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Family Halloween Events in Marin & the Bay Area
October 24, 2016Posted by pamela |
Halloween is one of our favorite holidays of year, and there's so much family fun to be found in Marin and the San Francisco Bay Area. Find a variety of family-friendly Halloween events that's right for you! We'll keep updating our list of events for Marin and beyond as we find more this fall. If you have an event you'd like to see added to the list, please contact us.
Marin and Sonoma Events
- The Amazing Maze
Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito
October 1–30
Children experience the joys and surprises of black light in this glow-in-the-dark hay maze. In this special exhibit, children are challenged to navigate a 150-bale hay maze—complete with tunnels, netting, and a slide—all under black light! In addition to the winding maze, there is a glow-in-the-dark dress-up station with white clothes and accessories for kids to try on, as well as a fluorescent Shoot-A-Hoop game. (Note: The hay used in our maze is seed-free rice straw.) Admisson applies. Location: 557 McReynolds Road, Fort Baker, Sausalito. For more info, visit their website.
- Spooky Sound Stories with Trombonist Andy Strain
San Anselmo Library, Counsel Chambers
Wednesday, October 26, 3–3:45 pm
Get in the Halloween spirit with scary stories presented by two talented musicians. Andy Strain is a professional trombonist and educator and Aaron is a master percussionist. Location: 110 Tunstead Ave, San Anselmo. For more info, visit their website.
Creepy & Crawly! Traveling Reptile Show
Larkspur Library
Thursday, October 27, 4 pm
Creepies, crawlies and other critters are visiting Larkspur Library on Thursday, October 27 at 4:00 pm. Come see lizards, chameleons, and other reptiles up close and personal! The East Bay Vivarium's Traveling Reptile Program is a fun and educational program that teaches all about the evolution and adaptation of these fascinating creatures. Please call 415-927-5005 for more information or to RSVP. Best for families with children ages four and older. Event website.
Monster Mash Dance
Civic Center Library, San Rafael
Thursday, October 27, 6–8 pm
Join us for our 2nd annual Monster Mash Family Halloween celebration. You can wear your favorite costume or your regular daytime disguise, but bring your dancing shoes. Music will be provided by Goodtime DJ, Mark Power. Light refreshments will be served. All ages welcome. If you have any questions, please call the Library at 415-473-6058. Location: 3501 Civic Center Drive, #427. For more info, visit their website.
- Novato Horsemen Haunted House
600 Bugeia Lane, Novato
October 28 & 29, 7–10 pm
Bring the kids out for a night of scare and fun at the Novato Horseman Haunted House in Novato. Admission is $5 per person. For more info, visit their website.
Halloween Music and Magic Show
Mill Valley Community Center
Friday, October 28, 4–5 pm
Thrills and chills await us a s Timothy James amazes us with his Halloween magic show. Our magician combines comedy, audience participation and amazing magic to create a spooktacular 45 minutes show for goblins ages 3 to 103. Cost: $9 general, free for kids 3 and under. For more info, visit their website.
Trunk or Treat at the Center
Mill Valley Community Center
Friday, October 28, 4:30–6:30 pm
Bring your children to the Community Center Parking Lot for a fun, safe and community Halloween event! Enjoy face painting, food truck, games, and more! Free admission. Location: 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley. For more info, visit their website.
- It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
Snoopy's Home Ice, Santa Rosa
Friday, October 28, 6–8:30 pm
Bring your blanket and pick a spot on the ball field for a night of ghoulish fun and Halloween festivities. Movie starts at dusk on the inflatable big screen. Meet Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, enjoy Halloween crafts and trivia games, and follow the trick-or-treat trail. Free popcorn and "witches brew". Costumes encouraged. At Schulz Complex Ball Field on Hardies Lane across from Snoopy's Home Ice. For more info, visit their website.
- Make an Edible Halloween Haunted House
Cake Art, San Rafael
Friday, October 28, 6:30–8 pm
Trick or Treat! Get ready for Halloween by decorating a Chocolate Cookie Dough house! Construct white chocolate and fondant ghosts and skeletons. 'Landscape' your yard with cookie crumb graves, fondant gravestones, candy bones. Light your house using tea lights. Great parent/child class. All ages welcome. Cost: $60. Location: 1512 5th Avenue, San Rafael. For more info, call (415) 456-7773 or visit their website.
- Scream on the Green
Downtown Novato
Saturday, October 29, 10 am–4 pm
Bring the entire family for the Scream on the Green Halloween spectacular in Downtown Novato. Activities include safe trick-or-treating downtown on from 11 am–2 pm, a haunted house, games, and more. Location: Sherman Avenue and the Civic Green and Novato City Hall complex. For more info, visit their website.
Halloween Boos, Bones and Walking with the Dead
Safari West, Santa Rosa
Saturday, October 29, 10 am
Join us in celebrating Halloween at Safari West and trick-or-treat through our new skeletal exhibit designed by our Osteology Team! With tricks and treats, pumpkins and skulls, bats and bones, the Safari West Halloween Spectacular is an event the whole family can enjoy together! Includes all the Spirited Halloween Fun plus a Hauntingly Tasty Taco Bar! Cost: Adults $50; Children (4-12) $25. Reserve your spot here. To make reservations, please call (707) 566-3667 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also book online here. For more info, visit their website.
- Safe Trick-or-Treat Downtown Novato
Grant Avenue, Novato
Saturday, October 29, 11 am–2 pm
The Downtown Novato Business Association will host its annual Safe Trick-or-Treat event along Grant Avenue in downtown Novato. Every year this Halloween event is popular with kids and their parents. Businesses along Grant Avenue will give out candy and there will be a variety of other fun activities at various locations downtown. This is a fun event for the entire family. For more info, visit their website.
- Halloween Trick-or-Treating Event
The Village Corte Madera
Saturday, October 29, 11 am–3 pm
Bon Air's Halloween Bash will offer center wide trick-or-treating at shops and restaurants, pumpkin decorating, face painting, balloon twisting, live music, sidewalk specials and more. Four-legged friends can get in on the fun as well by entering the pet parade and pet contest sponsored by Woodland Pets. A pet caricature artist will also be on hand to do sketches of pets. Families are encouraged to trick-or-treat so others can eat – bring non-perishable food donations to the Center in exchange for a trick-or-treat bag and help feed those less fortunate this holiday season. Bins will be set up around the center to collect the donations, which will be distributed through the Marin Food Bank. For more info, visit their website.
- Jeepers Jack-O-Lanterns
McNears Beach Park, San Rafael
Saturday, October 29, 11 am–1 pm
Join ranger staff at McNears Beach Park in carving your own spooky Jack-O-Lantern for Halloween! A limited amount of pumpkins will be available (or you're welcome to bring your own). This event is ideal for all ages. All skill levels are welcome and no experience is necessary. Dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes. We will provide supplies, smocks, and healthy snacks. We request that no pets (except service animals) attend. Park entrance is waived for participants. Meet at the snack bar. For more info, visit their website.
- Pirate Halloween Party
Falkirk Mansion, San Rafael
Saturday, October 29, 2 seatings: noon & 3 pm
Thar "Fancy Scallywag!" be Pirates in th' House. Put on your best Pirate gear, br'n your crew an' come th' Falkirk. Event includes a "pirate feast" with real pirates, treasure hunt, individual treasures, and Halloween tricks and treats! Tickets: Tickets are $20 per child and $22.50 per adult. Make reservations by calling (800) 838-3006 or visiting Brown Paper Tickets. Location: 1408 Mission Avenue at E Street, San Rafael. For more info, visit their website.
- Halloween Trick-or-Treating
Northgate Mall, San Rafael
Saturday, October 29, 12–3 pm
Participating retailers will hand out candy to costumed trick-or-treaters on Saturday, October 29 from 12-3 pm. For more info, visit their website.
- Presidio Riding Club presents: Horse Hallow
Marin Headlands, Fort Barry
October 29, Saturday, noon–5 pm
This free community event is for the entire family. Horse around with the PRC stabels for hands-on Halloween festivities. Activities include bean bag toss, kids costume contest, arts and crafts, Paint the Horses, and a BBQ at the stables. For more info, visit their website.
- Pup Parade & Costume
Marin Country Mart, Larkspur Landing
Saturday, October 29, 1 pm at George
In the event of rain, the Pup Parade and Costume Contest will be held under the big tent. For more info, visit their website.
- Not So Scary Halloween Party
Marin City Library
Saturday, October 29, 1–3 pm
Please join us for a NOT SO SCARY Halloween celebration filled with ghoulish games, spooky crafts and awesome treats! Location: 164 Donahue Street, Marin City. For more info, visit their website.
- DOGtoberfest
Strawberry Village, Mill Valley
Saturday, October 29, 3–6 pm
Strawberry Village will host its 2nd Annual DOGtoberfest featuring interactive pet related activities and resources for pet lovers and their four-legged family friends. Festivities will include free pet photos, pet sketch artist, animal rescue organizations and adoptions, police K-9 unit and more! Plus, there will be a Howl'oween Pet Costume Contest as well as free Center-wide trick or treating for kids and their families.Children accompanied by parents are invited to dress up in their Halloween costumes and trick-or-treat at participating merchants between 3-6pm. They can pick up a trick-or-treat bag in the Piazza, located near Woodlands Pet Food & Treats (while supplies last) and go on a hunt for fun, games and goodies provided by participating Strawberry Village stores. For more info, visit their website.
- Dr. Egret's Haunted Center of Fright
Corte Madera Rec Center
October 29–31, 3:30–9 pm
Three fun and scary haunted houses: Little Ghouls from 3:30–6 pm, $1 per person, Witching Hour from 6–7:30 pm, $3 per person and Mummies & Deadies from 7:30–9 pm, $5 per person. This haunted house is put on by the Corte Mader Parks & Rec. For more info, call (415) 927-5072 or visit their website.
- LEGO Halloween Workshops & Movie Night
Play-Well Marin
Saturday, October 29 (various times)
Bring the kiddos in costume to one or all of the LEGO Halloween Workshops: Creepy Crawlers 12:30–2 pm and Spooktacular Haunted Houses 3–4:30 pm. Sign up online here. Also, from 5–7 pm is a free showing of Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom! Costumes are encourages. Sign-up online for movie night here.
- Pumpkins on Pikes
Tara Firma Farms, Petaluma
Saturday, October 29, 2–10 pm
The festivities start in the afternoon with great food, music and pumpkin carving. Everyone will get the chance to display their Jack-O-Lantern on a pike in the corn field. When the sun goes down the pumpkins are lit. It is a truly heart warming feeling looking over the glowing corn field to see the individual creations of all who attend. Free pumpkin with admission. Cost: $20 per person, children 6 and under are free. You can also purchase a $10 BBQ plate too. Purchase tickets here. Location: 3796 I Street, Ext, Petaluma. For more info, call (707) 765-1202 or visit their website.
- 8th Annual Santa Venetia Halloween Party
Santa Venetia Neighborhood, San Rafael
Saturday, October 29, 5:30–8:30 pm
Featured as one of the top places to Trick-or-Treat in Marin County. Come check out what is brewing in the Witches Kitchen, wander though the Spooky Graveyard, explore the Haunted Yard, groove to our local band and check out our Massacre Disco and Game House. Not to mention there will be lots of trick-or-treating. The SRFD will be there too with the fire truck for all to check out. Location: Adrian Way between Meadow and Mabry will be closed off to all through traffic from 10am-10pm on October 29, 2016.
- Costumer Campfire Program
Sonoma Barracks, Downtown Sonoma
Saturday, October 29, 6 pm
Draw near ye ghosts and goblins! Kids and adults are encouraged to come in costume at the Barracks Courtyard for some campfire fun with a spooky nature talk, songs and, of course, a marshmallow roast. All ages, free of charge. Location: Downtown Sonoma, 36 E. Spain Street. For more info, visit their website.
- Graveyard Stroll
Lucas Valley Field, San Rafael
Saturday, October 29, 7–8:30 pm
Join rangers for a head start on Halloween! Experience this one-of-a kind program that uncovers one of Marin's most interesting but little known cemeteries. All treats (and tricks) are free. This event is ideal for all ages. Dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes. Don't forget to bring a flashlight and treat bag. Hot chocolate and snacks provided. Heavy rain will cancel the event. For more info, visit their website.
- Not Too Spooky Halloween
Habitot Children's Museum, Berkeley
Sunday, October 30, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Come to our not-too-spooky celebration for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The Museum will be transformed into a Halloween playground. Play miniature golf in the garden graveyard, paint miniature pumpkins in the Art Studio, and fly paper ghosts in the Wind Tunnel. Visit the witches' apothecary in the grocery store. Come in costume!
- Halloween Cookie Decorating
teeny cake, Novato
Sunday, October 30, 10 am–noon
Decorate A Spook-tacular Cookie Creation to Celebrate Halloween! Pricing includes 2 cookies (choice of beginner set (ghost, pumpkin) or advanced set (skull, owl), decorations & icing. All participants will be entered into a drawing to win a $40.00 gift certificate from teeny cake!Details: $10 in advance, $15 on the day of (limited supply on hand for drop-ins). Reserve your spot now. Location: 7400 Redwood Blvd. Novato. For more info, visit their website.
- Halloween Faire
Strawberry Recreation District
Sunday, October 30, 11 am–12:30 pm
Come in costume to celebrate All Hallows Eve with other wizards, witches, fairies, astronauts, and cartoon characters. Play carnival games, bounce in the jump house, enjoy the candy and prize hunt and costume parade! Fee: $8 per child; no charge for adults. For more info, visit their website.
- Kids' Costume Contest & Trick-or-Treating
Marin Country Mart, Larkspur
Sunday, October 30, 1 pm
Bring the kiddos for a costume contest, trick-or-treating, and pumpkin decorating at Marin Country Mart. For more info, visit their website.
- Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail
Downtown Petaluma
Monday, October 31, noon–1 pm & 3–5:30 pm
Join over 60 participating downtown Petaluma merchants for a fun and safe community Halloween for the entire family and goodies for costumed kids under 12. Prepare for a hautingly "ghould" time as the scary, the cute, the ugly and the creepy descend on Downtown Petaluma. For more info, visit their website.
- Sausalito Haunted House
Game Room, Sausalito City Hall
Monday, October 31, 4:15–8 pm
Come see what spooky terrors lurk in this year's inception of the annual Sausalito Haunted House. They're dying… to meet you! Haunted House schedule: child-friendly 4:15–5 pm and full haunt from 6:15–8 pm. Cost: $5 per person or $20 per family suggested donation. Location: 420 Litho Street, Sausalito. For more info, visit their website.
- Sausalito Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treat Lane
Caledonia Street & Robin Sweeny Park, Sausalito
Monday, October 31, 5:45–8 pm
Kids of all ages are welcome to come in costume for a Halloween Parade and for some trick-or-treating. Parade begins at fire station (at 333 Johnson and Caledonia) Come on down to the Sausalito City Hall, located at Caledonia and Litho Streets in Sausalito for a spooky time. For more info, visit their website.
Other Bay Area Events
- ZOOtoberFest
San Francisco Zoo
October 1–31
Every weekend in October, go on an adventure in "Harvest Hallow" for access to new and exciting attractions. Navigate through San Francisco's largest hay maze, a 5,000-square-foot structure made from 600 bales of straw and incorporates play areas within the design. Jump in the bounce house, challenge your friends to a friendly game of ring toss and use our festive Harvest Hallow setting for photo ops – all free with paid admission to San Francisco Zoo & Gardens! For kids AND adults, SF Zoo's "Zoo Brew Haus" at The Depot Grill is pouring a great selection of brews, and cooking a full smorgasbord of German-inspired dishes, like beer-braised bratwurst with Guinness mustard and Sauerkraut! During lunch, dine to the upbeat sounds of a live band playing traditional European polka music. For more info, visit their website.
- Thomas and Percy's Halloween Party
Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton
Saturday & Sunday October 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 29 & 30
Dress up for Halloween with favorites Thomas and Percy for a 20-minute train ride, entertainment, and fun filled activities for the entire family. Activities include temporary tattoos, Face Painting, Story Telling, Videos, Train Play Tables, small pumpkins for little ones, cookie decorating, photos with Sir Topham Hatt, a Thomas store, and live entertainment. Also, Thomas the Tank Engine will be able to talk to his fans! Event website.
- SuperNatural Halloween 2016
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco
Friday, October 28, 5–9 pm
Grab your costume and have yourself a ghoulishly great time trick-or-treating your way through the Academy at night, among spooky skulls and spine-tingling specimens! Early admission for benefactors at 5 pm; general admission at 6:30 pm. Tickets: $50 adults, $35 kids. For more info and tickets, visit their website.
Presidio Community Y Halloween Block Party
San Francisco
Friday, October 28, 5:30–7:30 pm
Bring your favorite ghouls, goblins, and ghostbusters to the Presidio Y Main Post gym for carnival games and treats. This year's theme is "Block Party," as in LEGO blocks, which will surely draw the crowds to activities like LEGO mask decorating, pin the head on the LEGO, and a LEGO race. Other activity stations include pumpkin decorating, face painting, bean bag toss, and a photo booth. Sugared-up kiddos can get the wiggles out in the obstacle course and bounce houses. When hunger strikes, choose from baked goods, pretzels, decorate-your-own Rice Krispy treats, and Ybike smoothies, blended using pedal power. To satisfy larger appetites, a food truck will be parked outside the gym, serving-up grilled cheese and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. Purchase tickets to pay for food and activities before the event at the Y's front desk. For more info, visit their website.
- Boo at the Zoo
Oakland Zoo
Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30, 10 am–3 pm
Stroll the Oakland zoo in costume and collect yummy treats. Ride the spooky boo train and join the dance party. Plus, get your face painted, make treats for the animals, and see how the animals at Oakland Zoo celebrate Halloween. Kids in costumes receive a free ride ticket. Event included with regular zoo admission. For more info, visit their website.
- Jack O'Lantern Jamboree at Children's Fairyland
Children's Fairyland, Oakland
Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30, 10 am–5 pm
Come in costume and enjoy a spooktacular extravaganza with unlimited rides, a parade, goody bags for kids, arts and crafts, pirate school, clowns and magicians, and much more. Cost: $10 ($5 members). For more info, visit their website.
- Boo at the Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Saturday & Sunday, October 29 & 30, 11 am–4 pm
Come to the San Francisco Zoo for a not-too-spooky Halloween family festival where you can trick-or-treat around the zoo and see the animals enjoy pumpkin treats. Take a trip through the Haunted Nature Trail, trick-or-treat, and enjoy Halloween crafts. All activities are free with admission. For more info, visit their website.
- 15th Annual Halloween Hoopla
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, San Francisco
Sunday, October 30, noon–1:30 pm
The 16th annual Halloween Hoopla features interactive performances and games for kids under 10 and their adults, and the return of the Yerba Buena Pumpkin Patch! The program culminates in the eagerly awaited Halloween Costume Parade, where everyone is welcome to show off their Halloween finery. For more info, visit their website.
- Halloween Fun at Ghirardelli Square
San Francisco
Sunday, October 30, noon–4 pm
Ghirardelli Square will be celebrating Halloween in the West Plaza with free children's activities like face painting, balloon art, caricatures, a magician, and trick-or-treating from participating stores. Additionally, Ghirardelli Square's newest tenant, Little Artistas, the San Francisco-based arts, crafts, and language studio for kids, will be crafting little monsters. For more info, visit their website.
- Family Halloween at Fort Point
Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco
Sunday, October 30, 1–6 pm
'Tis the season to explore the shadowy corners, howling winds, and creaking doors of Fort Point National Historic Site. This family-friendly afternoon is scare-free, but full of global Halloween traditions, including 19th-century historic re-enactors wandering the halls, Day of the Dead sugar skulls, face painting, s'mores, food trucks, and candlelight tours. Free. Location: Long Avenue and Marine Drive, San Francisco. For more info, visit their website.
- 5th Annual Spooktacular Halloween Party & Trick-or-Treat
Japantown, San Francisco
Sunday, October 30, 1–5 pm
Join us for some good old-fashioned free fun when the Japan Center Malls hosts a Spooktacular Halloween Party complete with mall-wide trick for treating and games, decorations, bouncy house, arts and crafts, face painting, and removable tattoos. Children in costume will be able to trick or treat in East and West Malls and to visit participating retailers for candy and surprises. Free. For more info, visit their website.
- Celebrate Halloween with Charity and the JAMband
Park Chalet, San Francisco
Sunday, October 30, 3–5 pm
This free family concert for all ages features dancing in disguise, a costume parade, and, of course, some candy. Make sure you wear a costume you can really move in. Grown-ups are encouraged to dress up, too. Location: 1000 Great Highway, San Francisco. For more info, visit their website.
- 11th Annual Harvest & Halloween Carnival
Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Geyserville
Sunday, October 30, 11 am–2 pm
Join us for a day of game-playing, costume-wearing fun. Tickets are just $12 per child (ages 14 and under). Limited tickets. Purchase tickets here. Location: 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville. For more info, call (707) 857-1471 or visit their website.
- Trick-or-Treat Fourth Street
Monday, October 31, 2–5 pm
Berkeley's Fourth Street invites all costumed kids to trick or treat on the street. Activities include facepainting, photo booth, live music and more. For more info, visit their website.


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Myth: There is conclusive evidence that the ozone layer is being depleted.
Fact: Measurements of stratospheric ozone are most likely thrown off by varying levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the atmosphere, which create the false appearance of ozone depletion. When the data for the past 30 years is corrected for SO2 interference, all evidence of ozone depletion disappears. Furthermore, it is well established that solar activity, stratospheric weather patterns, and extreme cold can cause variations in the ozone layer.
Myth: Support for the banning of CFCs is based solely on environmental need.
Fact: Chemical companies stand to benefit from the ban on CFCs. Specifically, the duPont corporation, which currently supports the CFC ban, stands to make a killing by patenting and selling expensive replacements to CFCs.
Myth: Depletion of the ozone layer increases the risk of deadly skin cancers.
Fact: Depletion of the ozone layer has no effect on the risk of deadly skin cancers. The ozone layer blocks UV-B radiation, but it does not block UV-A. UV-A radiation has been linked to malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. UV-B has been linked to only two basic types of skin cancer, both of which are unsightly and irritating, but neither of which is deadly.
Myth: Loss of ozone has caused an increase in the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface.
Fact: The amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface has been declining. Measurements taken by the National Cancer Institute have shown that during two test periods (1974 - 1979 and 1980 - 1985) the amount of UV-B reaching the Earth's surface has decreased an average of .7% per year.
Information from Environmental Overkill by Dixy Lee Ray (Regnery Gateway, 1993); Dr. S. Fred Singer in Chemical and Engineering News, July 12, 1993.
Issue Date: August 20, 1996
Talking Points on the Economy: Environment #23, published by The National Center for Public Policy Research, 501 Capitol Ct NE, Washington, D.C. 20001 Tel. (202) 507-6398, Fax (301) 498-1301, [email protected], http://www.nationalcenter/inter.net.
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<<< Return to the NCPPR Home Page

subset: commoncrawl


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New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) A Delhi Police head constable was seriously injured after being assaulted as he tried to stop a 'road rage' clash here, police said Monday.
The incident, reported from south Delhi's Jamia Nagar around 11 p.m. Sunday, occurred after an accident when Babar, along with his friend Majeed, were returning home.
"On their way, they hit Imran who was driving a bike and started abusing him. At that time the matter was resolved as victim's brother and other neighbours intervened. But, a few minutes later the accused returned along with more than a dozen people and started beating up Imran," said a police officer.
Four more people were injuries as they also came under attack.
In the mean time, head constable Raghuraj Singh, arrived the spot with two more constables after receiving Police Control Room (PCR) call. However, Babar and his accomplices started pelting stones on policemen when Singh was trying to pacify the situation.
Singh sustained a serious head injury while the other constables received minor injuries.
"Babar was arrested though the rest of his accomplices escaped. Two separate cases have been registered against Babar and his accomplices," the officer added.


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Hilton Lima Miraflores4
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Hilton Lima Miraflores is conveniently located in the heart of the Miraflores district of Lima, Peru. Just 11 miles from the Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), we offer a prime location in the vibrant Larcomar entertainment area. Enjoy nearby activities including shops, theatre, museums, restaurants and parks.
The hotel combines traditional 18th-century Peruvian architectonic elements with contemporary decor to create the perfect ambience while delivering the impeccable service that corporate and leisure travelers demand. Find everything you need for a comfortable and productive stay at the Hilton Lima hotel. Each stylish guest room is equipped with the latest facilities, including WiFi access and 37-inch HDTVs. Enhance your luxury escape in one of the hotel's sublime suites or executive rooms and enjoy exclusive access to the Executive Lounge, serving complimentary breakfast, snacks and beverages. Hold a meeting or event with the hotel's extensive range of meeting facilities, and take care of business in the 24-hour business center. Enjoy an energizing workout in the fitness center and refresh with an invigorating swim in the heated outdoor pool. Our Restaurant and Lounge feature an array of distinctive Peruvian-American fusion flavors. After a delicious meal, unwind with a beverage at the bar, which opens onto a terrace at street level, filling the space with natural light and creating a pleasant alfresco atmosphere.
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NEW YORK (Sep. 11)
The tenth anniversary of the death of Louis Marshall, who was the foremost Jewish leader in America, was marked today with a pilgrimage to his grave in Salem Fields Cemetery, Brooklyn, in which about 200 representatives of Jewish and civic organizations participated.
Memorial services were conducted by Rabbi Samuel H. Goldenson of Temple Emanu-El, which sponsored the observance together with the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
Dr. Goldenson termed Marshall "a great leader in Israel" who contributed "beneficent labor in behalf of the Jewish people and mankind." He declared the Jews "have missed our friend's courage and understanding, his strength and his courage, his forthrightness and his zeal for the right."
In addition to the organizations listed yesterday as participating in the observance, the New York County Lawyers' Association was represented by Michael H. Cardozo Jr., John Kirkland Clark, Basil O'Connor, Kenneth M. Spence and Eugene Untermyer.
In an editorial in connection with the anniversary, the New York Post recalled that 18 years ago Marshall proposed that the United States forego its claims against the Allied nations, that Britain likewise cancel its bill to its Allies and that they reduce their demands for reparations against Germany, Austria and Hungary. He warned that otherwise extremism bred of despair would mount in Central Europe. The Post commented that "there is high tragedy in the fact that what Louis Marshall proposed was done in part…but in bitterness and repudiation."


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|28 July 2012 (1846 days ago)
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A rare opportunity to rent a superb detached property in Penarths most prestigious location. Modernised with quality fitting yet retaining period features the property comprises, sitting room, family room, drawing room, banqueting hall, kitchen/diner, utility, basement, 6 double bedrooms with dressing room to master, 5 bathrooms and study. Front and rear gardens and garage and driveway for several vehicles.
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RB Elijah Jackson uses power, speed to help beat Franklin Regional
Elijah Jackson began the second half with speed.
He ended it with power.
Jackson rushed for 182 of his 232 yards in the second half, and Highlands' defense shut down Class AAA No. 4 Franklin Regional's offense in a 17-0 Greater Allegheny Conference victory Friday night at Franklin Regional Stadium.
"That's a great football team," Highlands coach Sam Albert said of Franklin Regional. "They're well-coached, (and) you see the size differential and speed differential.
"We tell our kids it all comes down to who hits the longest and who hits our hardest. That's our motto, man, and they come after you."
Jackson, a 5-foot-7, 140-pound junior, hit Franklin Regional the hardest in the second half.
After carrying the ball 12 times for 50 yards in the first half, Jackson exceeded that total on his first run of the second half. He carried the ball off the left side for 68 yards, setting up a Sam Elliott field goal to give the Golden Rams a 10-0 lead.
Highlands (3-0, 3-0) put the game away with a 14-play, 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter. Jackson carried the ball nine times for 55 yards on the drive, capping it off with a 7-yard touchdown with 4:39 left.
"Everybody knows he's fast, but he runs with power," Albert said. "He's 165 pounds. He runs with power like you've never seen and he's got the heart of a lion."
Meanwhile, Highlands' defense limited Franklin Regional to 124 total yards and five first downs. Quarterback Charan Singh led the Panthers (2-1, 2-1) with 62 yards passing and 57 rushing, but the majority of his rushing totals came on two big plays in the first quarter.
Penalties and missed opportunities cost the Panthers. Franklin Regional was penalized 10 times, including three personal fouls, and missed on a handful of deep pass opportunities.
"We just made a ton of mistakes on defense, didn't wrap (up ball carriers) and had too many personal fouls, too many penalties," Franklin Regional coach Greg Botta said.
"You can't win games like that, especially (against) good caliber football teams."
Franklin Regional's second drive of the game typefied that offensive frustration.
With the game scoreless, Singh put the Panthers inside the 10-yard line with a 39-yard run. A personal foul pushed the team back out to the 25, but Singh set up a 22-yard field goal attempt with a 20-yard run on third down.
However, junior Jake Roberge pushed the kick wide.
"That would've been a big momentum shifter," Botta said.
Late in the second quarter, Highlands broke through. A 10-yard run by Jeremy Jackson on an end-around, a 19-yard reception by fullback Weston Bernath and an 11-yard run by Elijah Jackson put the Golden Rams inside the Franklin Regional 5-yard line. On second-and-goal from the 1, tight end Allan Cratsenberg lined up at quarterback and pushed his way into the end zone to give Highlands a 7-0 lead heading into halftime.
With the win, Highlands moves into first place by itself in the Greater Allegheny Conference. The Golden Rams face another difficult challenge next week when they host Mars (2-1, 2-1).
"Each week is a battle," Albert said. "Every team is coached extremely well. But we'll enjoy this for tonight before we get back to the board."
Doug Gulasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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James Franco Publishes Short Story In VICE About Lindsay Lohan
- James Franco published a short story in VICE, which may or may not be fictional, about Lindsay Lohan coming to his hotel room at the Chateau Marmont one night and him reading her some short stories by J.D. Salinger. This is a very long-winded and pretentious way of denying (again) that you fucked her, James. [VICE]
- Angelina Jolie opened an international summit in London addressing sexual violence against women in war zones. [Page Six]
- Ten beauty and hair secrets from "Orange Is The New Black" season two. [NYmag.com]
- Possible new couple alert: Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams have been seen hanging out together. [Page Six]
- Tracy Morgan had to get leg surgery following a car accident this weekend, but rumors that his leg has been amputated are false. [People]
- Anna Paquin is "proud to be a happily married bisexual mother." You tell 'em, girl. [Celebitchy]
- 16 ways for women to pull off wearing ties. [The Gloss]
- Beyoncé and Gwyneth Paltrow are going on a four-day retreat in California together. I still don't understand this friendship. [Daily Mail UK]
- Kourtney Kardashian went to a restaurant in the Hamptons and didn't leave a tip. [Page Six]
Email me at [email protected] Follow me on Twitter.


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Directed by Park Kyeong-ryeol (박경렬)
Screenplay by Ma Joo-hee (마주희)SBS | Airing dates : 2011/05/16~2011/11/09
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This drama deals with two family's fate and love related to a child birth accident.
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The Exploring Space lecture series sponsored by the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC will feature presenter Edward C. Stone on Tuesday, April 16, at 8 pm EDT. His talk, Voyager Journey to the Edge of Interstellar Space, will be held at the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater. This lecture will be available via live webcast.
Monthly Archives: April 2013
National Library Week
National Library Week is April 14 – 20. Find out all about it online and support your local library.
MyMoon Webcast with Matt Sheehy
Love to groove to some "spacey" tunes? Ever wonder how space exploration inspires and influences artists and muscians? Join the MyMoon webcast on May 7 at 7 pm CDT as musician Matt Sheehy from the band Lost Lander discusses his inspirations, thoughts on space exploration, the band's own space-related experiences, and more. Lost Lander, a quartet based out of Portland, Oregon, was founded by Matt and released their first album, DRRT, in January 2012.
This webcast will be held via Google+ Hangouts on Air with CosmoQuest. Please visit the webcast event page on May 7 OR stay tuned to MyMoon and CosmoQuest social media for the link to join!
Alan Bean Lecture Online
The Rice University Space Frontiers Lecture presented by Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean on March 21 is now available online. This hour and a half talk is entitled "Reaching for Your Own Special Star."
ADS Turns 20
The Smithsonian/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Today, in 2013, the ADS finds itself as the central discovery engine for astronomical information, used nearly every day by nearly every astronomer. Moving into its third decade, the ADS continues to serve the research community while remaining at the forefront of the massive technological and sociological changes occurring in the field of scholarly communication.
To celebrate this important event, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is hosting a colloquium on May 8, 2013 at 4:00 pm EDT. The keynote speaker will be Professor Christine Borgman, the Presidential Chair and Professor of Information Studies at UCLA, who will speak about the role of information systems in scholarly communications. The talk will be given at the Center for Astrophysics Phillips Auditorium, and will be followed by a reception. The event is open to all CfA staff as well as visitors who RSVP in advance.
NASA Planetary Science Subcommittee Presentations Online
Presentations from the NASA Planetary Science Subcommittee meeting held on April 4 – 5 at NASA Headquarters are now available online.


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Build It: The Fastest PC Ever!
- Build It: The Fastest PC Ever!
- The Guts of a Killer
- Inserting and Cooling a CPU
- Steps 4-6
- Steps 7-9
- Accessories Make the Machine
- Parts List
- Killer Gaming Performance
At 30 inches, it's almost too big. You have to turn your head to even take in the entire Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP at normal viewing distances. And let me tell you, the "take up your whole peripheral vision" size is just awesome in a first-person shooter. Of course, running 3D applications at the insane resolution of 2,560-by-1,600 requires tons of graphics horsepower, but that's exactly where I'm taking you with those ATI graphics cards. Sights go hand in hand with sounds; I used the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty. It's overpriced, sure, but 64MB of X-RAM will be a feature you'll want going forward. And it pairs smoothly with the Logitech GigaWorks S750 speaker system, which sounds just fine.
One of my favorite gaming keyboards is the Logitech G15, with its on-the-fly programmable macro keys, neat LCD readout, and USB ports. Game on! Logitech's G5 Laser Mouse is hot, too. It's got adjustable weights, a great feel, excellent tracking, and adjustable sensitivityup to a stunning 2,000 dpi.
If you want a fast hard drive, it doesn't get much better than the Western Digital Raptor X 150GB, which runs at a searing 10,000 rpm and also has a cool see-through window. I used two such drives in my system, arranged in a RAID 0 configuration. The results were impressive: The system scored over 10,000 on the PCMark05 hard drive benchmark test.
I've always been fond of Plextor drives for their fantastic reliability and their ability to burn in all kinds of different modes. I find their prices to be pretty reasonable, and it just so happens that Plextor makes one of the fastest DVD burners on the market. The PX-760A offers 18X DVD burning and 10X dual-layer DVD burning. Yow! In fact, you'll be lucky to find blank discs rated for that speed. Still, fast drives speed up those big game installs.Parts List >


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Fallout 3
Review by CalmShadow
"Who knew there was so much to do in a desolate wasteland?"
It says a lot about a game when you've beaten it once, and you can go back through and realize that you missed over half of the content possible. On my first play-through, I barely reached the level 20 cap and felt I had done a pretty good job exploring. This is my second time through, my character is level 7, and I've yet to do even the third main story mission. For a post-apocalyptic wasteland where humanity is struggling to survive its surroundings, its new predators, and itself, there is a lot to do and find.
This one is pretty interesting. Your character is born, and you are then in charge of creating the way they look after choosing their sex. The character creation is sadly underdeveloped, but it's not that big of a deal, considering you rarely see the actually character. You choose between asian, african american, caucasian, and hispanic, then your typical facial details, hair style and color, and it's done. There is no changing the height or weight of the character, hair option are limited, and other flaws, but you'll be playing in first person almost all the time anyways. More on that later though. Anyways, after that, you go through the tutorial section of the game which is growing up in a vault, which is basically a reinforced cave. After this section is when the game starts to pick up. You're woken to alarms going off, and you friend is telling you your dad has left, causing a major panic, and the leader of the vault wants you dead. You then have to escape, taking down officers and giants roaches along the way. Upon finally getting out, you attempt to track down your father to find out why he left. The rest of the story is for you to find out, but I'll say it becomes something much bigger.
The controls are fine. Standard first person shooter affair here. If you decide to go into third person it becomes a hassle, but in first person it works like it should. The only real problem I had was in VATS. By hitting a single button, the battle is stopped and you are able to choose a body part to aim for. Against a normal human-type enemy, there's head, body, left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, and weapon if they have one. Doing enough damage to any of these targets puts the enemy at a disadvantage. This is a great system, but the problem is cycling through which body part you want to hit. The section you are aiming for seems to jump around for no reason at times. Why do I need to target the left arm before I can choose to take a head shot, when the cursor starts on the body. Yet again, minor problems considering the gameplay is paused at that point.
Great. graphically, the game looks really good. Once again, little annoyances but nothing major. The physics work well at most times, but you'll occasionally get something that doesn't make any sense. I shot a mutated bear in the face with a hunting rifle as it charged towards me. The shot blew the bears head off (which happens all the time with head shots) and it proceeded to fly about twenty feet into the air, over my head, and landed quite a distance behind me. On the other hand, I've shot a person in the face that was running at me and they came towards me a bit as momentum carried them. Their feet flew up over their head and they landed on the back of their head, a bullet hole where there was an eye. It seemed random sometimes, and absolutely perfect other times. There's also some clipping, getting stuck in places you shouldn't, and parts of bodies twitching like crazy as they come through a wall. Yet again, nothing serious.
Great as well with some small complains as well. The music is good and fits in nicely. The voice acting is good for the most part, the guns sounds are fitting, and the radio stations are surprisingly catchy for a bunch of old big band songs. Not much is better than killing mutated scorpions while you listen to a guy singing about living in the jungle. I digress though. The only real problem with the sound is the repetition. The radio station DJ that you'll hear from talks about what's happening, giving you clues on where to go, along with discussing what you've already done, and what he thinks about how you've done it. It's awesome at first, but gets very old after a while. The same goes for the music he plays. There's only a handful of songs, so you'll hear the same ones over and over. Even the voice actors are recycled. Every old male character in the game I can think of sounds the exact same. Once again, just little nit picking gripes.
The most important part of any game is if the game is fun, and I'll tell you now, this game is amazing. Now, I didn't play any other Fallout games before this one, so I WILL NOT compare them. From what I hear, that is where most of the complains come from, is that the gameplay isn't the same. Regardless of whether or not that is true, this game is fun either way. Upon exiting the vault, you have full range of the map. Nothing is off limits, and if there is, you'll get to it eventually. One my second play-through, I managed to reach a place where if you just follow the storyline, is at the end of the game. I wasn't allowed in because it is scripted when you can enter, but none the less I found that amazing. The world is completely open. While some places are harder than others, the game makes sure that you can go anywhere with some hard work.
In conclusion, I would suggest that everyone at least give this game a shot. If you can just get through the first two missions, "Escape" and "Following in his Footsteps," neither of which is long, then you'll find a very enjoyable game with very few flaws.
Reviewer's Rating: 4.5 - Outstanding
Originally Posted: 12/23/08
Game Release: Fallout 3 (US, 10/28/08)
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Authentic 1 to 3 weeks learning journeys and travel adventures connecting to a country and yourself — consciously and sustainably
The world is your classroom. Learn together in a small group while you travel 1 to 3 weeks in a foreign country or region. We learn from local mentors and experts visiting local communities and making an impact in the places we are visiting to transform yourself and the world for the better.
(opens the application form where you choose the country!)
We're building up the world's largest collection of animated videos to learn about all countries so that it's free to watch and use for anyone in any project. Give us a hand!
As a top destination in the world our next trip is going to happen in Colombia. Select a destination below.
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Pssst... We also offer weekend retreats for small groups.
Tell us when you are available for a travel-learning journey of 1 to 3 weeks in a destination that you want and fits your schedule.
You can join our learning journeys for 1 to 3 weeks. Prices range from $66 to $100 US per day. If you join longer, you save more.
Where does the price come from?
We are calculating $66 to $100 US per day depending on the country we visit and how long you join. Each country has different costs of living that are directly reflected in our prices.
Your ON BOARD participation fee covers our biggest expenses, including:
I'm maybe not able to afford ON BOARD - what can I do?
For example: If you find 10 people who will join an ON BOARD learning journey, you join FOR FREE!
Please ask about pricing during your interview after your application.
What else should I know?
We answer the most common questions in our FAQ page. For everything else, send us an email.
Among others, Marion and Jorge joined us in Colombia when we traveled and learned 30 days around Bogotá, Medellín and the coffee region.
For me ON BOARD was an awakening moment, it was that small push that I needed to get me moving in the direction of my dreams. It can be so deep and so light at the same time that I learned the biggest things about myself, at the same time we were joking and hanging around.
— Jorge Aristizabal, Colombia
ON BOARD is not an "anonymous" organization. To me, it is Alex, Marcela & Camilo, and all the other people who made me live 30-days of travel in Colombia, co-travellers as well as contacts carefully (and amazingly!) chosen by the ON BOARD team, giving me the opportunity to meet special people who had a true will and a true love in them, that they were just incredibly open to share! It made me more conscious of what is done in this country, who believes in its value, and just opened my mind again to how I can change what I want in my own life to live more in adequation to my philosophy.
Travelling with a special team and other travellers willing to see the places with new eyes, meet people who share stories and put yourself at the place of the others while living besides them, in their houses, drinking their freshly picked coffee or tasting the cheese made with the cow's milk you've milked the same morning!
— Marion Gabioud, Switzerland (read her review on Go Overseas)
Two nomadic souls with backgrounds in social work and the media industry who have been working since October 2014 on making people want to deeply connect to the world as the most authentic, diverse and interesting classroom to learn from and within.
This is a journey. You make it epic.
© ON BOARD S.A.S. 2015-2016 — Product design @naii


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[Rating: 3/5]
"Inkheart" gets away with a lot, or gets many flaws forgiven, because a) it's a kid's story, and b) it flaunts an extravagant love of books. Not just stories, which you can get in movies just fine, but books. The act of reading, the smell of old pages, the thrill of finding a book you lost years ago in an musty old bookstore. "Inkheart" is so in love with the wonder and magic of words on a page, it sometimes forgets it's a movie. Which is forgiveable.
It also gets away with a lot because it's a pretty good, rollicking story. There's more going on here, in terms of plot and character, than in three run-of-the-mill Disney movies. Brendan Fraser is the father of tweenish Eliza Bennett, and they both possess a strange talent: when they read books aloud, the characters come alive. Literally. But this is no Adam Sandler toss-off; whenever a character appears from the pages of the book, someone gets sucked into the book. This is how Fraser lost his wife, and now he's on a quiet quest to find her.
Trouble is, the book that swallowed her (titled "Inkheart, thus the title of the movie) isn't very popular, and finding copies of it is made especially hard because one of the characters he read out (the wonderfully slimy Andy Serkis) is also hunting the books, and burning them. He doesn't want to go back. In fact, he wants to use Fraser's power to take over this world. He's already got a castle, and a bunch of henchman, and whole stable full of minotaurs and flying monkeys.
"Inkheart" moves quick and doesn't stop to explain much, perhaps because there's no explanation. (One wonders, for instance why Fraser doesn't get ahold of a Tom Clancy and put an end to Serkis once and for all.) A fire juggler (Paul Bettany,) a crazy bibliophile aunt (Helen Mirren) Farid from Arabian Nights (Rafi Gavron) and Inkheart's author (Jim Broadbent) all get involved, until what we have, mostly, is a giant tangle of characters in trouble or on the run. But "Inkheart" builds to a satisfyingly exciting and creative conclusion, the kind that involves truly scary monsters and little girls with the power to stop them. It's a lot of fun, pretty creative, and really in love with books. What more can you ask for?


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PKR reveals evidence of alleged 'phantom' voters
PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli today revealed the names of eight individuals who had made police reports about someone else voting on their behalf across the country, which he says proves the existence of phantom voters.
For the rest of this story and more, subscribe for only RM150 a year (full news access)
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Will vehicle-to-vehicle communication in new cars save lives?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing a new rule which will require automakers to equip all light-duty vehicles to include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. V2V technologies enable cars to "talk" with each other, alerting their drivers to potential dangers as they arise in traffic. See also: In 2013, there were over 5.9 million crashes… Read more »


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Topic: Help with Cancer
Hello everyone, I am new to the board and I love it already. My mother has Bile duct/liver cancer and she was told in december of 2006 that she would only live 4-5 months. She is still here. I went to stay with her last summer and got her a second opinion @ Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Mo. She has responded well to chemo and radiation. her ca 19-9 numbers went down, but I think there are elevating again. she was told by her oncologist that she looks better than she did when she first started going in june 2007. they also told her they wonder if she really has the carcinoma, then i wondered if they said that because she got a poor prognosis when she first started going but is still alive. I really need help because I have heard and read people on this discussion board and others about people being turned down for resection and then going other places having them done.
Please help, thank you.


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Over the past four months, Shakers Nite Club owner Eric Schlosser has provided area residents with special opportunities to see big name acts such as Jackyl, Ratt, Firehouse and the Southern Rock All-Stars.
On Friday evening, music lovers again have a chance to witness a solid band take the stage as the incredible sounds of Columbus-based Red Wanting Blue will take over Shakers Nite Club.
RWB, which is currently touring the East Coast in support of its fifth studio album Souvenirs of City Life (released in 2003) is slated to take the stage at midnight.
Fans who are uncertain of venturing to Shakers to see an unknown band, lead singer Scott Terry suggested they should think twice, due to the bands impact in other cities.
We get e-mails from fans saying that they were skeptical of going out and seeing us, but once they did, they were surprised to hear what were about, Terry related. Were trying to get back to Chicago (House of Blues) more because its a growing market. When weve played in Myrtle Beach and other places in the Carolinas, weve got great responses. People are prone to go out and check out new things. Its tough sometimes when youre in a smaller market and people want to hear a cover band. Were definitely not that.
With Souvenirs of City Life, Sirens (2002), Model Citizen (2000), Image Trigger (1999) and Velveteen (1998) to its credit, Red Wanting Blue is one of the best, up-and-coming original bands in the business.
Despite not having MTV success, the band has shared the stage with many great bands, including the likes of Kid Rock, Our Lady Peace, 311, O.A.R., Vertical Horizon, 10,000 Maniacs, Wyclef Jean, Cracker, The Roots, American Hi-Fi, Everclear, Jurassic 5 and N.E.R.D.
Although the band isnt signed to a major label, Terry said there is plenty of interest.
We talk to the labels all the time, especially lately, Terry pointed out. Its one of the reasons why we have found it important to play New York more often. Its very tricky. Ive seen record deals destroy most of the bands I know. Ingram Hill, Toothpick and O.A.R. are bands that weve played with that have got signed.
Were very skeptical of having someone come in and try to change our dynamic. It just depends on what kind of deal you get. I speak for the whole band, we dont really care as much about the money as we do the creative control. We want people to believe in us and put money behind us to create what we want to create, Terry added.
Joining Terry in the current lineup are guitarist Epp, bassist Mark McCullough and drummer Mark Stepro, who joined the band in the second half of last year.
With the current roster, Terry feels the best days are still ahead for Red Wanting Blue.
Were a band that got good recognition right off the bat, Terry commented. We were sort of under the microscope on a regional level from the beginning. Theres a lot of confusion sometimes as to what we want to do as opposed to what we should do or what people want us to do. We find ourselves going through constant changes. With every album, things get better and better. The stories change and the vibes get better. Model Citizen was very untamed. There are some songs with some very unique structures because we werent writing them for radio. We were writing for the love of writing. Because of that, you get some amazing songs like Where the Blue Girl Goes or Wake Up Dreamer or Selling Tomorrow.
When we moved to Sirens, it was a strange time for the band and everybody in the world. We kind of mellowed out a little bit. We wrote some softer stuff. The album was a little more introspective. After that, we decided that we had mellowed out and it was time to plug it back in. We reminded ourselves that we were a rock band. Souvenirs of City Life is a meshing of Model Citizen and Sirens. We feel we did well on those albums, but were now exploring new sounds and writing styles, Terry concluded.
Since the announcement that Red Wanting Blue was going to be playing at Shakers, fans of the band have been very excited while others are still asking, who? For those do attend, its almost a sure bet that theyll be hooked, as evidenced by the increase in attendance of shows over the past two years.
Terry said the band loves gaining new fans and is blessed to have such a faithful following.
We love doing what we do, Terry lamented. Its very encouraging because when you listen to a lot of music on MTV or on the radio...you see what people are listening to and ask yourself, are we just completely off base? What is wrong with the world when you see some of the music thats being played...not that its bad...but I just dont get it.
Its very encouraging when people tell us that were a good band. Its very rewarding to be reminded that we are on the right path. A lot of times you find yourself going down the wrong path and bumping into walls. Its a real roller coaster, but its great to know that there are people out there that think such positive things about us, he added.
Fans wanting to see RWB at Shakers, the cover charge $8 for ages 18-20 and $6 for 21-up. Identification is required. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the opening act is slated to hit the stage at 10.


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The Toronto Stock Exchange is putting pressure on the Australian Securities Exchange by enticing local mining companies to list in Canada, arguing they will gain access to more international investors and a deeper pool of capital.
"I should also hasten to add that, in many cases, it is about having a second listing because the two listings can work well. For an Australian company to have that secondary listing in Toronto, it can be extremely helpful."
Wake-up call for ASX
The pitch to Australian miners by Mr Cowan will be a wake-up call for the
Mr Cowan, who gave a speech to the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia on Monday, and who will meet directly with local mining executives, described Toronto as the "pre-eminent" market for resources companies.
About 60 per cent of the world's public resources companies – a total of 1600 stocks – are listed in Toronto, including 36 Australian miners such as
"Growing our international business has been a central focus over the last five years or so and Australia has been a central component of that international focus," Mr Cowan said. "Given our pre-eminence in the resources sector, Australia was a natural area where we felt that our exchanges could offer complementary opportunities for Australian companies."
Competitive but complementary: natural bedfellows
Mr Cowan said competition for listings among the world's exchanges was fierce.
"I think to some extent our activities are competitive [with the ASX] and to some extent they are complementary," he said. "Certainly if you went into China or Africa we would be competing not only with the Australian Stock Exchange but also the London Stock Exchange for those resources companies. But in other cases you could have an Australian company that is already listed on the ASX and is looking to tap into a larger liquidity pool. In that case we would be very complementary."
Like the ASX, which was involved in a failed takeover by the Singapore Exchange, TSX parent company TMX Group was embroiled in an ill-fated tie -up with the London Stock Exchange.
TMX was ultimately bought by the Maple Group, a consortium of Canadian financial institutions that had opposed the London deal.
Because of their shared focus on resources, the Australian and Toronto exchanges have often been talked about as natural bedfellows.
More exchange mergers likely
Mr Cowan conceded that more international mergers between the world's stock exchanges were likely but would not be drawn on the prospect of a deal involving the ASX and TSX.
"It is interesting that both of those deals were defeated on concerns about sovereignty – in the Australian case because the government stepped in and in the Canadian case because the big Canadian financial institutional stepped in and acquired the exchange," he said.
"I think we are in a period now where the activity has levelled out a little bit, but I wouldn't count [more attempted deals] out. It is certainly true that our exchanges have a lot in common and the two countries – Australia and Canada – have an awful lot in common, not only in terms of our history but in terms of our current economic make-up. We have heard those rumours [about the ASX and TSX linking up] – we don't comment on them."
The Australian Financial Review


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Fast Food Friday with Oliver Dunne - Pea & smoked bacon risotto / mozzarella, chorizo & potato pizza
- Oliver Dunne cooks Pea and Smoked Bacon Risotto and Soft Poached Egg on The Afternoon Show
- Oliver Dunne cooks Buffalo Mozzarella, Chorizo and New Potato Pizza with Crème Fraiche on The Afternoon Show
Friday, 18 September 2009
Oliver's here with two super quick recipes to save us hours in the kitchen this weekend.
People are sitting in on the weekends now rather than going out and spending a fortune in expensive restaurants and pubs. When Friday comes along most people are too tired to spend hours over the stove so we want to give our viewers some quick recipes to get them out of the kitchen with more time to kick back with a glass of wine in front of the telly.
Oliver Dunne- Head Chef at Bon Apetit
Born in 1977 and raised on Dublin's Northside, Oliver Dunne has spent his career surrounded by award winning chefs - Conrad Gallagher, Gary Rhodes and Gordon Ramsay to name but a few. After taking over the helm of Bon Appetit in 2006, Oliver was awarded his own Michelin Star in January 2008.
Pea and Smoked Bacon Risotto, Soft Poached Egg
. 250g Frozen Peas
. 1pkt Smoked Bacon
. 1 small onion
. 1 garlic clove
. 100g Grated parmesan
. 4 eggs
. 250g Arborio Rice
. Olive Oil
. 50ml White Wine Vinegar
. 125ml Mascarpone
. 1l Chicken Stock
. 20g Butter
1. First thing to do is make the risotto base.
2. To do this, finely dice the onion and gently fry in olive oil with the garlic. After about 2 mins, when the onion is soft, add the rice and continue to cook for a further 2-3 mins. Then add some hot stock just enough to cover the rice and turn the heat to its lowest setting and cook slowly, adding more stock gradually until the rice is cooked.
3. Fill a deep pot with water and bring to the boil, add the wine vinegar and stir gently in a circular motion, crack your eggs and pour them into the centre of the swirling water one by one and cook for about 21/2 mins ensuring not to let the water boil too rapidly. When the eggs are cooked take them out of the boiling water and straight into an ice bath to stop the cooking. Store them in the fridge until ready to use.
4. To finish, add the butter and the sliced bacon in a small pot and fry until golden brown.
5. Add some of the remaining stock and the rice base and bring to the boil. Add some frozen peas and some parmesan and reduce the stock until it has nearly evaporated.
6. Finely, finish the risotto with a good spoon of Mascarpone and top with a poached egg.
On average : If a family of four were to order in pizza once a week for a year at around €25 a pop, they would spend a shocking total of €1200! The following recipes could save you a few bob.
Buffalo Mozzarella, Chorizo and New Potato Pizza with Crème Fraiche
. 1 Buffalo Mozzarella
. 100g New Potatoes
. 1 Small Chorizo Sausage
. 1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
. 1 garlic Clove
. 1 tsp Dried Oregano
. 10g Fresh basil
. 125ml Crème Fraiche
. 1 Small Shallot
. Olive Oil
. Seasoning
. Pizza base/ Pita Bread
1. To make the tomato base finely slice the shallot and the garlic and fry in a little olive oil until soft.
2. Add your tin of tomatoes and oregano and bring to the boil for 2 mins. To reduce some of the excess water, season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper and leave to one side.
3. Slice the potatoes into discs around 3-4mm thick and put into boiling salted water for 5 mins until cooked. Spread the tomato sauce over your base/pita.
4. Cut small discs of Chorizo and arrange on the top with your sliced potato discs leaving a space between each one.
5. Break the mozzarella up and put it between the gaps.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 220oC for 10 mins.
7. Just before removing, add the fresh basil leaves and place a generous spoonful of crème Fraiche into the centre.


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Lucky Aaron Canvas Tote Bag
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Why get a Canvas Tote Bag Lucky Aaron? Are you one of those that can't leave home without 50 "essential items" that just won't fit into your pockets? Plenty of room for all your necessities and more. Or simply let it speak your mind! Due to its sturdy fabric it also makes a great shopping bag, which lasts and saves the environment.
This Lucky Aaron product includes a full side and bottom gusset and extra long handles for easy carrying. Aaron Canvas Tote Bag made of sturdy 100% Cotton. Measurements: 15" x 18" x 6".
Sku: BL0BL0000009802121210001OGGP00000


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Toolbox for IT
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The Top 5 Consumer-Driven Trends in Retail
To compete in the new environment of always connected, highly informed consumers, retailers need to leverage five trends to realize higher conversions and larger transaction sizes. Find out how you can apply these 5 trends to your business.
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Conservation scientists use many of the same spectroscopic, microscopic, calorimetric, and chromatographic techniques employed in the mainstream sciences. However, because of the precious nature of the samples being analyzed, an even higher importance is placed on techniques which can be applied non-destructively and in situ. When sampling of artwork is unavoidable, it is imperative that the techniques be microanalytical; samples from artwork are rarely visible to the naked eye. In addition to the many analytical instruments found in the conservation lab, numerous wet chemical tests are also employed, as are mechanical testing equipment, microsample preparation tools, and accelerated aging apparatus.
- Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Microspectroscopy
- Raman Microspectroscopy
- Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS)
- Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (Py-GC-MS)
- X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Spectroscopy
- Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS)
- Optical Microscopy (PLM, fluorescence, metallography)
- Microfadeometry (MFT)
- Weatherometer
- Environmental Chamber
- Microbalances
- Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC)
- Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS)


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President Barack Obama's proposed federal budget, which would result in a massive transfer of wealth, received rave reviews Mar. 2 from representatives of a number of religious groups, some of which have long ministered to the poor and are among the first to witness firsthand the widespread effects of the current economic crisis.
The Obama proposal, said Jim Wallis, author, activist and president of Sojourners, a Christian community in Washington, attempts to reverse a 30-year trend of growing inequality in the United States caused by policies that presumed that "enhancing the benefits of the wealthiest among us will eventually benefit us all. I think that has been proven false."
For a long time, said Wallis, "we've thought that we did not have to take morals or values into consideration in making budget decisions" and that markets would provide sufficient protection to all. But concern for the common good "disappeared" under that thinking, he said.
Budgets are moral documents, he said, and as such the current proposal represents a "fundamental moral shift in the right direction." The question, said Wallis, is whether a three-decade trend of "growing inequality" can be "turned more in the direction of the common good." During the past 30 years, he said, wealth has been redistributed from the poor and middle class to the wealthiest. This budget, he said, reverses the trend.
Some 25 religious groups from across the country, foreseeing a protracted battle over the budget, are coordinating a rally to be held in Washington April 26-29 to press the point. "The faith community is really going to weigh in on this, Wallis said.
We say: Charlottesville reveals the weeping wound of racism. What do we, the American Catholic faith community, do next? Read the editorial.
He spoke at the start of a conference call hosted by Sojourners.
Participants included Candy S. Hill, vice president for social policy and government affairs for Catholic Charities USA; Noel Castellanos, CEO of Christian Community Development Association of Chicago, a network of more than 500 non-profits nationwide that serve poor neighborhoods; and Mary Nelson, founder of Bethel New Life, an urban ministry located on Chicago's West Side.
"For the first time in a long time," said Hill, her agency is "not just responding to cuts to basic programs for the poor."
Overall, she said, she rated the budget proposal as "very positive" for the millions of poor served by Catholic Charities each year. "We see the president's budget request as providing a number of important investments in programs that we think will reduce poverty in America including healthcare reform, child nutrition, housing reform and education and training programs."
She and others cautioned, however, that the proposed new rules cutting deductions to charity made by the wealthy could be harmful to agencies working with the poor.
Donors giving significant funds to Catholic Charities, she said, "are not merely donating because they get a tax deduction but because they are committed to our mission to serve the poor and advocate for justice."
Hill also suggested that Catholics return to the 1980s pastoral by the U.S. bishops, Economic Justice for All, a document against which the Obama budget proposal might be measured. The principles outlined in that document, which urged that the economy be viewed in light of the common good and what it does for the poorest in society, "need to be looked at now more than ever," she said.
Another Catholic endorsement came from Alexia Kelley, executive director of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, who described the budget as "a moral document that reflects our values as a nation." In a statement emailed to NCR, she said, "We are pleased to see that President Obama's budget signals a shift in priorities towards the common good, with special attention to low-income communities and policies that can lift everyone up," Kelly said in a prepared statement. The budget affirms the positive role that government plays in promoting the common good, which is also represented clearly in Catholic social teaching."
Kelly said the budget's proposals for "robust investments in housing for low-income citizens, ensuring college is affordable and beginning to invest in universal health care" represent "a first step toward building an economy that works for all Americans, not simply the privileged few."
Each of the representatives spoke of needs that were growing quickly because of the economic downturn. Castellanos said the problem of poverty was quickly moving beyond the inner city into the suburbs where people who have lost jobs were increasingly seeking help for the first time with basic needs – from food and shelter to help paying utilities.
In Latino communities, Castellanos said, people are excited about the budget's proposals for increased aid to education but criticized the budget for failing to address immigration reform.
It isn't enough, said Nelson, to say the budget is "just good for needy people and that it is good for our moral values." The religious groups "also have to make the business case" that investing in such areas as education, nutrition and child care not only meets immediate needs but will prove a good investment "down the road." She said that funding greater access to health care and education, for instance, would translate into fewer prisoners and fewer visits to the emergency room, far more expensive alternatives, in the future.
Roberts is NCR Editor-at-Large.
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The Nikka refinery was established in Yoichi, Japan, 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, after his arrival from Scotland, where, at Glasgow University, he had turned into the first Japanese individual ever to think about the specialty of whisky making.
© 2016 Whittalls Wine Merchants 1 Ltd (T/A Oddbins) - VAT Reg No.100166378 - Company No. 7603355


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Benefits and Best Uses
Consider this example: A dairy producer sees a cow limping in the lane. He places a call to the hoof trimmer who trims the hooves and the cow walks normally for a while.
Using a team approach, the dairy producer is meeting with his advisory team, which contains the nutritionist, lender, veterinarian, and a builder who all work regularly with the farm. The producer mentions he's seen several cases of lameness in the herd.
The team agrees to have the hoof trimmer trim hooves to take care of the immediate concern. However, the nutritionist suggests they review the ration, the veterinarian suggests a footbath or medication for treatment, and the builder suggests improving the concrete surface and walkways in the barn.
By working together, from their different backgrounds and areas of specialty, the team develops a solution that prevents sore feet by fixing the underlying causes rather than simply continuing to treat the symptom — lameness. Farm management gets easier.
Team-Based Innovations and Modifications
You to improve to stay ahead. Some say you must grow the farm size 5% per year to stay current due to shrinking margins. Teams help to identify aspects of the operation that are best suited for growth.
Benefit through use of professional advisers. A dairy herd adviser sees an average of 50 to 200 farms a year, each that do things differently, some good, some bad — but each a learning experience.
Build on the experiences of the professional advisers by having them all meet together with you as a team. As you develop goals and plans, these advisers can build on what they've seen through other farms to develop innovative plans that address the specific needs of your farm operation.
Even the best plans require constant evaluation and will frequently need to be modified as they are put into place on your farm. Your team can help, as they watch the process from their unique perspective with your goals and objectives in mind.
Best Uses of a Team
The team dilemma being addressed should require the skills of everyone on the team and be compelling to those assembled.
Use your advisory team to solve problems…
- …that are complex.
- …when solutions seem elusive to you, the farm owner, or to you and a single adviser.
- …where the outcome more than justifies the cost for those involved.
- …that require the knowledge, skills, and abilities of several specialists.
Challenges best suited for a team:
- Major expansion
- Changing management style
- Transferring the farm
- Persistent management challenges
- Developing long-term objectives
Download Publication
Article Details
TitleBenefits and Best Uses
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Contact Information
- Associate Professor, Dairy Science


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Nine Accessible Steps To Search Engine Optimisation
There are many design considerations when creating or re-designing a Web site.
- Corporate branding.
- Providing quality content for your visitors.
- Ensuring that the site is accessible via a range of different devices to users with varying needs.
However, all of this is going to be pretty pointless unless people have a reasonable chance of finding your site via Google or another search engine. Enter the art of Search Engine Optimisation or "SEO" for short.
First of all, you may be surprised to learn that web accessibility and SEO are linked. Although web accessibility is primarily focused on supporting your disabled site visitors, an accessible site also gains distinct additional benefits — including opening up the site to those accessing the web using portable devices (PDAs) and mobile phones; those using different software, hardware, platforms, or low speed connections. To understand why this is and how it affects SEO, we need to look at one of the basic principles of accessible web design - namely that an accessible site is designed to be machine-readable. Since accessible designers do not make any assumptions about what devices will be used to access the site, they will create an underlying page structure that works as well in a text-only browser as it does within a screen reader or a cutting edge graphical browser.
Search engine spiders are also software and share fundamental similarities to browser rendering engines or any software which first parses markup and then renders, or analyses, the resultant data, according to its own internal rules. So it follows that accessible sites have SEO benefits built in right from the start.
If you find that explanation difficult to follow, just remember one key point: Google is blind and deaf. So if you cater for these user groups, you will also be optimising your site for Google at the same time.
For example, Joe has a Flash dependent web site. It looks great but disabled users cannot access its content. Similarly the search engine robots have problems crawling and parsing the content because, like visually impaired site visitors, they cannot directly extract any meaningful data from purely graphical content. In Joe's case, he needs to create a non-Flash version of his site which, although he might not find it visually exciting, would, at least, be readable by search engine spiders and users who can't view Flash.
So what can you do to simultaneously extend your audience and optimise your site for search engines? Here are 10 steps to boost your site's search engine attractiveness and increase your audience of real people at the same time:
Step 1: Provide equivalent alternatives for auditory and visual content
If you use images or videos that contain information, ensure that you provide a text equivalent via the
alt attribute for images or using captions for videos. Neither blind users nor search engine spiders can "see" your images, so make sure that they can access the same information using other means. If you have sound files, offer text transcripts for your deaf users. The search engine spiders will happily grab those too.
However, don't feel that you need to provide a text equivalent for every graphic on your site. After all, who benefits from knowing that the little graphic next to a list item is a "button"? No one. Not your blind users. Not the search engines. This isn't data –- it's "noise", so don't burden either of these groups with useless data that might distract them from your primary content. When marking up decorative images, use a null (
alt attribute which is the web equivalent of making these images "silent".
If you're having problems deciding whether an image is informational or decorative, imagine reading out the page to someone on the telephone. Would you describe every graphic and image? If the answer is "No", then every image you would omit can be safely defined as "purely decorative" and of no interest to the engines.
Whatever you do, don't be tempted to use the null alt attribute on decorative images to pack in a few more important keywords. The engines aren't stupid. They are getting far better at recognising this type of "engine spamming" and may downgrade your site as a result. General rule of thumb: don't try to "cheat" - it's not worth the risk. Good SEO is like cricket - you should play by the rules.
Step 2: Do not rely on visual presentation alone
Use headings. In fact, this is such an important point that I'm going to repeat it - use headings!
HTML comes with 6 different headings (
H1 to
H6). Some non-sighted users skim through a document by navigating from heading to headings, so it is important to use headers logically to convey document structure. For example,
H2 elements should follow
H1 elements,
H3 elements should follow
H2 elements, etc. and you really shouldn't "skip" levels (e.g., jump from
H1 directly to
H3). Search engines, meanwhile, weight text differently depending upon where it appears on the page and what markup has been used to enclose it. Since there is an implicit assumption that headings will summarise the text that follows them, the engines will give greater weight to anything enclosed in a header element compared to normal text.
The same applies to bold and italic text. Use the
strong and
em tags rather than
b or
i. The latter have no semantic meaning to a machine so the additional importance of any text that they contain will not be communicated effectively.
Step 3: Use valid markup
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) produces formal grammars (document declarations) for both content developer and software publishers. The principle here is that both content authors and browser developers should be working from roughly the same song sheet.
OK — so this laudable principle isn't 100% reliable in reality (who hasn't wrestled with Internet Explorer at one time or another?) but it is still possibly the single most effective way of ensuring that your site will be as accessible as possible to all visitors - including the search engines. W3C also provide an online validation tool that allows you to check your pages against these documents. Use it and try to ensure that all of your web pages validate.
Step 4: Use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
Specifying colours, formatting and other presentational aspects within your page markup is just so much pointless noise from the search engine's view. This information conveys nothing about your primary content which, ultimately, is what the search engine wants to index but it does create a great deal of extra material that the bots have to navigate in order to extract meaningful data. Use XML principles to separate content from presentation and place the latter in an external style sheet. The search engine spiders will have much leaner, cleaner, data to work with and, as a side benefit, you should significantly reduce your site maintenance overheads longer term.
Step 5: Create front loading pages
Front loading is the practice of summarising the important information of a section of content in the first paragraph of the text. This has the effect of educating the reader on the content that follows, generally making it a lot easier to read and understand. As a nice side effect, many search engines will apply greater weight to the first 25 or so words on a page with any subsequent weighting reducing as they traverse downwards.
Step 6: Provide a site map
Engines love site maps. One page from which, in theory, they can access all other pages on a site. This is the SEO equivalent of handing it to the engines on a plate. And guess what? Some of your site visitors will also use a site map as their primary method of browsing your site. So create a site map, keep it up-to-date and ensure that it can be reached from every page on your site - preferably via the site navigation menu.
Step 7: Ensure that pages featuring new technologies transform gracefully
Do not assume that every visitor to your site will have the latest web gizmo loaded and ready to run. The spiders certainly won't. They may eventually be able to extract some data from that "bells and whistles" page but well-structured and presented information will beat fancy gizmos every time from their perspective. It's also my experience that real visitors tire of web novelties fairly quickly but will always gravitate to pages that offer clear information quickly and effectively.
Step 8: Design for device and browser independence
Don't rely users having a mouse — or indeed any specific client-side functionality — to activate or access site features. Enhance the user experience by all means but remember to ensure that, when all the bells and whistles are removed, your content is still perceivable, operable and understandable. Whilst search engine technology is continually being improved so that it can deal with rich media, it makes sense to minimise the amount of work that is needed to extract meaningful data from your site. If your site is still usable without a mouse or a graphic display, it's reasonable to assume that it will also be accessible to a blind, mouseless, search engine bot.
Step 9. Provide clear navigation mechanisms and links
Is it relatively easy to find every page on your site? Do you have a clear and consistent site navigation menu? Do you cross-link between pages whenever possible? If the answer to any of these is "No", why not? It make sense to make site navigation as easy and as painless as possible for all of your site visitors - including those all-important spiders.
Swap contextual links with other complementary sites in your sector. Creating a Links page and then simply adding every reciprocal link you can get (relevant or not) will not help you or your site's visitors. Examine your page content. Are there points within your page content where you could provide off site links to support your visitors? Do these links use generic text such as "click here" or do they give some indication of the resources that you're linking to? Both Googlebot and your human visitors place greatest value on terse links that are meaningful enough to make sense — both as part of your page content and when read out of context. Neither will place much value on a link that offers no explicit indication of where it will lead or one that leads to a resource that is completely unrelated to your page topic.
Encourage your link partners to adopt the same approach when linking back to you. Think of it as offering added value to your visitors by creating a small network of related sites through strong, contextual, links. Google, in particular, will check how many sites link to yours (inbound links) when it calculates your site's overall Page Rank (PR). The higher your page rank, the higher up the result listings you'll be.
Happy optimising!


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There have recently been two nice articles about concerts. One was in the News-Sentinel — a picture showing a concert performed for school children — and the other in the Lodi monthly magazine praising Esther Kemalyan-Roche, who is performing a piano concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 17 at Hutchins Street Square.
Neither article mentioned who was presenting either concert. I feel that it is important to bring that out.
The Lodi Community Concert Association started in Lodi over 65 years ago, and is made up of unpaid volunteers, officers, board members and works — all sponsors.
Because of their devotion to promoting music programs for Lodi, they present five enjoyable concerts each year at an affordable price. They also present a children's outreach concert for elementary students in Lodi schools — paying for musicians, renting buses and a concert hall.
My feeling is that they should have been given credit in these articles for presenting these wonderful performances.
Mary Jane Ballatore


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Adobe Reader 9.1 for Linux and Solaris x86 has been released today. Solaris x86 support was one of the most requested feature by users. As per the Reader team's announcement, this release includes the following major features:
– Support for Tabbed Viewing (preview)
– Super fast launch, and better performance than previous releases
– Integration with Acrobat.com
– IPv6 support
– Enhanced support for PDF portfolios (preview)
The complete list is available here.
Adobe Reader 9.1 is now available for download and works on OpenSolaris, Solaris 10 and most modern Linux distributions such as Ubuntu 8.04, PCLinuxOS, Mandriva 2009, SLED 10, Mint Linux 6 and Fedora 10.
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@zorder on Twitter
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This summer Harry Potter fans will be able to ride the Hogwarts Express and stroll through Professor Dumbledore's office for real.
It's been announced that the brand new Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, Florida will open on Friday 18 June.
It's taken five years to build and everything at the fantasy park is based on the Potter books.
Fans will be able to try some butter beer and pumpkin juice and even come face to face with a Hungarian Horntail.
There are also a number of rides at the park.
The main attraction 'Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey,' starts in Hogwarts Castle and will run through Professor Dumbledore's office, the Gryffindor common room and the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classroom.
Wizarding World of Harry Potter holiday packages have already gone on sale.
A four night stay at the park will cost a family of four around £1,000.


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Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are engaged
People Magazine is reporting that Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are engaged. Hot 99.5 morning show deejay Kane had the inside scoop on Friday:
'We heard this morning,' Kane told People following Good Charlotte's 40-minute set. Crediting he got the word from 'good sources.'
'They're very excited about the baby and the wedding. They want to keep their personal life personal,' he added.
So, the two are keeping mum about the pending nuptials. I'll assume out of shame. Who'd admit to marrying Joel Madden or Nicole Richie? They probably wake up in the morning, look at each other, and sob uncontrollably. I bet the kid will pop out, scope out his parents, then ask to be switched at birth – with anything. The Coke machine in the lobby will do the trick. You wouldn't even have to explain to Nicole why her child is a bottle of cola. She'd just punt the thing and say "Thanks for keeping me out of jail, soda-baby!"
Photos: Splash News