They are demanding nationalisation of the country's natural gas reserves - the second-largest in South America after those in Venezuela - or at least an increase in direct royalties paid by the foreign oil companies operating in Bolivia.
They are also staunchly opposed to the autonomy drive led by the eastern province of Santa Cruz, Bolivia's wealthiest.
Bolivia, a country of 9.2 million, is South America's poorest nation. But it is divided between the western highlands, home to the indigenous majority, and the rich eastern provinces, which account for most of the country's oil production, industry and gross domestic product (GDP).
Much of the population of eastern Bolivia is made up of people of European descent.
A week ago, after President Carlos Mesa refused to veto or sign into law a bill increasing the royalties and taxes on foreign oil companies from 18 to 50 percent, Congress went ahead and enacted the new law itself.
The ongoing protests and the pressure from wealthy provinces demanding autonomy have generated uncertainty on Bolivia's future, and an increasingly difficult situation for Mesa to deal with.
Indigenous and labour groups backed Mesa's designation as president in October 2003, after a month of protests in La Paz and the nearby slum city of El Alto forced his predecessor Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada to resign and flee the country after just one year in office.
Nearly 70 people were killed in what was dubbed the "gas war", after Sánchez de Lozada called the army out to quash the demonstrations.
The trade unions and campesino (peasant farmer) associations taking part in the October 2003 protests secured a pledge from Mesa to hold a referendum on the foreign oil companies' control over Bolivia's abundant natural gas reserves (estimated at 53 trillion cubic feet) and to convene a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution.
But 14 months after Mesa was named president, a movement of business associations, large soy farmers, bankers and landowners in Santa Cruz threatened last January to break away from Bolivia, although they eased their demands after Mesa promised to work towards a solution that would give the provinces greater autonomy.
Mesa, meanwhile, is attempting to navigate between two antagonistic sets of demands - from the indigenous and labour groups in western Bolivia on one hand, and the wealthy interests demanding autonomy in eastern Bolivia on the other.
One of the steps he has taken was to present an ambitious programme aimed at creating 70,000 new jobs.
He also allowed Congress to assume the responsibility for enacting the controversial new law on natural gas, which is opposed by the oil companies operating in Bolivia because it raises the taxes they have to pay and modifies the contracts they signed in the 1990s.
Bolivia's natural gas and oil production is controlled by foreign companies like British Petroleum, France's Total, Petrobras from Brazil and Repsol from Spain.
The law is also opposed by indigenous and labour organisations that backed Mesa in the past. They do not want the foreign companies to continue exploiting Bolivia's natural gas, and most of them are demanding the outright nationalisation of the industry.
Only the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS), the strongest opposition party - led by indigenous lawmaker Evo Morales, the leader of Bolivia's coca growers - says it would accept the continued presence of foreign oil companies, but only on the condition that the transnational corporations pay a 50 percent direct royalty.
That would be instead of the current 18 percent royalty and a new 32 percent tax on production established by the law enacted by Congress last week.
Leftist critics of the new law say it will be easy for the oil companies to evade the 32 percent tax.
In the meantime, the Santa Cruz Civic Committee gathered 250,000 signatures to demand a referendum that would allow voters in that province to decide whether or not they want autonomy, and said it would wait until last week for Congress to set a date for the referendum.
But the legislature's delay in making a decision and opposition to the autonomy drive by indigenous and labour groups in La Paz that threatened to occupy Congress prompted the Santa Cruz Civic Committee to set Aug. 12 as the date for its own referendum.
In response, MAS said it would go ahead and call a constituent assembly, which it sees as the appropriate forum for debating autonomy demands.
MAS criticises the questions that the Santa Cruz Civic Committee wants to put to voters in a referendum, such as whether they would like greater local control over the administration of natural resources - like oil and gas, which are concentrated in eastern and southern Bolivia - and the taxes levied on them.
Morales argued that neither of these questions can be included in a referendum because they involve national sovereignty issues.
The lawmaker also maintained that many of the oil companies support Santa Cruz's call for autonomy because they believe it would be easier to negotiate royalties with the oil and gas-rich regions than with the Bolivian state itself.
In the midst of the debate, the armed forces publicly stated that they would not recognise "decisions that violate the constitution" - a reference to initiatives for "self-convened" referendums or constituent assemblies - and that they would not accept any division of the country.
An eight-day march by around 5,000 campesinos and coca farmers who support MAS reached the government palace in La Paz on Monday, and have have been joined in their protests and roadblocks by other groups like miners, students and teachers, while workers in El Alto declared a general strike.
On Tuesday, riot police used water cannons and tear gas to try to break up the demonstrations.
The protesters are pressing Congress to call a constituent assembly, while workers in El Alto, one of the country's poorest cities, continue to demand the nationalisation of Bolivia's natural gas. They are also calling for Mesa to step down, saying he betrayed the promises he made when he became president.
Carlos Hugo Laruta, the director of the Research Centre for Campesinos (CIPCA-La Paz), told IPS that "The populist and radical forces of El Alto are numerically weaker than in October 2003, and splits have appeared among their leaders because some sectors have come to understand the risks of their actions."
Campesino leader Román Loayza, whose group has ties to MAS, gave Congress until Friday to convoke a constituent assembly.
Other groups are also calling for Congress to be dissolved.
Laruta said there is no immediate risk to national unity, and that he places his hopes on "a great silent mass of citizens" who would not support a break-up of the national territory - but who might, he warned, back a coup d'etat to restore order.


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Buttery Cranberry Scones RecipeRead Reviews Be the first to add a review
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup white baking chips
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk just until moistened. Turn onto a floured surface. Add chips and cranberries, kneading about 10 times.
- Pat dough into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Cut into eight wedges, but do not separate.
- Bake at 400° for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cut into wedges. Serve warm. Yield: 8 servings.
Reviews for Buttery Cranberry Scones
"Very good and easy. I just patted out a round circle and cut into 8 wedges and sprinkled them with sugar. Then baked on a cookie sheet."
"Great recipe! Easy to make and delicious. I tried it without the chocolate chips and loved it!"
"Great recipe! Good served with orange butter (1/2 cup softened butter + 2 TABS. orange marmalade)!"
"Then this one came out in the magazine, it instantly became a holiday standard at our house. I have never had such a moist scone. Everyone loves it. So save time in the morning, I will mix the dry ingredients the night before. I do use our homemade plain yogurt as a substitute for the buttermilk."
"This was an amazing recipe, my kids loved it too and if I hadn't made it for breakfast I would have added a lemon confectioner sugar glaze to top it off. Yummy!"


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The 99% Say Enough is Enough
Posted by Kirsten Moller in Featured, Global Exchange News & Events, World News & Events on 4th October, 2011 | No Comments
We, the 99%, demand our voices be heard, we want an end to war and greed, we want to invest in human needs. It's that simple. May the spirit of non-violence, the joy of democracy and the inclusion of many voices be our guiding light as we zig-zag forward, empowering protest as an agent to drive political reform.
Read More...


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When you lick your upper lip and get a red line around it. Like when you drink red gatorade, and get a little red line. It looks like that exept it stays on your face. UNless you use chapstick
Damn, that girl's gatorade mustache is a totaly turnoff!
by samual December 01, 2007


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Most of the job-related fears that keep journalists up at night are relatively mundane. We worry about getting scooped, making factual errors, pissing off the occasional source or story subject. But on rare occasions, a more ominous scenario presents itself — namely, the possibility that our reporting could cause actual harm to someone we cover.
In a grim front-page piece published in the Sunday, August 3, edition of the Boston Globe, columnist Kevin Cullen wrestled with just this concern. Cullen's subject was the death of Rakan Hassan, a 14-year-old Iraqi boy who was brought to Boston for medical treatment in 2005, after a mistaken attack by US soldiers killed his parents and left him paralyzed.
Cullen had written about Hassan before, in a series of stories that detailed his evacuation from Iraq, recuperation at Massachusetts General and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospitals, and return to his home city of Mosul. Those pieces — published in 2006, before Cullen was tapped as a metro columnist — were models of great feature writing: highly readable, packed with evocative detail, touching but never maudlin.
This story was different. Hassan, Cullen told his readers, had been killed earlier this summer, in a bomb blast at his family's home. As the story progressed, Cullen explored whether Hassan's Boston caretakers should have allowed him to return to Iraq — and whether the Globe's coverage of Hassan's story might have somehow led to his death.
"All of us who cared about this boy, who loved this boy, are left to wonder: did we do something, however unwittingly, that got him killed?" Cullen wrote. "Did somebody somehow read Rakan's story, maybe online, and set out to kill him and his family, to prove that anybody who takes sweets or help or anything from the Americans is a collaborator who shall die the death of an infidel?"
After mentioning other potential factors that may have made Hassan a target (his treatment by US Army physicians stationed in Iraq; his brother-in-law's security job with the Iraqi government), Cullen concluded that the motivations of Hassan's killers might never be known. But then, a few paragraphs later, he found himself returning to the question: "Would he still be alive if I didn't write about him? If Michele McDonald's beautiful photos of him never appeared in this newspaper?"
Who, what, where . . . Why?Cullen's anguish is understandable. He spent five months with Hassan. Hassan and his own kids became friends. And, as Cullen noted in an August 4 interview with Robin Young, host of WBUR-FM's Here and Now, US military officials had cautioned him that his stories might lead someone to target Hassan. (Cullen, who didn't return a call from the Phoenix, added that these officials couldn't cite one case in which media coverage of Iraqis had led to retribution, and that Iraqis told him it wasn't a concern.)
But Cullen shouldn't fault himself for what he and the Globe produced. Suppose, for the sake of the argument, that Hassan's killers did see the articles and photos. Let's imagine that they took umbrage at some of the details included — such as the fact that Hassan's recovery was bankrolled by Raymond Tye, the Jewish liquor-magnate-cum-philanthropist, or that the US military (including former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld) played a major role in spiriting Hassan out of Iraq. And suppose, too, that when deciding to target Hassan's family, they cited these details as justification.
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text: I'm getting a little bit nostalgic for my youth growing up in the northwest. I just saw a friend that I've not seen in about 15 years took his family to Pacific City, Oregon and that got me thinking about how we did a couple of vacations growing up at different spots in Oregon. However the most vivid memory was our trip to Florence, Oregon when we took a trip to the Sea Lion Caves. Not sure what sticks out the most about that, maybe just the calmness of the Pacific Ocean, maybe the saltwater smell and the cool temperatures, maybe it was being able to feed the sea lions themselves? I don't know, but it was good times and I'm thinking that I might want to take a road trip up there and visit the Northwest this summer at take maybe a 14-day driving trip up there, that would be a good spot to stop. http://sealioncaves.com/webcam/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qco6Z_bhTL4


text: If you have been breastfeeding your baby till now, you might want to now introduce her to the bottle. This is an option you could consider after discussing it with your doctor. Weaning her away from the bottle could be tricky, so try putting her on it as just an option, as you carry on with your breastfeeding for some time. Do not make too much of a fuss over the bottle activity, otherwise she might just not take to it. You could get somebody else to feed her the bottle, since it has been seen that babies do not take to their being fed on the bottle by their mothers. Check with your doctor about how many times to feed her milk through the bottle during the day. Gradually, you could then reduce the breastfeeding routine.


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AOL Wins Award for Decommissioning Servers
Apr 3, 2012
AOL has notched another award in our data center energy efficiency efforts. We've won the Uptime Institute's first "Server Roundup" contest to decommission old servers. The Uptime Institute, a data center industry think tank and trade association, called for data centers to find and remove duplicated or unused applications, out-of-date, obsolete servers and replace them with more efficient, virtualized hardware.
Given AOL's ongoing efforts to be more efficient in our data centers and AOL's Technology Operations team's ongoing work decommissioning servers, this challenge seemed right up our alley. Mike Manos, SVP of Technology Operations, had the entire Tech Ops team – from systems analyst to database administrators to project management to the data center team – involved in the migration to the internal cloud-computing environment, defining "absurd" server applications and products and identifying "power hog" servers. The team had to root out servers full of ancient data, which entailed touching almost every server and doing a "door-to-door" canvas to discuss the fate of the server with the owners.
After gathering the documentation for the contest application we learned that AOL started January 2011 with 37,016 servers, and decommissioned 9,484 – a 26% turnover, grossing $5.05 million in savings for 2011. The savings encompassed many areas of the company: electric costs for the servers accounted for $1.4 million of our $13 million annual electric bill, sourcing saved $2.2 million in licensing costs and asset management had $1.2 million in sale/recycle/scrap. During this time period we did install 8,376 new, more efficient servers. Net savings, including these new servers, is $4 million – still awesome! Environmental benefits were seen in the reduction of almost 20 tons of carbon emissions!
.@AOL Wins Award for Decommissioning Servers aol.it/HUPRsy
- AOL PR (@AOLPR) April 3, 2012


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SEATTLE Amazon.com has announced the launch of the "Your Kindle Commercial Contest" and invited customers in the United States to compete in a contest to create the best 30-second or less Kindle advertisement for the chance to win $15,000 in Amazon.com gift cards.
"We're constantly impressed with our customers' ideas and creativity," said Rich Williams, director of advertising. "Last year's 'Your Amazon Ad Contest' was so successful that we ended up running the winning commercial as a part of our holiday TV campaign and it was seen by over 100 million people across the United States. We're excited to see what our customers come up with for the Your Kindle Commercial Contest."
Customers can upload their "Your Kindle Commercial Contest" submissions to www.amazon.com/ykcc. Entries are due by Aug. 29, and an Amazon judging panel will review all contest submissions and select the top 50 entries based on creativity, overall appeal and their likelihood of making viewers want to buy a Kindle or download a free Kindle app.
The Grand Prize winner and up to four Semi Finalist winners will be announced on Sept. 20. The Grand Prize winner will receive a $15,000 Amazon.com gift card, and the semi-finalist winners will each receive a $2,500 Amazon.com gift card.


text:
Have a local machine shop make a handle for you, from bar stock. Let them work from the original.*
It will probably be less expensive than importing something.
*Another method would be to weld an extension onto the existing handle, have it shaped to your desires, and have it re-heat-treated. That, too, should be less expensive than importation.


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US Calls Out China & Russia for Cyber Espionage Costing Billions
Hey, China and Russia, get off of our clouds.
That's the warning from a new U.S. national intelligence director's report to Congress released Thursday that states China and Russia are the biggest perpetrators of economic espionage through the Internet.
The report, Foreign Spies Stealing U.S. Economic Secrets in Cyberspace, also warns that the efforts to calculate the cost of lost research and development is nearly impossible to calculate but could be costing up to $398 billion. As mobile devices proliferate, it's only going to get easier for spies to steal.
Analysts note that this is the first time the U.S. government report has so openly blamed countries that support cyber attacks and espionage at the national and state level.
"The computer networks of a broad array of U.S. government agencies, private companies, universities, and other institutions -- all holding large volumes of sensitive economic information -- were targeted by cyber espionage; much of this activity appears to have originated in China," reads the report.
Drawing on data from 13 agencies, including the CIA and FBI, over the past two years, the report concludes that attacks against U.S. government networks and military contracts are on the rise. But one of the most worrying trends is the growing number of attacks on businesses that are smaller than the Fortune 500 companies.
Additionally, the report states that China's intelligence services -- as well as private companies and other entities -- are exploiting Chinese citizens or others with family ties in China who have "insider access to corporate networks to steal trade secrets using removable media devices or e-mail."
As for Russia, the report noted that the "10 Russian Foreign Intelligence Service 'illegals' arrested in June 2010 were tasked to collect economic and technology information."
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said the report confirms what he's heard previously about the Chinese.
For full story:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11 ... -billions/
CISSP, MCSE, CSTA, Security+ SME


text:
Plumber is electrocuted at residential housing site after rigging improper temporary power connection
When plumbers Jim and Dave arrived at a new residential development, their task at hand certainly seemed routine performing trim-out work (installation of fixtures and appliances) in a partially completed house. Once on-site, however, they quickly hit a snag. After realizing that the mostly finalized electrical system in the house was not connected to the electric utility, they questioned the general


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