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The Orionid meteor shower will rain bits of Halley's Comet on Earth tonight in a promising weekend "shooting star" display.
You can even watch the celestial fireworks online if bad weather spoils your local view.
The 2012 Orionid meteor shower will peak early Sunday (Oct. 21), but should still be an impressive sight throughout the overnight hours of late Saturday, NASA scientists say.
The space agency will stream live meteor shower views from an all-sky camera at its Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Since 2006, the Orionids have been one of the best meteor showers of the year, with counts in some years up to 60 or more meteors per hour.


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Established in the early 1980s, the UMass Peacemakers brought together students on the Amherst campus who were advocates for peace, in particular nuclear disarmament. Through education combined with action, such as rallies and civil disobedience, the Peacemakers hoped to build a community of people aware if their own ability to reverse the arms race and to decrease militarism in society and education.
- Peace movements--Massachusetts--Amherst
- Peacemakers

subset: commoncrawl


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All-Star door open for Jennings, Ellis
Published Nov. 29, 2012
It's the eternal argument: The chicken or the egg. The same can be said regarding an All-Star berth for Milwaukee Bucks guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis. If the Bucks are winning, do they earn the honor? If they earn the honor, does it mean the Bucks are winning? Either way, the door is open for the pair.


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Very good at reading and analysing data. Great with literature and words. Strong writing skills, can write articles and reports. Have two degrees in law. Also first aid qualified and teacher.
Willing to start as an intern at first. Available to start straight away.
Am taking offers on price!
PM me for more details.


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Andrew W.K. attempting to break drumming record
Listen to Andrew W.K. on iHeartRadio
Andrew W.K. will be taking a shot at the record books this week. The party rocker hopes to set the mark for the longest drum session held in a retail store by hitting the skins for 24-hours straight.
The stunt is scheduled to start this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, coinciding with the O Music Award's 24-hour live stream special in New York's Times Square.
W.K. tells "The Hollywood Reporter" some of the world's best drummers will be playing alongside him, but he isn't naming any names yet. So far the only known guest is previously announced O Music Awards participant Questlove.
In the meantime, W.K. says he's practicing for the drumathon by air drumming with weights rather than standard sticks. He says he wants to be "over-prepared," so he's trying to make it seem harder than it will actually be.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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The Check Engine Light may illuminate due to an evaporative emission (EVAP) system fault. Our technicians tell us these EVAP system faults can be difficult to diagnose but it is not uncommon to find a failed charcoal canister or a loose or worn gas cap.
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Sophie Dumont Ph.D.
Mechanics of chromosome segregation
- Tel: (415) 502-1229
- Email: email@example.com
- Website: http://dumontlab.ucsf.edu/Home.html
During cell division, each daughter cell must inherit exactly one copy of the chromosome. Errors can lead to cell death or cancer in somatic cells, and developmental disorders in the germline. How does the cell integrate biochemical and mechanical processes to ensure that its genetic material is equally distributed to daughter cells? While we have a nearly complete list of molecules essential to cell division, we know very little about the underlying mechanical interactions and principles. The Dumont Lab aims to understand how cells generate, detect, and respond to mechanical forces to accurately segregate their chromosomes, and how mechanical and biochemical information is integrated for cellular decision making.
Two macromolecular machines coordinate chromosome segregation: the μm-scale spindle moves chromosomes through its growing and shrinking microtubules, and the 100nm-scale kinetochore anchors chromosomes to spindle microtubules and regulates their segregation. How do these two machines precisely and robustly divide chromosomes, and how do their nm‐scale constituents work together to generate μm-scale movements?
Our work focuses on the basic requirements of accurate chromosome segregation: moving chromosomes, and moving them to the right places. How do shrinking and growing microtubule tips generate force to move chromosomes, and how do chromosomes hold on to such dynamic structures? Furthermore, how can the spindle be strong enough to oppose these forces, and yet dynamic enough to remodel itself as chromosomes move? Finally, how does the cell verify that chromosome copies are correctly attached to the spindle prior to segregating them, such that its genetic material will be equally distributed to daughter cells?
To address these questions, one must uncover how molecules, mechanics and cellular function relate to each other. We thus use an inter-disciplinary approach. We probe key players using cell and molecular tools, map how the cell's machines are organized and designed using sub-pixel resolution imaging, and mechanically perturb cells by cutting their structures and poking them. Together, our work will build fundamental knowledge in how mechanical and chemical processes are integrated over cellular length scales, and in life processes that, if perturbed, cause disease.
Selected publications:
Dumont S, Salmon ED, Mitchison TJ. Deformations within moving kinetochores reveal different sites of active and passive force generation. Science 337, 355-358 (2012).
Dumont S, Mitchison TJ. Mechanical Forces in Mitosis. Book chapter in: Edward H. Egelman, editor: Comprehensive Biophysics, Vol 4, Molecular Motors and Motility, Yale E. Goldman, E. Michael Ostap. Oxford: Academic Press, pp. 298-320 (2012).
Dumont S. Chromosome Segregation: Spindle Mechanics Come to Life. Current Biology 21, R688-690 (2011).
Dumont S, Mitchison TJ. Force and length in the mitotic spindle. Current Biology 19, R749-R761 (2009).
Dumont S, Mitchison TJ. Compression regulates spindle length by a mechanochemical switch at the poles. Current Biology 19, 1086-1095 (2009).
Wühr M, Dumont S, Groen AC, Needleman DJ, Mitchison TJ. How does a millimeter-sized cell find its center? Cell Cycle 8, 1115-1121 (2009).
Wühr M, Chen Y, Dumont S, Groen AC, Needleman DJ, Salic A, Mitchison TJ. Evidence for an upper limit to mitotic spindle size. Current Biology 18, 1-6 (2008).
Cheng W*, Dumont S*, Tinoco I Jr, Bustamante C. NS3 helicase actively separates RNA strands and senses sequence barriers ahead of the opening fork. PNAS 104, 13954-13959 (2007). (*co-first author)
Dumont S*, Cheng W*, Serebrov V, Beran RK, Tinoco I Jr, Pyle AM, Bustamante C. RNA unwinding mechanism of HCV NS3 helicase and its coordination by ATP. Nature 439, 105-108 (2006). (*co-first author)
Onoa B*, Dumont S*, Liphardt J, Smith SB, Tinoco I Jr, Bustamante C. Identifying the kinetic barriers to mechanical unfolding of the T. thermophila ribozyme. Science 299, 1892-1895 (2003). (*co-first author)
Liphardt J, Dumont S, Smith SB, Tinoco I Jr, Bustamante C. Equilibrium information from nonequilibrium measurements in an experimental test of Jarzynski's equality. Science 296, 1832-1835 (2002).


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When a bill has been read a third time, it is certified by the Clerk as having passed the Senate and is forwarded to the House of Representatives with a message signed by the President.
In the case of a bill originating in the Senate, it is printed with any amendments made by the Senate and the message requests the concurrence of the House with the bill. If a bill originating in the House of Representatives is agreed to by the Senate without amendment it is returned to the House with a message indicating the Senate's agreement to it and it is then forwarded to the Governor-General for assent. If a bill originating in the House has been amended, a schedule of amendments is attached to the bill, it is returned to the House and the message requests the concurrence of the House with the amendments.
When an amendment made by the Senate to a bill received from the House of Representatives is modified by a subsequent amendment also made by the Senate, both amendments may be included in the schedule of amendments made by the Senate to the bill. The rationale of this is that the successive decisions of the Senate are taken to mean that, while the Senate wishes the first amendment to be made to the bill, it has a preference for the second amendment. The inclusion of both amendments in the schedule of amendments gives the government the options of agreeing to either or both amendments. This also provides greater flexibility for subsequent dealings between the two Houses on the matter. If the government in the House of Representatives agrees to the first amendment but disagrees with the modifying amendment, in effect it adopts the second preference of the Senate, the third preference being the relevant provision in the bill unamended. In effect, the government in that situation accepts part of the Senate's position. If the bill is returned to the Senate with only the first amendment agreed to, the Senate then may determine whether it accepts this partial adoption of its position or whether it will insist on its preferred position.
Amendments which are modified by subsequent amendments and which are included in the Senate's schedule of amendments are clearly amendments which have been made by the Senate within the terms of section 57 of the Constitution. The inclusion of such an amendment in the Senate's schedule of amendments clearly determines that question.
In 1992 it was necessary to correct a Senate schedule of amendments to a bill which included amendments not agreed to by the Senate; for an account of this case, see OASP, 8th ed, pp 258-9.
In 2000 the Senate repeatedly sent messages to the House requesting the House to consider a private senator's bill, the Human Rights (Mandatory Sentencing of Juvenile Offenders) Bill, which the government refused to consider (13/3/2000, J.2428; 3/4/2000, J.2491, 2503).
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Would you like to save as your currency permanently or for this visit only?
Price. Floor was dirty full of hair. King bed was booked but received two double beds. Extremely unhappy about that. Shower was outdated. Vending machine drinks were hot. All magnetic key cards and pads did not work well.
Close to attractions They charge an extra fee if you use one of their services. We were charged $22.44 just because we ate at one of the restaurants.
The ambience was amazing from the very moment I entered the lobby to check in. The staff were professional, friendly, and humorous. I had a great check-In experience and stay. When driving to my room,( I stayed in Tower 2) there weren't many street signs to navigate my way there. The "Tower 2" sign was so small I drove passed it and had to double back.
Everything was good
Very clean! You could hear everything from the rooms next to you.
Everything was wonderful Theirs nothing bad to say
Nothing hit us as likeable other than friendly maintenance staff. After a long day at the parks there wasn't much in the way of food available. The resteraunts closed early, in our opinion. The day we slept in we found the main resteraunt was in between breakfast & lunch. In trying to walk in the hostess acted like we were stupid for even trying. Wait time for elevators was extreme as well.
My room was spacious, I was very close to Disney and a little drive from universal. They have a 24 hour deli/store, and alot of other restraunts. There was a poor repair job in the ceiling above my shower.
Too many people smoking on property.
Friendly staff, clean and spacious room. Not far from attractions. Plenty of parking.
Basic hotel. Clean but slightly old and dated. close to Disney World.
Very convenient location with shuttle e bus to the parks. Clean nice room, has everything you need for the stay, yet sleek and affordable. Love the retro look! Cant be happier!
It has a great location and the theme is cute Nothing works in this hotel and the staff are rude. Fridge doesn't work, hot water doesn't work, heater is intermittent. The tiny windows don't open so the room is very stuffy. The beds and linens are not hotel quality. There are many many hotel choices in Orlando. One can get a much better room than this for the money and pass on their rude staff.
The theme was interesting and was somewhat identical, the main area of the souvenir shop, Starbucks, bowling area was really nice but that's about it. The quality of the food was awful, would not call any staff member a cook, service was slow without a smile, towels by the pool laying on the floor everywhere, walk ways with many towels laying everywhere, plastic cups thrown on the floor, the usage of illegal marihuana was smelled by elevators at my building the Americana and hallways were filled with trays of dirt and smelly old so called food. Will never return here
Shuttle's to the parks. Staff friendly and an easy checkout. Rooms are very clean and had great big windows with beautiful natural light coming in. No problems.
Food court & pool lazy river Small rooms
This place is way more than a hotel! It was a vacation in and of itself. We would love to go back and spend more time there! Nothing
The staff was helpful and friendly. I liked how they had transportation to and from Universal. Since our room was all the way at the end of the hallway, it took so long to get to our room because the hotel is so big.
The atmosphere is exciting! There is an extra charge for parking. It would be more convenient to pay one fee. It just seems ridiculous to pay $12 for parking for a $200 room.
The theme of this property is really fun. From the lobby, to the pool, food court and rooms. We love staying here. Never have to wait long for a bus to the parks. My husband uses a scooter and everyone is always very helpful. I can't wait to go back. It's very comfortable with plenty of places to relax. Our last night there they were playing movies by the pool. So much fun!!!! This is very minor, but I dislike the bedding. They use a flat sheet instead of a fitted. This complaint seems silly (even as I type it) but it was uncomfortable at 2 a.m. after a very long day at the park. But I love everything else about this property.
Overall this was a great place! I was disappointed that our rooms were not cleaned until 5:00 pm. We came back from the park to take a dip in the pool before dinner and housekeeping was still in our room at 5:00. Very late in my opinion.
Love the fact they have life guards at the lazy river and pools!!!
friendly, helpful staff with lots of amenities hotel didn't include express pass
The room was exellent. We didnt like the attitude af the staff in the reception. They seems as "i dont care". A smile would have helpt a bit ..... try that next time .....
The resort was very nice. Great for the family with the 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The staff was great and having 2 pools was nice as well. The shuttle service to the parks was great, and very convenient. No complaints about our stay at all.
Floridays was the perfect family resort. Everything we needed was right on hand and if not then the extremely friendly staff would help. Shuttles to and from the theme parks were great and very well organized. The pool was great for kids big and small and was heated too so you could jump right in. Would definitely return and recommend to friends. The resort is one of the further away from the parks but that didn't really bother us. There aren't many restaurants within waling distance and the pool cafe food was a little disappointing and on the expensive side.
Two bed rooms, pool, bathrooms. Air conditioning very hard to operate- too complex !
Big, comfortable beds. Lots of space for the whole family.
We liked the facilities and spaciousness of the apartment. Not enough beds around the pool and very noisy room.. it would put us off staying here again..non stop traffic noise from the road, construction work from the side and the wind howling through the windows and door. Requested a quiet room near our friends (6 mos ago) but they were in a separate block. Staff at reception did not care, and this would stop us going back.
the room hard to find the hotel. The address they give is unkown by people from this area.
pool, game room
spacious, very good kitchen w/ stove, oven, microwave, dishwasher,toaster, etc. quiet, 3 tv sets. excelent for a family. very well located, near a walgreens and walmart the wi-fi system was very poor, worked well only in the first hours of the morning
Thr privavcy is great on this hotel, you just feel like you are staying in your own Villa
Everything was amazing! Id suggest to anyone wanting to be comfortable and close to all the atractions!
The 2 bedroom villa was roomy and location was near several major attractions. Villa air conditioner did not work and had to change rooms after midnight. Difficult to find rooms and cost is a little high.
The villa was really incredible and comfortable for the money. We enjoyed the pools. The shuttle they used to the parks was awful. We only used it the first day and drove the rest of the week.
Pretty cool 2 bedroom setup. Got back to the room late and the kids went to bed in their own room. My wife surprisingly gave me hotel booty!! The bed was kinda uncomfortable and I started to snore to which she kicked me out of the room and I ended up sleeping on the couch. Felt just like home.
Ive stayed at a lot of hotels near Disney and this is by far my favorite! Excellent rooms! Felt like home. Pools were great pool bar and bartender Steven were so so great! Upon check in he saw it was my birthday and upgraded us to the nice new rooms for free plus it was right next to the pools! This place was better then gaylord palms! I will never stay any where else from now on. The only thing was that it was very family oriented and I was on a girls trip celebrating my birthday so the whole time we felt like those horrible obnoxious drunk people even though we totally weren't.
Rooms were huge and really nice! Loved having a kitchen, laundry, etc. Made the stay for WDW well worth it. Staff was awesome too. True hospitality. Lots of help. Food was not that great, and seemed the chemicals in the pool were a little high during our visit.
Our room phone kept ringing with promotional calls from hotel staff....very annoying...even before 8am....
Loved all the space we had, the balcony and the pools. Beds were just okay in comfort.
Clean, quiet and spacious Not ideal for business travel. I didn't have a car and the taxis called by the hotel were extremely unreliable. Uber was a much better option but didn't realize that until it was too late. Also ordered food, which arrived very late (although it was delicious). But not ideal when I wanted to go to sleep and had to stay up waiting for the food to arrive.
The room was excellent. The pools and the cafeterias and restaurants were really good. They have lot of activities for children I did not like they offer a Pizza form a Pizza Hut that is the complex beside the one I was staying. The place is very large and it is difficult to find. Theya have to let the guests know there are two complex Vistana Resort.
Location, fitness center, quiet for sleeping, concierge lounge staff always excellent Inconsistent service, changes in amenities that weren't disclosed, communication issues between different areas of the hotel, when issues raised, staff didn't do anything
I believe her name was angelica at the front desk she was so knowledgable and extremely kind! Made checking in easy and painless. The resort few that was not mentioned in the third party booking. Which the staff advised to book through the hotel next time.
Clean, comfortable and fantastic diner open at 1:45 am Cosr
Great accommodations, room was large and clean, staff was very helpful, and several food option at the hotel. Parking was expensive and walk to car was a bit far but was expected.
It is a nice property and we really liked the pool area. When we checked in our first room smelled like old dirty fish. They moved us to another room and the AC unit was leaking into the carpet. This cause the carpet to wet and moldy and also smelled terrible. We ordered room service one night and when they knocked we said "one sec" and when we got the door he left and took the food with him and had to go hunt him down.
Staff was very knowledgeable and veryhelpful. Room was dusty on the counter tops and desk. A bit of a surprise. there were other pieces of debri around, but not really bad, just surprising from other trips staying at Hyatts.
When you pull up and you are met by friendly , smiling valet and that IS the tone for your whole stay. So it's an ease at checking in, perfect room , and no hearing your neighbors. Plus close to everything on international drive. A very minor issue with the television but we weren't there to watch TV.
The staff was very nice and attentive. The hotel and room were very clean. The property was very nice. $20 per night self parking is a bit much if you ask me. self parking should be included already considering the already somewhat generous price range and if not included well at least a bit cheaper
That hotel is definitely a good choice while staying in Orlando for a few days. Not many restaurants around the hotel.
Location, Bars, Food, Style 20 resort fee a day a bit pricey
The location is near everything you could imagine.
I didn't like the resort fee as we weren't informed about it when we booked.
The rooms were uncomfortable. I paid a lot of money for a room that looks old and very small. I would never come back or recommend this place
Convinent location to universal studios Accomadating Beautiful resort Friendly staff
Other than a number of pools we didn't find the reason of their 4 star rating. The room was old, strong smell, dirty. We would have rather stay at a place without any amenities but in a clean room. Everyone on staff is always trying to hassle you something, scumy sales people everywhere pushing to sell time shares.
I enjoyed the spacious bathroom, shower, and kitchenette. I found a great price through Kayak but they only care for you to purchase a timeshare. If you choose not to purchase, you may not stay at any Westgate for that same value price. On top of that, the free breakfast at the timeshare presentation was horrendous. Don't bother drinking the orange or apple juice or trying the sausage and pasteries. We were promised it would last no longer than one hour but we were there for three. Parking to check in was a hassle. Not near enough spaces. Who wants to spend time in the "resort" atmosphere there when there are so many theme parks nearby. We also went to a separate vacation value presentation and tried to tell Carlos (an upper level manager hoping to close the deal) unless the offer was open ended we were uninterested at the moment. But he cut us off and said, "let me finished." So we let him explain and again said this wasn't for us. He hurriedly and rudely signed us out and was visibly pissed we didn't take his offer. Please don't stay here and waste your hard earned money on a timeshare that you'll end up paying 1.5 times more in interest. The interest rate is 17.99%. You wouldn't buy a house with that interest rate. Why buy a timeshare for that amount that you'll visit a month or less each year?
Great location Loved the layout of the room Available room service Friendly staff Bed sheets were dirty Ants in kitchenette and bathroom sink area
Paying extra for internet and fitness center
Very spacious rooms, and equipped kitchens. Original check in time was noon, we were pushed to 4PM then finally received a room at 11:55PM! The facility overbooked and ran out of rooms, rather than try to rebook us at a different hotel or give our money back they kept telling us they were doing there best to find us a room. Sadly we were not the only ones who were experiencing this issue, there were a number of families and couples sitting in the lobby waiting for a room to open up. Pretty big screw up. Manager offered absolutely no discount for having to wait an extra 12 hours for the room. The room we got had dirty bathrooms with hairs in the bathroom shower, stained towels, and dead flies in the jacuuzi. Obviously whoever cleaned this didn't do a good job. How this place is rated so well I don't know but I definitely will not be staying again!
I loved our room, it was spacious and very relaxing the staff was very helpful and the way the place is set up it seemed very safe compared to other places I've been in the past. I loved this hotel and I'm looking forward to booking with them again. They call every morning asking about a packet, & try to get you to sign up for a time share .
It was very nice accomdations. I had a great view of the lake. I will surely stay here again n/a
Room is big with jetted tub, ceiling fan and a private patio We could only find 1 out let that worked. Parking is very bad. The buildings are very close, it is like walking on a city street. Landscaping could be better. They have many pools all with loud kids in them. Tried this place twice, I was hoping I would see it differnt the second time but I didn't. I won't be back.
Balcony was dirty
The hotel staff was very nice and very helpful. I had a nice view of the lake from the balcony attached to my room. Location and price were excellent! The restaurant at the resort has AWFUL service. It is a smoke house bbq joint with a pizzeria attached to it (that's the first warning sign). On my first night there, I called the Front Desk of the resort and asked to be forwarded to the pizzeria (the pizzeria does not have a direct phone number). It was about 10PM, and I spoke to a nice man on the phone and I ordered my pizza. The paperwork in my hotel room (supplied by the resort) says that the restaurant (both BBQ and Pizza) is open until 11pm, but will only deliver up to 10PM. Therefore, I placed my order in anticipation of picking up my food. When I got to the pizzeria at 10:30, the manager tells me she never saw my order. She then proceeds to tell me the ovens are shut down so she can't make a pizza, and she won't turn them back on. Then, she offers me a pepperoni pie that a customer forgot 4 hours ago for full price. I was like "Whatever" because I was starving, and she goes to retrieve the pizza, only to come back with a basket of bread and says "we threw the pizza out so you can have the leftover bread from the BBQ side of the restaurant." So I left and searched for a McDonalds. On night two, I decided to give the BBQ joint a try. I arrive the BBQ side at around 7pm, and there is no host, nor anybody waiting for tables. A host magically appears from nowhere, and asked how many guests in my party. I reply "two". She says one moment, and disappears into the restaurant. She comes back and tells me there a 15 minute wait, but I can sit at the bar if I'd like. So I go to the bar, which faces the sit-down side of the restaurant. The place is EMPTY. I could literally count the number of guests at tables on one hand. After about 10 minutes, I go back to the host and ask for an update. She replies that it is going to be an ADDITIONAL 30 MINUTES TO THE WAIT. At that point I left; this restaurant doesn't know how to resturaunt. The main lobby of the resort pushes this restaurant hard on its guests. The food might be good (I have no idea), but twice I've tried to give them money to eat, and twice they turn down my requests. I did not like the Free Breakfast to lure me into trying to sell me a timeshare. If I wanted to buy a timeshare, I would have asked them about buying one. The grounds were kind of messy. I noticed garbage around the entire facility that never was picked up during my stay which was 3 days (beer cans, wrappers, solo cups, etc.). The room wasn't super clean. It wasn't messy, however minor little things went overlooked by the cleaning staff.
Location, public areas (decor and ambience), Express Passes for the parks. New bedroom decor is a disaster. Feels like a 70s nightmare and cheapens what used to feel like a luxury hotel. Same goes for the corridors leading to the rooms. The building of the Saphire Falls also ruins the outlook of the hotel. It used to feel like an idyllic South Pacific getaway. Now the view reminds you that you're just in another hotel block, so that special feel has gone. Lastly, charging to park in the hotel car park? Really? That really is fleecing your guests. over the years I've stayed at this hotel probably half a dozen times. I won't be back unless things change.
Lovely rooms, grounds and staff. Great location and well maintained with plenty of options Parking fees spoil the overall experience. Always happy to pay for food, facilities and good accommodation but paying for parking at a hotel with so much surrounding space feels like what it is: You're being ripped off! Don't do it. It insults your customers and it's unnecessary
Staff was amazingly polite and patient. Would have liked more frequent free shuttles to/from shopping and local attractions.
Beautiful property with expected Ritz service, amenities, and restaurant options. Conveniently located near everything in Orlando that you could want to do.
Unparalleled service. Staff continually impressed. We are forever spoiled by our Ritz Carlton experience! Thank you!
Liked Starbucks in lobby and over all decor Very very very overpriced food and drinks. Pool area was much too small for number of guests. Says free shuttle to parks but there is actually an $18 /day fee you are charged reguardless if you use or not plus $18 per day parking.
Great pools and facilities.
ample pools for kids staff was very nice and helpful cheap pool floats, etc room service was good gorgeous hotel park shuttles too infrequent
Everything was great. Front desk staff, bell hop staff, pool staff, the room was great..No complaints. No complaints
Close to Disney and the amount of restaurants available on site. Nothing everything was great. We stayed one night and were very happy.
This was my third stay at the Wyndham but again on this visit they ran out of towels. You would think they would just purchase more to avoid this fixable problem in the future. Everything else was great. Not enough towels for guests.
Set apart from Disney Atractions, on a gorgeous golfing area A lot of fees added for parking, resort fee, food prices high, etc.
Pools are great for family!
Nice resort, close to Disney Parks Shower could have been cleaner and maid service was just ok.
Very comfortable resort The signs for the hotel vs the vacation ownership were confusing. We had a super hard time finding the right building for the hotel at night!
The resort had a true resort feel. The amenities were great and it was immaculate! Everywhere we went that involved service was extremely slow. The restaurant staff all behaved as if they were brand new. Very slow!
Great staff
The staff was great - from the valet, to front desk, to concierge and housekeeping. Lounge and restaurant (buffet breakfast was GREAT) drinks, food and service were top notch. We found everything clean, well-stocked, and in good condition. Very comfortable beds, linens, and nice towels. Room was very quiet, even though it was close to the elevators. Free valet parking for our Hybrid car, too! The A/C didn't quite do the job - it never did get down to the thermostat temp of 72 - although it indicated it was. We then set it to 65, but it never got any cooler. Had we stayed another night, we would have asked that it be addressed. In room coffemakers - inconveniently placed on a bottom shelf of the TV cabinet. On/off switch was broken. Two creamers that barely turned the coffee a different color - surely could be better on that front.
The staff that greeted us upon arrival was pleasant and welcoming. Some were knowledgeable and were able to give us accurate advice and information regarding the hotel and surroundings. The room was clean and the daily service was good. Our conference box lunches were adequate...the cookie in our box lunch was outstanding! There is a $20 fee per day for the shuttle to Disney theme parks plus other amenities like in-room wifi. However, with our conference ending at 4:30 each day, there was no shuttle to take us to the Disney theme parks. Therefore, we had to use a taxi as our only mode of transportation to and from the parks. This became quite costly (approx. $70 per day). Once at a Disney park, you could use the various buses and the monorail to go between parks and Downtown Disney. However, we were quite disappointed that the Renaissance did not offer more options for their shuttle service in the afternoon. When trying to figure out our best options for transportation, the staff at the front desk was not always consistent in their answers and some were absolutely inaccurate.
The atmosphere was beautiful. All staff and services were amazing. Dominic at the front desk was very friendly and helpful. The hotel was very clean and well designed. Parking is $20 but it's not too bad considering how affordable the hotel is.
Beautiful property, great staff, and I did enjoy getting to take a dip in the pool at the end of a long day, since it's open until midight! $15 per day for spotty WiFi is terrible for a business traveler. I'm a Marriott Rewards member and so told WiFi was only free if I booked directly through Marriott - but you don't always have control over these things when you're booking business travel. Very little in the area - Sea World across the street, but just a 711 and Bonefish grill in the area and VERY DARK sidewalk and parking lot make it clear this is not an area for pedestrians. Seemed a great fit for families, with the water park, but as someone in town for a conference, it didn't offer anything to make me a repeat customer.
Gentlemen at front desk remembered us from a previous visit . Personal service.
I like everything the dcoration the atmosphere the personal was very profesional The parking access to the building
Staff are wonderful, specifically at the Mist, and values, very respectful and kind. Also, I thought I had misplaced some cash, and my room attendanant must have found it and he/she folded everything in my room nicely, and there was the bundle of money I thought I had lost! I loved the gym, the pool, the lobby bars and restaurants. Steve, Jimmy and Jamie, at the Mist, specifically, were kind and so nice and accommodating. Good service equals happy customers,they deserve a bonus for working hard and remaining not only calm, but kind, even at peak times with a variety of guests to deal with, including some that were less than kind. My room had ants upon arrival, however I was quickly moved to a new room, although I had to ask for the move, it turned out on.
Very clean !!! Very good customer service Lily Parrish
Staff were very nice and the hotel was very clean. It also had one of the best hotel gyms and pools. Rooms prices were very affordable. The hotel restaurants were expensive and they charge you alot for parking.
Everything. Staff, cleanliness, spectacular room accommodation, food, pool. 5 stars from us. Will be back next month. Nothing
Friendly staff, very nice hotel, great food, nice pool, 20.00 resort fee per day very worth it. Walking distance to Seaworld and Aquatica. Nothing....liked everything
The water park was amazing, the rooms we luxurious and clean!!! This will be where me and my family stay every time we visit Orlando!!! The price was good as well!! There was nothing to not like!!
Excellent location, very well kept ground with nice pool areas and greens.
We had a paid reservation for 9/12 and 9/13 and upon arrival at the hotel we were told that the reservation was for 4 days instead of 2 and check in was on 12/25 instead of 9/12.Instead of correcting the problem the reception staff were arguing that their system didn't show the correct reservation. We had a printed prof of the booking number with the correct days and amount paid so after an hour we were given key to our room. However we were charged for four days stay and had to wait few days till they credit the money back.The bed sheets looked washed but smelled like trow up so we had to sleep with only a comforter and the next day the housekeeper didn't change our towels.
great location, its not really like a hotel is more of a motel,the walls are very thin and u could hear every noise made in the rooms beside and above us. pillow covers on the bed were dirty, loads of flies in the room and bathroom, and top it off tea and coffee maker was in the bathroom which isn't very hygienic.
The room' smell was not good.
Was clean There was no breakfast
hotel is huge and has good facilities the hotel charged me for the full stay on my credit card the day the reservation was made on your website despite the booking stating that they would not. rooms were very stuffy and smelled moldy,
Hotel gardens and pools. My family has stayed several times over the last years and it was perfect.Now im sad to say it needs a complete renovation ( paint bathroom carpets curtins.Such a pity as the hotel grounds are beautiful and child friendly.
That it had nice pool areas for the adults and kids were welcomed as well.
Its garden setting and we always love to stay facing lagoon as the ducks are so friendly!
Lovely hotel, lovely Beds, Great Spa & Swimming Pool, Fab restaurant
Location, environment old design, It is 1950's otel. Big holes on curtain and towels. And need refurbishment.
Leaving! Don't Stay! Not much class just a dirty standard room you can get just about anywhere for much less and still be around Disney property. Oh and the beds are a joke... Worst Mattress Award. Over priced parking and was told that is a major hike to self parking (which is $10 less) but it is in fact about 5 minutes to the front doors. If you are hoping to stay in class you might want to consider the Hilton that is attached for a better stay (I was they last year). I would rate Waldorf Astoria a standard 3 Star Hotel.
I fell in love of the landscape., so lovely.. Maybe a twist in the interior design. A little bit more contemporary.
Would stay there again if Not staying at a Disney resort hotel
The hotel was clean, beautiful, perfectly located and top notch in every possible way. The only thing that out shined the hotel amenities was the staff. The staff went above and beyond to make our vacation special. The staff always greeted me by name from the first day I arrived. I also want to thank Steve (bell hop) for providing exceptional service and making me and my daughter feel like we were the only guests staying at the hotel. I can't say thank you enough. Rachel (server) was another wonderful staff person who went out of her way to make us feel like special guests. Thank you for helping create a lasting memory of a wonderful vacation!
Very clean hotel, excellent and friendly staff. Overall great experience. Close to Disney. Price
The hotel was beautiful, inside and out. The staff were nice. Our room was very neat when we arrived. The A/C in our room was set to 65 the entire stay and the coldest it got down to was 74. Something is obviously wrong with the A/C. Not all the channels on the TV were watchable. The HBO channels said "no signal". The parking situation is a joke. You have two choices: pay $30 for valet parking or self park for $20. Those are your only two choices. They then add on a $30 resort fee. Also plan on paying for EVERYTHING!!!!! I went down to the lobby to get a cup of coffee and was told a CUP of coffee was $6!!!!!!! I'm sure there are other extra charges that I just didn't see but either way, the ones I listed were enough to annoy me.
stay. Outstanding service; great facility; perfect location! No issues whatsoever.
Very friendly staff, enjoyed restaurant options both at Waldorf and Hilton next door (also liked the golf cart to taxi us back and forth). The pool was amazing- attentive staff, family friendly, very relaxing/luxurious.
Great rooms, fantastic bathrooms, quiet. This hotel really makes it obvious that the Grand Floridian is overdue for a tear down and rebuild. However, we will continue to stay at the Grand Floridian over this superior in many ways Hotel simply because the former is on Disney Property and while this hotel is nearby with shuttle service provided, it does take some time to get to the parks. Valet service was very slow. We called down 25 minutes prior to our first departure (15 minutes was suggested) and ended up waiting another 15 minutes for them to find our vehicle. The head valet was apologetic, but the next morning it took another ten minutes to obtain our car.
Nice room, very friendly and helpful staff! The shower leaked and it's not a cheap hotel
Location Staff
The hospitality suite was nicely accommodating. Evidently, I had to forfeit the kingsize suite for a set of double beds to be adjacent to the hospitality suite. However. In the hotel's defense the upgrade was not made until arrival, and it was a Sat.
Tv in bedroom did not work well, and room was tough to keep cool.
Loved the lazy river! Great recreation options onsite (lazy river, pool, fire pits, tennis court, putt-putt, pool bar/restaurant). Good location and public transportation options. Room was right across from fire station with sirens at all hours. Low water and toilet pressure. No balcony, kitchenette, or table and chairs. Food and room a bit pricey. Mini fridge difficult to find-hidden in dresser set.
The amenities were nice and the hotel clean. The few interactions we had with hotel staff was pleasant. The beds were very hard. The walls thin. The $20 parking per day for a guest staying in the hotel is insane. The fast check out tells you to leave your keys in the room. However, you need these to get out of the deck, we had to check out a 4 am to make out flight so fast check out was needed. Well it was totally pointless when I had to go by the front desk anyway when I couldn't get out of the lot. I would expect much more plush beds in a hotel at this price. Then there were the walls, the rooms have a pass through door. I see the point in it. However, you can make out the conversations going on in the next room. Not to mention any noises in the hallway.
The room, pool and staff. The food was good however it was priced way too high. $60.00 plus for two hamburgers and fries is out of line.
Do not buy Disney ticket from hotel!
The staff was very courteous ! Amenities were nice, pool area was very fun for the kids. Poolside food was great !!! We came into Orlando very late on our way to Disney. After trying over 10 budget hotels in the area that were all fully booked we found the Hilton had a room for us. Saved our tired traveling family. Thank you Hilton Orlando.
Close to convention center. Great pool for kids. In room bottled water $5.00! Stop at the 7-11 down the street and stock up.
Everything was great price a little expensive also checked in at 2 AM so didn't have enough time to enjoy the whole hotel was a last-minute trip to go see my daughter and I brought my seven-year-old daughter with me my 23-year-old daughter goes to you UCF so we couldn't stay with her hilton is great again a little pricey Hilton is great again a little pricey
Third time at LBVR...cant beat location and value when travelling with family Nothing
My husband and I were travelling with our two children aged 14 and 11. It was great to have a seperate bedroom and bathroom, kitchen and washing facilities. Disneyworld shuttle service only offered 2 departure and return times. It would have been good to have a few more shuttle services.
location was great,very comfortable and cozy,outlet mall right next door to resort,kids loved it can't wait to book another weekend venture with you guys. N/A,Everything was wonderful.
I loved the amount of space my family of 6 had in our suite. We enjoyed having three t.v.'s as well.
We spent only 1 nite so cant comment
Everything was very nice, all new and nicely done, the kids loved the pirate ship
The price Didn't like anything but the price . They charged for everything even cleaning service and new towels. It was an apartment complex converted to a hotel. Things were still not complete. The restaurant they promoted was terrible but it was the only one nearby. I will never return
Loved the spaciousness of suite and the well appointed rooms!
The location isn't terrible. We just drove to the Disney park, so it didn't matter that it wasn't on Disney property. The gentleman at check-in wasn't very friendly. There was one woman who assisted us with our parking pass who was very nice. The check-in staff I could get over, but when we got off of the elevator on our floor it smelled of a combination of smoke, mildew, and a backed up sewage system. It was disgusting. The halls were extremely dirty. Our actual suite smelled a bit better, but the place is old and dirty. The toilet seat was too small for the size of the toilet, which isn't a big deal necessarily. However, at this point we were already disappointed and it just didn't get any better. The beds are uncomfortable. The pillows are old, flat, and hard. There were no additional linens or pillows. Thank goodness we only stayed for one night. Overall, the place just felt dirty and wasn't very comfortable. This should be classified as a glorified motel. The price was extremely high for the class of the joint...at least we found it for 50% off! I can't imagine paying anymore than what we did. Yikes! For some reason this place is rated 4.5 stars! Maybe it's just building 3? We will never stay here again. There are quite a few condo type time shares that are much much nicer for the price.
The room and view was wonderful and well stock. The staff was friendly. The pool area was clean. The fire alarm going off and having being on the 14th floor.....
Good value for the money . Good location and roomy. TVs and tub were nice.
Value for money and convenience to theme parks Hard to find, not very well signposted


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10 steps to a smoother automation system upgrade
When migrating or upgrading your automation system, don't forget to examine this group of areas outside of the HMI, controllers, and I/O. These suggestions will help you identify and deal with lurking problems early in the process.
If you're in the process of upgrading your automation system, or contemplating such a task in the near future, your primary focus is probably on the HMI, the controllers, and the I/O—and rightly so as these are critical components to address in a system migration. But there's much more to an automation system than these hardware components, and these secondary areas can be the source of many problems if due diligence isn't performed in the planning stages.
One of the best ways to examine all areas of the automation system prior to undertaking a major automation upgrade project is to perform a front end loading (FEL) evaluation. A FEL evaluation is a type of analysis that evaluates all aspects of an automation system upgrade or other project. Among other deliverables, it should include a list of project tasks with durations, and an overall project schedule.
Most end users will work with an outside service provider to produce the FEL evaluation because they often don't have the available manpower. The right service provider will have produced many FEL evaluations for automation system upgrade projects, and can thus help the end user to produce a thorough study in an optimal manner.
A FEL evaluation will help develop a budget and justify the project. It will also reveal potential problems, and help prepare end users for the daunting task of migrating their obsolete DCS or PLC-based automation system. In short, it should provide a map to success with the destination in mind.
In most cases, the amount of time and effort invested in a FEL evaluation is directly proportional to overall project success. Unfortunately, many end users view this stage as an optional task for an automation system upgrade, and perhaps even a distraction. Scrimping on the FEL evaluation not only increases risks, it also can result in missed opportunities for improvements and enhanced long-term sustainability. By contrast, a thorough FEL evaluation will identify potential problems and help ensure that the project attains its goals.
10 areas outside the lines
When the main architecture is developed for an automation system upgrade, the primary components are always the HMIs, controllers, and I/O. Most of the time and effort in the planning and budgeting stages is spent on these key components, often to the detriment of the balance of the system, those areas that fall outside the lines.
A properly executed FEL evaluation will shed light on 10 important secondary areas, which are listed in Table 1 and discussed below.
Field devices and infrastructure
Field equipment and wiring primarily consists of four parts:
- Wiring, conduit, and cable tray
- Panels, cabinets, marshalling panels, and junction boxes
- Instrumentation, including inline devices, analyzers, transmitters, etc., and
- Mechanical equipment, including motors, valves, drives, and other field devices.
All of these items must be examined to ascertain acceptable physical condition and proper documentation. In addition, instrumentation and mechanical equipment must be examined and/or tested to ensure proper interface with the new automation system's I/O and digital communication interfaces.
The overall condition of field wiring, including terminations, labeling, and grounding, should be assessed during the FEL process. If any areas are not up to standards and in good working condition, plans and budgets should be developed to rectify any deficiencies and defects.
When the automation system is up and running, the status of various field devices such as motors, valves, and position switches is determined by hardwiring these components to automation system inputs. So, the interfaces between these devices and the inputs must be tested to ensure proper voltage levels and electrical isolation.
Similarly, valves, motors, and status lights are driven by automation system outputs. Again, compatibility must be ensured so that each output can drive or actuate its associated device.
Interfaces to automation system analog I/O can be a particular problem area. A 4-20 mA output on an older automation system may have been able to drive more instruments in a loop connection than the new automation system's 4-20 mA output. This issue would be minor if uncovered in a FEL evaluation, but major if found during commissioning. Moreover, analog inputs must be examined and sometimes tested for compatibility. For example, an older DCS might have accommodated thermocouple types that are no longer in widespread use, and as such may not be supported by the new automation system.
Most plants have smart instruments and analyzers with their own network connections to the automation system (see Figure 1), another area that must be examined in detail during the FEL evaluation.
Network infrastructure and connectivity
Modern automation systems connect to a variety of other systems and components in various layers including:
- Control layer—ancillary control systems on process skids, emission monitoring systems, building automation systems, etc.
- Enterprise layer—historian, MES, ERP, corporate networks, etc.
- Field device layer—HART, Fieldbus, Profibus, DeviceNet, etc., and
- Other—lab systems, remote access, analyzers, advanced process control devices, etc.
The physical infrastructure, including the fiber/copper backbone, network devices, wireless hardware, and other items, must be examined to ascertain acceptable condition and proper documentation. But this is only the first step, as compatibility issues can abound, even when the new automation system supports the very same protocols as the old automation system.
The main interfaces at each layer should be tested to ensure that communications can take place in an acceptable manner with performance equal to or exceeding the existing system. The new automation system must be able to support all of the existing communication protocols, either directly or through protocol converters. In some cases, it may be more cost effective to upgrade or even replace systems and components that can't easily be interfaced to the new automation system.
For example, if there is a small cluster of instruments with a different fieldbus protocol than the majority of instruments, it may be better to replace these oddballs, as opposed to adding a protocol converter to connect them to the new automation system.
The older automation system will often have controllers and smart devices such as instruments and drives supplied by the same vendor. If the new automation system is purchased from a different vendor, in almost all cases the digital interface to the smart devices will be more limited in functionality, even if the protocol is nominally the same. Provisions must be made to operate the system with this reduced functionality, or to replace the smart devices.
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Thanks for the great article. I'm also a big fan of FEL activities. Do you have any metrics relating to the cost of FEL as a percentage of the TIC? I suspect that it's in the 3%-5% range (meaning that it's definitely worth the money), but I don't have data to back that up.
Very often the asset health information, the energy consumption readings, and HS&E status etc. do not even go into the basic control system (DCS) or the safety system (SIS), this new data from wireless sensors often go into the asset management system (AMS). This is tons of new data received by deploying sensors everywhere; "pervasive sensing". These new sensors can easily be added to an existing plant to modernize that plant because not only do you eliminate power wiring and signal wiring for these sensors, many of them have non-intrusive mechanical installation. For example, to monitor the position of the bypass valves or any other control valve, on/off valve, or hand valve, a wireless transmitter simply screws onto the outside. It is non-intrusive. No process penetration. Similarly, there are clamp-on temperature sensors that measure the surface temperature of the pipe. This is good enough in most asset and energy monitoring applications, and is totally non-intrusive. Clamp-on temperature sensors can be used when thermowells are not available. Acoustic transmitters to monitor if a steam trap is passing steam wasting energy, or blocking condensate which could damage equipment or cause insufficient heating, simply straps onto the outside of the pipe, again non-intrusive. It can also strap onto a relief valve to detect release, or another valve to detect leaks. Vibration sensors for wireless vibration transmitters can either be screwed on, stuck on with epoxy, or even a magnet without any process penetration. Pressure transmitters often take the place of mechanical dial gages so again no new process openings required. This makes installation of these additional sensors low cost and low risk.
Most kinds of wireless transmitters are already available: pressure, flow, DP level, valve position, pH, conductivity, on/off contact, radar level, vibration, temperature, multi-temperature, and acoustic as well as level switch and even on/off valve actuation
Plant modernization is a new business opportunity for EPCs. EPCs can go back to all the plants they have built over the past 20-30 years and offer plant-wide modernization by deploying a second layer of automation based on Wireless transmitters for asset monitoring, energy conservation, and improved HS&E beyond the P&ID. A formal process starting from audit, through FEED, detail design, installation, commissioning, and handover is available.
Having said that, if you get a new control system, you can get one with native integration of wireless transmitters, enabling you to access the PV directly from a wireless transmitter without going through Modbus register, EtherNet/IP instance & member, or OPC item data mapping. Getting a system with native support for wireless could be one more reason for migrating.
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Annual Salary Survey
Before the calendar turned, 2016 already had the makings of a pivotal year for manufacturing, and for the world.
There were the big events for the year, including the United States as Partner Country at Hannover Messe in April and the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September. There's also the matter of the U.S. presidential elections in November, which promise to shape policy in manufacturing for years to come.
But the year started with global economic turmoil, as a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing triggered a worldwide stock hiccup that sent values plummeting. The continued plunge in world oil prices has resulted in a slowdown in exploration and, by extension, the manufacture of exploration equipment.
Read more: 2015 Salary Survey


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25 for 25: New Hampshire's Dams – The Secret to Our Lakes
By Thomas S. Burack, DES Commissioner
Since 1987, when the National Weather Service has predicted severe rain events to affect New Hampshire, a small, well-prepared crew at the state's Department of Environmental Services has stood ready to prevent flooding from whatever storm Mother Nature sends our way. The DES Dam Bureau, which joined DES when the agency was created by the legislature in 1987, is responsible for the safety of the more than 2,600 dams in the state, including the year-round maintenance and repair of all 274 state-owned dams. The Dam Bureau ensures that the dams are structurally sound and functioning as designed, so that when severe storms, such as Hurricane Sandy, bring high volumes of water – and they do – the staff can confidently release the right amounts of water from the state-owned dams to reduce flooding. It's a science and an art that the Dam Bureau has devoted itself to, especially in the last 8 years or so as New Hampshire has experienced three one-hundred year floods and two hurricanes.
State-owned dams impound the largest and most important recreational lakes in the state, including Winnipesaukee, Squam, Winnisquam, Newfound, Sunapee and Ossipee. These lakes provide a myriad of recreational opportunities for boaters, swimmers, anglers, and others, and are home to a rich array of waterfowl, wildlife, fish and other aquatic species. The dams on these large lakes also help to control the volume of water flowing into some of the major rivers of the state, which in turn affect industries and recreation downstream. And this means that water levels must be constantly monitored, even during good weather, and frequent adjustments made by the dam operators to ensure that appropriate levels are maintained.
Many of the state's dams, particularly those on the large lakes, were constructed in the mid-1800s to provide waterpower to fuel the great Industrial Revolution-era mills of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Most of the dams that the state owns are well over 100 years old. Because of their age, they require continued attention to maintain them in a safe condition. Twenty-nine of the state-owned dams are "high hazard," meaning that their failure would cause loss of life downstream, and 53 are "significant hazard" dams, which would cause significant property damage downstream if they failed. More than 4,000 homes, 130 state road crossings and 800 town road crossings would be destroyed or damaged were all of these state-owned dams to fail.
According to the New Hampshire Lake Association's Report on the Economic Value of New Hampshire's Surface Waters, New Hampshire's lakes provide up to $1.5 billion annually of economic benefit to the state, and waterfront property owners pay nearly a quarter-billion dollars annually in property taxes. Since the majority of New Hampshire's surface waters are impounded by state-owned dams, the upkeep of these dams is vitally important, not only to protect public safety and the environment, but also to maintain the large economic benefits that they provide.
In 1996, a privately-owned, significant hazard dam in Alton failed. One person died, and approximately $8 million worth of property damage occurred when the Rte. 140 road crossing downstream was destroyed. The flooding seven years ago in Alstead also dramatically illustrated the destructive force of a sudden release of stored water, which killed 5 people and caused some $35 million of damage downstream. Using the costs of these tragedies as a yardstick, it is clear that many thousands of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars of property are at risk downstream of state-owned and maintained dams.
To keep all of these dams safe, the Dam Bureau must conduct daily maintenance, including keeping the areas around the dams continually mowed to prevent the growth of woody vegetation whose roots could threaten the safety of the dams. Every day, the Dam Bureau staff performs a unique balancing act of managing water releases from the state-owned dams so as not to cause property damage on the lakes and downstream, while also ensuring appropriate lake levels to support wildlife, boating and all of the many ways in which we love to enjoy our lakes.
As DES recognizes our 25th Anniversary this year, we salute the DES Dam Bureau for the critical role they play in reducing flooding risks during major storm events, and daily in safely maintaining our dams to support economic activity and our wonderful quality of life – proof positive that in New Hampshire a healthy environment and a strong economy are positively linked.
Author's Note: In recognition of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services' 25th Anniversary, over the course of the year, I am highlighting 25 agency activities, programs, projects and accomplishments of the past 25 years. This article, the 20th in the series, discusses the work of the DES Dam Bureau. All of the editorials in the series are available at des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/25th-anniversary.htm.
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Knit this womens intarsia tee from Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 53, a design by Kaffe Fassett using the stunning combination of Kidsilk Haze (super kid mohair and silk) and Siena 4ply (cotton). With a cute spot pattern and crochet neck and cuff edgings, this knitting pattern is suitable for the more experienced knitter.
Knit this ladies accessory wrap, a design from the Rowan archive that is now free to download. Originally featured in Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 42 and designed by Kaffe Fassett using our ever popular yarn Kidsilk Haze (mohair and silk), this large colourful wrap has a fringed edging.


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Sculptural Light Panels
Project Description
The area for which these panels were designed and installed, are part of a large landscape project which I have undertaken for clients Neil and Judith Plummer, in Huia Rd, Titirangi. This project has been an ongoing one and was initially started in early 2005, with the pool area being the latest stage, completed in March of this year. The brief given to me for this area, was to revamp the existing space and to create something artistic and in keeping with the larger landscape plan, I had already started to implement in other areas of the 4ac. Property. After some consultation with the clients I proposed a concept plan utilizing a planting combination of NZ, Australian and South African natives in a structured format, with the focal point of the design being a curved schist stone [More information…]
seat (to match the schist in the house's construction) flanked by similar curved stainless steel and acrylic sculptural panels. The acrylic product chosen was PSP PLEXIGLAS® SATINCE Kiwi. The factors of light, form and colour were foremost in my decision to utilize the 'Kiwi' Satin Ice as I had used this coloured acrylic in a previous project (Sculptural totem for Waiheke Is. exhibition and sculpture exhibition at Ellerslie Flower Show, 2006) and the luminosity of the product captured my imagination completely. The colour of this product was ideal to use in this garden setting, as it offset the other foliage colours beautifully and also picked up similar shades in the tips of the sculptural aloes used in the forefront of the design. It also was very effective in picking up shades of the fresh new growth in the surrounding large Nikau palms, which can be seen as a backdrop from the pool area. Due to the ability of the Satin Ice to transmit light and change it's shade, depending upon how and where the light source played upon it, I decided to utilize this factor and install 20w halogen light units underneath the panels, with holes of slightly larger diameter drilled out in the bases into which the lights were directed. In this way the units could be enjoyed at night with an entirely different ambience encountered in the area, compared to that of daytime. Stainless steel (316 marine grade) was chosen as the framework medium for a number of reasons, its clean lines contrast well with the schist and foliage forms and textures, it gives the panels a 'construction' feel which is carried through with the choice of heavy duty fittings for attaching the acrylic and steel top caps, strength due to heavy winds that can sometimes occur in that area and also the medium ties this area in with the rest of the garden due to the other sculptural features I have designed and installed (stainless steel / flat schist pebble light towers) elsewhere in the landscape. Steel work construction was carried out, after initial design and consultations as to workability, by Erikson Engineering of Waiuku and then fabrication of the acrylic was carried out by Anything Acrylic of Drury. Due to the curvature of the panels, blanks of acrylic were needed to be glued and screwed top and bottom to hold the panels together and keep the integrity of the shape, once mounted to the steel work. Due to the flexibility of the product, the panel sheets could be cold mounted as the curve is within the products range of movement. Reflections upon installation completion are that the entire concept has come together very successfully and the panels have achieved the impact I had hoped they would. They have created a talking point for all who visit the garden and the clients are very satisfied with the end product.
Further Information
Alex Schanzer
Market Segment/Occupation
New Zealand
Product you are using
Thickness of Material
Project Location
Titirangi , West Auckland


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The Rough Guide to the iPhone
Fully updated to cover the iPhone 5 and iOS6, the bestselling Rough Guide to the iPhone is the ultimate guide to the definitive gadget of our time. The full colour guide shows you how to make the most of the iPhone 5's unique blend of fun and function.
As well as covering the basics such as synchronizing with iCloud, Facetime and making the most of Siri, the book also unlocks new secrets such as how to make free international calls and exploring the latest built-in features such as Facebook integration, panoramic photos and Apple Maps. There's also up-to-date advice on the coolest apps available on the App Store.
Whether your focus is productivity or creativity, The Rough Guide to the iPhone will turn you from an iPhone user into an iPhone guru.
Now available in ePub format.


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Ultimate Impact Kickboxing/K1 has arrived!
On the 26th May 2012 at Liquid Nightclub in Gloucester Ultimate Impact will be showcasing the very best Kickboxing and K1 fighters from the UK.
Historically, kickboxing can be considered a hybrid martial art formed from the combination of elements of various traditional styles. This approach became increasingly popular since the 1970s, and since the 1990s, kickboxing has contributed to the emergence of mixed martial arts via further hybridization with ground fighting techniques from jujutsu and collegiate wrestling.
K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts. Its rules are similar to those of kickboxing but they have been simplified to promote exciting matches that may end in a knockout win. The main difference between K-1 rules and kickboxing is the use of knees, allowed in K-1 but not in International kickboxing.
Doors open at 5pm and the first bout will commence at 6pm. Tickets are £20, available online, and from participating fighters and clubs.
Tickets available online: http://www.ultimateimpactevents.com/...xing-1-tickets


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Chancellor to visit Rio Grande Valley Tuesday to talk about new UT university
What: Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa will visit the Rio Grande Valley to talk about the new UT university and medical school now referred to as Project South Texas.
When & Where:
12 – 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24
Dr. Abraham P. Cano Freshman Academy
Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District
1701 Lozano Street
2 – 4:40 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24
UT Brownsville
Education and Business Complex
Room 2.402, Salon Cassia Room
Why: Chancellor Cigarroa will meet with about 50 high school students to hear their thoughts on educational opportunity in the Rio Grande Valley and what the new UT institution will mean for them. Media is invited to attend.
The Chancellor will then visit UT Brownsville to answer questions from faculty, staff and students about the new university. The meeting at UT Brownsville will be open to the media and the public.
The Chancellor plans to hold a similar meeting at the UT Pan American campus in October.
About Project South Texas: The UT System is in the process of establishing a new university and medical school that will combine the talent, assets and resources of UT Brownsville, UT Pan American and the Regional Academic Health Center. The new university will be bicultural, biliterate and bilingual and is being created to transform educational, economic and health opportunities for South Texas. For more information, visit www.ProjectSouthTexas.com.


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I did a search for this and didnt find it anywhere, and It took me a while to figure our where the SAM file even was and - well, it all seemed slightly confusing. Anyways a friend of mine got a laptop for christmas that came with Vista on it. She was simply personalizing her machine and changed the admin password, but somehow immediately forgot it. So, she called me.
I figured if she executed the "restore to an earlier date" function she can log in using the old password again. (she didn't turn the machine off since the passwd change)
And well, that worked. But I wondered about machines that were rebooted. People have asked me that question in the past and I never had experience with anything like this.
I was playing around with BT3 and found in the /pentest/password/ directory chntpw and ran it. The output told me you can list passwords if you had access to the SAM file!
You should see something like this:1. mkdir /mnt/sam && mount /dev/<windows partition> /mnt/sam && cd /mnt/sam && ls.
2. You should see your windows files from the windows partitions. I was using Windows XP. then cd into /WINDOWS/system32/config and list whats there. In Windows XP it was "SAM"
3. cp SAM /pentest/password/chntpw/ && cd /pentest/password/chntpw && ./chntpw -l SAM
Mine was left blank because this box is just used for pentesting purposes. But if you run chntpw --help You can see all the great stuff you can do with that application:
Hope this does good, Im sure I will reference it a few times more. If you get a chance to use this on a Vista machine please let me know where the SAM file was.trevelyn@celeritas:/mnt/usb/chntpw$ ./chntpw --help
chntpw version 0.99.5 070923 (decade), (c) Petter N Hagen
./chntpw: invalid option -- -
chntpw: change password of a user in a NT/2k/XP/2k3/Vista SAM file, or invoke registry editor.
chntpw [OPTIONS] <samfile> [systemfile] [securityfile] [otherreghive] [...]
-h This message
-u <user> Username to change, Administrator is default
-l list all users in SAM file
-i Interactive. List users (as -l) then ask for username to change
-e Registry editor. Now with full write support!
-d Enter buffer debugger instead (hex editor),
-t Trace. Show hexdump of structs/segments. (deprecated debug function)
-v Be a little more verbose (for debuging)
-L Write names of changed files to /tmp/changed
-N No allocation mode. Only (old style) same length overwrites possible
See readme file on how to get to the registry files, and what they are.
Source/binary freely distributable under GPL v2 license. See README for details.
NOTE: This program is somewhat hackish! You are on your own!


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Austria 1998 world cup home short in white.Features felt placed Puma cat logo and embroidered team crest.Elastic waist with inner liner and draw cord.100% polyester.
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
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In this Article
Are there any interactions with medications?
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Talk with your health provider.
IP-6 nicotinate might slow blood clotting. Taking IP-6 along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Dosing considerations for Ip-6.The appropriate dose of IP-6 depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for IP-6. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


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Terri - from Williamsburg, VA
Well, it depends on the size of the cake layers you are making. For example, the amount of batter needed for 10" round layers will be different from the amount needed for 8" square layers. In general, an average 2-layer cake mix yields 4 to 5 1/2 cups of batter. For further information, check out our Baking Time and Batter Amounts reference guide at http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/.


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Sometimes, You Just Lose
It's worth keeping in mind that last night's 3-2 loss to the Phillies happened despite matchups working out extremely well for the New York Mets. In the ninth inning, up 2-1, the Mets sent out lefty Josh Edgin to close the game. Frank Francisco was unavailable due to elbow tendinitis,… Read More →


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There were other rookies that had an impact on the team. Jose Morales was hurt during Spring Training and the Twins needed someone to fill the back-up catcher slot on the team. Drew Butera fit this role nicely. There have been a handful of pitchers that have made their mark on the Twins this season. Alex Burnett, Jeff Manship, Matt Fox, and Anthony Slama all fit into a role with the team at some point. Position players like Wilson Ramos, Luke Hughes, Trevor Plouffe, and Ben Revere were all called upon to make their debuts.
(Click on any of the linked players names above and below to read other stories I have written from this year about the rookies on the team.)
The Minnesota Twins 2010 Rookie of the Year (Countdown from #3-#1)
3. Matt Fox: One start is all that it took. The Twins had to make special room for him on the 40-man roster so he could start. The team had used up three starters in an extra-innings lose to the Tigers. Fox was the only choice from AAA. It was his one opportunity to show that he belonged in the majors. He did what he needed to by giving his team the opportunity to win. His start was one of the most important of the year. After the lost to the Tigers the Twins could have went in the opposite direction. After Fox's start the Twins were able to make a September run to clinch the Central Division.
Fox's Signature Game
September 3: Texas 3 @ Twins 4: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER
2. Drew Butera: Butera has been a very adequate back-up catcher this season. His numbers don't jump off the page but he has filled his role on the team. His offense is sub-par but his defense is great. There were many runners that tried to steal on Butera this season that found out that stealing was a bad decision. The great story out of his part with the team might be that his dad was also a catcher for the Twins. Butera evolved into Carl Pavano's personal catcher during the middle portion of the season. This also seemed to coincide with some of the great outings that Pavano had.
Butera's Signature Game
June 19: Twins 13 @ Phillies 10: 1-1, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Butera's go ahead homerun in the 10th was the first of his major league career. The Twins would blow the lead so it wasn't a game winning hit. But it was a great moment for his first big league shot.
1. Danny Valencia: There hasn't been a consistent third baseman for the Twins since the end of the 2004 season. There have has been a Batista, a Harris, a Punto, a Cuddyer, and he list goes on. None of these players have stepped up and filled the void like Valencia. I had him 6th in my Twins MVP ballot because of his importance to the team this season. It will be great to see what kind of numbers he can put together when he has an entire season to work with. Congrats on the great regular season. Bring on October baseball...
Valencia's Signature Games
September 1: Tigers 1 @ Twins 2: 2-4, Game Winning RBI
September 18: Athletics 2 @ Twins 4: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI


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REDLANDS -- in the coming days, banners commemorating the city's 125th anniversary and celebrating a handful of military men and women will be on display throughout Redlands.
Seven new military banners will be added to the fleet of about a hundred already up.
Banners pay respect for Redlands military men and women currently in the service.
The anniversary banners are part of the city's celebrations, officially kicking off Dec. 1 with the Redlands Christmas Parade sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Redlands.
The banners were both designed and printed by Redlands-based business Pennington Designs.
"Honestly, (the banners are) the most important (project) we've ever done. We do stuff for businesses around town all the time, but to be able to do something for the military is an unbelievable honor. Unbelievable," said Richard Pennington, owner and operator of the company.
Recently, Pennington and Co. were awarded a contract to be the exclusive contractor for merchandise surrounding the 125th anniversary. The business will be the sole printer and distributor of various items, such as cups and calendars, commemorating the special occasion.
"It's an overwhelming sense of pride," Pennington said. "I absolutely love this community... and we are honored to be a part of it, and are doing our best to represent the city. Redlands has a lot of pride... and high expectations, so we want to give them something they're proud of."
Mayor Pro Tem Paul Foster was one of the most vocal people behind the city's Hometown Heroes, military banner recognition program.
He brought up the idea to the City Council, which ran with it.
"It makes me very proud to see the community rally around the men and women that serve our nation," he said. "The banners are a tangible look at that pride. They come from their families, friends and different people who might have sponsored those banners. It just shows how deep the emotions of the community run for these young men and women, and I'm just proud that I was able to be a part of it and the council accepts it as a leadership body."
Foster also serves on the 125th Anniversary Committee.
Among the seven that will be added to the current fleet of military banners will be one honoring Lt. Michael Montanez of the United States Army.
The recognition was spearheaded by his family, including sister Marlene Garcia.
Montanez, 27, enlisted in the Air Force after graduating from Redlands High School in 2003. He re-enlisted recently to continue serving in the military, but opted to join the Army for the next four years.
He followed in the footsteps of his father, David, and his grandfather, Sal, who also served in the Air Force.
Since joining the military, Montanez has served two tours of duty in Iraq and earned his master's degree in criminal justice.
Garcia said that her family, including Montanez, is excited to see his banner hung across the street from City Hall when the city installs it in the next few days.
Montanez is currently stationed in Georgia.
"We hadn't seen him in probably nine months, but he did come down for the week of Veterans Day weekend, hoping it would be up, but he just missed it," Garcia said. "We're hoping he gets another break around Christmas so he can view it himself.
"We knew he was going to be in the military when he was a little boy," she added. "This was his dream from childhood."
To learn more about the city's anniversary or the banner program, visit www.cityofredlands.org
Reach Kristina via email, or call her at 909-793-3221, or find her on Twitter @TheFactsKris.


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Korn headlining inaugural 'Rockaholica' cruise
Korn will be taking to the high seas next fall. They've signed on for a new cruise-slash-festival dubbed "Rockaholica," which will also feature performances from Hoobastank, Fuel, and more acts set to be announced soon.
Korn frontman Jonathan Davis says he and his bandmates are excited to be headlining the inaugural "Rockaholica" adventure, adding that they're looking forward to spending some quality time with their fans "while cruising."
The ship is scheduled to set sail from Miami on September 29th, and will make stops in Key West and Cozumel before returning on October 3rd. Ticket information is available at RockaholicaCruise.com.
Photo Credit Getty Images


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The Amazing Maize Maze - Queens County Farm Museum
Hours: 11am-4:30pm
Ages: All
Price: $9 ; $5 children ages 4 to11; free children ages 3 and younger
73-50 Little Neck Parkway - 718-347-3276
Floral Park, NY 11004
Description: Who knew getting lost could be fun? Families can enjoy the fun of getting lost and loving it at this three-acre interactive corn maze. The adventure begins with a "Stalk Talk" to prepare you for the challenge of finding clues, solving puzzles, and making your way out of the maze.


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Audio Postcards From Vermont Towns
We asked listeners to tell us a little something about their towns – the people and places that make each place unique. Which towns should we cover? That's where you come in. Let us know what makes your town special - what are its meaningful places and things? Who should we interview while we're there?
Suggest your town for this series
View Audio Postcards from Vermont Towns by VPR News in a larger map


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Home Entertainment Impersonators Neil Diamond
Cannot Find What You Are Looking For? Contact Us 702-212-2500 ext. 1
A to Z Events is an award winning Destination Management Company and Entertainment Agency.
Celebrating 16 Years, 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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702-212-2500 ext. 1 email@example.com or fill out our Contact Us Form


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ltmon Wrote:First up: great first release and even better on the update.
My question/suggestion:
Is fanart meant to appear upon hover when viewing TV shows (in any view mode). I have fan art that works fine once I select a show to view it's seasons, but on hovering the show title it doesn't show. The preview for the "wide" (with Dexter in the background) indicates that it should do.
It would be good if it did, as it's more consistent with the movies which does this.
Hitcher Wrote:I was thinking the same thing - it would definitely look better if fanart was used in the main TV Show menu.
skunkm0nkee Wrote:We *MAY* put an option to allow this but we had this in the past and found that it made the navigation of the list a bit jumpy so we took it out. I'll try it again (using largeimage control perhaps) but if it doesn't really work that well then it won't make it in.
Anyway, this came about because I couldn't decide whether I liked using wide icons or posters in List mode when I realised the space would fit a 16:9 image perfectly. So I loaded the fanart as the thumb and it looked amazing (as long as thumbsize is 1024), so I take back my previous comment as I think this works much better and just goes to show what an amazing skin this is. Judge for yourself.


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Melanie Munk, Features editor
My sister has eight Chinese soup spoons, which I have always coveted.
There is something pleasing about the size and shape, the heft, of these sturdy porcelain spoons that come with soup in Chinese restaurants.
For Christmas this year, I received my own set of eight. I want to use them all the time, but as cool as they are, they have limited functionality on the dining table.
I was searching my kitchen cupboards for a suitable cupcake-batter ladling device, however, and spotted the Chinese spoons. "Ha!" I thought.
And I was right. They are just the right size to spoon batter into paper muffin cups and not all over the tin.
Now, a version of the spoon stars on the new TV food show "The Taste," with Nigella Lawson and Anthony Bourdain (8 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC). Contestants have to create a meal, then serve the judges one spectacular bite of it on each spoon.
The nifty spoons cost about $1 each at Asian markets and some grocery stores. They are a great kitchen toy for an $8 investment.
Here are some other uses for the spoons.
Batter up: Great size and nimbleness for ladling cupcake batter into cups.
Avoid the double-dip: On a buffet for individual servings of dips and spreads, like salsa, guacamole and hummus.
Mise en place: That's French for "everything in place," and refers to prepping and setting out all the ingredients in a recipe before starting to cook or bake.
Soup's on: Good for all kinds of soup, whether thick or brothy, but especially for pho and egg drop soup.
"Measuring" spoon: Test your spoons — mine hold about 1 tablespoon of liquid and about 2 tablespoons of heaped food, like chopped nuts, dried cranberries or diced peppers.
On the side: Offer individual servings of dressing, dippers or sauce for dieters.
Service station: Use one with each topping when serving curry (peanuts, coconut, chutney) or build-your-own tacos (onions, queso, chopped tomato).
Tea time: Retire your used tea bag when you remove it from the cup. Also good for a juiced lemon wedge after the salmon is seasoned.


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View Profile - Craig (ilochan)
What's on your mind right now? Just type and hit "Enter" to share it here!
Mayken: Time to update my profile: my little girl is 7 today. She got a stack of ml books and was totally thrilled. Jun 30, 2017 4:59:27 GMT 9
Adam Beck: My new video is getting good attention on Facebook! Please like it and share it! Thanks a lot! https://www.facebook.com/bilingualmonkeys Jun 30, 2017 10:12:21 GMT 9
Amy: Beautiful video Adam...and so true, as always! :). You enjoy your hiatus, and we look forward to reading you again in August! Otsukaresama deshita (thank you for your hard work)! Jul 1, 2017 5:03:26 GMT 9
Mayken: My daughter's ML report card has the same percentage of A's as the ml one but surprisingly the non-A's are not in the same categories. Anyway, she's off to grade 2 at the bilingual school! (After well-deserved and ml-rich holidays!) Jul 1, 2017 5:12:01 GMT 9
Nellie: Congratulations to your daughter Mayken! Jul 3, 2017 9:57:10 GMT 9
Nellie: Enjoy your holiday Adam! Jul 3, 2017 9:58:06 GMT 9
Fish: Loved the FB video! Jul 3, 2017 16:09:53 GMT 9
Wojtek: Back from journey from Croatia. It wasn't English speaking country but ... I was with my daughter for the whole 2 weeks 24/7! Jul 8, 2017 19:04:43 GMT 9
Wojtek: Being all day with daughter makes really difference! She spoke definitely more and I had more chance to correct her, suggest better phrases, etc. That was great! Jul 8, 2017 19:08:01 GMT 9
Mayken: Wojtek, a lot of one-on-one time is one of the perks of holidays, no matter where. Jul 9, 2017 19:55:27 GMT 9
Amy: Baby seems to pick up a lot of ml2! Yeaterday she surprised me answering back "whyyyy?" and this morning when asked how she was she replied "very well"!! <3 Beautiful moments of our bilingual journey <3 Jul 10, 2017 19:21:02 GMT 9
Mayken: That's lovely, Amy! Jul 11, 2017 5:17:46 GMT 9
Nellie: So sweet Amy! Jul 13, 2017 10:12:05 GMT 9
Mayken: Since I'm stricter about vacation reading than ML Dad, chances are my 7-year-old might read better in ml than ML by the end of the summer holidays. Jul 17, 2017 3:26:01 GMT 9
Amy: Yay Mayken! That's positive! Give a good head start to you daughter's ml reading, we bith know that the ML is bound to catch up because of the ML schooling Jul 17, 2017 20:00:24 GMT 9
Jessica C: During nap today I overheard my daughter sleep talking in Spanish! (ml1) That has to mean she was dreaming in Spanish right? I'm so pleased! Jul 18, 2017 12:52:36 GMT 9
Amy: Yay Jessica!! Jul 21, 2017 19:18:23 GMT 9
Joanna: My two year called to me from her bed in the morning as I finished my shower "You need shampoo mummy??" (In ml, unprompted) Jul 22, 2017 23:10:59 GMT 9 *
Amy: So cute Joanna! Jul 23, 2017 5:33:32 GMT 9 *
Mayken: Two playdates with classmates from my 7-year-olds ml class this weekend, and the kids and parents all spoke ml the entire time! ml interaction with other kids is precious during summer holidays. Very happy Jul 26, 2017 0:04:20 GMT 9


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Hi Jesse, how are you?
I'm living in the dark shadow of the tour lurgie that the crew are all coming down with!
How has the US tour been going?
It's been really good. We've had some really great gigs. I've been to a lot of record shops. Tim and I went to Electric Fetus in Minneapolis which is a great store. It's only about a mile or so from the venue so we decided to walk. It was minus 26 celsius but we're so rugged we didn't even notice.
You've been playing across the length and breadth of a huge country. How has all the travelling been?
Well because we're on a bus we're asleep during most of the drives but everywhere has been very cold and apart from a couple of places everywhere has been covered in snow so I think it's been tough for Jerry, our driver. Although, he's a bad ass so he's ok.
You must have watched quite a few films / boxsets on the bus - any standouts?
I watched both series of The Hour which I loved. It's a brilliant show. Also the first series of Cardinal Burns which is funny. Tom and I went to a proper picture house in Kansas City to watch Zero Dark Thirty. Best cinema either of us have ever been to. They had a bar running in front of each row of seats and you could order a burger and milkshake while you watched. I'm afraid I can't remember what the place was called though.
What are your favourite things about America?
Guitar stores and record stores. Best in the world.
It looks from Richard's blog that you've had a bit of time off for sightseeing and exploring - what have been the highlights?
Richard has but I've stayed close to the bus/hotel/venue for a lot of this tour. It has been fricking cold and I didn't bring the right clothes for it because I'm stupid. We did take a VIP (don't go on about it) tour of NASA in Houston which was ridiculously awesome.
Have you bought any souvenirs (for yourself or other people) along the way?
A LOT of records. Also bought myself a mountain dulcimer which is pretty cool. It's a second-hand one and comes in a homemade frilly, flowery pink bag. I'm going to feel so cool taking it on as hand luggage on the way home.
How has it been having Youngblood Hawke along for the ride?
It's been great. They seem nice. I feel sorry for them because apparently their bus is only just about driving. The heating's broken and various other things. Not fun.
What have been the culinary highlights of this tour?
I went for a really nice lunch with my wife's uncle and aunt in Dallas. Venue catering has been pretty bad. There have been a couple of good ones but US venues on the whole don't take much pride in the food side of things. Sorry US venue chefs. Ha ha.
You've got a bit of time off between the end of this tour and the start of the Latin American dates. Do you have any plans?
In March I'm going out solo supporting Mumford & Sons in Europe for three weeks which I'm equally excited and nervous about.
We also asked Keane fans on Twitter to give us some questions for you...
Which bands are on your tourbus playlist?
A.A. Bondy, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Sparklehorse.
If you could live in any home on television, what would it be?
What an excellent question! Downton Abbey seems fairly suitable for my needs I suppose.
Seeing on your twitter bio that you are up for hire.. which band would you like to be hired for? (other than Keane)
Anyone that doesn't have more than three chords in each song.
Jesse, what's your favourite sound? (ps mine is church bells).
Well I quite like music. Everyday sounds I like? Hmm, quite cheesy but my daughter's laughter is probably my favourite sound. A weirder one I love is the sound of wood pigeons.
How would you describe what you feel while playing music?
It's different in different situations. At a Keane gig I'm mainly just listening very carefully to the kick drum and the snare drum and trying to play the right notes and that occupies my brain more than any emotion. Although it is quite easy to take your mood on stage with you and that can affect your energy and performance. I guess the mark of a professional is not letting it show in a negative way. It's only when every single thing is right that you can let yourself get lost in the music and the experience. The rest of the time it's enjoyable playing the songs but I feel like the main thing is to play well for the people who have paid their hard earned money for a ticket. Playing as a group or individually in the studio is very different but I won't bore you any longer!
Any goals (personal/work) that you'd like to achieve for 2013?
I think we're all in the mood for ticking some stuff off of our bucket lists.
Comments (20)
Wow what a really nice guy you are Jesse,think you all deserve a much needed rest after such a hectic start to the year...your daughters laughter got me straight away,how adorable xx
ohhh, Jesse! such a lovely lad! "my daughter's laughter and ticking some stuff off of our bucket lists!" You bet,luv!!! We only live once! take care!!!!
Ciao Jesse, molto interessanti le tue risposte!!! Mi fa piacere che tu e Tom siete andati in questo cinema ultramoderno a Kansas City dove di fronte ad in ogni fila di sedili c'era un bar, dev'essere comodissimo e piacevole così ordinare un panino o una bibita! Comunque anche a me piace moltissimo il cinema!!! Mi è piaciuta la tua risposta sulla tua serie preferita in tv: Downton Abbey! Anch'io l'adoro!!! Tenerissimo il fatto che come suono ami la risata di tua figlia, che bello!!! Le tue risposte sono tutte simpatiche e carine!!! Un abbraccio da Sabrina from Catania, Sicily!!!
"...my daughter's laughter is probably my favourite sound."->How Beautiful!! You are a great father, Jesse :3 XOXOXO
HI JESS ** I am delighted that this tour will be spent in a fun atmosphere as I supose that you have to be happy even when go home with all your memories ** has told you tell us that you've done a great walk with TIM nothing like it to keep in shape, especially when it's cold but because you do not was not to equip I guess you suffer from the cold ** you thought already in LATIN AMERICA?? but I'm sure that you've got to keep your good mood!! THANK you for the time spent together I hope your plans for the month of March are as you imagine ** BIG KISSES from FRANCE
the sound of your daughter XD Jesse you are a love! One more thing! dress warmly! I do not want to get sick! And congratulations on your tour with Mumford & Sons !! Greetings From Mexico ♥ xxx
@erosion, "I hate auto correction" ha, ha, ha...very, very funny. Regina.
Mr. Km.com, I loved not only Jesse's Q&A but also the comments below. Beijos, Regina.
never..EVER change please!
Haha! Jesse! You're awesome! "Downton Abby seems fairy suitable for my needs I suppose." Haha! That made me laugh. And about your daughter's laughter being your favourite sound, that's ADORABLE! Love you Jesse!
Grande Jesse, Pura vida!!!
Love your sense of humour Jesse! The next Q&A should be about what you each have on your bucket lists-meeting Keane is on mine!
:) Jesse :)
Jesse, you Rock and you're such a sweet! The true "Keane spirit" is present in this Q&A, loved it :) Congrats to all for this amazing US Tour, we can feel from the distance how terrific it has been! I'd just love that a DVD would come out with Live performances from the worldwide Strangeland Tour, it has so many "gems" which are imperative to be memorised for ever...! Wish you a blast for the two last shows, a safe return home, good rest and then lots of success for your Solo Tour with M&S :) Cheers from Portugal***
Oh my God, I meant 'such'. I hate this autocorrect thing...
Wow! Thank you very much for picking my question (I'm @nakigaharen). Jesse gave me a complete different perspective about playing live, he's suck a good worker!
We got the flu while in Minnesota and unfortunately missed a great concert. Did any of you experience the flu?
"Jesse, what's your favourite sound? (ps mine is church bells). @oliveandi Well I quite like music. Everyday sounds I like? Hmm, quite cheesy but my daughter's laughter is probably my favourite sound. A weirder one I love is the sound of wood pigeons." awwww, so cute!
Go, Jesse!!! All the best from The Frog Prince Squad =)
Wait. @neon_river A.A. Bondy, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Sparklehorse. SPARKLEHORSE! Keane are fans too? Mind. Blown.