text:
WASHINGTON (AP) The rapidly deteriorating financial health of the federal agency that guarantees 44 million Americans' pensions is raising alarms in Congress, where key lawmakers are demanding tougher rules to insure vigilant oversight of its multibillion-dollar investment portfolio.
The recession is forcing into bankruptcy an increasing number of companies with underfunded pension plans, leaving the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. with billions of dollars more to pay out in pension checks to retirees in the future. Its long-term deficit tripled in the past six months to a startling $33.5 billion.
The PBGC says it will be able to meet its obligations for many years to come. Still, it is monitoring weak companies with underfunded employer-sponsored pension plans in all sectors of the slumping economy, including auto, retail, financial services and health care.
"Given the state of the economy, the question of PBGC's viability is more urgent than ever," said Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who is chairing a hearing Wednesday on the agency at the Senate Special Committee on Aging. "One in seven Americans count on the agency to pay out their pension in the event that their employer is unable to due to bankruptcy. As the auto industry teeters on the edge of insolvency, hundreds of thousands of workers' pensions could soon become the responsibility of the PBGC."
Compounding the agency's fiscal problems are investigations into allegations that its former director, Charles E.F. Millard, had inappropriate contacts with three
The allegations were contained in a PBGC inspector general's report last week which said Millard's office had hundreds of phone conversations and e-mails with the Wall Street firms bidding for the work in 2007 and 2008 at the same time he was actively evaluating their proposals.
Kohl has called for the contracts to be rebid.
Millard, who has denied any wrongdoing, has been subpoenaed to testify at the hearing. If he does attend, he will assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination on the advice of his
In response to the inspector general's and his committee's own probe, Kohl is introducing legislation in coming weeks that will require the agency's presidentially appointed director to remove himself from potential conflicts of interest.
Three members of the president's Cabinet oversee the government's multibillion-dollar safety net for retirement benefits covered by employer-sponsored plans; 401(k) plans are not insured by the agency. Representatives for the secretaries of Treasury, Commerce and Labor meet regularly, but in 28 years, the full PBGC board has met only 19 times. Kohl's bill would force the board to meet more frequently and stagger membership to make sure experienced board members are serving at all times.
In February 2008, during Millard's tenure, the board approved a new investment strategy that would invest the PBGC's assets more heavily in private equities and real estate. Millard remains convinced that more aggressive investments will help reduce the agency's deficit and perhaps prevent the need for a future taxpayer bailout. To help implement the new strategy, the agency solicited the services of investment firms on Wall Street.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.


text:
Blocking Strategies for IHC
Learn more
In principle, any protein that does not have binding affinity for the target or probe components in the assay can be used for blocking. In practice, however, certain proteins perform better than others, because they more readily bind to the nonspecific sites (also called reactive sites) or stabilize the function of other system components. In fact, no single protein or mixture of proteins works best for all IHC experiments, and empirical testing is critical to obtain the best possible results for a given combination of specific antibodies and substrate system.
General Blocking Procedures
The blocking step for IHC is most often performed after all other sample preparation is completed and just prior to incubating the sample with the primary antibody. The general protocol is to incubate the fixed, embedded, mounted, cleared and unmasked IHC sample with the appropriate blocking buffer for a time period from 30 minutes to overnight at either ambient temperature or 4ºC based on the optimized protocol specific to each antibody and target antigen. Sufficient washing after the blocking step is critical to remove excess protein that may prevent detection of the target antigen.
Types of Blocking Buffers
Normal Serum
Normal serum is a common blocking reagent, because the serum carries antibodies that bind to reactive sites and thus prevents the nonspecific binding of the secondary antibodies used in the assay. A critical factor, though, is to use serum from the species that the secondary antibody was generated in, as opposed to the species of the primary antibody. Serum from the primary antibody species would bind to reactive sites, but the secondary antibody would recognize those nonspecifically-bound antibodies along with the antibodies bound to the target antigen.
Protein Solutions
Besides serum, concentrated protein buffers made with 0.1 to 5% bovine serum albumin (BSA), gelatin or nonfat dry milk are often used to coat all proteins in a sample. This approach essentially forces primary antibodies to out-compete the blocking protein for binding to cognate ligands while reducing nonspecific binding because the antibodies have no greater binding affinity for nonspecific epitopes than do the buffer proteins. While these buffers can be easily made in the lab, for best results they must be made fresh prior to use, which increases the time and workload of the IHC staining.
Pre-formulated Commercial Buffers
Ready-made blocking buffers are also available to block samples in preparation for antibody treatment. These buffers can contain highly-purified concentrations of single proteins or proprietary protein-free compounds. A benefit of using commercial blockers is that there are many available options that perform better than gelatin or casein and have improved an shelf life.
View products
Guide to Thermo Scientific Pierce Blocking Buffers.
|Description †
|StartingBlock Blocking Buffers
|Single purified protein; fast blocking; broad applicability; excellent for stripping and reprobing Western blots; available in PBS and TBS with and without T20
|SuperBlock Blocking Buffers
|Single purified glycoprotein; fast blocking; broad applicability; stabilizes plate-coated antibodies for drying; available in PBS and TBS with and without T20
|Blocker BSA Blocking Buffers
|Purified bovine serum albumin in PBS or TBS
|Blocker Casein Blocking Buffers
|Purified casein in PBS or TBS
|Blocker BLOTTO Blocking Buffer
|Non-fat dry milk proteins in TBS
|Pierce Clear Milk Blocking Buffer
|Milk proteins, clarified and stabilized in proprietary solution
|Pierce Fast Blocking Buffer
|Proprietary proteins formulation in TBS; developed especially for rapid, 5-minute blocking of Western blots as part of the Fast Western Blot system
|SEA BLOCK Blocking Buffer
|Steelhead salmon serum
|Protein-Free Blocking Buffers
|Proprietary non-protein blocking compound; available in PBS and TBS with and without T20
Optimizing the Blocking Step
Reducing Background and Increasing Signal:Noise Ratio
By definition, the blocking buffer should improve the sensitivity of the assay by reducing background interference and improving the signal:noise ratio. The ideal blocking buffer will bind to all potential sites of nonspecific interaction, eliminating background altogether without altering or obscuring the epitope for antibody binding. The proper choice of blocker for a given blot depends on the antigen itself and on the type of detection label used. For example, in applications where alkaline phosphatase conjugates are used, a blocking buffer in TBS should be selected because PBS interferes with alkaline phosphatase.
Empirical testing is essential for true optimization of the blocking step for a particular immunoassay. Many factors, including various protein:protein interactions unique to a given set of immunoassay reagents, can influence nonspecific binding. The most important parameter when selecting a blocker is the signal:noise ratio, measured as the signal obtained with a sample containing the target analyte compared to that obtained with a sample without the target analyte. Inadequate sample blocking will result in excessive background staining and a reduced signal:noise ratio, while excessive blocking may mask antibody:antigen interactions or inhibit the reporter enzyme, again causing a reduction of the signal:noise ratio. When investigating a new target antigen or using a new antibody, it is important to test several different blockers for the highest signal:noise ratio in the assay. No single blocking agent is ideal for every occasion since each antibody-antigen pair has unique characteristics.
Learn more
Blocking Tips
- Monitor both background (negative control) and signal strength (positive control) with various blocking reagents
- Choose the blocking buffer that yields the highest signal:noise ratio
- Ensure that there are no substances in the blocking buffer that interfere with a particular assay. Non-fat dry milk, for example, contains biotin and is inappropriate for use with an Avidin-Biotin Complex system
- For optimal assay conditions, use the same blocking buffer for diluting the antibody that is used for the blocking step
When developing an immunoassay and choosing a blocking buffer, the following trial order is recommended:
- StartingBlock Blocking Buffer
- SuperBlock Blocking Buffer
- SEA BLOCK Blocking Buffer
Learn more
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hi everyone, I'm in the market for a 3/4 length wool coat that could be worn over a suit, or even just with a shirt/sweater/dress pants. I currently own a wool/cashmere/poly blend car coat in black. I work in a business casual environment, so the shorter coat works okay most of the time (and for casual use on the weekend). However, it really doesn't work well for those times that I wear a suit to work. I'm thinking something in Navy, 3/4th length, and single-breasted. SFer FourInHand is selling the following at a great price: http://www.fourinhand.com/Product.asp?dept=104003&Product=PD80E-07 This looks almost perfect for what I need, although I'm a little unsure about the sizing (which I have e-mailed them about). In the even that it doesn't work out, any other suggestions? I'd like to keep the cost closer to $500 than $1000, so the likes of Burberry etc. probably isn't a realistic option. Thanks!


text:
Best Of :: Goods & Services
It's not called "animal attraction" for nothing. Creatures great and small (humans included) secrete pheromones, chemical substances that oh-so-subtly stimulate whoever happens to catch a whiff -- it was only a matter of time 'til somebody bottled it. At Unique on Central, N10Z -- "Undetectable . . . undeniable . . . the world's first gay pheromone product" -- can be had, two ounces for a mere $39.95. What makes it gay? Apparently, scientists at California's Human Pheromone Science Institute have discovered the chemical makeup of pheromones that cause attraction between men. And as long as we're "enhancing," why stop with scent? Up the, uh, ante with the California Muscle thong swimsuit ("Look larger than life while at the beach or catching the sun"). Prefer to do your enhancing in private? The shop's online store is open 24/7.
Our car was a beauty in its day, a 1960 Cadillac. But it had been so long since we'd been able to find parts to take care of it, it had fallen into a quiet, dusty sleep of disrepair. Then, we found Arizona Vintage Parts, and our pretty car knew it had gone to heaven. The place is hard to locate, down a dirt road with virtually no address, but it's got pretty much everything a vintage auto connoisseur could ever need. Some customers come from other countries just to find that perfect chrome accent, or engine part. The specialty is Cads, from 1930 to 1985. But there's a treasure trove for all makes and models of antique cars, with parts like water pumps, fuel pumps, brake parts, U-joints, bearings, seals, ignitions, front end, gaskets, fenders, panels, hubcaps, bumpers, floorboards, radios, antennas, seat belts, steering pumps and so much more. Another big bonus: Everything is rust-free.
Baby, we can drive our car!
Bottom line: Size matters to miniature collectors, and the small-minded love this shop. At Auntie Em's, we can hold the whole world in our hands -- and decorate it. Doll houses feature furniture and every imaginable accessory, from place settings and appliances to minuscule trees and farm implements, even the teeniest cat food box. And those with big ambitions can pick up the wood, tools, paint and glue necessary to create their own trinkets. Need a little guidance? Peruse the racks of how-to books, videos and crafty magazines.
And for once, go ahead and bring the boys, for also on the premises: Smilin' Jack's Pedal Cars. (We appreciate the noncommittal slogan: "If it's got a pedal or wheel, we may have it.")
Rich Ihle is known as the snake or reptile man. He has a large collection of scaly friends, with names like Freckles, Miss Piggy, Junior, Mrs. Square, T-Bo and Theresa. Freckles is a leopard gecko from India. Miss Piggy is a western hognose snake. Theresa is a tiger-phase reticulated python, the longest snake in the world, growing to 30 feet. Ihle is very interesting. He enjoys educating people of all ages about these often misunderstood animals, and showing his live creatures for schools, libraries, malls, scout and church organizations, youth groups, fairs, and other special events. The animals that he uses in his programs are captive reared and extremely tame, making them perfect for school classroom hands-on presentations (including preschool), birthday and company parties, even as stars in commercials and movies. As Ihle says, the critters actually enjoy the attention as much as we enjoy the show. What a ssssscintillating ssssservice.
Thanks to the superb selection at this cool new shop, our garden now looks like an advertisement for antique dealer Michael Robertson's latest business venture. We dropped in to buy a couple of vintage earthenware pots, and left with a truckload of outdoor decor we couldn't live without. Our garden's gorgeous with Garden Party finds: a stupendous Virgin Mary fountain; a just-weathered-enough Adirondack lounger; and a crate full of like-new gardening tools that double as ornamentation. We plan to go back for another tour of the extra-cool "Shabby Chic White Room," where last trip we snagged an ecru crackle-glazed "Pissing Boy" statue and a marvelous milk glass flower bowl. Fans of campy Catholic art will want to check out the roomful of Jesus junk, and anyone else with a patch of planted soil will surely score something from this marvelous hoard.
Looking for glamour? Looking to shine? Are you a performer? A star? A man who dresses in women's clothing? Well, then . . . Boom Boom LaRue's is the place for you. Located within the shabby chic space of Vintage Interiors, sequined gowns are packed on the racks. Each piece of costume jewelry is hand-picked so there are no duplicates (this ensures that no fashion faux pas occur onstage). Boas, tiaras and wigs (oh my!).
But the true treasures are those elusive size 12 and up stilettos and go-go boots. So all you men who have an upcoming command performance at Pookies, stop in and freshen up your look and avoid looking drag -- we mean, drab.


text:
Use the Solar Bag to demonstrate concepts of energy, thermodynamics, density, and buoyancy! Take the 50-foot long, 36 inch diameter tube outdoors and fill it with air. Close the end, tether with string, and allow the sun's energy to heat the air in the bag. In a few minutes, the bag begins to float! Challenge students to explain their observations using kinetic theory and gas laws.WHAT DOES IT TEACH?
1. Hot air is less dense than cool air.
2. Black objects absorb heat faster than the lighter colored surroundings.
3. Gases expand when heated.
4. Volume and temperature are directly related. As one increases, the other increases.
5. Archimedes' Principle and Buoyancy.
Includes: 50'x36" bag, kite string, and detailed instructions.
Recommend but not included: Meterstick (P1-1070), Infrared Thermometer (68-6505 or 68-6500), scissors, and 2-inch roll cellophane packing tape


text:
Eastern Michigan's regents approve contract for clerical union
YPSILANTI - The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents approved the collective bargaining agreement between the University and EMU members of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW Local 1975), at its March 16 meeting. The contract is effective July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2007.
UAW 1975 represents approximately 330 clerical and secretarial employees. More than 85 percent of those voting approved the tentative agreement March 3.
"We feel very pleased with the results of the contract," said Jada Wester, chair, of UAW Local 1975.
"Both sides were very proactive in looking towards the future while working together in a respectful and business-like manner," said Donald Wood, director of employee relations.
The new contract includes a wage adjustment of a 2 percent across-the-board increase in each of four years; a one-time base wage adjustment of .5 percent to 2 percent in year three; and an additional one-time lump sum payment of 2 percent in year four.Bargaining unit members hired effective July 1, 2005 will contribute a flat rate amount as a co-pay of health insurance premiums to help offset escalating health care costs. Also included are an agreement for determining and making other salary adjustments for employees in the bargaining unit.
Eastern Michigan University is a public, comprehensive university that offers programs in the arts, sciences and professions. EMU prepares students with the intellectual skills and practical experiences to succeed in their career and lives, and to be better citizens.
Editor's Note: Looking for an expert source for a story? Check out EMU's Eastern Experts online at www.emich.edu/univcomm/easternexperts.
EMU Home | University Communications Home


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|Caretha (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore
|Tue Jul-29-08 08:36 PM
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|141. I'll have some of whatever he's smoking n/t
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text:
So Here Is The Ultimate guide For Rooting And Installing Clockwordmod(CWM) Recovery in micromax a87 Ninja 4 Fully Updated Way And Probably Easiest Way U have Seen Till Now…..
No Need Of Big Softwares Like
—–NO NEED OF ANDROID SDK (working in xp/7/8)
—–NO NEED OF Java Software (Tried in win8)
So Lets Start The Ultimate Guide As U Need Just Two Softwares Of Hardly 10 mb!
So what u Need Is
Step1. Download Android Tools(300kb) as we are going to do it with fastboot…
Step2.Download Cwm-Installer with one click(9mb),so that u will no need to type commands and do other stuffs So download these 2 files and place it in Your pc where ever u want.
Step3.U will Need Ur Phone's drivers Which U have Already Installed in Rooting Process,if Not Then Read This Step.Also Enable Usb Debugging by :-Setting>>Application>>Development>>Enable Usb Debugging.
Step4(MOST IMPORTANT). Now Switch Off Your Phone.Now Select Volume Down Key With Power Key To get Into Fastboot Mode.In This Fastboot Mode U Will Stuck To Your Micromax Logo And The Device Won't Get ON.Don't Affraid Of It,As It Is a Part Of Process.Now Connect Your Phone With Computer.
Step5.Now simply Go to "Cwm Installer with one click" And Run Cwm Installer Batch File.Now A Command Prompt Will Appear And then Enter Any Key.The Process Will Start And Will Take Hardly 10-15 sec.U r done.Restart Your Phone in Recovery Mode(By Pressing Volume Up With Power Key) And Check it.
Now u May Need To take backup of ur data by cwm but u may get some problem as u cant select any option,as in that mode touch screen would not work.so u have to use volume keys to move up and down and power key for selecting any option.but still u get stuck due to older version of cwm.so u need to keep pressing volume down button untill a message appear saying "back button enabled".after that u can simply select option by power button and take backup.
Note:- Now U may Ask What is need of android tools??
So when u connect ur phone in fastboot mode to your pc then some times u will find that the batch file doesnt work,why? Because it is Still Not Connected,To verify Its Connection Go to Platform tools Folder And Hold down Shift Button And Press Mouse Right Button,U will Get Menu and There will be option Of Open Command Prompt Here,Select it And it will Open A command Window in that Folder.
Now Type Fastboot Devices And If it Shows Any Device Then It Means U Are Connected And then Run Your Cwm Installer Batch File.If No Device Is showing Then Wait For Some Time,May Be 5-10 Minutes And Try It Again And Again.As Soon It Shows,Now Its Your Turn….


text:
Eli is an expert in combining editorial storytelling, paying meticulous attention to detail and offering a unique perspective to capture all of the unforgettable moments of your life.
Named one of the "Top Wedding Photographers" and "One to Watch" by Washingtonian Bride and Groom Magazine 2011," and with over 15 years of experience as a freelance cinematographer and still photographer, Eli has crafted and honed his technical skills and mastery of lighting to provide the perfect canvas for capturing images that evoke emotion, magic and beauty.
Eli's work has been featured in numerous publications including The Washington Post, Washingtonian Bride and Groom, Engaged! and Brides to name a few. Several of his images appear in the book "Extreme Exposure" by David Nightingale and last year he was selected to photograph the player-intro video used by the Washington Wizards.
Eli's TV and film credits include: The Wire, Homicide:Life on the Streets, Minority Report, Absolute Power, Enemy of the State, America's Most Wanted and Species 2.
Proud member of:


text:
So sorry, but only 4 items are allowed for comparison, so we're comparing the first 4. I blame the gnomes and so should you.
Would you like to compare the products you have selected now?
So sorry, but this item is sold out.
You probably would've looked amazing with it too.
We do have some similar items available right now though.
Check out Womens SnowshoesView Other Similar Stuff
FEATURES of the Tubbs Women's Flex Alp Snowshoe
|Crampon Material:
|Carbon steel
|8 x 22 in.
|60.8 oz
|Frame Material:
|Heel Crampon, Lateral Crampon, Instep Crampon, Heel Lift
|Best Use:
|Snowshoeing, Winter Camping, Day Hiking, Hiking
|Max Load:
|100 - 190 lb
|Snowshoe Length:
|22 in.
|Snowshoe Terrain:
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You earn MJ$10 for every $100 you spend on Moosejaw.com or at our shops (MJ$2.50 for discounted items). That's like getting 10% back in Rewards!


text:
Most Students Not Ready For College
According to a new study, most students are not ready for college.
Researchers took a look at kids graduating from high schools in the state of Michigan and found that — in half of those schools — fewer than 10 percent of the graduates were prepared for higher education. Ouch, read more after the jump.
In order to be considered college ready, a student had to score an 18 in English, a 22 in math, 24 in science and a 21 in reading.
Some of the best districts in Michigan could only boast that about 30 percent of their students met the standards required to go on to universities.
And, nationwide, only 24 percent of the students who took college entrance exams in 2010 are considered college ready.
* Have you ever undertaken a challenge that you were definitely NOT ready for?
Did you get your driver's license — and then proceed to get into an accident the next day?
Did having a baby totally rock your world?
* Are you worried about your kids because they're getting to be 16, 17 and 18 years old and don't seem like they can handle ANYTHING?
Are you prepared for them to live with you until they're 20? 25? 35?


text:
Neil Young Has A Posse
Neil Young is releasing an interesting new project/album. On June 5th he will release "Americana" with Crazy Horse. Its a collection or folk and early rock tunes that is supposed to represent the American experience.
Along with the album he has commissioned Shepard Fairey (Andre the Giant Has a Posse, Obama "Change" poster, Exit Through the Gift shop) to create an art work for each song.
Along with the album and artwork, Neil Young has made a short film with found footage, music from the album and a few silent scenes (image above). The video also features Fairey and his artwork.
At first impression the music sounds like classic Neil Young + Crazy Horse but I love the concept of reworked Americana. It's also cool to have a Canadian write a love letter to his adoptive country (like U2's "Rattle and Hum")
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text:
Climate Denial Industry Hits Courts And Hollywood As Threats Fly
Graham Readfearn | March 10, 2013
By Graham Readfearn • Sunday, March 10, 2013 - 16:25
THE climate science denial industry doesn't like Penn State University's Professor Michael Mann very much.
Mann is the scientist behind the famous "hockey stick" graph that first appeared in the journal Nature in 1998. Mann and two other scientists Professor Raymond Bradley and Professor Malcolm Hughes had reconstructed temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere from the year 1400 to present day using data mainly from tree rings, ice cores and modern temperature readings.
The following year, the same three scientists extended their study to reconstruct 1000 years of temperatures and published this in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Each time the team plotted their data on graphs and each time the plots showed what is the now famous "hockey stick" shape with a sharp uptick in temperatures towards the end of the century.


text:
Get an overview of this hotelEdwardian London apartment in Marylebone, walk to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
Popular property highlights
Located in Marylebone, this apartment is within a 15-minute walk of Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and Royal Academy of Music. London Zoo and Lord's Cricket Ground are also within 1 mi (2 km).
Property Features
Along with express check-in, this smoke-free apartment has express check-out and multilingual staff. WiFi in public areas is free.
Room Amenities
All apartments are individually decorated and offer free WiFi and hair dryers. Guests will find kitchenettes with refrigerators, stovetops, and microwaves.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!Opens in a new window
MStay 146 Suites
Apartment Amenities
Apartment Amenities
MStay 146 Suites features multilingual staff, express check-in, and express check-out. Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access.
MStay 146 Suites is a smoke-free property.
- Total number of rooms - 21
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Number of floors - 4
- Multilingual staff
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- Free WiFi
- Year Built 1995
- Smoke-free property
- Number of buildings/towers - 2
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Free Wi-Fi
- Kitchenette
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Room Amenities
- Premium TV channels
- Premium bedding
- Air conditioning
- Kitchenette
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Shower only
- Cribs/infant beds (surcharge)
- Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Stovetop
- Digital TV service
- Free WiFi
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Individually furnished
- Individually decorated
Nearby Things to Do
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Bicycle rentals nearby
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please note them at check-out when you book your room.
- Accessible bathroom
Apartment Policies
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Minimum check-in age is 17
Check-in time ends at midnight
Special check-in instructions:
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! One child 5 years old or younger stays free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available for GBP 30.0 per night.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available for GBP 15.0 per night.
- Pets not allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- No onsite parking is available.
- The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
No elevators
Noise-free rooms not guaranteed
This property charges a one night non-refundable fee on group bookings of 3 or more rooms, and any booking of 5 or more nights. For more details, please contact the office using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking
Optional extras
- Crib (infant bed) fee: GBP 15.0 per night
- Rollaway bed fee: GBP 30.0 per night
Apartment Name
- MStay 146 Suites Apartment London
- 146 Suites Apartment
- 146 Suites Apartment London
- 146 Suites London
- 146 Hotel London
- 146 Suites London, England
- MStay 146 Suites Apartment
- MStay 146 Suites London
- MStay 146 Suites London England
- 146 Suites
We should mention
One child 5 years old or younger stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.


text:
When Cynthia Williams needed to visit her ailing stepdad in Virginia, she bought tickets on United through Travelocity. Her stepdad's sister, her Aunt Roberta, was going to fly out with her.
Much more quickly than expected, Williams' stepdad passed away, and Williams ended up traveling from California to Virginia sooner than planned. Unfortunately, it was not to say goodbye, but to pay her final respects at his funeral.
Aunt Roberta couldn't make it to the funeral, so United issued a credit that she planned to use at a later date. Then, in a second blow to the Williams family, Aunt Roberta passed away four months later.
If you've ever had the misfortune of losing a loved one, you probably know that the administrative hassles following someone's death are unrelenting. They serve as a constant reminder that life is not tidy, nor is the business of closing out someone's affairs.
But this situation shouldn't be that tough. United has a policy allowing refunds when a passenger dies. In fact, United granted Williams' refund request shortly after its submission.
So what's the problem? Well, United refunded the money back to Travelocity, who has yet to issue the credit back to Williams. She has been waiting nearly eight weeks for the refund to which she already knows she is entitled.
Is Williams being unreasonable? Absolutely not.
But her case highlights a very real problem in the travel industry when a customer uses an online travel agency, such as Travelocity.
The company is happy to immediately debit your card to hold your reservation. But the moment you are issued a refund by the airline, hotel or other travel merchant, the refund process is slow as molasses. Because Travelocity is just a middle man, it has to wait for the refund from the airline before issuing a refund to you, which can sometimes take as long as one to two billing cycles (i.e., 30 to 60 days).
This situation is not unique to Travelocity; it happens with most online travel agencies. In fact, a consumer whom I helped secure a refund three months ago is still being given the runaround by her online travel agency, being told she'll have to wait another 60 days.
All of this begs the question — why use online travel agencies?
I have no idea. I travel for both work and leisure, and have never considered buying a travel package from an online travel agency. It has been my experience that airlines, hotels and rental car companies provide better service to customers buying directly from them. The reason? They can see in their computer system where you purchased your travel, by virtue of the fare code or other reservation notes.
When you deal directly with the company, should you need to make a change or cancel your reservation, they can help you directly, without saying, "You know, I would do it for you, but you bought with Travelocity, and they issued the ticket. Go ask them." Happens every single day.
I have no doubt Williams will eventually receive her refund, but how long is too long to wait? When she asked for our help, she wrote, "Normally I would be more patient and persistent myself before asking for help, but I have had to deal with four deaths in my family since August, and really don't have any energy to spare for an issue like this." Fortunately, our advocacy team does have the energy.
Update: Two days after this story was published, Travelocity wrote to Williams to let her know that a refund of her aunt's airfare had been approved by United Airlines and processed by Travelocity, but will post in one to two billing cycles, as is customary.
So I ask you:


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Justin Bieber has unveiled his new video for As Long As You Love Me, featuring Big Sean.
Cutie-pie Bieber sports blood in the Anthony Mander-directed mini-movie, thanks to Kill Bill actor Michael Madsen, who plays Bieber's girlfriend's dad. He thinks Bieber is "a boy," and "not a man." And he worries that Bieber will "break her heart." He tells Biebs to stay away.
But our love-stuck star continues to try to reach her - via payphone! - and winds up getting beaten up.
Sign up for Lifeline Live e-mail alerts


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Mr. sixth man, Rodney Stuckey, definitely had an interesting season in the Motor City. He had solid numbers and was fairly consistent, playing in 73 games for the Pistons this past season.
There is no doubt about what you are getting each season, the guy is a scorer. He has spent his entire seven-year career in Detroit, and has only averaged single digit points one time, his rookie year. He clearly has a natural ability for putting the ball in the basket, something every team needs in the NBA. He averaged just under 14 points per game this year, a solid number considering his playing time was reduced to get a look at some younger players. His .436 field goal percentage was a respectable number that shows he was clearly one of the better shooters on the team.
Believe it or not Stuckey is the longest tenured player on the Pistons, and is clearly a veteran presence on the team. He knows his role, and does a good job of staying in it. He could start, and log more minutes for plenty of teams in the NBA (He may just do that if he signs elsewhere in free agency), but in Detroit Stuckey knew he was coming off the bench. His job was to come in, provide offense, and lead the second unit, all things he did very well.
It's a nice story that Stuckey has been with the Pistons his whole career, but now that his contract is up, it is time to determine his real value. Stuckey's main flaw is that he can't shoot the three ball. He shot 27% from deep last season, and has a 29% mark for his career from behind the arc. Essentially, Stuckey gets his points in the mid-range game, a rarity in the modern NBA. He offers little floor spacing because defenders can sag off him, and defend him from the 3-point line in. Spacing is the first thing new head man Stan Van Gundy is looking for on offense, which doesn't bode well for Stuckey staying in Detroit.
Stuckey also doesn't offer much defensively. He always seems to be so locked in on the offensive side of the game, and pays defense little mind. He will need to be a part of a team-first defensive effort if the Pistons are going to turn it around in the future.
It really could go either way with Stuckey. He could be re-signed (He would have to take much less than the 8.5 million he's been making), or the Pistons could let him walk in free agency. He just doesn't seem to be a fit in what Stan Van Gundy is trying to incorporate offensively. SVG wants 3-point shooters to surround Andre Drummond, not mid-range jump shooters, and certainly not for 8.5 million a year. If he does leave in free agency, teams will know what they are getting with Stuckey. He has proven year after year he knows how to get buckets.Tags: Andre Drummond, Basketball, Detroit, Detroit Pistons, NBA, Rodney Stuckey, Stan Van Gundy


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SPORTS >> Centennial Bank repeats at Classic
Leader sportswriter
Cabot Centennial Bank has found something to break up the monotony of the long summer baseball season adversity.
It began with a 7-6 loss to Sheridan junior in the first round of the annual Sheridan Wood Bat Classic when Cabot was faced with a depleted pitching staff, and continued on Sunday when head coach Jay Darr had to sit out the tourney championship due to the Arkansas Activities Associations athletic dead period.
Through all of that, Cabot (8-6) found a way to win its final four games, including a 4-1 victory over Gurdon in the championship game, on the way to capturing its second consecutive crown at the Wood Bat Classic. Centennial Bank benefited from complete game performances by Cole Nicholson, Josh Brown, Andrew Reynolds and Tyler Erickson from Friday through Sunday, and a heads-up job of substitute coaching on Sunday by Cabot junior assistant coach Chris Gross, who didnt even know hed be taking over head coaching duties until late Friday.
Chris did an excellent job of leading them, said Darr, Hes been an assistant with the junior team, which means he hasnt worked with the senior bunch hardly at all. It was a team effort all the way. Our pitching and offense were clicking.
The dead period prohibits contact between any coach connected to a high school in the state and their athletes for two weeks.
Because Darr volunteer coaches for the Cabot High School Panthers baseball team under Jay Fitch, the AAA said he was subject to the rule. The dead period also affects junior legion coach Andy Runyan, who also teaches and coaches two sports at CHS.
If all that werent enough, Cabot on Sunday didnt have Drew Burks and his .389 average for either of its games. Burks played Thursday through Saturday, but reported to Fayetteville on Sunday to take part in High School All-Star week, where he will play for the East All Stars in the East-West baseball game at Baum Field on Wednesday.
An 11-4 win over Sylvan Hills early Sunday put Centennial Bank in the championship game, where they took on a stout Gurdon team. Gurdon had knocked off zone dominators North Little Rock in the semis.
Erickson got the nod to throw the title game, and came through with a complete-game, five-hit performance. Ty Steele led the way offensively, going 3 of 3 at the plate. Sam Bates, Matt Turner and Joe Bryant all recorded RBIs for Centennial Bank.
Cabot outscored its opponents 42-13 through five games at the Wood Bat Classic.
The guys were going through the summer league motions. We just werent playing as a team, said Darr. I challenged them after we lost on Friday. I told them that we could be a sound team, but we werent living up to our potential. They responded.
Our pitchers shut down their opponents, and everyone stepped up to the plate and hit well.
The rebound began with Cabots second game of the tourney in a 4-1 win over Pine Bluff/White Hall. Cole Nicholson went seven innings and allowed only four hits, and Burks provided the offensive punch with a 3-of-4 performance, which included a home run. Joe Bryant went 2 of 4 with a double, an RBI and a run. Bates was also 2 of 4 with a run.
Cabot hammered Hot Springs 17-1 on Saturday behind Sam Bates two doubles and three RBI. Joe Bryant was 2 of 3 with a double and an RBI, while Turner was 2 of 2 with two RBI and two runs.
Brown went the distance in the run-ruled contest, allowing only three hits through five innings.
A nine-run fourth inning propelled Centennial Bank over Sylvan Hills in the semifinal matchup on Sunday. Reynolds got the win after giving up five hits and three earned runs, while striking out seven.
Matt Turner led the offense with a 3-of-5 showing, driving in four. Joe Bryant was 3 of 5 with a double and two runs, while twin brother Powell Bryant was 2 of 4 with an RBI.
Darr said he hopes the prestigious crown will give his up-and-down club some momentum for the rest of the summer.
I think now that they see what we can do and what we are capable of accomplishing, anything else will seem like a failure, said Darr. This team has a lot of pride, and I think that will continue for the rest of the year.
A solid start to the Sheridan Wood Bat Classic ended in disappointment for Sylvan Hills over the weekend.
The Optimist Bruins seniors handily beat Stuttgart 8-0 in the first round on Thursday and held on to beat a stubborn Benton team 4-3 on Friday, but fell 10-2 to Maumelle and 11-4 to Cabot in their final two matchups at the annual tourney. Sylvan Hills is 10-6 on the season.
Anytime you get to use wood bats, its a good experience, said longtime Bruins coach Mike Bromley. You find out what kind of swing you have with a wood bat. You can get away with a lot of stuff with a metal bat that you cant with wood. Plus, I think the kids enjoy using the wood bats.
Jordan Spears led the way against Stuttgart with a two-run home run. Korey Arnold earned the win at the mound, and also contributed offensively with two hits. Casey Cerrato had a hit and also reached two other times on walks, and Gino Jameson finished with a double.
Nathan Eller threw a strong game against Benton on Friday, allowing only three hits. Those hits all came late, and Benton rallied in the seventh inning after the Bruins claimed a 4-0 lead early.
Sylvan Hills got all four of its runs in the top of the second, and held Benton scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bruins gave up one run in the fifth, and two more in the seventh before closing the deal.
After falling to Maumelle on Saturday, the Bruins gave up nine runs on just three hits in the fourth inning in a loss to Cabot in the semis on Sunday.
Weve got to start making the routine plays, said Bromley. If youre making the routine plays, you give yourself a chance to win. If you cant, youre in trouble. Weve been kind of up and down so far. Some games we play pretty good, other games we dont do very well.


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Boston Links: Education: Two-Year
Two-year colleges
Add a listing to the Two-year colleges page
Bay State College
Bunker Hill Community College
Dean College
Fisher College
ITT Technical Institute
"Offers technology-oriented associates degree programs in information technology, electronics technology and drafting and design."
Laboure College
Catholic nursing and health-care programs.
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Massachusetts Communications College
Massasoit Community College
Middlesex Community College
Mt. Ida College
North Shore Community College
RETS Technical Center
Offers career training in electronics, refrigeration, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and medical assistanting.
Roxbury Community College
Urban College of Boston
Non-traditional, multicultural college chartered by the state Department of Higher Education in May 1993 to grant associate degrees in Human Services Administration, Early Childhood Education and General Studies.
Freshness date: This page was last updated on: Thu Dec 31 2009 at 09:22:16.


text: With a 9 year old at home, it's no surprise that dinnertime convos often revolve around the world of MMOGS. I'm just not totally able to wrap my head around Minecraft and Roblox (though I do appreciate the retro graphics!) But I just stumbled upon this new Kickstarter project, a Jane Austin based MMOG that's filled with gossip, intrigue and Regency period dress. I thought it was a pretty cool idea to take classic literature into the immersive world of these games, and am going to give it a shot. It's sort of a 19th century upper crust Real Housewives online. (cringe, love). If they meet their goal, the game will feature quests, families, mini games and lion's share of intrigue. They're 1/3 of their way there on their goal of $100,000. Bravo? http://kck.st/19DPaVY.


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The post contains affiliate links. Girl. Listen. I've only really ready one book this year. How crazy is that? Last year, I fell in love with reading. I read over 50 books and was totally feelin' myself. Insert 2016 and uh…yeah. You've heard me complain about it but I'm still struggling in the sleep department. I mean, how well can… Read More
Which holiday makeup collections are you the most excited about?
Hey y'all! Hi from me and my Lipstick League sisters. Check out these hot posts circulating the web. we heart this – Stef shares her before and after pics from her CoolSculpting sessions (a procedure which literally freezes fat away.) You'll be amazed at the results! Beauty Junkies Unite – Amber is crazy about these 7 new affordable SEPHORA Favorites… Read More
Baby's First Visit to Disney and Our Farewell to The Main Street Electrical Parade
I was going to go. And then I changed my mind. Nope. I HAD to go. HAD to. Decided to go again. And then changed my mind. We're going. I don't know what it is about motherhood that has made me so dang nervous about everything. Old me never hesitated when it came to doing last minute adventures. But when… Read More
Tales of an Undomestic Woman…
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Maker of OxiClean™ through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about their Max Force™ Laundry Stain Remover, all opinions are my own. It happened. The entire world watched it happen on live television. Here I am, in my element, in the zone, doing my thang when… Read More
ZOYA Urban Grunge Collection
ZOYA is giving us another funky collection of 6 creams and 6 metallic holos. It's considered a Fall/Winter collection and I'm pretty sure you'll find something in this collection that speaks to you. ZOYA provided me with this press sample not too long ago and I was excited to give them a whirl. Are you drooling yet? Wyatt is a… Read More
Lupita Nyong'o in Vogue's October 2016 Issue Has Made My Life
You guys. I mean, my goodness…I don't even feel the need to do too much writing in this post because I just want you to look at these beautiful pictures. They tell enough of a story. Do you know who Lupita is? If you don't, I guarantee that you'll know a little bit about who she is just by these… Read More
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Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan Tony Abbott came to Afghanistan on Monday to signal the end of the 12-year military mission and declare Australia's longest war had failed to secure victory.
But he declared it a job well done and that it was time for the troops to come home.
Accompanied by Labor leader Bill Shorten, in what is the only bipartisan visit since Australia first sent troops 12 years ago, the Prime Minister did not believe victory could be claimed, but that a positive difference was made.
"Australia's longest war is ending, not with victory, not with defeat, but with, we hope, an Afghanistan that is better for our presence here," he told assembled troops at the Tarin Kowt base.
"Our armed forces and our officials have done their duty. That duty never ends, although our duty here has."
The Abbott government is also likely to adopt a hard line toward aid for Afghanistan after the last Australians leave next month.
While the previous Labor government declared Australia would maintain a strong aid presence beyond the withdrawal, Fairfax Media understands the Abbott government is not so keen.
There will be some assistance, but a portion of the more than $4 billion in cuts to the aid budget the Coalition promised before the election would be at the expense of Afghanistan.
Abbott's last visit to Afghanistan
It is in recognition that with the Western forces gone, the country will resort to its centuries-old practice of being controlled by warlords.
One condition the Abbott government is keen to place on the spending of aid money is that the government have at least some say in its disbursement.
In post-occupation Afghanistan, where the Taliban is expected to assume a dominant role, that is not considered a reality.
Mr Abbott visited Afghanistan three times as opposition leader, the most of anyone in that position.
This visit, conducted with the now-customary surprise and secrecy, will be his last, and the last of any Australian prime minister.
Australia's commitment to Afghanistan has lasted four prime ministers and six opposition leaders and has cost the nation 40 men killed, more than 200 wounded and close to $8 billion.
Australia still has about 1000 personnel at Tarin Kowt, the base in the Uruzgan Province. All are due to be home by Christmas.
Beyond that, an undefined number of Special Forces will remain.
They will relocate to Kandahar and Kabul and act as "trainers".
A great homecoming for Australian troops
During Monday's visit, Mr Abbott and Mr Shorten both laid wreaths during a ceremony to mark the imminent withdrawal and the lead role Australia has had since 2010 in looking after Uruzgan province.
Present at the ceremony were representatives from those nations which had variously served alongside Australian troops – the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States, Slovenia, France and Singapore.
Mr Shorten also addressed the troops.
"The troops have taken the vow of absence and risk and of distance from families," he said.
"There are no words to thank you for the sacrifice and the ordinariness of the life we take for granted.
"It will be a great homecoming for a tremendous job."
The ceremony was held around the Camp Holland memorial wall which features the names of the 40 Australians who died, along with another 74 US, Dutch and French troops who died in Uruzgan.
Controversially, the withdrawal plans included painting over the names and the three large concrete panels on which they are inscribed will be broken up and buried.
There were suggestions the wall could be replicated in Australia and an announcement was expected late on Monday night Australian time.
One claim of success from the visiting delegation is that the Australians have overseen the construction of more than 200 schools in Uruzgan, of which 26 were for girls.
However, questions remain unanswered as to how many are still functioning.
Mr Abbott told the troops the withdrawal would be "bitter sweet".
Sweet because hundreds of soldiers will be home for Christmas, bitter because not all Australian families have had their sons, and fathers and partners return".
Afghan Interior Minister Mohammed Omer Daudzai told the ceremony the Australians "have been the best" of all who had served in the country. "What ever they have been doing here ... they have always put the Afghan people first."
Some threats still exist
Uruzgan governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada said security in the province had "improved a lot" but "some threats still exist" and it fell to Afghan security forces to ensure next year's elections can be held.
Outgoing Afghan President
"I am not happy to say that there is partial security. That's not what we are seeking.
"What we wanted was absolute security and a clear-cut war against terrorism."
He said his priority before stepping down was to bring peace and security to Afghanistan. This includes a power-sharing deal with the Taliban.
The Australian Financial Review


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Cam Newton and the Panthers rolled up over 500 yards on Chicago's defense last week, and had trouble corralling WR Steve Smith. Is that a direct indictment of the Bears' defense? Is there concern in Chicago with Detroit's receiving corps and Calvin Johnson?
-The Bears have dealt with injuries to their starting safeties, but overall, it is an indictment of the defense. In man coverage, the cornerbacks are getting beat on a fairly regular basis. The front four haven't been able to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And the team is giving up big chunks of yardage on the ground.
Now they face arguably the best receiver in the game in Calvin Johnson. Bears coaches are very concerned about Megatron, especially since Steve Smith and Greg Jennings have lit up the defense the past two weeks. Opposing tight ends have also had a lot of success, so there should be plenty of opportunities for Brandon Pettigrew as well.
DT Ndamukong Suh
Tom Dahlin/Getty
The Panthers only tallied one sack against Cutler, but Chicago's offensive line has dealt with injuries and has caught the brunt of criticism this season. Are they as shaky as advertised? How has a Mike Martz offense that relies upon time in the pocket adapted?
-The offensive line is without its best player, Gabe Carimi, and the coaches have to do some shuffling on the right side. That said, the group has looked much more in sync the last two games. Still, the Bears haven't faced anyone as dominant as Ndamukong Suh, so I expect the Lions to get good pressure on Cutler.
Martz has slowly been dialing back the seven-step drops but he still puts his quarterback in harm's way too often. The best way for the offense to avoid getting Cutler killed is to run the ball successfully.
Speaking of Martz, his aerial attack didn't put up any points against the Panthers and Jay Cutler enters the Monday night contest with a 77.8 QB rating -- 26th in the league. Is that a reflection of the team's lack of receivers, protection, or a combination of both? Is he on the hot seat in Chicago?
-It's a reflection of a few things. Cutler was getting hurried, rushed, sacked and generally beaten up through the first three weeks. It's hard to gain yards through the air when your signal caller is on his back.
Martz bailed on the run for two straight games, forcing Cutler to throw more than 40 times in each contest. Opposing defenses didn't have to worry about the run, which made it easy for them to shut down the pass.
And the receivers have not played well at all. The constant blitzing gave the wideouts a lot of one-on-one matchups with corners and safeties, yet they couldn't do anything with those matchups and failed to get open. There has also been a ton of drops so far, probably a side effect of having Roy Williams on the team.
PR Devin Hester
Scott Cunningham/Getty
Unlike most individuals at his position, Devin Hester continues to get better with age. What is the secret to his success, and just how valuable is he to Chicago's 2011 season?
-The Bears use special teams as a way to beat opposing teams and not just as a transition from offense to defense. Because of that, only Matt Fore is more valuable as a point-scorer than Devin Hester. Hester's combination of speed and field vision on punt and kick returns is unmatched in the NFL.
Yet a lot of his success is due to special teams coordinator Dave Toub, one of the best in the business. His special teams units annually rank at or near the top of the league. Hester and Toub will continue to have success for as long as the two are together.
What is the perception in Chicago, both in the locker room and in the media, of Detroit's 4-0 start?
-At 4-0, there is some surprise, but it's not shocking. The Lions bandwagon started getting pretty full this offseason and it appears at capacity now. Everyone knows they have a talented roster and will continue to have success for as long as Stafford stays healthy.
The most surprising aspect of their 4-0 start is the manner in which they've won their games. Three road wins so far is one more than they had all of last season and their ability to comeback from big second-half deficits the past two games shows a lot of heart and desire.
Follow me on Twitter: @BearReport
Jeremy Stoltz is publisher of BearReport.com. Nate Caminata is publisher of RoarReport.com.


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"Jersey Shore" House Is STD Central
For all those folks out there who like to "Gym, Tan, Laundry," the highlight of last night's MTV Movie Awards actually came during the pre-show, where viewers were treated to the first 10 minutes of "Jersey Shore" season two. In the clip, the cast members begin the road trip to Miami—Pauly D and the Situation get their car stuck in the mud while setting off fireworks and J-Woww and Snooki get hit on by a clueless South Carolina boy. The clip was actually pretty cute, and a good reminder that this crew is fascinating even when they're not trashed and hooking up in hot tubs. Speaking of, one of the most common questions I heard after the first season of the show was, "How do they not get STDs?" Well, apparently, they do. All the time. The Hollywood Reporter ran a round table discussion between Dr. Drew Pinsky of "Celebrity Rehab" and SallyAnn Salsano, a creator of "Jersey Shore," over the weekend. In the interview, Salsano said, "I do a full medical [for cast members] but I also do a lot of STD stuff." Dr. Drew responded, "Everyone on the set has to take [herpes medication] Valtrex." To which Salsano said, "We hand it out like M&Ms! 'Hey kids, it's time for Valtrex!' It's like a herpes nest. They're all in there mixing it up." Eek. If you ever needed more motivation to stay away from Pauly D, the Situation, and Vinnie, let that be it. [NY Post]


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Rent Wreck of the Medusa 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Alexander McKee. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Skyhorse Publishing.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our tutors now.


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Did Rick Warren, the nation's top religion newsmaker in many year-end wrap-ups, inspire $900,000 in donations to his Saddleback Church ministry with an 'urgent' fund-raising plea in the last two days of 2009?
I'd guess yes. His latest note to nation's sixth largest congregation announces his weekend message will be titled "The Miracle." We'll find out more once the worship service cycle commences.
But we can expect more than just a celebration. In classic Warren fashion, he's got some familiar digs -- and some fair digs -- at the media and critics in store as well. His letter to Saddleback says:
In spite of a media culture that thrives on bad news and is typically clueless about how churches actually work, and in spite of hatefulness and insults by some who immediately jumped to wrong conclusion -- the church of God marches on, and once again God surprises all of us! I am humbled to have been your pastor for 30 years.
Clueless. I'll take that hit.
My earlier post should have added the context that many churches make Christmas season financial pitches. This is when the needs -- as well as the accomplishments -- of the ministry can be presented to the maximum holiday crowds. Synagogues, which don't do weekly collections, do something similar: During the fall High Holy Days season, leaders emphasizes an annual "dues" request for people to support the year-round service and education programs of the congregation.
Throughout the hundreds of comments so far on my Thursday post, many have stood up for Saddleback, taking note of it's world-reaching efforts to serve others -- many of them mentioned in the post.
Warren and the Saddleback congregation have gotten massive credit for Saddleback Forums on civil issues and HIV/AIDS, for the outreach to Africa pioneered by himself and his wife. Those are the qualities that likely prompted Barack Obama to invite Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration.
Warren also frequently speaks of the radiating impact of Saddleback across the state. Yet he also claimed to be shocked and unfairly criticized when his video message to the church supporting Proposition 8, which overturned the legalization of gay marriage in California, got circulation beyond the congregation. Can't a pastor just speak to his flock, he complained?
Warren is a marketing wiz who studied at the knee of business greats on how to get a message out far and wide. He wants the world to see what motivated Christians can do to serve the souls and bodies of those in need.
He uses the media astutely whenever he chooses:
-- Warren's open letter to the pastors of Uganda, asking them to step up and oppose a bill to criminalize homosexuality in that nation with draconian penalties, is posted on YouTube.
-- His blockbuster Bible handbook, The Purpose-Driven Life, would have knocked the socks off best-seller lists if every pastor he ever trained bought five copies. Instead, it seemed like everyone did.
--When Warren launched his newest book this year, The Hope You Need, he held a global competition for the art design for the cover.
So... why can't this orginal pastor find an original way -- one that wouldn't make him look like a poor-mouthing caricature -- to bring Saddleback's very typical recession season budget shortfall to the attention of the congregation? Or would that deprive the atypical media star of a chance to appear as a media victim?
This brings us to his charge that the media "thrives on bad news." I'll pass. News is good news, bad news and change. It's what's different than yesterday or a minute ago. We all, including Warren, thrive on it.
While the pastor celebrates a "miracle" and takes the media to school, he might perhaps take a lesson for 2010: He's news all the time now.
Can Rick Warren opt out of the headlines? How do you define "news" or "miracle?"
Cathy Lynn Grossman is too fidgety to meditate. But talking about visions and values, faith and ethics lights her up. Join in at Faith & Reason. More about Cathy.
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|From: Marco Morazan (morazanm at gmail.com)
Date: Wed May 18 13:37:35 EDT 2011
Todd, In addition to Matthias' observations: > (define free-vars-list > (lambda (body) > ( > (if (list? body) (append (free-vars-list (car body)) (free-vars-list > (cdr body))) > (cases expression body > ;; When we have a var-exp, return the variable > (var-exp (id) id) > (primapp-exp (prim rands) (append(free-vars-list > (car rands)) (free-vars-list (cdr rands)))) > (if-exp (test-exp true-exp false-exp) > (append (free-vars-list test-exp) > (free-vars-list true-exp) (free-vars-list false-exp))) > ... There is some confusion here about what body is. Writing down a contract, as done in EOPL, would be helpful to you and to those reading your code. You are testing if body is a list or an expression. Why? It should always be the case that body is an expression. In other words, free-vars-list ought to be a function that processes expressions and calling it with a list ought to be a mistake. I also add the observation that not all vars may be free. Your code seems to assume that when it is called with a var-exp. HTH. -- Cheers, Marco
|Posted on the users mailing list.


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Dead Space 3 Awakened DLC Announced
Visceral's Dead Space 3 only just arrived today, but the developer already has plans in store for the first bit of add-on content.
Visceral's Dead Space 3 only just arrived today, but the developer already has plans in store for the first bit of add-on content.
The release date for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate is fast-approaching, so have a few pieces of artwork and a handful of screenshots to tide you over.
Hang on to your wallets, folks, because Skylanders SWAP Force is coming.
There's nothing wrong or inherently bad about being a magpie artist. Quentin Tarantino famously steals from his favorite films (the good ones and the bad ones). The real test is if you do it well. Rob Zombie's latest 'The Lords of Salem' looks familiar, but is this good Zombie or bad Zombie? Now there's a new trailer and poster.
If you're a PlayStation 3 owner who's going to slice it up in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, you should be excited to know that you'll be getting an exclusive downloadable content pack!
Following the continued success of the Skylanders franchise, Activision appears to be ready to expand the line with four new titles.
Capcom has released a new trailer detailing the creation of the score for Dontnod's Remember Me.
We finally get an up close and personal look at the monsters infecting the wastelands in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us.
Tonight's Super Bowl will be graced by the God of War!
She's an electric guitar-playing, time-traveling, witch hat-wearing fighter who fights in a suit made out of red leather. Now tell us, is there anything that's not awesome about Guilty Gear's I-No, today's featured cosplay?
It's not October and Pokemon X and Y isn't out yet? What do you mean?! Guess we'll have to slake our Poke-thirst with more awesome Pokemon fan art.


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Sam's Sparkler 2011
Sunny Hills Services
Friday, November 4, 2011 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (PDT)
Event Details
Thanks to overwhelming support, Sam's Sparkler 2011 is sold out. If you would like to be on our mailing list for next year, please contact us at email@example.com or 415.457.3200 x118
Sunny Hills Services invites you to join us for a fun and elegant evening at Sam's Anchor Café, a favorite waterfront restaurant on the San Francisco Bay. More than 20 champagne and sparkling wine vintners will be pouring their finest bubblies for your tasting pleasure. Your evening will also include a fresh oyster bar and a variety of the chef's special hors d'oeuvres to complement the wonderful wines! We anticipate a sell out crowd, so make sure to purchase your tickets early.
Event Questions? Prefer to pay by check? Call us! 415.457.3200 x118
When & Where
Sam's Anchor Cafe
27 Main Street
Friday, November 4, 2011 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (PDT)
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Sunny Hills Services
Sunny Hills is a regional child welfare organization dedicated to protecting, serving, nurturing and healing at-risk children and adolescents.


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Lesotho is among the most dangerous countries for pregnant women. From conception to delivery, daunting terrain, sparse medical facilities, and cultural barriers make it difficult to access proper health care. In the Mountain Kingdom, for every 100,000 live births, 1,155 women die from pregnancy-related complications, giving Lesotho one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world, according to recent estimates from Measure DHS, a USAID-funded project that collects health data in 90 countries.
But Malineo Sethobane is helping change that. The 50-year-old mother of five began working for Partners In Health/Lesotho in 2010 as a maternal health worker (MHW) in the village of Lipeneng. Because she's from the community she serves, Sethobane is uniquely situated to connect with women early in their pregnancy. She accompanies them over the following months to make sure they get antenatal care and deliver their children in a safe environment with trained medical staff at the ready.
In 2009, PIH/L piloted its Maternal Mortality Reduction Program (MMRP) in the village of Bobete. "I remember when we started the pilot in Bobete, we wondered 'why aren't women coming in for antenatal care?' We were told it was cultural. The assumption was that women don't want to come to a facility," recalled Dr. Hind Satti, Lesotho country director for PIH.
It didn't take long for the program to engender a drastic shift in how pregnant women seek and obtain health care. The year before the MMRP launched at Bobete Health Center, only 46 women delivered at the facility. In the second year of the program, 216 women delivered at Bobete Health Center.
In the years that followed, PIH/L bolstered its efforts in Bobete, and then expanded to seven other sites.
"Now it's very acceptable for women to come to give birth in the facilities," said Satti. "The main reason: we put in good infrastructure, we treat them with dignity, and we provide high-quality services. There had been a lack of trust … it wasn't because women didn't want to come."
Earning that trust wasn't easy. At every step of the way, Satti and her team were devising sustainable solutions to deeply ingrained problems. They met with village chiefs to build consensus that women shouldn't die while giving birth. From there, they recruited men and women and traditional birth assistants—trusted in the community, but in need of formal training—to work as MHWs. Every MHW passes through a rigorous training program tailored specifically for Lesotho.
To overcome transportation difficulties (imagine walking hours through steep mountain paths at night; now imagine doing it while in labor), PIH/L and community members built maternal waiting houses at each clinic. A few weeks before a patient's due date, she's accompanied by her MWH to one of these waiting houses. Once there, the patient can relax for the remainder of her pregnancy, knowing that she's only a few yards from trained medical professionals.
Sethobane and the hundreds of other MHWs are the backbone of PIH/L's MMRP. They form an essential link between the community and the health center, referring patients for care as needed and making sure the health centers respond to the community's needs.
At Bobete, where the program launched, the number of facility-based deliveries has increased 370 percent since 2009.
On average, MHWs are assigned 75 women. They go door-to-door each month, meeting with every client. If a woman suspects she might be pregnant, the MHW arranges a trip to the clinic for a pregnancy test. The earlier a pregnancy is confirmed, the more effective antenatal care is. MHWs are also trained to educate their communities on HIV testing and family planning.
"MMRP is an intervention that empowers women in rural areas. We're encouraging them to be productive members of society—not to sit back," Satti says. "Addressing maternal mortality is a gate for us to address all aspects of women's health—empowering women, which impacts their children's and families' health."
Not only is the program empowering, it's extraordinarily effective. Last year, more than 1,500 women delivered babies in a health care setting. PIH/L recorded more than 4,500 prenatal care visits, and conducted more than 1,700 HIV tests. At Bobete, where the program launched, the number of facility-based deliveries has increased 370 percent since 2009.
In the few years Sethobane has been working as an MHW, she's accompanied more than 11 mothers from the village to the health center and made hundreds of home visits. She says she's learned that commitment to the individual patient is vital, and that simple steps can improve the health of an entire family.
Despite these gains, Lesotho remains a challenging environment to give birth. Satti is confident, however, that the country is heading in the right direction.
"We are not going to accept any maternal deaths. It takes commitment and teamwork to make this happen. We all started with that spirit—that there is no reason a woman should die during pregnancy or giving birth," she says. "Midwives, drivers all share that spirit. Everybody is ready."


text: Hey list, I think I got this right, and it seems to work, but I just feel like there is probably a better way to override a method in IP. Some time spent googling doesn't bring anything up except for IP/C# code examples containing the override keyword. For example, I want to override the Form class' OnLoad method, so I wrote a decorator to do so. class frm(Form): def __init__(self): Form.__init__(self) def override(method): def inner(*args): base = super(Form, args[0]) #args[0] is frm instance base_method = getattr(base.__thisclass__, method.__name__) method(*args) #call our method first return base_method(*args) return inner @override def OnLoad(self, evt_args): print evt_args It doesn't do anything snazzy - just prints out the EventArgs, then calls the base class Form.OnLoad. Any thoughts? Brian -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.ironpython.com/pipermail/users-ironpython.com/attachments/20091023/5de722ee/attachment.htm>


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Drawing Heat the Hard Way
How Wrestling Really Works
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A personal and insightful look at the sport of wrestling, this memoir explores how and why professional wrestling captivates millions of loyal fans. Exposing how wrestling really workshow it is booked, promoted, reported on, and broadcast, as well as how steroids come into playthis book scrutinizes the sport's power brokers, including Dave Meltzer and Vince McMahon, and analyzes how announcers and wrestlers are reshaping the sport through illusion and spectacle that, despite mistakes and controversies, continues to win the devotion of fans. Revealing personal experiences with zeal, this tell-all is the ultimate take on what it means to be a wrestling fan from someone who understands the inner workings of the business.
ECW Press; Read online
Title: Drawing Heat the Hard Way
Author: Larry Matysik
Title: Drawing Heat the Hard Way
Author: Larry Matysik
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Convict Conditioning 2011 US$ 9.99 321 pages
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text:
Campus Safety
At Garrett College, safety on campus is of paramount importance. We make every effort to ensure a safe and secure campus for students and visitors. Our security department is available around the clock.
- In the event of an emergency, evacuation can be accomplished in an orderly and timely manner. When an alarm is activated, look for the building monitors wearing orange arm bands. They can help to guide you or to answer any questions. It is also possible to place the campus in a safe lock-down status.
- Emergency procedures are well established and our security staff is prepared to carry them out. We also coordinate with the local law enforcement agencies to provide a quick response in emergency situations.
- Routine patrols are conducted on foot and in vehicles on campus and at the residence halls.
- Escort service to the parking lots or other parts of campus including to and from the residence halls is available when needed.
- Assistance is available for vehicle problems, including flat tires, dead batteries, locked doors, etc.


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"Amazing potential...going down the drain."
- Work/Life Balance
- Culture & Values
- Career Opportunities
- Comp & Benefits
- Senior Management
Helpful (20)
I worked at Makerbot full-time
The work environment is great -- when you'd not being blindsided by incompetent, reactive calls from the top.
First off, the company basically created the market for 3d printers aimed at consumers. They were the first to offer a 3d printer priced within reach of average people; now there's a thriving market segment which does just that. Starting a whole new market (ok, segment of a market) sets some really high expectations, and is quite exciting.
Second, MakerBot's staff were (and the ones that remain still are) without exception the best team I have ever had the pleasure of working with. The average worker there is exceptional -- if not totally brilliant, then tenacious, driven, and quality-minded. This applies to both the original team and the more experienced crew who succeeded them after the first round of people were pushed out.
Getting things done there was also a pleasure -- most processes are lean, and there's not too much bureaucracy, at least compared to a large company. People were amazingly positive for the most part. At times, this was certainly the best job of my career. People liked to have fun when they weren't working hard...and often when they were.
The downsides, unfortunately, have come to outweigh the positives. Top management, especially the CEO, are in a desperate, reactive mode that threatens to destroy the company.
The worst thing is their attitude towards employees. A lot of MakerBot's previous job postings would append "-bot" to the end of the job title to be cutesy. Unfortunately, this seems to belie their understanding of employees -- it's as if they think that people should actually be treated as robots. That is: paid very little, replaced without much thought, and never listened to. It's as if they really don't understand that a company _is_ its employees -- especially a company with a team as amazing as the one at MakerBot.
MakerBot has had a very high turnover, which is absolutely unnecessary considering how great much of the experience is. Someone else here has used the term "toxic" to describe the work environment -- that is, unfortunately, the exact word for it.
Advice to Management
Value your employees and community. Rein in the Founder/CEO before he destroys everything; he's in way over his head.
I have been working at Makerbot full-time (More than a year)
Leading edge technology - in a developing marketplace. Opportunities everywhere.
Crazy startup, lots going on, growing like mad.
Advice to Management
Stay the course - hang on and great things are coming your way
Helpful (16)
I have been working at Makerbot full-time (Less than a year)
Great people doing the work.
3D printing is the future.
I've been here less than a year, but here goes:
We just launched a new product yet morale is at an all-time low - and the top brass doesn't even know that's the reality, or refuses to confront it.
Very little respect for their own community and their own employees. Complete sense of entitlement from the top brass in every interaction between company and people.
CEO is like others have said way way in over his head. He's paranoid about everyone, that they're out to get him, and completely impulsive about every single aspect of the company and the products. He won't acknowledge his shortcomings, instead he prefers to pretend to know what he's doing.
He hired his father to run the marketing team. It's very weird.
CEO has over inflated ego that is constantly fed by everyone at the company all the time. He's bought into his own BS and acts like he's Steve Jobs. He's definitely not.
Work environment is completely paranoid - people are let go constantly with little regard. Blame is always on the employees without any sincere explanations, and often leads to impulsive firings.
Management never looks inwards for -their dissatisfaction - of employee's work, expectations, and reporting structure.
Expectation that you should be extremely grateful for even having a job at all- especially at this company. That only goes so far.
No longer a startup - gone corporate, but without the trappings, only the pitfalls.
Advice to Management
what's there to say? This can't work long term, but maybe you don't care about the long term.


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Ponder foreshadowed what his opening afternoon practice of 2012 training camp would be like when he started the full-team session with a completion to tight end Kyle Rudolph on the first snap. For the first 12 passes during two different full-team sessions, Ponder didn't miss.
"My first day last year compared to this was horrible. I didn't even get that many reps," Ponder said after Friday's practice. "This year I got all the (first-team) reps. I just feel so much more comfortable with my teammates, my surroundings, this offense. It just has a completely different feel to it."
So did he, and his receivers. Even when Ponder wasn't delivering the ball precisely on target, his receivers were making him right. There was a sideline pass that Percy Harvin had to leap high to haul in. There was a seam route that Rudolph had to gather in between two safeties. There was a throw that required Jerome Simpson to adjust and make a diving catch, one that resulted in Ponder running to Simpson to congratulate him.
"He made a great catch on that. It was a crappy throw. He made me look alright," Ponder said.
But no one had more of a presence in Ponder's target repertoire than Rudolph. The 6-foot-6 tight end caught five of Ponder's first 12 completions.
"I feel like as an offense, getting the tight end the ball is where this league is going," Rudolph said. "We feel like we can create mismatches in the pass game. But any time you have guys like Percy, Jerome, Michael Jenkins, guys like that on the outside that can make plays and then Adrian (Peterson) in the backfield, they can only have so many guys in the middle of the field and we feel like we can exploit that."
Eventually, John Carlson, the tight end the Vikings landed in free agency with a five-year, $25 million contract got into the mix, but there was a clear notation of chemistry between Ponder and Rudolph, who are golfing buddies off the field.
"I think we've built up a lot of chemistry. We just click," Ponder said. "He finds ways to get open. He's such a big target. I have a lot of confidence throwing to him. This whole first day a lot of guys got open, a lot of guys made plays. I thought it was a really good first day."
It certainly was for guys names Ponder, Rudolph or Simpson.
While Ponder looked sharp, the same wasn't true of his primary backup, Joe Webb.
In the first two full-team sessions, when Ponder completed all 12 of his passes, Webb hit on only one of seven and had six straight incompletions, including four consecutive overthrows.
Eventually, Webb recovered in the third full-team session, hitting on all four of his passes there.
Simpson continued to impress in training camp, just like he had done throughout the offseason.
In addition to the diving catching he made from Ponder, he completely set up cornerback Chris Cook during individual drills, putting a stop-and-go move on him that left Cook well behind Simpson on a 40-yard completion from Webb.
"I think he's a big threat to get down the field. He's athletic, he's really fast, and he really understands how to run routes," Ponder said of Simpson. "He knows how to get open. He knows how to change speeds in the middle of his route. He understands leverage against (defensive backs). He just really, really has a high football IQ."
A few plays later, Simpson sent cornerback Nick Taylor, the converted point guard, to the ground when he tried to jam the big receiver at the line of scrimmage.
It wasn't all perfect for Simpson, however, as he and Ponder were on a different page during 7-on-7 work. Simpson cut a route short and Ponder threw over his head. Simpson raised his hand walking back to the line of scrimmage, indicating he had made the mistake.
"It was short, brief. He shared his concerns and his thoughts. I shared mine," Peterson said. "Ultimately, I knew how the conversation was going that it wasn't going to go my way no matter what I thought. But I understand the decision."
Tim Yotter is the publisher of Viking Update. Follow Viking Update on Twitter and discuss this story on our subscriber message board.


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Apollo told Creon that she could not be vanquished, till some one had expounded her riddle.
Menon talked gaily about their journey, the games to-morrow, Creon's training.
Medea comes rushing in bent upon using for vengeance the day which Creon has granted her.
Here were written names, and among them, "Creon, son of the Olympic winner Menon."
There they put Creon down, and his father and Charmides led him away to camp.
Charmides snatched his father's hand and held it tight, for Creon was one of them.
The craft of Creon and the prayers of Polynices alike prove unavailing.
Creon caught him around the waist and hurled him to the ground.
Well: I am present; but why didst thou call me with such haste, Creon?
Suddenly Creon leaped low and caught him by the leg and threw him.


text:
This is the Bluetooth device that projects a laser-generated keyboard onto any flat, opaque surface, providing an instant keyboard for any smartphone or tablet. The Class I laser device generates a 9 3/4"-wide x 4"-deep keyboard with 3/4" keys and recognizes keystrokes in three dimensions by an optical sensor that detects finger placement at different areas on the keyboard, distinguishing between a finger hovering above the space bar or a number key. An invisible infrared horizontal plane projected millimeters above the surface detects actual contact with "keys"—when the plane is interrupted by a finger, the projector assigns a keyboard character, passing it along to a paired device. Keeps pace with typing speeds up to 400 characters-per-minute. Its rechargeable battery provides up to 2 1/2 hours of operation from a 1 1/2-hour charge from AC using the included USB adapter (or three hours via direct connection to a computer). Works with iOS 4+, Android 4.0+, Blackberry 10, Windows 8/7/Vista/XP, and Mac OS X 10+. 3" H x 1 1/2" W x 1 1/4" D. (2 1/2 oz.)
Lifetime Guarantee
The Smartphone And Tablet Virtual Keyboard comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. If this product ever disappoints you, for any reason, you may return your Hammacher Schlemmer purchase for exchange, credit, or refund.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (8:00 am – midnight EST). Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at email@example.com to receive a response within three business hours or less.
Shipping charges noted in parentheses apply in addition to our standard shipping & service.
We're sorry, but gift wrap is not available. Please call 1-800-395-7006 for Premium or Express delivery rates.
Oversized items scheduled for expedited delivery (Premium or Express) may incur additional shipping and services charges because of their unusual size. Please call 1-800-321-1484 for an estimate of S&S charges. International callers, please call 1-513-860-3397.
We're sorry, but gift wrap is not available for oversized items.
Shipped via truck and may require customer assistance upon delivery. You will be contacted to make an appointment for delivery.
We're sorry, but gift wrap and gift cards are not available.
GST still applies and will be charged upon processing. For complete shipping & service charges please call Customer Service at 1-800-321-1484.
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(13 of 16 customers found this review helpful)
Excellent Virtual Keyboard
By QE Jeremy
from Collierville, TN
Best Uses
This is a very good virtual keyboard. The projection is clear and types very accurately. Very pleased with my purchase. It was shipped loosely in the box - would have preferred it was packed a little snugger.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Celebrity Canal Cruise: Celebrity Infinity Cruise Review by Arizona Budgies
Overall Member Rating
Celebrity Canal Cruise
Destination: Panama Canal & Central America
Embarkation: San Diego
Embarkation in San Diego - could have been smoother and better with more More communication. Once inside the terminal building having received our sea pass cards we were seated and assigned group number 21 at 1020am (we arrived early). Group 1 was boarded at 1130am, then groups 2,3,4,5 with our group 21 going after group 5. The ladies broadcasting the group numbers were yelling at this mass of several hundred people, no signage, no megaphones. Our group boarded at 1240pm, we ate and entered our interior cabin at 150pm. The ship left at 600pm, one hour late.
Dining: we had a table for 6, 600pm dining. All evening meals except one were taken in the MDR with Mario and Stefan as our waiters. Food quality was the best we've had on any of our cruises, service was very good as it has always been on RCI. One half of the menu was the same each night, the other half changed and provided a good variety of appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts - generally every item served was good to outstanding. Thanksgiving night was the only time our group ate in a specialty restaurant, the Qsine on deck 11. This is an very unique experience with the menu and ordering done via I-Pad, some of which did not work at all or work properly. Food in Qsine varied; mostly good to very good, some very unusual. Presentation and serving in Qsine was very unique too. We received a discount off the $45 price with discounts seeming to be available regularly depending on the night. My opinion - worth trying once. During our transit of the Panama Canal the dining staff went all out for a brunch in the MDR complete with many ice sculptures. A tremendous presentation and experience as we rode through the canal. This brunch is not to be missed. One of our snack favorites was the Café Al Bacio on deck 5 with complimentary sweets in the afternoon; the coconut cake was the best !! Our group also did a breakfast of crepes in Bistro on 5 one morning, nice atmosphere but the service seemed slow with only three tables being served. We did find the placement of the tables in the MDR a little too close, could have been further apart.
The Ship: 11 decks but a few options to go higher on a limited basis. The Infinity had a make over several years ago but has been maintained well and is kept clean. It has a short walking track open air on deck 11. The ship does not have all the glitz bells and whistles of the brand new ships but is very comfortable, attractive and a good ship with sufficient venues for music and bars for drinking options. Gym area seemed adequate, we used it one time, spa, casino, large theatre for the evening events. The ship was large enough to provide the customer what was needed but not too large.
As compared to RCI: many fewer ship wide announcements, this was good. One daily Captain's message at 10am. As this was early December, Christmas decos were put up by contractors who boarded the ship in Colon and left the ship before leaving Colon.
INTERNET & PHONE: Outrageous as expected; internet packages could be purchased that provided some savings. Using a coupon as a result of being Captain's Club Select I purchased 38 minutes for $24.95 minus a 25% discount, which was still a very high net cost per minute but was useful. Internet speed generally slow to very slow. 4500 total Nautical Miles covered in the 15 days. A bonus for us as non-smokers: very limited areas for smoking and the casino was a no smoking zone the entire trip - all of the time.
The Infinity cruiser on this sailing: Almost entirely adults, perhaps 25 children were spotted. Guessing the average age to be 60-65. Mostly US, Canadians, UK and Aussies with Asia being well represented as well.
Entertainment: I did not have high expectations for a ship this size but was surprised by the consistent strong to outstanding performances and variety we were provided with each night. Of all 15 nights of performances I would say only one was weak. The Infinity musicians were also tops. Cruise Director Pete mixed it up and did a great job of choosing some very good entertainers for our enjoyment each evening. The different lounges frequently had music of varying types so everyone could find something to like at a given lounge.
Bar drinks came with the usual 15% add on but we found happy hour pricing, 4-5pm and 4-6pm provided good options for regular inexpensive drinks of martinis and wines, some as low as $4 and martinis at $5.50 each. So a good option to avoid a large bar tab for the cruising customer. We did not find this many options for low priced drinks on a regular basis with RCI.
Ports/Itinerary: We chose this cruise primarily to experience Celebrity and do the Panama Canal. Other stops, in order, included: Cabo San Lucas, Puerta Vallarta, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, Puntarenas, C.R., Colon, Panama, Cartagena, Colombia. We did only two shore excursions; one through the ship in Colombia and an independent one with our group of four in Costa Rica in our own mini van with Chris of GioTours. Otherwise we walked off the ship at each port and did only the shopping near the port area. Having done Costa Rica with only 4 of us plus driver and guide Chris I would say no comparison with the ship's product we took in Colombia. Now I know why we try to avoid the ship's tours and it's not just because of the normally higher cost involved utilizing the ships product. One exceptional thing Celebrity did as we transited the canal on December 2nd - we were provided with an ongoing live narration by a lady working for the canal as we traveled through it from 715am until 445pm when we exited. This narration was throughout the ship and really added to the crossing. I understand some lines do not provide this narration and it made all the difference as we traveled. Being this close to the equator, our southernmost point being 7 degrees north latitude, I expected it to be hot and I was not disappointed. Being in the sun was at times brutal but Cartagena took the award for the very hottest and most uncomfortable. Also, be prepared for regular, sometimes relentless hawking by the local vendors, even if you are in a large tour group you are fair game, this is at all ports. My opinion - all of the ports were worth seeing once - though we did greatly enjoy our 7 hour tour with GioTours in Costa Rica. This cruise had a very good balance of sea days, never more than two in a row, mixed in with regular port stops.
The Crew: One thing I really appreciated about this cruise was the high profile and access to the Captain and his senior officers. The Captain could be seen almost anywhere on the ship and was easy to talk to - I spoke to him at least four times. On some cruises you never see the Captain and seldom even hear from him so this made this Captain and this sailing outstanding. The waiters, pool butlers, housekeeping were from all over the world. I would say they were friendly and helpful as a rule. At times listening closely was necessary to fully understand what they were saying.
We had only one day of 80 knot winds (per a senior crew member) so the decks were closed off and the ship was not level as it traveled, but we did not get sick. This high wind condition lasted 10 hours or so and occurred off the coast of Acapulco. On the open sea windy was the norm and somewhat bumpy - generally up on deck 11 in the open, winds were 30 mph and seas were 1-2 meters high.
I appreciated the fact that events, dining, docking and leaving ports always seemed to be on time, as scheduled, with the exception of departing San Diego. Being on time seemed to be important to Celebrity. Thank you!
Departure in Fort Lauderdale - we chose the 1st departure time of 815am, got to the Celebrity Theatre at 810am. At 850am we were instructed to move to the departure ramp, cleared customs, claimed our bags and walked outside to a long line for taxi cabs. The wait for a cab was about 20 minutes. Four of us shared one cab, it was cozy but the least expensive way to go. Fare to the Ft. Lauderdale airport was $15 plus tip for 4. Arriving at the airport at 945am we found long lines outside to do bag checks with Southwest and a long line inside as well. We chose inside to avoid the outside heat. Though the line was long it moved along and in 20 minutes we were at the ticket counter. After the ticket counter we moved to the security line with another short wait as we were designated TSA PRE SCREENED. Once inside the secure area we tracked down something to eat. All options were very busy by this time, 11am, and there were generally lines at the four or five choices. Was hard to find a table to sit at, all being occupied so we shared. Gates were all packed, you were lucky to find a seat. When 10 or so cruise ships all unload on the same morning a person must expect the airport to be packed and it was. I give credit to the airline employees, airport employees and TSA for handling all of us as efficiently as they did, there is just so much that can be done with crowds of this size. For us I will try to avoid using the FLL airport for departing in the future on a Saturday or Sunday if at all possible. Perhaps West Palm Beach or Daytona Beach should be considered.
Overall a great experience that can be highly recommended. We have already pre-booked our next Celebrity cruise for August of 2014 to take advantage of the on board reduced deposit and OBC just as Royal provides. Thanks to the staff of the Celebrity Infinity for doing such a good job on our first cruise with you. Less
Published 12/15/13
Cabin review:
Category 9 - Interior - Approximately 170 square feet, neat, clean and well maintained. We found the shower larger than the RCI showers. Cabin location was mid-ship so good for going forward or aft. Bed comfortable, room temperature good and adjustable, quiet room for sleeping.
Read Cruise Critic's Celebrity Infinity Review >>
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