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C/ El Cortecito, Playa Bávaro, Punta Cana - Dominican Republic
"Not a friendly place to visit."
Posted by: Patrice on Nov 6, 2013
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The newly renovated Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa is located on a privileged setting right on the seafront of the world famous Playa Bavaro. Built on an estate of 80,000 m2 next to the Palladium Bavaro Grand Resort & Spa and the Palladium Palace Resort Spa & Casino, all set in the midst of a coconut plantation and lush tropical vegetation.
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"The resort staff was very friendly."
Posted by:
Jim from New Jersey on Jan 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) United States of America
Visited on: Jan, 2009
448 people found this review helpful
Arrival: May 2007
This was my first trip to the Caribbean and I went by myself, so I wanted an all inclusive. I booked through Apple and everything went smoothly. The first thing I noticed upon pulling into the resort was how well kept the grounds were. The lobby was an open air design and had a bar with comfortable sitting area around it. The front desk staff was friendly and check in was a breeze. I arrived prior to their check in time, so I had to wait until around 3pm for my room to be ready. I definitely would recommend packing a change of clothes in an easily accessible bag so you can change and start to enjoy sooner.
They have many different room types on the grounds. I was in a free standing unit with about a dozen rooms. I had a ground floor unit that faced the basketball courts and recreation area. The room was very nice. You get a second room key which is to be used for the A/C and lights. They ask that you remove it from the slot when you leave your room to save energy, easy enough. The beds were okay, typical hotel beds, and the pillows were flat. I only lost power for a few minutes, but it wasn't anything worth complaining about. The fridge had sodas, water and beer and were restocked as needed. The only thing I'd do different next time would be to request a non-ground floor unit. It would have been nice to sleep with the sliding door open at night with the A/C off.
Restaurants and Bars:
I didn't eat at any of the ala carte restaurants, but the buffets were fine. There was plenty of food and each night was a different theme. I never had a hard time finding something to eat and the staff was very friendly. The bars were nice, I really enjoyed the pool bars and the service was quick.
I cannot say enough about the grounds. The staff was constantly cleaning, trimming and pruning. The pools were clean and just warm enough to enjoy. The beach was well kept and security was there, but not intimidating. There was some locals selling goods on the beach, but were not pushy and took no thanks easily and kept going. I took a couple of long walks down the beach and never had a problem.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
The activities crew was friendly and always had something going on. I took one tour, the Outback Safari and loved it. The staff was friendly and made it a blast for all of us. Definitely would recommend it to anyone. Just one note, when they say all you can drink be careful, they mean it.
Other Comments:
This resort was recommended to me by two coworkers. They were right on. The resort staff was very friendly and always willing to help. I would go back there in a heart beat and have no problem telling others how great it was.
"You can't go wrong by enjoying your vacation here."
Posted by:
Bob & Carm from Ancaster, ONT on Feb 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Feb, 2009
466 people found this review helpful
Arrival: Jan 25/09 - Feb 1/09
Arrived at Punta Cana Intl Airport on Sunday at noon and we got thru customs and the baggage carousel in short order as usual (this is our 4th time to Punta Cana). Flight was with Skyservice unfortunately, as everyone is packed in like sardines. I had to pre-book 3 emergency exit seats at $70/each return in order to get an extra 8 inches or so.
Our group was made up of 3 families with 11 people in total. We all had rooms in building 2000 which was very convient as this building is next to the beach. All our rooms had poolside views and no one complained about noise or other issues. The rooms all had the jacuzzi tub in the bathroom which was not an issue. Rooms are clean and functional and no one had problems to report. Maid service was fine, but we've had better service at other resorts. We left U$5 each day for her, yet we didn't receive hand towels daily as we had requested. At other resorts, we found beautiful towel creations with flowers each day thanks to our tips, but this time it was lacking most days. This wasn't an issue for us, but we did notice however.
Restaurants and Bars:
This is a large resort complex with 3 or 4 lobbies for each of the individual resorts (Bavaro, Palace and Punta Cana). It was indicated that we would have access to 3 a la cartes for the week, but we found no one keeping tabs on your visits so we could have dined at the a la cartes each night if we wanted. Two of the evenings we ate at the buffet (Las Torres) and found the food to be plentiful and of good-to-very-good quality. We also ate at the International/Seafood restaurant and found it to be good. We visited the Mexican restaurant twice and their food was very good. The beef steak and tenderloin were excellent and quite tasty. The fish (sea bass) was also excellent. One night was spent at the Spanish restaurant which was very good and one at the Oriental restaurant. Although it was "OK", we all agreed it was our least favourite of the restaurants. We brought our own wine from home and had no problem bringing it to dinner and having the servers serve us with our own wine. We tried on several noghts to get into the Italian restaurant but it was impossible to get in with a party the size of ours. Its a smaller venue and many had to wait with pagers for up to 2 hours to be seated so we decided to go elsewhere. Breakfasts are very good with amazing variety.
We mostly spent our time at the beach and I won't repeat what others have mentioned regarding reserving loungers, lack of beach width. However, these are minor inconveniences - the beach, sand and water are fantastic, so enjoy it!!
Other Comments:
As mentioned, we were a group of 3 families - parents aged 45-50 and 5 teenaged children all 17 & 18. Each of the parents had a room with kingsize beds, while the 3 girls (all 17) had a room with 2 double beds and the 2 boys aged 18 also had a room with 2 double beds. They had a great time hanging out with each other and partying at night at the disco/nightclub Sunset Blvd. They said the crown was "old" (over 40) and hardly any kids their age. Last year we stayed at a resort next door (Occidental Grand) which had a fantastic disco called Mangu, although it was open to locals as well. Our teenagers went to that bar 3 evenings to party, however the cover charge was U$10/person which provided one drink. The cost for a beer was U$7 - not cheap so their drinking was done at our resort before going there (we weren't encouraging this, but lets face it, they'll find a way to drink which is what we all did at their age - we just asked them to be responsible!) We have stayed at the Occidental Grand, Dreams (previously Sunscape the Beach), Excellence and now the Grand Palladium. Excellence was a notch above all as its an adult only and 5-star, but I would say the Grand Palladium is a solid 4 to 4.5 star and would not hesitate to recommend this resort to others. Staff is friendly, resort is beautifully manicured and well kept with virtually nothing to complain about. You can't go wrong by enjoying your vacation here.
"The vacation was great."
Posted by:
Connie from NYC on Mar 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) United States of America
Visited on: Mar, 2009
423 people found this review helpful
Arrival: February 15 through February 22
Flew in from JFK in NYC--all was on time. Arrival in Punta Cana went well and the airport experience--including getting our bags was all good.
Hotel room was in the 7200 block. Lovely, clean,bright and comfortable.
Restaurants and Bars
Specialty restaurants were wonderful. The buffets are always fun with plenty to eat for all.
The beach is lovely--seems smaller since I came here about 3 years ago.
Other Comments
The vacation was great--all was good . Hope to go back next year.
"I don't know if I will ever go anywhere else!"
Posted by:
B, R & K from New Brunswick on Apr 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Apr, 2009
438 people found this review helpful
We flew Sunwing from Moncton, NB. The flight left a little ahead of schedule and the people at the airport were friendly and helpful. Arrival at Punta Cana airport was smooth and luggage arrived quickly. Very easy to find our bus to the hotel.
We stayed in rm 2028. Very clean. Our mini bar was stocked daily. We asked for extra water and they left us a case of 6 large bottle everyday! We left the maids a gift and a dollar bill every day and we also put a dollar bill in the fridge so they would remember to restock. The shower is my only complaint...it is very nice to look at but if you stand up and try to shower in the bathtub there will be a flood in your bathroom! I would suggest sitting down and taking off the removable shower head to try and contain the water in the tub. Also, bring facecloths as there are none.
Restaurants and Bars
The food was TOO good! The buffet had a great selection for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ate at the Italian, Brazilian and Steakhouse/Seafood a la carte. I would highly recommend the Brazilian and Steakhouse/Seafood. Great service and great food. The Italian was good but the portion sizes were tiny and you will wait for hours and hours to get a table. The Sports Bar has pizza, chicken wings and other american food 24hrs/day! It is very good!
The beach was breathtaking! The water was turquoise, the sand was white and there was absolutely no seaweed. The pools were great...the one in the centre was colder than the one by the buffet. We put our towels on chairs under a hut everyday before breakfast. Even if we chose to move we could usually find chairs. I found the beach too windy and cold in the early mornings so I chose to lay by the pool by the buffet until lunch and then make my way closer to the beach.
Other Comments
I would highly recommend this resort. I don't know if I will ever go anywhere else! The staff was extremely friendly and helpful...when they say "no problem" they mean no problem! There are courtesy rooms so we were well taken care of even though we had to check in and out early. We could store our luggage safely and shower before heading to the airport. I felt extremely safe at this resort. The shows were very well done and I would definitely suggest going to them most nights. The casino is also a good way to spend some time. The biggest market is also only about a 10-15 minute walk down the beach. You can get some good deals there.
"The Palladium is a resort where I can afford to stay."
Posted by:
C & C. Smith from NS on May 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: May, 2009
604 people found this review helpful
April 25 May 9 2009
We have travelled to the Dominican Republic six times and have stayed at all inclusive resorts. We have a travel budget and stay at resorts where we feel we get the best value for our money. It is true, that you will find better, nicer, fancier and newer resorts than this one, but people who compare various resorts have a tendency to make their comparisons without price differential and basically compare resort A with resort B based upon amenities with no mention of price variation which can be considerable.
Cost and Travel:
Our trip was booked through Sunwing Vacations out of Eastern Canada and the Grand Palladium package for two weeks was in the lower 20 % of their price range of resort choices in Punta Cana. This was our second trip to the same resort and there was not a great price increase over the previous year for similar dates of travel. We always find the prices lower after Easter. Many travelers will discuss when to book for the best value but we have always travelled for two weeks and there are no significant last minute deals on two week vacations but you may get some price reductions when certain sales are promoted. Sunwing Airlines and Sunwing Vacations provided a better than average service compared to other companies we have dealt with. Flights were on time with no surprises. Fairly new Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a 189 seat configuration which provides for adequate charter type seating. Seat pre-booking is available on their site. Hot meal served both ways with champaign breakfast and wine with dinner on the return trip. Weight restrictions on luggage are typical at 20 Kg. per person for checked luggage and 10 Kg. per person for carry-on.
Flight was on time. Very quick transition from Airport to bus and onto the resort. Our check-in went very quickly and we received the room request that I had previously made to the resort via e-mail about a week prior to our trip. Palladium management is very good with respect to responding to requests within their ability to deliver.
Our room was a standard Deluxe room in building 4000. We were located on the second floor. I requested this building as it is close to the beach and other amenities and not bordering on the pool which makes it a little quieter in the evening. Room was as expected. Rooms are very clean. Our Jacuzzi bath was not working when we first arrived but a request at the front desk quickly resulted in repairs. Air conditioning worked well. We started each day by leaving a tip for the maid and one in the fridge for the bar attendant. Our room was cleaned early most days and our bar fridge filled every day with Diet Cola as we requested and four bottles of beer. Two Presidente and two Bohemia Special. No complaints with the room or the room services.
Restaurants and bars:
We ate at all three buffets and three of the a la cartes. The variety and food quality at the buffets is very good. The resort rotates different theme nights throughout the week which adds to the variety of choices. The Palace buffet is the smallest, the Palladium next in line and the Bavaro buffet is the largest with the greatest selection of food. All are clean and well presented. The house wine is OK and they offer red, white or rose choices. Only complaint I have is that sometimes at the Palace and the Palladium buffets the air conditioning was not turned on and it was very hot. All the buffets are glass enclosed and smoke free which is very nice. The a la cartes do not require reservations and I would suggest that you go early to get a seat. We tried the Asian, Italian and International. All were very nice with good service. The new Japanese buffet was difficult to get into due to its popularity, but that was mainly to get a seat at the show tables. Regular tables were not a problem. Palladium also has a 24 hour Sports Bar where you can get something to eat anytime. Another plus at this resort is the fact that you have unrestricted access to all buffets , bars and restaurants throughout all the resorts except at the Royal Suites so this make for much more choice and selection when on a two week vacation. All the bars had good service and if you wanted better quality or specific local drinks such as Brugal Anejo or Barcelo, all you had to do was ask. Hemmingways bar is a great spot for cocktails before or after dinner. Top shelf drinks and champaign and we liked to go there for Irish coffee in the evening. This bar is available to all guests of all the resorts on site with no additional charge.
Beach, Pools and Grounds:
The beach is nice at any of the Bavaro area resorts. No exception here. You have to get up early if you want a palapa on the beach or at the pool. The saving game is a reality and if you want a spot you have to play the game. Although I spent most of my time at the beach, the pools appeared very well maintained and clean. The grounds at this resort are very mature and well maintained. You could see constant maintenance and gardening every day. Worst thing is the guests who decide that you can deposit drink glasses and other garbage any place you please and you can break beer bottles on the stone walkways. Also the beach is starting to be like vacationing in the worlds largest ashtray! I wont get into the bad habits of guests but everyone regardless of their personal choices should have more respect for the property, the beach and other resort users. Im sure this is not unique to this resort.
The Palladium resorts have just opened their new Royal Suites Swim-up rooms and they look very impressive but on the high end of the budget scale. All Palladium reception areas now have free wi-fi and pay internet terminals. Its a little slow but nice to have available. Once a week, they now have a Managers reception and you get to talk to the various management personnel and discuss any issues you may have. Overall the resort delivers what I paid for and that is all I ask. It seems to be run in a very efficient manner and even when the resort is at capacity, it never seems overcrowded.
I would like to see more quality and variety in their nightly entertainment as there is not much to occupy ones time after dinner . There is live entertainment in the lobbies but not much else to do in the evenings if you choose not to spend all your time at a bar. I would recommend this resort for its price range and its multi use facilities which we find is a necessity on a two week vacation. The Palladium resorts certainly provide you with dollar value and in comparison to other resorts where we have stayed in the past, I feel that we received the best dollar value at the Palladium. This is important to us as we do not have the luxury of just choosing a resort based upon its amenities and qualities regardless of price. There are many resorts in Punta Cana where I would like to stay but the Palladium is a resort where I can afford to stay and still receive a quality level of resort services.
Any questions, feel free to contact me. firstname.lastname@example.com
"The beach was nothing less than perfect."
Posted by:
Lib from Markdale, Ontario on May 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: May, 2009
448 people found this review helpful
Arrival: April 17-24
Was very smooth. We flew from Toronto with West Jet. We had a free week at the Palladium after a mix up last April. Travelled by cab to the resort, which was only $40. for the 4 of us. Check in was a breeze, got 2 rooms side by side with ocean view upon request. Upon arrival was met with a nice red tropical drink for us 4 ladies.
We stayed in the 4000 building, which was directly across from the lobby. We had 2 double beds in our room, with a large whirlpool in it. Was disappointed in the actual washrooms, it was more like a closet, with just the toilet and shower stall. Rooms were kept spotless, usually being cleaned by mid day by a lovely lady, with whom we left gifts for each day with a note in spanish stating our appreciation. We were pretty central to everything, and rooms were very soundproof, not hearing outside noises or neighbours. The other ladies we travelled with had only a kingsize bed in their room, and upon request they brought in a single bed. Didn't spend alot of time in the rooms other and sleeping and grabbing a shower before dinner.
Restaurants and Bars:
We sticked basically to the one buffet, which had a different themed dinner each night. After enjoying our supper we'd grab a table at the bar right outside the restaurant called Samana (i think) enjoyed a few beverages and chit chat. At the Italian ala carte twice. First time was great and fairly quickly served, on the second visit, was terribly long, over 2 hours for our meal. Food everywhere was great, didn't go hungry at any meal. Rum punch rocks, along with Banna Mamma.
Grounds were beautiful. Beach was nothing less than perfect. Huge complaint about the saving of lounges. If you wanted a lounge, especially under shade, you had to be on the beach by 6am evey morning to save with towels or t-shirts. Not impressed with that at all. Another huge downfall at the beach was the constant annoying pestering of vendors coming up and asking you to buy or purchase their services, such as massages, parisailling, cigars, you name it. Pools were spotless, didn't spend much time there, too hot with no breeze.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Didn't pertake in any activities on or off the resort, just used my week to soak up the Caribbean sunshine and enjoy myself.
Other Comments:
There were some downfalls with the resort, but nothing major, or maybe I'm just fussy lol.
Would recommend this resort to anyone. Any questions, feel free to im me.
"A fantastic stay for 7 days."
Posted by:
Emil on Jul 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Jul, 2009
625 people found this review helpful
Arrival: May 23 2008
Via Westjet; nice airline service; staff was enthusiastic & friendly, departed on time, arrived on time, no-fuss service. Punta Cana airport a smooth running operation especially the immigration process, baggage handling a bit messy but OK. Finding the WestJet Vacations counter a bit confusing as well as getting the shuttle, but not too bad. Shuttle trip was a bit "hairy" driving it as a passenger but also OK Check-in was so easy and no-fuss that I didn't notice we were done and the bell boy had already taken the bags- WOW No-fuss, professional, front-desk staff was also friendly, curteous and helpful given my limited skills in Spanish.
WOW! WOW! WOW! Yes I bought an upgraded room, but WOW! Spacious, clean, well-appointed and laid out, fresh clean atmosphere, marble-finish everywhere. 4-post bed with curtains/netting. A/C and lighting automatically comes on and goes off when entering and leaving the room by inserting the room key into an in-room key slot. SMART! Large balony with a small table and chairs facing the beach at the end of the 4000 building. Maids were very friendly and did a great job for which we left gits and a tip; much appreciated. Bathroom could be considered a bit small but I didn't care. A/C did blow directly over the bed which did get a bit chilly even at lowest settings overnight, but again a very very minor point. Large closet with free use of the safe. I could not have imagined getting better accomodations.
Restaurants and Bars:
All positively excellent. Buffet or a-la-carte. Friendly, prompt service and always willing to go extra step for folks with limited understanding of Spanish. Food choices were very varied, all good, and there was a nightly theme at the main buffet. Other buffets were also very good to excellent in terms of choice, quality, and service. Bars and drinks were all excellnt. Drinks were on the strong side but not too much. Israel at the Main Lobby bar was fantastic!!!! Made superb cocktails and adjusted them to our preferences. He made a stomach-soothing concotion one night that helped my wife almost instantly. All the other bars very much the same. Atmosphere at the restaurants and bars was very classy and relaxing.
Beach was fantastic! Clean, white, powdery sand against a clear turquoise waterline that went on for miles and miles for long walks or jogs. A bit narrow but still wonderful. Beach palapas were a bit on short supply but at one time or other one could be found. Lots of lounge chairs, no shortage. I could not have been more satisfied with the beach! A little more lighting at night would be nice but now I'm being picky. Grounds superbly maintained and organized. This is a big resort shared with 2 others adjacent and guests are allowed to use amenities of all three without limitations (well, few). A spa is on site and is impressive at least in presentation. A shuttle train runs all through the complex every 10 minutes with "stops" at all the key places. Pools of which we tried 3 were large and well maintained, water was very mild yet clean and clear. Lots of activities by animation staff.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Didn't try many; went to one night show at the theatre but decided to leave early to enjoy a full-moon evening instead
Other Comments:
Wow! What a fantastic stay for 7 days. All the reviews about this resort are absolutely correct! The few bad reviews are incomprehensible to me as to how anyone could be unsatisfied.
"The Beach was very picturesque."
Posted by:
Steph from Sittingbourne, Kent on Jul 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) United Kingdom
Visited on: Jul, 2009
617 people found this review helpful
Arrival: June 2009
The Flight - flew with Thomson from Gatwick and was very good. Boarded and took off on time which always helps. Good choice of films with seat back TVs, although the films play on loops so if you start watching one which is longer than other, when you want to watch the next one it will have already started so worth paying £5 each to upgrade your tv set. Food was great, although the snack meal before you land was a bit disappointing.
Arrival - Punta Cana airport is very quaint it has a thatched roof and operated pretty smoothly. The coach was full of people going to the grand palladium, so the journey only took about 40 mins in total. Check in was very quick, although if a large group were to check in at once, it could be quiet slow. The Punta Cana reception was less grand than that of the Bavaro, but still very nice.
Room - We stayed in room 4116, and I had requested a room in block 4000 as having read reviews this seemed to be the nicer block. Which was very true the room was spotless and pretty large. There was a huge king size bed and large bath in the main room, with separate shower and toilet room. Mini bar was stocked with beer, water and soft drinks and was restocked daily. We had nice views over a garden area and could see the sea. We did not over look the pool which meant that this was one of the quieter rooms. Although at night, when people were coming back to their rooms, the corridor outside our room did end up quiet noisy, so if you are a light sleeper, may be worth paying a little more for a villa style room (blocks of 6/8 apartments).
Restaurants and Bars:
Food - Breakfast: We tended to eat most breakfast times in the large buffet by the Palace reception Las Torres. It had a much wider selection than the other breakfast buffets and was open most days. All breakfast buffets had fantastic freshly squeezed juices!
Lunch - We had a mix of the snack bar food and buffet food for lunch, and each restaurant offered a different menu half the time. It was hard to tell whether a restaurant was going to be a snack bar one day or a lunch buffet. The lunch buffet was generally very nice and offered similar food to the evening buffets, although less variety.
Evening meal - we ate in almost all restaurants for the evenings. We ate in the buffets a couple of times and were impressed with the variety they have themed nights and some are much better than others. All restaurants typically offer you water/wine with your meal. You can ask for a soft drink, but do not expect cocktails with your meal! We tried the Asian, Mexican, Spanish, steak and seafood and Italian a la cartes. All offered a buffet, starter, main and dessert, although portion sizes were huge so we found it hard to eat the main course. All of the restaurants were very nice, although our favourite was the Mexican.
Pools - we tried most of the pools on the resort, but tended to favour the one by La Uva buffet. You could get a sun bed at any time of day around any of the pools or beach, so do not panic about the other reviews if you are going in the low season May August. This pool had a great swim up bar and waiters coming around the sun beds taking your order. This pool seemed to be shallower than the others, so if you plan on just lazing it was great. We did not spend much time on the beach, but it was very picturesque. There was no snorkelling to be done just off of the beach, however organised trips could be done. One negative thing even around the pools there were sales people trying to constantly sell you trips and water sports. I was under the impression from the holiday brochure that all of the water sports were included in the holiday, however it was very unclear when you got there what was included as most things seemed to have sales people. These people would give up after a while, and we learnt it was best to shoot them down right from the start.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
Trips - We did a number of trips, organised through Thomson. The first was to the Island of Saona. This was sold to us as a relaxing boat trip to a paradise island, where you can have lunch, relax and snorkel. In fact after the 3 hour journey, it is simple a booze cruise so be warned. The second trip was on the reef Explorer where you go out to a floating island and swim with rays and sharks. This was a great trip and well worth the money. The sharks and rays are great and are in enclosed areas so your remain quite safe. The third trip was on the Tropical Storm catamaran. Again this was a good trip with lots of snorkelling. Although there was lots of alcohol flowing, if this is not your thing don't worry as the snorkelling and views along the coast make up for it.
Other Comments:
Weather - Was very hot and humid, with rain on occasion. At no point did we end up in the room all day because of the rain. The map of the hotel makes it seem huge, but in actual fact it is quite small. The Punta Cana and Palace sections are all very close together and right by the pools and beach. The Bavaro reception is further away, but a train does run every 20 mins which takes you up there.
"The play area was a kid heaven"
Posted by:
Jim & Christina from Toronto, ON on Sep 1, 2009 >
2 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Sep, 2009
695 people found this review helpful
Arrival: August 2009
Our Arrival: We left Toronto at 3:50 p.m. flying with Sunwing. We arrived in Punta Cana at 9:50 p.m. Our flight was uneventful considering we were traveling with our daughter who is 18 months. Going through the airport was quick. We were guided to our bus and after a speedy bus ride we arrived at the hotel around 11:00 p.m. Check in was smooth and a crib was immediately sent to our room for our daughter.
Room: Our room, which was a 2-minute walk from the beach, the pool and the lobby, was in block building 3000. The room was nice; housekeeping did a great job and they even provided turndown service, which was unexpected.
Grounds: The grounds were immaculate. Luscious greens everywhere. It was truly breathtaking.
Pool: The pool was nice and we were usually there late in the afternoon.
Beach: It was breathtaking. The water was beautiful and the sand was perfect!!! Lots of shaded areas were available.
Bugs: None! No mosquitoes either.
Restaurants: We ate at all the buffet restaurants and they were good. We also ate at the Brazilian Steakhouse (Rodizio) and the Italian Restaurant (The Mare Nostrum) they were both excellent.
Clubs/Bars: We hung at the lobby lounge after dinner where there was live music.
Staff and Service: Everyone we spoke with was really helpful and friendly.
Activities: There were planned activities throughout the day at the beach and the pool.
Shopping: There were about 15 stores at the resort were you could find souvenirs and basic items like sun block, snacks, etc.
Going Home: We had a late flight out of Punta Cana that was about 1 hour delayed. We landed in Toronto at 2:40 a.m.
Summary: The primary objective for this trip was to go to a safe, kid friendly resort because of our daughter who is 18 months. The Grand Palladium Punta Cana Resort & Spa was great for her. The play area was a kid heaven and she loved spending time there in the afternoons.
Please feel free to email me should you have any questions. email@example.com
"An awesome family vacation"
Posted by:
Jackie and Rick from Parkhill on Dec 1, 2009 >
1 contribution(s) Canada
Visited on: Dec, 2009
906 people found this review helpful
Arrival: Nov 21-28, 2009
We just returned from a awesome family vacation. There was five of us ranging from 12 years old to 80. It was a sunwing package and we highly recommend this company. Sunwing flight was on time and the crew was great and very accomodating
We had accomodations in the 3000 block which we would recommend as it is central to everything within minutes walking.The only disappointment with the room was the bathroom. It had a jacuzzi tub and you had to step up into to use the shower. It is not very accessible for older people or anyone with a disability. When you used the hand held shower it was very messy and the whole bathroom was wet when you were finished. Not very practical.
Restaurants and Bars:
Very friendly staff and the food was good. The best was the Japanense and Chinese a la carte restaurants in our opinion.
These were all immaculate. Very clean, well looked after grounds. Maybe it was the time of year but we had no trouble finding a spot at the pools or beach. There was not a lot of english speaking tourists at this particular resort but that was ok as well.
Activities on and off the Resort/Hotel:
The shows were ok but were in every language possible and therefore was kind of hard to follow at times. We only went a couple of times because it started at 10:00 We booked two excursions through sunwing and would highly recommend them as well. Extreme dune buggy ride was well worth the money but bring old clothes to wear you get very dirty. The other was the Country Adventure which is well worth the money and you see the real life on the island. Very educational.
Other Comments:
This is our first time at a resort. We went on a cruise two years ago to the western carribean. The resort was far better for relaxation and better value for your money (All inclusive) Punta Cana was beautiful with perfect weather at that time. We are looking forward to going back soon and would not hesitate to return to the same resort and travel with sunwing.
Email Jackie and Rick: email@example.com


text:
Benitez-Nelson recognized as Professor of the Year
By Chris Horn, University Magazine Group
For marine science freshmen who sometimes feel they are lost at sea, adrift without a clear sense of direction, Marine Science 101 must seem like a lifeboat.
The introductory course is taught by Claudia Benitez-Nelson, a professor and director of the marine science program who has made it her mission to connect with every first-year student in the program.
Does she learn everyone's name? Check. Incorporate some tidbit of information about each student into her lectures? Count on it. Bring full-on enthusiasm to the classroom? Every day.
"My goal is to get them to respond," said Benitez-Nelson, winner of the 2013 Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year award. "I want to get them engaged in some way, and once I get a response, I've got'em."
Benitez-Nelson knows all about feeling adrift and unconnected as a student. She was that person 25 years ago as an undergraduate at the University of Washington.
"But I had these two professors who went out of their way to help me find my way," she said. "They didn't have to, but they did, and I wouldn't be a professor now if it weren't for them. So I'm paying it forward."
Benitez-Nelson passion for engaging with students extends beyond her own discipline.
"Once you're my student, you're always my student. Whether you stay in marine science or you switch to business or photography or whatever, we're still good; I'm here for you," she said.
That assertion rings true when perusing teaching evaluations penned by her students:
• "She's super approachable, keeps the class interesting and really wants to help!"
• "One of the most enthusiastic and approachable professors I've ever had."
• "She's always willing to answer questions and helps us understand confusing material."
Student questions are, in fact, the fuel that have powered Benitez-Nelson's career since joining the faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences in 2002.
"I've been asked to give talks all over the world because I've become good at explaining science to non-scientific people," she said. "That's a direct result of what I do in the classroom."
Explaining difficult material and answering endless questions can be a challenge, Benitez-Nelson said.
"But I get so much out of it, from new ideas in research to friendship. And at the end of the day I like to talk to people — it's that simple," she said.
Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor Award winners
- 2012 Milind Kunchur, physics and astronomy
- 2011 James S. Cutsinger, religious studies
- 2010 Robert Jesselson, School of Music
- 2009 Susan Anderson, theatre and dance
- 2008 Sanjib R. Mishra, physics and astronomy
- 2007 Thomas Hilbish, biological sciences
- 2006 Tangali S. Sudarshan, electrical engineering
- 2005 John Larry Durstine, excercise science, public health
News and Internal Communications

subset: commoncrawl


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Chail Overview
You can reach Chail from Mysore by road in about using a cab upon driving using a cab.
Chail is a hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India. It once served as the summer capital of His Highness Maharaja Adhiraj Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. Chail is 49 km from Shimla. The Chail Palace is well known for its architecture. Chail is also considered as the hiker's paradise. The area is away from the bustling life of the state capital Shimla. If you are looking for car rental Chail let us know and we will be happy to provide you with best budgeted deals for . Book cabs in Chail


text: Learn From Farmers the World Over! Harness the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of farming. Topics to be covered include: Learn how an innovative solution - crop science - can increase your grain yield by as much as one tonne per acre. Learn how to find alternatives for expensive dietary protein sources. Can you turn sustainability into a profitability driver on your farm? Fertility is often the single most important aspect of farming. Learn to build the foundation for success. Get health right and everything else falls into place. Safeguard the health of your animals and the quality of your feed. Why are more people insisting on using Omega 3 DHA? Learn about today's industry innovations, DHA, nutraceuticals and other developments. Who will run your farm when you are gone? Learn how to maximise your investments for the future; From succession planning to herd management. What is your checklist? What do you need to think about to ensure a more efficient, profitable and sustainable future?


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John Mayer Copies Katy Perry's Promotional Semi-Truck [PIC]
It looks like John Mayer is taking tour notes from his girlfriend Katy Perry! Yesterday, the "Wildfire" singer posted a picture of a GIANT semi-truck on his twitter page to promote his Paradise Valley Tour.
It was only a few weeks ago that Katy Perry sported a gold semi-truck with her album name, PRISIM, plastered on the sides when her single ROAR debuted.
We know that John Mayer is a Katy Perry fan, but who would have thought he'd be snagging promotional tips from her?
Maybe the couple got a 2 for 1 deal!
Off this week and then next up is South America!! Are you ready for JM?? #MAYERISBACK pic.twitter.com/XsxbkJMAY5— johnmayer.com (@JohnMayer) September 10, 2013


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Artfully embracing ancient culture and fast-paced modernity
See New Trip ►
A beautiful, intricately designed puzzle, Japan is a country that has refined just about every aspect of life into an art form. Smitten (or, as the Japanese say, otaku, merrily obsessed) with Japan, we are especially captivated by the Japanese talent for integrating its proud ancient culture with its equally proud embrace of the modern. We take loving pride in our journeys to this amazing enigma, where insider's knowledge and attention to detail pay off so rewardingly.
Toll Free:
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Monday through Friday,8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time
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Sesshin is the essence of Zen practice. These week-long intensive Zen retreats are held at Dai Bosatsu Zendo six times a year. The tradition of sesshin began with Shakyamuni Buddha's intense sitting under the bodhi tree in India. On the morning of December 8, he attained enlightenment upon seeing the morning star. The word "sesshin" means to collect one's heart or mind. These kind of retreats are practiced by all Zen schools throughout the world.
Students gather for a week of silence, zazen (Zen sitting meditation), chanting, teisho (formal Zen talks given by the Abbot), Dharma talks by other teachers, and dokusan (private interviews with Shinge Roshi). The schedule includes a brief period of daily work practice, rest periods and three vegetarian meals a day. For more on what to expect and the daily schedule, see PDF.
Go to calendar for this year's sesshin dates and fees.


text:
Your shopping cart is empty!
France 2012 home shirt.Dri Fit , stylish polo collar and striped design throughout. Embroidered team crest and logo.100% polyester. Add official licensed player N&N from the list below.
Soccerplus first opened in 1994. We were one of the first soccer websites to hit the webView more
Address: 1640 E. Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, Ca 91104, USA
Phone: 1-800-945-7291
Get Direct


text:
Saturday, June 12 2010 - Other Important News
Federal judge calls Guantanamo inmate's detention 'unlawful'
June 10, 2010
WASHINGTON -- A federal judge has forcefully put Yemeni citizen Mohammed Mohammed Hassan Odaini on the path to freedom after eight years of incarceration at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author, who is solely responsible for its content, and do not necessarily reflect those of 911Truth.org. 911Truth.org will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements contained in this article.
Fair Use Notice
This page contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of political issues relating to alternative views of the 9/11 events, etc. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond "fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
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Rubella and CRS Global Advocacy
Rubella, also known as German Measles, is an often mild disease whose symptoms can range from a fever and rash to signs too mild to detect. When contracted by a pregnant woman in her first 20 weeks, however, rubella can lead to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) in the fetus, and the effects can be devastating. The disease can cause severe growth and mental retardation, deafness and other developmental problems when the fetus becomes infected. Though the burden of CRS is not well documented, the WHO estimates that in developing countries alone 100,000 cases of CRS occur each year.
Rubella, and thus CRS, is vaccine preventable, and the disease has been eliminated in the Americas. Sabin is working to help eradicate rubella globally through increasing awareness of the burden of rubella and CRS. Sabin, together with the March of Dimes, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is undertaking a series of advocacy activities to promote prevention of rubella and CRS throughout the world.
Activities included a conference held in Rome, Italy, in February 2013. More than 150 people from 47 countries came together in Rome to review the latest developments in the fight against rubella and CRS in Europe.
Additionally, Sabin, along with the International Pediatric Association (IPA) is part of the Measles and Rubella Initiative. Led by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the CDC, UNICEF and WHO, the goal of the Initiative is to reduce global measles mortality by 95 percent by 2015 and eliminate measles and rubella in at least five of the six World Health Organization Regions by 2020. By joining the Measles and Rubella Initiative, Sabin will continue to advocate policies and resources that support effective measles and rubella immunization programs and practices.


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Dustin Down The Door: Dustin Barca Make The Big Leagues
A favorite of TransWorld SURF's for years, Kauai's Dustin Barca is the latest surfer from the Garden Isle to represent the island on the ASP World Championship Tour. A disciple of the "any wave at any time" mentality, Barca is the complete package; mixing in big airs, clean carves, and fearless in big waves. We caught up with Dustin as he kicked back at the Oakley house at Off The Wall on the North Shore of Oahu and rapped about not having the Irons bros on tour with him next year, his plans and preparation for the season, and keeping the drive alive…—Justin Cote
Dustin Barca Quick Hits
Age: 26
Hometown: Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii
Favorite Wave: Backdoor Pipeline
2008 WQS Year End Rating: 12
Hidden Talent: Heavy hands
Training Routine: Lots of cardio
Favorite Surfer Of All Time: Dane Kealoha
TransWorld SURF: First of all, all of here at TransWorld SURF would like to say congratulations on qualifying for the 2009 ASP World Championship Tour!
Dustin Barca: Thanks man.
You certainly didn't have a walk in the park making the tour—how many years were you working toward this goal?
I was on the tour—but no too serious about it—for like our years, then the last two years I've been doing it for real.
You had a lot of ups and downs in those years. I remember at one point you had a gnarly accident and burned the shit out of your hand, and there's always gonna be tough losses and long flights home. At any point did you feel like saying, "Screw it" and head home to Kauai to surf your days out?
Halfway through this last year I was ready to throw in the towel, but I just put my head down and kept trying.
What kept you going?
Not wanting to be known as an underachiever.
How did it feel when you finally qualified for the World Championships Tour?
Honestly it never really kicked in. Sometimes I'll be sitting on the beach and realize I made it and feel proud of myself. When I actually get out there and do something I'll feel happier, though.
I like it; stay hungry. With Bruce being off the tour and Andy looking like he's going to take a break as well, how does it feel to have some of your best friends bail out on the tour right when you make it?
It kinda sucks, but they've been on tour for so long I can understand that they're feeling burned out on it. I'm burned out on the WQS—I never wanna do that tour again. So I can understand wanting to take time off, it's probably the best thing they can do for themselves.
Will you go the Irons bros for advice? I'm sure they'd have some good things to tell you.
Yeah, Andy already told me, 'Don't be scared to ask me anything'.
Have you asked him anything yet?
Not yet but I'm sure I will soon.
Who are you planning on traveling with this year while on tour?
I'm not sure, it's kind of up in the air right now. There are a few Hawaiians on tour so I'm sure we'll be hanging out.
Yeah, you got Roy Powers, Freddy P, Kekoa Bacalso, that's a pretty solid crew. I read somewhere that Jordy Smith admitted that his biggest mistake during his rookie year was that he didn't get to events early enough to try out boards and figure out the spot. What are you doing to prepare for the different stops on tour?
I'm gonna show up to the Gold Coast a little earlier and not have too many boards to choose from. I just wanna find one good one and stick to that board.
What stops on the WCT are you really looking forward to? Which waves do you think suit your style of surfing?
The Gold Coast [Snapper Rocks], Tahiti [Teahupoo], and the European leg of the tour. That'll probably be the best leg of the tour for myself.
What stops will be the most challenging for you?
I don't know as I haven't really surfed all the spots—J-Bay looks kinda hard to surf. I think I match up pretty well on any wave on the tour though.
You became a father about a year ago. How has that changed your outlook on surfing as a job and career?
It's definitely made me more focused. It's gave me a reason to not give up, especially this last year.
Is there any one surfer on tour who you just wanna smoke in a heat?
I'm just gonna take it heat-by-heat. I don't have any enemies or anyone in particular who I wanna smoke. I just want to beat whoever I'm surfing against—I hate losing more than anything else in the world.
That's a good quality to have on the World Tour. Best of luck in 2009, we'll be watching and rooting for you. As a matter of fact, Chris Cote promised you earlier in the year that if you made the cut, he'd stand on the water's edge during your first heat at the Snapper contest with a "Go Barca" sign. He will be there and I'll get the photo of it!
Check this clip of Barca and some of his homies ripping the North Shore this December. His section at the end is pretty sick…


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First-grader gave out grandma's heroin: DA
(NEWSER) – Babysitting her grandson, a Pennsylvania grandmother misplaced her heroin—and it turned up in the 7-year-old's pockets at school a few days later, CNN reports. So says the district attorney, who warns that "any exposure to heroin for a young child is likely to result in death." The boy—who was carrying nine bags of the stuff, each stamped "Victoria's Secret"—allegedly gave some to a classmate, whose mom found it, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The grandmother "is lucky that she was not responsible for the death of her own grandson or somebody else's child," DA Tom Hogan says.
Read the full story on Newser.com


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CLINTON — The East Feliciana Parish Emergency Communications Commission voted Friday to contract with its Baton Rouge counterpart to answer 911 emergency calls on a temporary basis.
The arrangement, if approved by the Communications Division of the East Baton Rouge Department of Emergency Medical Services, would continue until the East Feliciana district makes permanent arrangements to staff a call center for emergency calls, board members said.
East Feliciana Parish Sheriff Talmadge Bunch, whose employees now answer 911 calls, asked the communications board earlier this year to increase the amount it pays his office for the service, but the commission's governing board recently voted to assume all responsibility for call-taking.
Matt Hobson, an official with Baton Rouge EMS, said discussions have been held with East Feliciana's commission about lending help temporarily, but nothing has been formalized.
"We're working to see how to best help them," Hobson said.
Ben Chasteen, director of the East Feliciana commission, said the East Baton Rouge agency would answer the calls without compensation for a short period of time, but would accept some telephone headsets owned by East Feliciana as something by way of compensation.
The headsets are compatible with East Baton Rouge's equipment, Chasteen said.
The East Feliciana board approved a "memorandum of understanding" with Baton Rouge EMS. Ray Newman, Sheriff Bunch's representative on the East Feliciana board, objected because the document had blank spaces for some of its terms.
The approved motion included additions left blank in the written document to reflect that the agreement would be for up to six months and the switch-over would be Nov. 20.
The proposed agreement says Baton Rouge call-takers will route all medical calls to Acadian Ambulance Service and the East Feliciana Sheriff's Office.
All fire and law enforcement calls will go to the Sheriff's Office for dispatching, but if the sheriff's dispatcher does not answer the Baton Rouge call after five rings, the call will be routed to State Police.
Kevin Garig, a sheriff's deputy and firefighter, pushed without success for seven rings before the calls go to State Police, and he also questioned whether State Police dispatchers are familiar with handling fire calls.
"That's what happens in East Baton Rouge," commission Chairman Bill Ford said.
Newman questioned why the commission, a subdivision of the Police Jury, reportedly will end the year with only $500 in the bank.
"Where did all the money go?" he asked.
"You're the secretary-treasurer, you ought to know," Ford replied, but Newman said he has had that duty for only six months.
Ford later said the commission has $360,000 dedicated to equipment purchases and maintenance.
"Our operating fund is our problem," he said.
The commission is funded by a property tax and telephone surcharges.
Newman also gave commission members a letter from Bunch in which the sheriff says he did not appreciate the panel questioning his intent and the accuracy of financial information he provided them.
The letter further criticizes the commission for "minimizing the work of the 911 operators."
"They play an important role in the delivery of emergency services and deserve more respect than to have their role distilled to 6.5 calls per day," Bunch said, referring to an earlier commission letter rejecting Bunch's demand for more money.


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Pool Division Draws
Molloy Division Draws
AMHERST, Mass. - Junior Dan Greenberg saw his Molloy Division run come to end just one match shy of the ultimate finish line on Sunday, falling in the semifinals during his first match of the morning. After he had run off three straight wins to get to this position, Greenberg won the first game for the fourth consecutive match of his weekend, but would eventually fall in four games.
In the first game, Greenberg took the early lead with an 11-9 win in the opening game. However, No. 3 Omar Sobhy (George Washington) would come back in the second game with an 11-4 win, tying the match at one-all. Sobhy then went up after the third game, winning 11-7 and he would then replicate that score in the fourth to advance to the finals where he would eventually lose to Vishrab Kotian (Trinity) in three games.
Despite the loss, Greenberg went 3-1 this weekend. He finishes the season with 10 victories, which nearly doubles the amount that he had in his first two seasons at Penn. This was also the second time in his three seasons that Greenberg made it to the semifinals of the Molloy Division. He also advanced to this round as a freshman, but did not compete in the individual championships as a sophomore.
Full Weekend Results
Pool Division
#12 Thomas Mattsson (2-2)
Round of 32: Lost vs. #21 Richard Dodd (Yale) (3-2), 8-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-1
1st Rd. Cons: Won by default vs. #5 Christopher Hanson (Dartmouth), def.
1st Rd. Cons Quarterfinals: Won vs. #19 Thomas Spettigue (Cornell) (3-1), 11-4, 4-11, 11-5, 11-3
1st Rd. Cons Semi: vs. Christopher Callis (Princeton) (3-1), 11-7, 10-12, 11-4, 11-7
Molloy Division
Dan Greenberg (3-1)
Round of 64: Received a bye
Round of 32: Won vs. Oscar Lopez (Rochester) (3-1), 13-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-8
Round of 16: Won vs. Andrew McGuinness (Navy) (3-0), 12-10, 11-9, 11-6
Quarterfinals: Won vs. #2 Clay Blackiston (Princeton) (3-1), 12-10, 11-6, 10-12, 11-7
Semifinals: Lost vs. #3 Omar Sobhy (George Washington) (3-1), 9-11, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7


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Digitech Trio Band Creator$90.00Band Creator pedal. Just play some chords in, select a style and the pedal plays a bass and drum arrangement. Works great. I had this for a few months then upgraded to the Trio+. Learn More
Digitech PS200R 9v Power Supply$13.95The Digitech PS200R 9v Power Supply will power all Digitech effects. Learn More
DigiTech JamMan Express XT$99.95Digitech's Jamman Express XT the most full-featured compact looper in the world, with 10 minutes of true stereo looping time and Digitech's JamSync technology, which allows you to synchronize with a second JamMan for perfectly synchronized loops. Learn More
DigiTech Grunge Distortion$30.00Awesome crunch and sustain. Like new condition. Original box and owner's manual included. Learn More
Digitech GNX 2 Guitar Effects Processor$79.00Lightly used. Excellent condition, with original box, power supply and manual. Learn More
Digitech FS3X Footswitch$39.95Digitech FS3X Footswitch, for use with the Digitech Jamman looper, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Brian May pedals, as well as others. The FS3X Footswitch allows you to cycle through settings, really extending your pedals use in live situations. Learn More


text:
Bookmark this site
BOSTON -- Smart Lunches, an online meal service that provides lunches to kids, away from home, has acquired Smart Snax, a vending operation. Both companies are based here.
Smart Lunches partners with schools, daycare centers and summer camps to provide wholesome lunches to kids through its online ordering and meal delivery service. It offers hot and cold entrees, sandwiches and salads made with lean proteins, whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables. Meals are delivered hot just before lunchtime every day in recyclable or compostable containers.
Smart Snax's dual-temperature vending machines, currently in public and private schools and YMCAs in the Boston area, are merchandised exclusively with natural and organic snacks and drinks.
Smart Lunches plans to leverage the Smart Snax machines to make healthier options available to students and staff at its partner schools. It will stock the venders with fresh fruit, vegetables and yogurt in the refrigerated section, and natural and organic snacks in the ambient temperature space.
The company said it plans to add vending machines to the facilities it already serves and to use them to generate more business.
"Acquiring Smart Snax is a tremendous step forward for Smart Lunches on our path to offering children the most wholesome and high-quality foods to ensure healthy development," said Smart Lunches chief executive Emily Green.
Smart Snax founder Gail Sears said she saw an "instant synergy" between the two companies when she heard about Smart Lunches.


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By Diana Hefley Herald Writer
EVERETT — Two separate investigations into an alleged drug house in Everett has prompted prosecutors to charge four men with various felony crimes.
Prosecutors allege a house in the 3900 block of Grand Avenue was being used for heroin and methamphetamine trafficking. They also allege that some of the people arrested out of the house have ties to a criminal gang.
Everett police first began investigating the house in June after receiving a tip about drug-dealing there. The tipster told officers "the drug dealers were armed, tattooed, and appeared to be in a gang," Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Janice Albert wrote in charging papers.
Officers started watching the comings and goings of the occupants, including two brothers whose family owns the place. Everett police began arresting people associated with the house, including a man who was carrying $25,000, five guns and an ounce of meth. His drug ledger referred to one of the brothers.
Everett police and Snohomish County sheriff's deputies raided the house Aug. 3. One of the brothers refused to surrender for about two hours. Once inside, police found heroin, meth and stolen electronics.
Federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration began their own investigation into narcotics trafficking at the house in November. They set up a series of drug deals, buying multiple ounces of heroin and cocaine from at least three different men.
Last month, police arrested a man identified as a supplier as he was driving away from the house. The man had numerous gang tattoos on his hands and neck. He told the cops he was a member of the Surenos. Police found a few ounces of heroin in the man's wallet.
About two weeks later, the house was raided again. They found a handgun in one of the dealer's rooms. That man is a felon and prohibited from having guns.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; firstname.lastname@example.com.


text: Change is coming faster today than ever before and companies must adapt or die. All business executives worry about change, but executives of technology companies---positioned as you are at the forefront of change---must be especially cognizant of the forces driving changes in your world. You must understand the impacts significant trends impose on your business and overcome them through transitions to innovative revenue streams, lowering costs and yes, new business models. With the right strategies and vision, it is possible to welcome and conquer, rather than fear and evade, change, creating an agile, thriving business. PwC stands ready to help.


text:
Alesso Shares New Track 'Tear The Roof Up,' Signs With Def Jam Recordings
Listen to Alesso Radio on iHeartRadio
No doubt Alesso tears the roof up at most of his shows, which makes his latest single very appropriate. The producer/DJ is back with a brand new track called "Tear The Roof Up."
But that's not all. Along with the news of his new single, comes the exciting announcement that he has signed with Def Jam Recordings.
On Twitter, Alesso says of his new song, "Tear The Roof Up. The beginning of a whole new era for me. New label. New records."
Check out "Tear The Roof Up" below!


text:
Translation of "be right up sb's alley" - English-Turkish dictionary
(Translation of "be right up sb's alley" from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary English–Turkish © Cambridge University Press)
Get a quick, free translation!
Create and share your own word lists and quizzes for free!
More translations of "be right up sb's alley" in Turkish
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friendly and helpful feelings


text:
give output of the error
I have followed the script perfectly, however it always builds an image that just kicks me to an initrdfs prompt (limited shell) and never actually loads!! Does this method not work for bt4 final?
Any support would be appreciated. Thanks!
give output of the error
You have to edit the name of the .iso in the script


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Why is Gallup hyping negligible movement in Obama's approval rating?
This seems rather absurd, considering Gallup's own margin of error for its Obama poll is plus or minus 4 points. Meaning, a job approval rating drop of one or two points that Gallup is hyping is statistically irrelevant.
But that didn't stop Gallup from touting its latest results with this Drudge-friendly headline [1]:
Obama's Approval Ratings Lowest Yet, Congress' Declines
And its lede:
President Barack Obama's job approval is the worst of his presidency to date, with 46% of Americans approving and 48% disapproving of the job he is doing as president in the latest Gallup Daily three-day average.
So Obama's three-day rolling average is 46 percent, the worst of his presidency. It all sounds very ominous and newsy, right? But what was Obama's previous low at Gallup? Um, 47 percent back in January [2].
Gallup wrote up a news report about Obama achieving the "worst" job approval ratings of his presidency based on the fact it's exactly one point lower than his previous mark, and even though, according to Gallup, the margin of error on the poll is four percent?
So statistically, I think I'm safe is saying that Obama's recent drop was negligible and you could accurately describe his approval ratings as having remaining essentially unchanged in recent weeks, as it has been for several months [3].
UPDATED: FYI, If you look at the numbers [4], the reason for Obama's marginal dip is because self-identified GOP voters have recently decided they like him even less. i.e. Independents and Democrats haven't budged on Obama since late last year.


text:
Palmetto College launches, enrolls online students
By Peggy Binette, email@example.com, 803-777-7704
South Carolina residents now have the opportunity to earn a University of South Carolina degree anytime, anywhere through the online programs of South Carolina Palmetto College.
University officials and legislators announced that enrollment for Palmetto College is officially underway Thursday (April 18) at a gathering of government officials, representatives from USC's senior and regional campuses and some of the first enrolled students.
President Harris Pastides said making a college degree more accessible and affordable for citizens in South Carolina is at the core of Palmetto College.
"The key to a strong economy is an educated workforce. Palmetto College is poised to expand access to higher education throughout South Carolina. I believe that this program may be the most significant investment that the General Assembly has made in modern times to assist our citizens as they complete four-year baccalaureate degrees in high-demand professions," Pastides said. "I am extremely grateful to our General Assembly for providing $5 million in funding for Palmetto College last year. We are pleased that our legislators recognize the impact this program will have on our state, and we look forward to working with them this year to annualize the $2.1 million that came in as one time funds."
The new college is designed to help students complete the final 60 hours needed to earn a bachelor's degree from the senior and flagship campuses. These include business administration from USC Aiken, criminal justice and nursing RN-BSN from USC Upstate, human services from USC Beaufort and elementary education, liberal studies and organizational leadership from USC Columbia.
Susan Elkins, named chancellor of Palmetto College in January, said the new online degrees will help many South Carolinians finish their degrees and realize their goals.
"Sometimes education is put on hold because life simply gets in the way. We want South Carolinians to know that they can experience the quality of the University of South Carolina through the convenience of Palmetto College," Elkins said.
Other speakers included:
- Rep. Bobby Harrell, speaker of the S.C. House
- Sen. John Courson, president pro tempore of the S.C. Senate and chairman of the Education Committee
- Rep. Phil Owens, chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee
- D. J. Bron, a law enforcement officer from Union who has enrolled in Palmetto College.
Elkins said she expects upward of 500 students to enroll for the fall and that enrollment will increase as more people learn about Palmetto College.
"We are asking everyone throughout South Carolina to think about that family member, friend, co-worker or neighbor and let them know that they now have an option to finish what they started and earn a college degree. Palmetto College is more than a way to earn a degree. It's about new opportunities for a better quality of life," Elkins said.
She also announced that she is the first donor to a new scholarship fund for adult students in Palmetto College called the Aspiring Adult Scholars Award.
People can learn more by visiting the website.
Under Pastides' leadership, Palmetto College adds an innovative dimension to the university's educational offerings, addressing the need for students to be able to earn a bachelor's degree without leaving their work, families or communities.
"The University of South Carolina has an exceptional system of senior and regional campuses that meet the educational needs of South Carolinians. Now, the new online opportunities from Palmetto College, coupled with those campuses throughout the state, make bachelor's degrees even more accessible, affordable and flexible for South Carolinians," Elkins said.
News and Internal Communications


text:
Nick Thompson has been owner of Domaine de l`Ameillaud for over 15 years and has achieved quite a few accolades. Tom S. in his Wines of Alsace is a big fan of this estate.
WTN: `05 Cairanne, Domaine de l`Ameillaud.
Opened 2 hours, not decanted. Good natural cork, 14% alc, $18 Cdn. Blend is 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Carignan.
C. Deep ruby w. nice purple tones on a wide rim. Medium intense centre, looks inviting.
N. Oak, spice, cherry with a hint of blackberry after 3 hrs. Think this is closed down somewhat..or should I grab a Riedel?!
P. Initial thought is smooth, soft, silky..a reflection of the vintage? Good fruit balance, fair example of cairanne. Ripe and precis, clean fruits mid-palate. Excellent structure with blackberry and cherry, no heat and drinks nicely already. Might be hard to find however but try looking!!


text: To get from Giulianova to Treviso by train you can catch one of the 10 trains that everyday travel between these two cities. The first train to Treviso leaves from Giulianova at 07:31 and the last train departs at 21:28. If you choose a local train the trip lasts on average 05:21 hours. For your trip from Giulianova to Treviso by train you can choose to leave from one of Giulianova main stations: Giulianova On Wanderio you can compare all schedules, fares and railway companies to Treviso and book the best itinerary starting from Giulianova.


text:
Sarah's House 1: Master Bathroom
In the first season of my TV series, Sarah's House, a downtrodden triplex became the blank canvas for a top to bottom renovation in signature style. Bright spaces, streamlined details and bold patterns come together to reveal the true potential of a compact yet complete city dwelling.
Photography by Stacey Brandford


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Making waves UCL tsunami modeling: insuring against the worst
20 June 2013
In March 2011, a Tsunami generated by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded hit the east coast of Japan. Almost 16,000 people lost their lives. Cars, homes, hospitals, businesses and schools were swept away and the economic costs were vast.
Thankfully, natural disasters on this scale are rare – but it's for this very reason that insuring against them is a difficult business. A recent EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Secondment between UCL's Civil Engineering Department and insurance broker Willis has made great progress in predicting the losses from such events, making insurance against them simpler.
Professor Tiziana Rossetto from UCL's Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering explained her work and its application in the insurance industry. "Willis is a re-insurer.
They produce insurance
products for governments, owners of industry etc. against all sorts of
different hazards, including natural hazards like tsunamis. Payouts are
based on complex risk calculations, but a reliable model for a tsunami
doesn't exist yet, partly because it is quite a new science but also
because tsunamis are very rare, so there aren't many measurements on
which to base calculations.
"We're working on generating more empirical data about tsunami run-up – how far inland a tsunami might travel. We have a completely innovative pneumatic tsunami generator – a 45m wave flume – so we can model tsunamis in a laboratory and take measurements. This is unique worldwide. Using this, combined with analysis of other computations, we're deriving better catastrophe models for tsunami insurance."
Two projects
Professor Rossetto explained the two projects that formed a basis for the Willis secondments, "We put forward two secondees. One was Ingrid Charvet, – who had just completed a PhD with me. Her work with Willis involved building a framework to assess the impact of extreme coastal events on financial risk and insurance models, using the tsunami generator to produce flood maps and model velocities. She analysed empirical findings against current modeling tools.
"The other secondee was Tristan Robinson, a teaching fellow who was doing a post-doc in this field. His objectives were to produce tsunami risk maps for Japan and to derive a tsunami risk index for the reinsurance industry. There are tools out there to numerically predict the likely extent of inundation, but they are not reliable. Tristan carried out numerical analysis using different programs, to see which ones would better fit observed data from Japan."
Opening up knowledge
For UCL, the partnership has been extremely productive. Professor Rossetto said, "We tackled empirical and numerical aspects, as well as building fragility. Having two people allowed us to do a lot more within a year than we would have. It's also helped us to better understand the insurance industry – they are usually very reserved about their products and the data they have."
UCL is already part of the Willis Research Network, the world's largest collaboration between public science and the financial sector, with a membership of around fifty leading research units. These secondments were part of this partnership, and served to highlight the expertise on offer at UCL.
Through Willis, UCL also had the opportunity to collaborate with Tohoku University in Japan, where researchers have been studying tsunamis in the aftermath of the 2011 disaster. During the secondment, Ingrid spent one month working with Japanese colleagues in Tohoku, resulting in the co-publication of a research paper.
Ingrid said, "The industrial contact helped to give direction and specificity to my research. Willis provided useful data, extended my international network of contacts and allowed me to gain insight into how they work and what their needs were, improving my understanding of the reinsurance industry and giving a more "applied" dimension to my research skills, which is both useful and motivating".
For Willis, the partnership offers access to results from a unique tsunami model and to forefront expertise in the most accurate and usable computer programmes for tsunami risk computation.
Stuart Calam, Project Manager at Willis said, "The Knowledge Transfer Secondment scheme is a great way for industry and academia to work together on common aims and interests. This is one of the preferred ways in which the Willis Research Network funds research as embedding academics in a business environment has proved very productive for all involved. Willis have been proud to support the UCL secondees in their studies, whilst undoubtedly benefiting from the ability to tailor their research work towards practical applications for the insurance and reinsurance industry."
Prof Rossetto concluded, "Making the link with Willis has been extremely useful for all concerned, both for strengthening relationships and for allowing all parties access to aspects of research that they would not otherwise have had."
More information
- Willis Research Network
- UCL Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- UCL Enterprise secondments


text:
Anti-Muslim Film Director Freed From Prison, Speaks Out
(NEWSER) – The man behind an infamous anti-Muslim film says he likes President Obama but thinks his administration has acted irresponsibly. In his first interview since being released from prison, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, director of The Innocence of Muslims, tells CNN he was shocked when the administration linked his movie to the Benghazi attacks that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others. "Because, you know, I never thought, my movie can cause anyone trouble or anyone can get killed from my movie," he said.
Read the full story on Newser.com
More stories from Newser:


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So what about the colossal intelligence failure of 9/11—how could the CIA not have known an attack was imminent?
Was this deliberate strategy, to attack children who were even more defenseless than the average child?
The ad's content has also raised hackles among some ob-gyns, who see it as an attack on medical expertise.
He said that the attack was meant to punish the navy for having refused to release the imprisoned al Qaeda operatives.
With 15 arrested near the scene of the attack for alleged questioning, students are paying an immediate price.
And yet on the third day after the attack the town had fallen!
They had no doubt that the cheers were the signal for the attack.
Kars, attack on, 332;march of the wounded prisoners from, 333.
A land force was sent to attack the stronghold from the hills.
Besides, what of the traitor who induced the tribesmen to attack us?
c.1600, from French attaquer (16c.), from Florentine Italian attaccare (battaglia) "join (battle)," thus the word is a doublet of attach, which was used 15c.-17c. also in the sense now reserved to attack. Related: Attacked; attacking.
1660s, from attack (v.). Cf. Middle English attach "a seizure or attack" (of fever), late 14c.
attack at·tack (ə-tāk')
An episode or onset of a disease, often sudden in nature.


text:
As a result of investments in safe shale gas technology ... people are working and communities are again thriving. Repeated tests have shown that hydraulic fracturing in thousands of wells protects water supplies, and state and federal tests have found no groundwater contamination. Jack N. Gerard, chief executive, American Petroleum Institute
Fracking presents a staggering array of threats to our environment and our health. These range from contaminating drinking water and making families living near well sites sick to turning pristine landscapes into industrial wastelands. John Rumpler, senior attorney, Environment America,
The two points of view above represent both ends of the argument raging over hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the method of extracting oil and gas from shale deposits deep underground that is central to efforts to make the United States energy independent, a goal that long was considered unlikely, if not impossible, to achieve.
However, as with all relatively new technologies, too little is known about the possible negative impacts. Fracking uses millions of gallons of precious water mixed with chemicals that are believed to pose a threat to human health and the environment.
A comprehensive federal study of the effects of fracking on the nation's water supply is under way but won't be completed until 2014. In the meantime, and in the virtual absence of peer-reviewed research, there is a compelling need for a moratorium on new fracking operations and strict federal and state regulation of existing ones.
There is no question that fracking has proven an economic boon, helping drive the price of natural gas to record lows, creating jobs and making the country less reliant on foreign oil imports that cost some $350 billion a year. In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that by 2021 the U.S. will be a net exporter of natural gas, which is roughly half as polluting as coal.
But there are public health and environmental concerns that cannot be ignored. Chief among them are the chemicals that, along with water and sand, are blasted into a well shaft, cracking open fissures in shale deposits to release oil and gas. The gas is extracted from the water, and the wastewater is either reused or stored in underground wells.
Fracking raises a broader concern, however. It is that abundant supplies of natural gas, once considered a "bridge" to alternative energy sources, will prolong dependence on the fossil fuels that emit the gases that are overheating the planet.


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Results 37 to 47 of 47
Thread: Average at best draft?
12-28-2012, 02:50 PM #37Regular 1st Stringer
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Re: Average at best draft?
A silvering lining on the Patriots, as of now, they only have a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and two 7ths. Hopefully they won't get a lot help from comp picks, but as of now, they don't have a whole lot of ammuniation to trade up, and will be picking so late that they won't be attractive suitors to track back that much.
Re: Average at best draft?
Ditto on the great thread.
I just read the article before coming in here and wondered what the writer was smoking. He must have
missed all those guys breezing past KO on the way to creaming Joe. Another guy playing out of position, he's
more suited for Guard where he played. He might be
good but wasn't this year.
Much has been posted and written about Upshaw doing well his rookie year. He almost won the Philly game chasing Vick out of the pocket forcing an INT and had several big games. He has great upside to him.
Pierce has done well giving Ray a breather with a big game last week and huge gainer.
It takes a couple of years to grade a draft but Upshaw
and Pierce will be even better in couple of years and maybe KO too if they move him back to LG.
I'd say it's better than average.
Re: Average at best draft?
We can play the "what if" game forever and I'm not sure it really ever proves much. I wrote a three-part offseason piece chronicling some of Ozzie's moves that were genius vs. dumb, and included a lot of near misses that could have helped or hurt the team had they worked out the way he wanted. It's fun to speculate but in then end sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
We can talk about some of these players who might have been, but you always have to factor in the thinking at the time. I'm still not convinced I want Bryant on my team for instance. I can recall Gronkowski falling in the draft because of injury concerns. He missed his entire junior season at Arizona after having back surgery and the Ravens by some reports had taken him off their board entirely because of it.
In retrospect they were wrong about Gronkowski, and wrong about taking Kindle one pick later with the 43rd pick, but I understand the circumstances, which includes a shit ton of tight ends in that class, and I loved the Pitta pick from day one. I think he's a damn good value in the fourth round.
So I can accept why they didn't gamble on Gronkowski -- and to be fair to them, they probably would have had to use pick #25 on him if they were convinced his back wasn't an issue. It's really not reasonable to ask them to trade back to #43 that year, and then also anticipate that they needed to trade back up to get Gronkowski before New England jumped up for him at 42. And I accept that they knew they had other TE options who were cheaper in later rounds in 2010.
Sure, we can talk about wanting them to leap frog teams more often to move up to get players. Sometimes it works great -- Flacco, Pierce, Yanda.
More commonly I think, they would have been better off not trading up for targeted players because these players who they "just had to have" often disappoint -- Jah Reid, Adam Terry, Michael Oher, Kyle Boller, DeRon Jenkins, and Anthony Weaver, for instance.
What I'm saying is that it makes no sense to broadly ask them to trade up more often. Really, what you're asking for is that they broadly have a more accurate crystal ball so they know when it pays to trade up for a guy, or stay put, or move back.
When they trade down, or send away a pick for future considerations, they usually end up getting no more than one good player out of the package deal -- good talent like Courtney Upshaw, Jamal Lewis, Dennis Pitta, Anquan Boldin, Art Jones, Ray Rice, Ray Lewis.
But often when you look at the "extra picks" they also got in these package deals-- and sometimes even when you look at the entire package of picks -- you realize they don't typical yield a whole lot of extra value for the Ravens.
We're talking about players they've gotten this way like, Tavares Gooden, Gino Gradkowski, Ed Dickson, Tom Zbikowski, Chris Chester, Yamon Figurs, David Pittman, Scott Mitchell, Kevin Johnson -- these are the type of players who have ended up being the proverbial "player to be named later" in these deals, and some of these guys are the main guy they got from traded-away picks.
In other words, they almost never get two for the price of one. They really don't cheat the system. On draft day we talk about Ozzie being a genius for re-acquiring picks, or loading up on extra picks. But when you actually look at the track record they have not done much with the bounties they received.
Whether it made sense to trade back, therefore, comes down to whether they correctly determined that the value where they were originally were picking just wasn't there. It comes down to having a good crystal ball. Which is really just a metaphor for good scouting.
When you look at it, their best moves are the ones where they didn't move up or down. They stood pat and trusted their scouting. Or had enough luck that a player they liked in a spot was still left on the board.
Re: Average at best draft?
Actually, I meant to amend my "cheating the system" statement to say that there is one type of sleight of hand that Ozzie has been successful with, but he hasn't employed it in recent years. His (ostensible) former boss in Cleveland Bill Belichick perfected it. I'm talking about trading a pick for higher pick in a future year.
The Ravens got Ray Lewis that way in 1996. In the 1995 draft they (Belichick) sent Eric Metcalf to the Falcons so they could move from 26 to 10. They then traded with the 49rs to move back down from #10 to #30, also getting the 49rs first round pick in 1996 (used on Ray) and some additional picks.
All that moving around and Ray was the one piece of value they got for essentially trading 1995's pick 26 for 1996's pick 26.
Ozzie later sent a 1999 second round pick to Atlanta for what became the 5th overall pick in 2000--Jamal Lewis.
When the Ravens acquired the 19th overall pick in 2003 to get Kyle Boller, they traded away a first round pick in 2004 that Belichick turned into Vince Wilfork. Belichick won that deal by being patient enough to acquire a pick in a future draft.
This is the one type of trade I'd like to see the Ravens attempt more often. When I hear DeCosta say that they kept losing out on players they liked in the 2012 draft it does make me think that this is the perfect scenario for trading away a pick for a higher pick in 2013. While Osemele is a nice player, the pick they used for him just might have become a star player in the first round of the 2013 draft. From that perspective, I agree with Kris that 2012 was an average draft compared to what above-average is really all about.
Re: Average at best draft?
Can't take any serious declaration of this draft seriously.
It hasn't even been a full season yet.Although Walsh's system of offense can compensate for lack of talent; however, defense is a different story. According to Walsh, talent on defense was essential and could not be compensated for. What did Walsh do in 1981? He acquired physical and talented players on defense.
Re: Average at best draft?
Everyone knows how I felt about Nicks, the big SB hero last year. He wasn't even on the Ravens radar. Dee said there was no one they liked at WR in that draft except Robiskie-sp drafted by the Browns at top of 2d round and he's a big bust and out of football, I think. Dee didn't like Kenny Britt either who bit Ozzie in the ass last year in Tenn when he beat us with a TD. That was one of the 3 losses along with the Seattle and Jags lost that kept us from having the home field advantage vs NE. Any one of those wins gives us the home field.
As for Gronk, Bellicheat took a big risk on him. He missed a lot of time to back injuries. He knew Ozzie needed a TE and jumped in front to grab Gronk because he was afraid Oz would draft him. Remember all the confusion going on and Goodell had to go down and tell NE to hurry it up? Like Nicks, he wasn't even on his radar opting for Pitta and Dickson, two very good TEs but not as great as Gronk. Bellicheat had no reason to worry about losing Gronk
to Oz.
The TE drafted by the Saints was the guy Oz really missed on in that draft and was on the board just like Roddy White was on the board and Mike Wallace and so many others. Oz still has more hits than misses and someone posted a stat a few years ago that Oz had more players still playing than any other GM.
And speaking of an average draft, how about Tucker? He wasn't drafted but
he's a big part of the rookie class and many think he should have made the pro bowl so that makes this class and draft even stronger than average.
He's one of Ozzie's best signings.
The Michael Oher draft is the one that still upsets me and another guy they have playing out of position.
QUESTION: Does anyone think Yanda could play Center when Birk retires? I know it's the pros but what's so difficult about teaching a pro like Yanda how to snap. We're not talking long
snappers here. I did it at my lowly level. It's really not that
Then we move Oher back to RT and KO to LG and McKinnie at LT until we draft someone and put Gino at RG.
I'm just asking.
Last edited by AirFlacco; 12-30-2012 at 02:34 PM.
Re: Average at best draft?
And speaking of Pierce, what a great game he is having today.
He's so explosive. Another great Ozzie find from little Temple.
And Gino is playing well today opening up big holes up the middle.
As someone posted on the game thread:
I went back and watched the last two offensive series to see how Gradkowski was holding up. He has held his own against Atkins on running plays and has been stronger than the backup guards on passing plays. He did not look weak
so there's a lot of upside to this draft making it above average.
Last edited by AirFlacco; 12-30-2012 at 03:54 PM.
Re: Average at best draft?
*would be awesome of Gino can become an NFL center. didn't see the game, heard he did well.
*Chykie Brown seems to have been a good investment.
*that 04 draft was a huge stinker. was that that personnel guy that went to the Bronws? (DeCosta?)
*Belicheat hasn't drafted his next qb yet. Brady is 36 so he'd better get somebody ready. (fine with me if they both retire and leave a qb-less team up there)
in '08 we had to draft Rice because Pigsburgh had already taken Limas Sweed! (drat!)"Nothing stops these Baltimore Ravens. Beat them, injure them, shove them to the bottom of the standings, drag them into a hostile environment and mount a big lead, and they just keep trudging forward like nothing fazes them." (Bleacher Report)
12-31-2012, 02:53 PM #45Regular 1st Stringer
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- 795
Re: Average at best draft?
Phil Savage left to become the Browns GM and was fired and then DeCosta's
assistant left to become Browns GM and he was fired too but Ravens brought
him back. I can't think of his name.
Ravens were high on Mallett.
Ravens took Rice because CAM wanted two RBs to get thru an NFL season.
NE wanted Rice too but their GM who is now KCs GM and Ozzie's assist during
SB 35 called after the draft and said they were surprised we took Rice since
we had McGahee. Ozzie said CAM wanted two good RBs. So everyone give
a big thank U to CAM. Rice would have gone to NE. BTW, NE was high
on Bernard Pierce this year. So was Pissburgh. Both teams also liked Gino.
That's why Bellicheat jumped in front of Ozzie to get Gronk. Like posted he
knew we needed a TE and was scared to death Oz would steal Gronk like he
did Rice.
Re: Average at best draft?
okay, I was thinking of Savage, not DeCosta. I think he was behind the '04 draft."Nothing stops these Baltimore Ravens. Beat them, injure them, shove them to the bottom of the standings, drag them into a hostile environment and mount a big lead, and they just keep trudging forward like nothing fazes them." (Bleacher Report)


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With the rise of smartphones and tablets, it's easy to take for granted that everyone carries around a mini computer and knows how to use it. But it wasn't long ago when PCs were exotic items, tech savvy was hard to come by, and we in IT had to spell out in no uncertain terms how the machines worked. (Granted, we still do all that, but in some cases, the learning curve isn't quite as steep now.)
Our IT department lived out this scenario regularly, supporting numerous employees who'd been with the organization since its inception -- back when paper was the bloodline of the office and the AS400 was considered a technological marvel.
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Though the technology evolved during these users' tenure at the company, let's just say their computer fluency didn't increase as much as their age. As frustrating as it can be for us in IT to explain the basics over and over again, for these users it must be maddening to struggle with computer knowledge and processes that are second nature to later generations. Of course, it leads to rather interesting conversations.
Fair exchange
When this story took place, everyone used small tower PCs and flat-screen monitors. The lease on all the monitors was up, so we had to ship them back to headquarters and swap in new ones.
It was a routine operation for us in the IT department. We let everyone know what was going to happen, then started working our way from desk to desk.
The process usually eats up only a few minutes, but not at one workstation. I went to the user's desk and told her why I was there and what I needed to do. She asked me to come back in an hour or two because she wasn't done saving all her stuff to the network drive.
That struck me as odd, since it only takes a couple of minutes to save any opened documents and power off the machines. I looked at her screen and saw that she was transferring about 2GB of data -- her entire My Documents folder -- to the network drive.
I asked her why she was doing that; I was just going to replace her monitor and leave her computer as is. She said she wanted to save her stuff before I took her computer away. I told her again I was taking the monitor, not the tower, and her stuff would not go anywhere.
She didn't know what I was talking about, so I pointed to her tower and said, "That's your computer, and all your stuff is in there. I just need to take the monitor." She was still confused, so I backed up and explained that all computers consist of basically two parts, the display and the tower, and what each was used for.
After further explanation, assurances, and questions, she was satisfied and let me proceed. I set up her new monitor and showed her that her files were still there. She was relieved and grateful to understand which piece of hardware housed her files.
The never-ending setup
But our jobs are never done, and technology changes. As a result, users have to learn to think through technology in a different way than they're used to. In turn, we have to find new ways to explain.
Months later the lease for the towers had expired and our manager decided to fit some users with all-in-one PCs where, of course, the monitor and computer are combined into one unit. Yes, my lectured user was one of the people assigned a new machine.
I'm just glad I didn't have to do the setup. I'm sure the unfortunate tech had a lot of explaining to do to this poor user on why she'd received only half a computer.
Send your own IT tale of managing IT, personal bloopers, supporting users, or dealing with bureaucratic nonsense to firstname.lastname@example.com. If we publish it, we'll send you a $50 American Express gift cheque.
This story, "Plea to IT: Don't mess with my monitor," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Read more crazy-but-true stories in the anonymous Off the Record blog at InfoWorld.com. For the latest business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.