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Ship was great!!! Bahamas...not so much.: Carnival Sensation Cruise Review by janutt
Overall Member Rating
Ship was great!!! Bahamas...not so much.
Destination: Bahamas
Embarkation: Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
The staff was so friendly and helpful. Everyone called you by your name... joked with you if you were in the mood, or left you alone if you wanted privacy. The cabin was small and compact, but very clean. I was delighted the first night when I returned to my room to find my bed turned down and chocolate on my pillow.
The food was totally totally delicious. You could order from the menu or even off menu. However, I was a bit put off to see how much food people ordered and then left on their plate. It was as if the mentality was..!!Free Food!!... let's see how much they will give me.
The first night out we got the tail end of Tropical Storm Bertha, but I never noticed any rocking of the boat. I was only aware of the storm because of the lightning. When we were in port at Freeport it was raining so we decided to stay More onboard. During one lull we did take a chance and went to the Straw Market which is just a few feet from the dock. Everyone there was quite friendly and the bits and pieces for sale were affordable souvenirs. We didn't venture past the Straw Market.
Nassau was a huge disappointment. Mostly because we went out on our own. We thought the excursions were over priced and didn't offer much (and reviews were not the greatest). We decided to go to the public beach instead of paying for the private beach. BIG MISTAKE. Whilst everyone was friendly, there was just too much going on. Hawkers on the beach constantly and a jet ski company allowed their people to ride the jet skis right up to the shore. It was totally impossible to swim or snorkel. I had to threaten one young man with physical violence if he came up to me again. (I'm a 66 yr old woman. ha ha)
My only complaint about the cruise is the alcoholic drinks. There was no alcohol in the drinks. I'm not much of a drinker, but I do know when the alcohol is missing! $8.95 a drink for 'juice' is not right. I would suggest having a beer as you know what you're getting there. Less
Published 08/22/14
Cabin review: R204
Room was made into twin beds. There were multiple wardrobe closets. Since I was traveling with a friend we opened the doors to the wardrobe to make a dressing area with privacy.... Hand luggage could fit under the bed. Bathroom was comfortable. The window was nice to have in the morning, but we didn't stay in the room long enough to even care. Take a few hangers. Beds were comfy and the linen was very nice.
Read Cruise Critic's Carnival Sensation Review >>
First time cruisers
Would not recommend
Nothing Senational About It
Wonderful Experience
Carnival; never again
Very fun and comfortable
Some good, some not so good
Sponsored Links


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Like LastPass, Win an iPad
LastPass 1.72 is an amazingly flexible and comprehensive password manager. It's PCMag's Editors' Choice for password management, and amazingly the company gives it away for free. LastPass 1.72 Premium offers additional security, extends the product's scope, and adds some handy applications. It's not free, but at one dollar per month they're almost giving it away.
Perhaps it's not surprising then, that the company is giving away an iPad and two $100 gift cards this month. This giveaway celebrates an impressive achievementLastPass now has over one million users.
You can enter to win simply by visiting the company's Facebook page and clicking Like. Not a Facebook user? You can also enter by re-tweeting the #LoveLastPass hashtag from your Twitter account. Those who entirely reject social media can still enter by sending a postcard.
The rules state "No purchase is necessary to enter." That's technically true, since LastPass is free, but you do need an active LastPass account. It's easy to switch (temporarily or permanently) from another password manager to LastPass, as the product can import directly from 20 of its competitors. If you win the iPad, be sure to install the LastPass tabbed browser app.
You have almost all of February to get in on the giveaway. It ends at 5pm Eastern time on Monday, Fegruary 28. At that time the company will select and notify the winners. Even if you don't win, you'll have a free and useful tool that will help remember and secure the passwords that protect your access to secure Web sites. It's what I use myself.

subset: commoncrawl


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Coldwell Banker Bd.Timisoara presents a 5 bedroom apartament with 180 sqm in Victoriei area in Bucharest.... More details ›
Marketed by Partner Network, CGA Home Consulting .


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JPMorgan Chase on Verge of $13 Billion Deal on Bad Mortgages
Alexander Reed Kelly
The U.S. Justice Department and JPMorgan Chase have struck a tentative $13 billion deal to settle investigations into bad mortgage loans the bank sold to investors in the lead-up to the financial crisis, a person close to the talks said Saturday.
— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
Reuters via The Guardian:
The deal, which would be the largest ever between the US government and a single company, would not release the bank from criminal liability for some of the mortgages it packaged into bonds and sold to investors.
That had been a major sticking point in the discussions, but the government refused to budge and JPMorgan felt it had no choice but to give in, according to a second source. Until recently, the most that JPMorgan was willing to pay was closer to $11bn.
The biggest US bank sidestepped the worst of the financial crisis but now faces more than a dozen investigations globally into everything from alleged bribery in China to a possible role in manipulating benchmark interest rates known as Libor.


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When I was pregnant with my first child, Zach, I made a statement that came back to haunt me. It was in response to the outpouring of unsolicited advice I received from experienced parents.
Parents who've been around the block a few times tend to offer a lot of advice to newbies: "Put a hat on that baby - it's cold outside! Don't let him suck his thumb - it'll make him buck-toothed. And make sure you enjoy every minute because time flies."
I'll admit I've been guilty of saying that last sentence to new moms myself.
One thing they told me was how much I'd need regular breaks away from my kids to keep my sanity. I honestly felt mortified when I heard that - and I openly disagreed with them. After struggling with infertility for seven years, I couldn't imagine I'd ever want to be apart from my delightful little blessings.
Granted, my kids are delightful. But now that I've been in the trenches a while, I get it. Nothing resets a mom's Happy Meter like a date night with the husband, a ladies' night out or a weekend trip away. So, needless to say, I have eaten the words I uttered in ignorance.
That experience makes me reluctant to share what's on my mind this week. Because here I go again, talking about uncharted parenting territory, acting like I know what I'm talking about. I'm afraid that I'll soon be asking someone to pass the honey mustard to help me choke this statement back down.
But I'm going to say it anyway: I really don't think the teenage years are going to be as awful as everyone has warned me.
It's hard to believe, but my oldest son turns 14 tomorrow. So we already have one year of adolescence under our belts. And parenting my way through it was not scary at all. Now, I think that's largely because Zach is a pretty awesome kid. I'm not going to say he's perfect, because he's not - no child, or parent for that matter, is perfect. He has his faults. We all do. But overall, I am just so proud of him, so thankful for the man I'm seeing emerge from the boy I've loved so dearly. I look at him sometimes and know that God must really love me, to have given me a kid like him.
Everyone said that teenagers are moody. Mine's a little moody - but I'm worse than that even without PMS. They said he'd be sarcastic, that he'd talk back. Yeah - I'm afraid that trait got passed down on my DNA and pretty much reared its ugly head in each of my kids as soon as they started speaking.
Which, if you're reading this, Zach Apted, is not an excuse for that behavior. We all need to work on controlling what comes out of our mouths.
I'm sure we'll be facing new challenges once he's able to drive and works away from home. Just the thought of those things makes my heart sink a little. I guess that extra freedom could bring with it the terrible battles everyone says I should brace myself for?
Maybe it's my naivety speaking, but I just don't think the teenage years have to be a nightmare for any of us. Zach even has great friends, people who are likable and kind. He does his chores and helps with his baby brother, and when I told him about a group of Ugandan orphans, the first thing he wanted to do was send all of his money to them. And then he brainstormed for days about other ways to help them out. That kid truly has a heart of gold.
So does it have to tarnish? Is it truly inevitable that the teenage years are turbulent and full of strife? I'm just not believing that it has to be that way.
No one ever told me that I'd enjoy my older kids as much as I do. So I plan to continue on, optimistically, hoping for the best. I might have to eat my words again someday, but don't pass the honey mustard just yet.
Kari may be reached at email@example.com.


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BASINGSTOKE Writers' Circle annual Open Mic is to take place next week.
Local performance poet, actor, and writer of poetry and plays, Bryn Strudwick, will compere the evening's events in South Ham library, Paddock Road, on Tuesday, July 1.
Joan Sullivan from BWC said: "All you budding poets who feel you have a reason for rhyme and would care to share your work with an enthusiastic welcoming audience, please join us!"
Doors will open at 6.30pm for registration of up to three poems.
The event will last from 7pm until 9pm.
Admission costs £2 and refreshments will be provided.
Find out more from Joan on 01256 326453 or log on to basingstokewriters.webs.com.


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Jelly Traders!!!!!
Discussion in 'Egg, Chicken, & Other Favorite Recipes' started by Birch Run Farm, Oct 19, 2009.


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From May 2008 through to August 2008 my other half and I have competed in several sportives ranging from 50 miles to 80 miles.
Using our trusty mountain bikes we generally manage to average around 13.5 mph to 14.0 mph - although it is really hard work and exceptionally tiring. Whilst on these rides we were overtaken by other cyclists on proper drop handle barred racers at nearly twice our speed and without even breaking a sweat!
After struggling in the wind during the Suffolk Coast ride I decided it was time to purchase a racer.....
Looking for the first racer is a mind field. There are loads of different bikes for different budgets and everyone has their own opinion as to what is best. Being a complete novice I set what I thought was a reasonable budget of £300 - although I later discovered that this needed to be increased quite significantly to get anything that would last.
I spent hours researching, joining forums (I highly recommend Bike Radar) etc in order to find the ideal bike in my budget.
Whilst taking my trusty steed of a mountain bike to Pauls Cycles in Dereham I thought that I'd better have a quick look at the small selection of racers in the shop. It was there I saw it...... The Trek 1200 in black and red.
I knew the Trek name and knew that they were generally a good, quality brand. That was it though.
The price was £799 which was way over my budget, but because it was a 2006 model I could have something knocked off it. The bike was described as 'shop soiled' since it had fallen over and had a tiny scratch on the frame. If the bloke hadn't told me this I would never have noticed it despite looking over the bike thoroughly. This led to a further discount being applied.
To cut a long story short I ended up paying £450 for the bike (although we had to purchase a Giant SCR for my other half at the same time - although this was discounted too. However a significant saving was made and I love the fact that a lot of the road bike fraternity are so snobbish that they have to have a 'new' bike each year and the manufacturers change the models on an annual basis, even if it only means changing the colour scheme!!) and walking out of the shop with a big grin on my face.
Trek History
Trek is an American company which was started in 1976 in a barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin.
By 1980 the company had outgrown it's original factory and moved to new premises. The owners decided to keep the company in its 'home town' of Waterloo.
In 1982 Trek started producing road racing bikes and the 750/050 series was born.
Trek became global in 1989 and the first overseas subsidiaries were formed in Great Britain and Germany.
By 2005 Trek had the largest dealer base with the bikes being available in 90 different countries. At that time Trek had 10 subsidiaries and over 70 distributors.
Arguably, it was the 'great' Lance Armstrong who raised the profile of the Trek brand within the road racing community. In 1997 Lance Armstrong was dropped from his European cycling team after being diagnosed with cancer. What a mistake that was....
Lance Armstrong joined forces with Trek and In 1999 became the first American on an American bike riding for the American team to win the Tour De France. Lance's popularity was so great that the bike developed for the American team, the OCLV carbon 5200, became the biggest selling road bike ever.
Trek 1200 Spec
The Trek 1200 is described as an entry level racer although it does have a few high spec components to it:
The frame is a Trek Alpha SL butted comfort aluminium frame. Whilst not the lightest frame around it is still noticeably lighter than that of my mountain bike, and being a recreational rider I would not notice the difference in weight to other entry level racers in its class.
Most of the bikes in the price range of the Trek 1200 have aluminium forks as standard.
The Trek comes with a carbon fork with alloy steerer which are usually associated with more expensive bikes. Again, whilst being a recreational rider I would not notice the difference between the carbon or aluminium it is nice to say "my bike has carbon forks".
The Trek comes with Shimano gears which is good because they are well known for their quality and reliability, as well as being easy to work on. In addition to this, I do not like the shifters on Campag gears.
The Trek has Tiagra gears and a 105 front and rear mech. Whilst these are not at the upper end of the Shimano gear range the are still a higher spec than most bikes in this class which have Shimano Sora all round.
Gear shifters
The trek has Shimano Tiagra Sti gear shifters. This means that both the gear shifter are levers, as opposed to one being a lever (easily reachable wherever the hands are on the handlebars) and one being a small button on the hoods (difficut to reach when on the drop bars, if like me, you have small hands).
The Tiagra Sti gear shifters also allow the use of the Shimano flightdeck cycle computer which has the added advantage of showing cadence.
Most bikes in this class have lower spec Sora gear shifters (where one is a lever and the other a button).
Chain ring
The Trek has a Bontrager Select crankset with 53-39 chainrings. This means that it is a double chain ring instead of a triple.
A triple chain ring = more gears which (according to the forums) is better for beginners as the extra number of gears should mean that the rider should always be able to find a gear which s/he can easily spin (i.e rotate without getting too tired too quickly and build up lactic acid in the muscles).
After a few rides I now understand what this means. With my double I am on the largest cog but using the first 2 or 3 cogs on the rear. Being near the extremes (i.e the largest cog on the front or back and the smallest on the other) results in a tight chain which decreases the life of it.
If I had a triple I would be on the middle cog on the front and probably the 4th - 6th cog on the rear to achieve the same gear. There would be less stress on the chain and it would last longer.
Since I do not use my Trek every day to commute (like many cyclists on the Bike Radar forum) riding in the extremes will ot make that difference to me since I do not cover the mileage. I only way for me to get around this is to persevere and strengthen my legs so that I can spin the higher gears on the rear cog and the front ring.
The Trek has 32 spoked wheels with black anodised Alex rims. It is the wheels that ets this bike down, however, these cheap wheels are common on entry level race bikes.
Unless you're under 10 stone (unfortunately I'm a bit more of a porker than this!) the wheels tend to flex quite a bit if you put a bit of extra weight on them. I find this a problem when hill climbing - although living in Norfolk there aren't that many about which is a good thing!
I have also had the wheels flex when going over pot holes. I know that you should always avoid these on a racer and 9 times out of 10 I do, but there are the odd occasions when they are unavoidable.
Changing the wheels is not a difficult task and it is usually one of the first upgrades most cyclists make to their bike. I'm hoping that good old Santa will bring me some nice new wheels for Christmas.
The Trek comes with Bontrager Select 700x23c tyres as standard. Although I have had no problems with them yet (they haven't lost air or been prone to punctures) they have only seen nice, dry summer roads. Once the autumn/winter arrives and the road surface worsens I will have to see what happens.
Forum research/reading (I'm well and truly hooked on Bike Radar) confirms that these are not a popular tyre compare to Michelin, Continental etc but I am not going to change them until I need to, and since these are my first racer tyres I have nothing to compare them to.
One thing I would point out is the 23 cm width is very narrow and does lead to a harsher ride than 25 cm tyres. I can confirm this since my other half has 25 cm tyres on her Giant.
Handle bars
The Trek has Bontrager Sport handlebars. Like all racer bars these are dropped (i.e the ram horn shape).
After riding a mountain bike since I was a kid riding with dropped bars is quite strange at first. The bent forward and low riding position ("riding on the drops") does take some getting used to and it does hurt but after a couple of rides the pain goes and it does feel a lot more natural. I now find it more comfortable than the upright position when riding my mountain bike.
When riding on the drops I find it difficult to reach the brakes due to my small hands. This can be a bit unnerving especially when riding downhill where it is possible to reach quite high speeds (I'm a pure beginner and going down Norfolk hills (sorry... slopes) I reach just over 30 mph.
If back pain does set in when riding on the drops it is possible to ride on the hoods (the top part of the bar) and get the upright position back. Riding on the hoods is slower than on the drops - although it is still quicker than riding a mountain bike.
The stem is the metal tube between the frame and the handle bars. The Trek has a Bontrager Select stem as standard, and to be honest, I don't know if this is good or bad.
One thing I should point out is that the stem is quite short and leads to a very compact (almost "cramped") riding position and I'm only 5' 7" with quite a short upper half. This stem size would not be suitable for taller riders or those with a longer upper half although the stem is easily replaced.
The Trek comes with a Bontrager Race Luxe saddle. This is nothing special in the world of racers, although being razor thin it is actually quite comfortable (obviously not as nice as sitting on a mountain bike seat).
Seat post
The Trek has a Bontrager Carbon seat post which is unusual for racing bikes in the entry level class. The carbon seat post is a weight saving measure only, so, being a recreational cyclist and not a time trailer means I don't really see the benefit, although carbon fibre is prettier than painted aluminium in my opinion.
All racing bikes tend to have clipless pedals. These pedals require specific cycling shoes with cleats on which attach themselves to the pedal via a locking system. The Trek has Wellgo Clipless road pedals which are about the size of a matchbox.
Being attached to the peddles is weird and takes a lot of getting used to, especially riding in town (where you are constantly start/stopping) or on small country roads where there are lots of junctions to stop at.
I changed the pedals straight away to those where they are clipless on one side and normal on the other. These are a lot larger than the Wellgo (they need to be since 'normal' pedals need to be big enough to get a large proportion of the foot on) so there is an effect in aerodynamics. As stated before, I am a recreational cyclist, and would not notice the difference. Besides I feel a lot more confident with my current pedals.
What's it like to ride?
Compared to my mountain bike (which although not a top spec model it is fairly high up there) the Trek 1200 is so easy on the road. It is possible to go further, faster and with less effort. A direct comparison between the two is not possible since the two types of bike are so disparate - like chalk and cheese.
The mountain bike can be likened to the original Land Rover (the ones which were designed for off road but could be used for on road as opposed to the new style which are designed for on road but can go off road) in that it is a "plodder". It'll go anywhere but not at speed and it takes a lot of juice (or effort) to get there.
The Trek can be likened to a sports car in that it is quick, nimble and you'd never take it off road.
The Trek is not as comfortable to ride as a mountain bike. The stiff frame and no suspension means that all vibrations are channelled along the handle bars. A good thing is the drop handle bars allows for several hand positions that can help to alleviate any arm/wrist/hand cramps.
Every pot hole, drain cover etc ridden over on the bike is exaggerated and this, combined, with the razor style saddle generally leads to a sore backside for the first few rides. I was walking like John Wayne for around two weeks! Padded shorts are an absolute must have.
I found that riding on the drop bars took a little getting used to and had stability problems at first. The trick here is to persevere it does get much easier very quickly and I now feel more confident on the drops on the racer than on the flat bars of the mountain bike.
The Trek is fast it is necessary to get used to the speed. Doing 15mph is effortless and speeds of 30mph + are easily achievable down hill (even the tiny hills of Norfolk!).
The first time I saw 30mph on the computer I nearly needed a new pair of pants! There I was doing the same speed as a moped in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt knowing that if I fell off I would be picking bits of gravel out of my backside for the next year (Yes.... I have crashed a motor cycle and had gravel rash and I was wearing fully protective clothing).
Upgrades available
There are loads of upgrades available for this bike. The most common ones include:
1)Gearing (putting a higher spec on there such as Shimano 105 or ultegra)
2)Wheels (putting on lighter, and hence faster, wheels)
3)Tyres (putting on narrower, and hence faster, tyres)
There are many other 'cosmetic' changes including changing the stem, changing the saddle, changing the bars etc. etc.
The cost of upgrading varies greatly and depends what is changed. For example changing the gearing to Ultegra involves changing gear shifters/chain rings/front mech/rear mech/chain/cassette and is likely to cost around £400 (I didn't pay much more for the whole bike!).
Rather than changing the wheels (which isn't that expensive and can be transferred to other bikes) and the tyres (these will need to be changed at some point anyway) I can't see the point in any other upgrades since I am a recreational cyclist only. I, and probably 80% of other owners, would not see significant benefits in upgrades.
If a significant upgrade is required then it is cheaper to buy a new bike with the higher spec components already on it.
Any problems?
During the few months I have had my Trek I have had no problems with it whatsoever. I have covered just over 2,000 miles so it has had it's first service at the bike shop. I got this for free (since the first service is usually free from the bike retailer) although the next one is going to cost me £25 plus any parts that are going to be required.
My brief ownership has shown that racing bikes require a lot more looking after than mountain bikes. For example the tyres need to be at the correct pressure (around 110 psi) otherwise they bulge and rub on the brake pads. The chain needs to be lubricated regularly. Brakes wear out quicker (due to higher speeds) and tyres last around 1,800 miles (I have never had to replace a tyre on my mountain bike!).
Owning a racer will mean you need to be accustomed to bike maintenance. It is all part of the fun. If you are looking for something to ride, put in the garage, ride, put in the garage etc and never have to do anything to it, then the Trek 1200 - or any other racer for that matter, is not for you.
My Trek 1200 is a 2006 model so will be difficult to get hold of. I'm lucky in that being vertically challenged and requiring a small frame there was one in the bike shop. Mr 'average' will find it harder as popular sized frames will have long gone.
The Trek 1200 has been discontinued and replaced by a newer model (hence the stonking discount I got). This is not a problem since parts are readily available should anything go wrong.
Buying an older model bike is by far the best way forward, regardless of the marquee/brand. You get a higher spec price for a lot less money, and the snobbery factor in the road bike community means that many cyclists want the 'new' model and manufacturers exploit them by bringing out a new model each year (some of the changes are minimal and often only involve a change in colour scheme!).
Lance Armstrong has helped to raise the profile of the Trek and whilst some want the Trek (so that they can play at being Lance) others don't (they do not want to be seen to be wanting to be like Lance). Lance's involvement has meant that a premium can be charged for a Trek racer. When I got mine I didn't even know that Lance rode a Trek (shows how much I follow cycle racing!)
Trek are a great brand and the bikes are very good quality with high spec components. I have had no problems whatsoever and would highly recommend a Trek to anyone.


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Save $1,500 on a New Walk-In Tubw/FREE Heated Seat & Back, a $750 value* Click here for Offer Details.
Five Reasons Seniors Have Different Nutritional Needs
Posted on March 18th, 2016
It's no secret that our bodies change as we age. But some changes are less apparent and call for extra attention to ensure that we give our body what it needs to stay healthy. Seniors have different nutritional needs than children, teens and even middle-aged adults, and addressing these differences may help older adults increase energy, resist illness and disease, and manage chronic health problems. Here are five changes to take note of:
- Metabolism slows down. After age 40, metabolism starts to naturally slow down and becomes even more pronounced with less exercise. What this means is that the body doesn't need as many calories to maintain its current weight. If you continue to eat as you always had throughout your younger years, you may gain weight. Eating nutrient-rich foods and watching calories can help maintain a healthy weight and ideal energy level.
- Less lean body mass. Older adults generally have less lean body mass which may contribute to a compromised immune system, less efficient wound healing and frailty. To help address this physiological change, seniors may want to consider including more high-quality protein in their diets.
- Digestive system changes. The digestive system slows with age and produces less saliva and stomach acid making it harder for the body to absorb important vitamins and minerals such as B6, B12 and folic acid. These nutrients help with mental alertness, memory and circulation, so look to create a healthy meal plan that includes them and/or talk to your doctor about possible supplements.
- Weakened senses. Some older adults experience a weakened sense of taste, typically beginning with a diminished taste of saltiness and bitterness. If this happens, watch your salt intake and instead reach for herbs, spices and olive oil to season food. Certain antibiotics as well as medication for cholesterol and blood pressure may also affect taste and appetite. Aging may also cause a loss of thirst so sufficient hydration is important.
- Decreased bone density. Seniors may experience a decrease in bone density and should include adequate amounts of vitamin D and calcium to help slow the development of osteoporosis. The National Institute on Aging outlines the recommended intake of calcium and other vitamins and minerals for people over 50.
Be sure to consult your health care provider before altering your diet or for guidance about a specific nutritional item or medical condition.
This article has been provided for educational purposes only and is based on the most reliable information available on the date of publication.
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- kinderkin
- Kilderkin Kil"der*kin, n. [OD. kindeken, kinneken, a small barrel, orig., a little child, fr. kind child; akin to G. kind, and to E. kin.] A small barrel; an old liquid measure containing eighteen English beer gallons, or nearly twenty-two gallons, United States measure. [Written also {kinderkin}.] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.


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Charming Charleston
30.11.2013 - 02.12.2013
View Sydney to USA on dinige's travel map.
2 hours after leaving Savannah, we arrived in Charleston, South Carolina. We checked into our hotel then checked out a local taco joint located in a converted garage / service station conveniently called Fuel. Influenced by the Caribbean and showcasing local produce, the menu and beers were a hit with us!
We were up early the next day to catch a free bus into the heart of town. As with Savannah, the town is huge but the Historic District makes up only a small but busy section. As we later found out, most of the homes within the Historic District would sell for millions of dollars and strict heritage rules apply to any renovation (i.e no external colours that would have looked out of place at the time the house was built). We decided that on this crisp Autumn day we would tour the Historic District in a horse drawn carriage and whilst walking to the departure point, we were inundated with carriage ride vendors. Palmetto Carriage Works are the oldest carriage tour company in the city and once onboard our carriage, we stopped at the 'Carriage Lottery'. The Historic District covers 30 blocks and over 300 years of history so to evenly regulate carriage traffic throughout the city, 1 of 3 routes is randomly selected for you by the city. Only 20 carriages can be out on the roads at any one time and the lottery helps add some excitement as you can't plan ahead. We were assigned zone 3 which is the largest zone and away we went.
Charleston is one of 3 'walled cities' remaining in North America and it wasn't until this tour that we were aware of this. The other two are St Augustine, Florida and Quebec City, Canada. Charleston is also a city of churches and we saw, and heard, plenty on this tour. Also as with Savannah, Charleston has plenty of haunted areas, one of which is the Old City Jail which was in use between 1802 and 1939. When I was researching the years the jail was in use (it is now a project of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the White House Millennium Council but was previously used as a College for the Building Arts), I came across this quote on 'Bulldogtours.com': "**This is quite possibly the scariest place you will ever go. The experience is NOT recommended for small children or men that cry easily.**" Hahahahaha!
We found a small place to eat after our tour and it was here that I decided to try a Southern traditional favourite, fried green tomatoes, for the first time. They were wonderful and if you would like to try a healthy version for yourself, here is a fantastic recipe: 'Baked' Fried Green Tomatoes. To walk off our lunch we headed down to the Waterfront park and the first thing Carys saw was an ice cream shop. She just wanted to eat the huge ice cream but we distracted her by spotting the focal point of the park, a pineapple fountain!
From the park, Patriot's Point can be seen which is home to the USS Yorktown carrier, amongst other exhibits. We didn't have time on this trip to visit but I believe it is a whole day and rewarding experience. At least it was a great view and there was also plenty of sailing activity out on the water.
We had plenty of fun in the park and walked back via 'Rainbow Row', a line of pretty pastel coloured houses. We also wandered around some night markets before finding a great brewery restaurant with a glass elevator to allow great views of the brewing vats. It was here that we tried another Southern 'delight' that we'd heard about on the tour, Hush Puppies. I think ours had bacon in them and if they didn't, they should have!
Walking back to our car, we ventured past a park with a huge Christmas tree. That evening, the Christmas lights had been lit for the first time this season and it was a great prelude to our next destination, the annual Festival of Lights. The email link will take you to a 'drive through' video of all the lights and it was awesome to see the detail that went into some of the displays. There was no limit to the number of times you could drive around the park but the best part of the evening was parking the car and walking around the various paths to the Christmas village. For $2 you could purchase 3 marshmallows on a stick to roast over an open fire. I thought that was a great idea until I saw the size of the marshmallows but by then it was too late. We each had a marshmallow stick when one between the three of us would have more than enough. They were tasty though! The village also included artwork by local school children, a huge sand sculpture, games and of course, Santa himself!
A late night but a fun night and something that we won't see for a long while. Thank you Charleston!
On the final day of our road trip, we did a little more walking and exploring before finishing off at the South Carolina Aquarium. A 4D short movie of the Polar Express was another fantastic prelude to the white Christmas trip we had planned. We had a great time on our little trip away for Thanksgiving and although we didn't celebrate in a home with family or friends, we were thankful to celebrate being together in this wonderful country.
Posted by dinige 19:00 Archived in USA Comments (1)


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Deceptive facade
A good place to see art from the Baroque period (c. 1575-1770) is at the Museo Internacional del Barocco in Puebla, Mexico, which opened last February in a building designed by Toyo Ito.
Deceptive facade
A good place to see art from the Baroque period (c. 1575-1770) is at the Museo Internacional del Barocco in Puebla, Mexico, which opened last February in a building designed by Toyo Ito.
The Currywurst sausage was reputedly invented in 1949 by Herta Heuer in Berlin, home to the Currywurst Museum since 2009. The fast-food snack now also comes as a burger: Berlin's SchillerBurger chain serves a tasty, homemade Currywurst burger called Die Begegnung.
When the 2017/2018 German Bundesliga soccer season begins on August 18, 209 nations will be tuning in to watch. The Fiji Islands, Nicaragua and Mongolia are just three of the many countries to have secured the official broadcasting rights. Some Bundesliga games will air on live TV channel Sport24 on long-haul Lufthansa flights.
Who says you need mountains to go climbing? There are plenty of alternatives in the shape of spectacular climbing walls on churches, dams and the cooling towers of nuclear power plants.
Built 150 years ago, St. Alban's Church in Liverpool, England, inspires aspiration to other spheres. Today, visitors no longer come here to pray, but to climb its venerable walls, including an overhanging 17.5-meter lead wall.
The cooling tower of the former nuclear reactor in Kalkar, Germany, stands 58 meters high and has been repurposed as a climbing wall. If you prefer a different kind of thrill, there's a roller coaster next door.
Surrounded by authentic Alpine peaks, the steep wall of the Lago di Luzzone reservoir in Switzerland offers a unique challenge: It is the world's highest artificial climbing wall with 650 holds over a vertical distance of 163 meters.
The Okavango Delta covers more than 20 000 square kilometers and is home to a staggering variety of species, including elephants, lions, hippos and leopards. Stylish, sustainable Sandibe Lodge with its twelve luxurious wooden chalets is in the middle of the great outdoors.


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|Index → Yu-Gi-Oh! Ruling Queries → Maiden with Eyes of Blue
|Please sign your comments with ~~~~. See Help:Signature and Help:Talk pages for further information.
|This forum thread has been unedited for 1403 days and is considered archived. Please don't add to the discussion, unless absolutely necessary.
Maiden wiyh eyes of blue at face down (----)
Can be effect Maiden with eyes of blue actived if this card is attacked at face down position?
- No. Maiden must be face-up to use its effect. ChaosGallade (talk • contribs) 13:36, August 2, 2013 (UTC)
Maiden with Eyes of Blue's card effects only specify that the monster needs to be face-up for the effect that occurs with being targeted by an effect. No such verbiage exists for the effect that activates when being targeted by an attack, so logic would dictate that the effect still activates even in face-down defense mode. Is this logic incorrect? Zorpheus (talk • contribs) 08:05, October 17, 2013 (UTC)
Declaration of attack targets occur during the Battle Step, but flipping up face-down attack targets for damage calculation (and thus making their identities public) occurs in the Damage Step, where the attack target declaration timing has passed. Maiden's "When this card is targeted for an attack:" effect thus cannot activate if attacked face-down since she is still face-down during the attack target declaration step. It's also common sense that a card effect can only activate while its identity is public (face-up, or in a position that's public knowledge), otherwise how else can one confirm that a certain effect is being activated? --Gadjiltron (talk • contribs) 09:07, October 17, 2013 (UTC)


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This star rating is the opinion of the property owner only. A Self-Rated hotel has not been assessed by the AA or Visit Britain, whose official star ratings we use across LateRooms.com.
Hotel Modern
5, Rue du Lin, Concarneau, 29900
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The Modern Hotel, this building, originally a mill, purchased in 1938, entirely revised and corrected in the fifties by the couple Guillou, was entrusted to the interior to an architect of Italian origin. Today, his work is not without arousing the curiosity of customers of the institution. The couple wanted to call the Guillou Hotel du Vieux Moulin, a reminder of what the first vocation of the building was very modern for its time, people in their hotel guides blew: the modern hotel .
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Touch of Silver Evening Bag by Tanis Galik
Welcome! You are browsing as a guestWould you like to see projects made from this pattern and much more? create a free account What am I missing?
by tanisgalik Flickr
This book contains 23 patterns$22.99 on Amazon look inside this book!
Touch of Silver Evening Bag
This Evening Bag is the perfect match for a quiet evening out. The rich colors and beaded drawstrings are reminiscent of the elegance of a time gone by. The choice is yours - the shine of a silver arbor dotted with mauve rosebuds or a mauve background lined with silver stripes. Either way, you'll enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner for two and an evening at the theater with your necessities beautifully at hand.
Gauge: 6 boxes = 2" (5cm)
2 balls Katia Gatsby - Silver
2 balls Ella Rae Silkience - Mauve
Optional: 2 beaded necklaces for drawstrings
For more information, see: http://www.InterlockingCrochet.com


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Frogs and Toads It still surprises me the number of people that are confused over Frogs and Toads, and their spawn. It's pretty easy really. The adults are quite different. Frogs are the more shiny ones with clean angles and features, and although the colour can vary, they are usually green. Toads, generally look quite " blobby " ,for want of a better expression, are more of a greyish brown colour, and most importantly are covered in warts or large pimples. Both have one thing in common though, they are nocturnal when not in the pond spawning, and hide away during the day beneath rocks, stones and logs etc.
They emerge on damp warm evenings and forage around looking for worms and slugs which they devour in large numbers, and so in our selfish way are a bonus in the garden.
At this time of year both species enter the water in ponds and puddles, to engage in their mating rituals. The male Frogs fight for dominance by issuing their load croaks which are quite deep and gutteral whereas the toad's call is more squeaky, and higher pitched. The males grab the females and hold on tight until she lays the spawn which expands and draws in water and is quickly fertilised by the male, which is hanging on her back. Sometimes a hapless female will be grabbed by several incensed males at the same time. At this stage they are said to be in "amplexus". Sadly the females sometimes die due to the advances of amorous males.
By now the frogs have laid their clumps of sago like spawn, but the toads start later –usually by the end of March. Their spawn is very distinctive and is in long single strings which are wrapped around water plants. Which leads us to another difference between the two species. Frogs often use shallow temporary water such as is found in wheel ruts and rain puddles,, whereas toads prefer deeper more permanent water. A few years back there was this craze for putting frogspawn into garden ponds. People didn't realise that hundreds a little froglets would come back a couple of years later to the pond where they instinctively assumed that their parents had spawned !
Result - knee deep in frogs ! Luckily for us the adults and "taddies" are eaten by quite a few predarors like water beetles, dragon fly larvae, herons, snakes and even buzzards! Good job really !
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VOICES Ideas and Insight From Explorers
Tag archives for ocean noises
Ultrasound Ocean Noises Pose Risk to Marine Life
by Michael Stocker Noise pollution has now become one of the common themes of human-generated impacts on the ocean. Shipping noise, military sonar, and seismic airgun surveys are increasingly becoming part of the public discussion in marine conservation. These noises are easy for us to understand; they are loud, ubiquitous, and they are all in…


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Kishineff (Jan. 15)
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Rabbi Zirelson, the aged leader of Bessarabian Jews, was summoned by General Skerishoriana, Military Commandant of the city of Kishineff, to explain his address in the Kishineff municipal council which caused the protest of the Roumanian councillors. The Roumanian members demanded that Rabbi Zirelson be excluded from the council because of his address, which was construed to be disloyal to the Roumanian state.
The conversation between the General and the Rabbi lasted for an hour. Rabbi Zirelson, it is understood, repeated his address to the General. He explained that the Kishincff municipal executive appointed 28 commissions without consulting the members and that the executive decided on a system of high taxation at a time when Bessarabia is living through a severe crisis. The action of the municipality was anti-constitutional and it was for this reason that he exclaimed in his address: "Down with dictatorship, down with absolutism," the Rabbi said.
At the conclusion of the interview. General Skerishorianu declared that he was satisfied with the explanation of Rabbi Zirelson. The speech having referred to local matters, there is no reason to see in it any insult to the Roumanian state, the General stated.


text: PORTLAND, Ore. ( TheStreet) -- It's March Madness, and you know what that means: Pretending beer doesn't exist. At all. Whatsoever. And certainly not around colleges.Last year, we launched The Beer Dance, our craft beer March Madness bracket, just as a friendly reminder that beer plays a big role in the NCAA Men's Division 1 Basketball Tournament whether the NCAA wants to admit it or not. The NCAA's broadcast partners at CBS ( CBS) and Time Warner's ( TWX) Turner Sports have no problem letting Anheuser-Busch InBev ( BUD) and SABMiller- MolsonCoors ( TAP) joint venture MillerCoors into the big dance. The networks have taken more than $50 million in combined ad money from the brewers each year since 2011, according to Kantar Media. The NCAA bans alcohol sales during all its championships except football's postseason and bowls -- which it doesn't run -- and limits alcohol ads to malt beverages, beer and wine products with a sessionable 6% alcohol by volume or less. Even at that, beer ads made up less than 6% of all advertising during last year's Final Four. That doesn't mean there isn't plenty of beer to go around come tournament time. With the NCAA's bracket broken up into convenient little regional stops, the tournament provides a great opportunity for college basketball fans to not only burn some frequent-flier miles, but to sample some of the nation's best craft beers while doing so. While we're not running our Beer Dance this year, here's just a sampling of the best beers available to basketball fans making their way through the host cities during the next few weeks. Though your on-court allegiances might lie elsewhere, don't be afraid to support the home team when it comes to tournament beers:


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Tim Tebow will always be the Gainesville Angel. He was heralded before he descended into gayturdsville....and all he did there was win a Heisman and two MNCs. In between, he snipped some boys and did his best to keep Slurban's hoodlums away from floriDuh's gutters.
So now what does he have to show for it? Some awesome memories.
Those, and the prospect of cramming just before the NFLs final exam. For every 17 year old kid with a rocket arm and 4-5 stars next to his name on the SAT that Coach Richt and Co. visit from here on out, this comparison should be first outta their mouths: would you rather be Matt Stafford getting wined and dined by GMs with the top 10 picks...or Tim Tebow, changing his mechanics and hoping for an early second day phone call?
Cuz even if Zeke Bratkowski and Sam Wyche end up being right, no kid (or his dad) wants to envision a QB makeover just before the NFL combines. Of course, all this assumes Corch actually makes it back from his departure from reality.
Sidenote: since this post references articles that embrace the expertise of a Georgia legend...here's a YouTube clip of Zeke with another former Green Bay QB, David Whitehurst.


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Did you know?
Cape Town is the most visited city on the African continent.
The Western Cape's popularity as a first-rate meetings and incentives destination with unrivalled scenic beauty, top class facilities, and superb attractions is growing daily. Cape Town and the Cape winelands are two Western Cape meeting destinations highly sought-after by the meetings industry.
Cape Town has achieved international recognition as a superior, value-for-money business-tourism destination, offering a diverse range of affordable yet top-notch meeting venues, accommodation options, and experiences. Combine this with first rate telecommunications, IT and transport infrastructure, abundant leisure activities and renowned attractions, and Cape Town becomes a meetings destination that's hard to beat.
The city is member of the BestCities Global Alliance, which comprises convention bureaus that guarantee the highest services standards in convention planning, bid assistance, onsite event servicing, destination expertise, and attendance building; and the greatest service experience for meeting and event planners.
The award winning Cape Town International Convention Centre is certified with the ISO 14001 standard for environmental management. It offers 56 000m² of usable space.
The lush Cape winelands offer a large choice of meeting venues in beautiful country settings. Conference venues can be found on magnificent wine estates in Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. The award winning Spier, one of Stellenbosch's most illustrious wine estates, which is accredited by responsible tourism organization Fair Trade in Tourism, can comfortably seat 430 delegates. On-site activities include a craft market, farm visits, a heritage walk, horse riding, and spa treatments.
In Paarl, Allée Bleue wine farm offers stylish onference facilities for 130 delegates. Guests can enjoy wine tasting, relax in the beer garden, and overnight in a small boutique hotel offering luxury accommodation in a historic building.
Further south, along the Garden Route, scenic golf estates and country houses have high-tech meeting and accommodation facilities. Fancourt, South Africa's prestigious golf resort estate with 3 golf courses, a conference centre, and luxury accommodation options, can cater for 400 delegates in its largest meeting venue.
The Tramonto Wedding & Function Venue in George with its beautiful Cape-Dutch architecture, four-star country guest house, and a miniature horse farm – has meeting facilities for 600 guests.
The Western Cape and Cape Town have so many treasures worth exploring that no Western Cape meeting would be complete without going on a pre-or-post tour adventure.
Whether it's visiting Robben island, taking the aerial cableway up Table Mountain, lazing on the Western Cape's Blue Flag beaches, hiking up Cape Town's Signal Hill, searching for San rock art in the Cederberg Mountains, or enjoying township jazz in an authentic shebeen, the Western Cape offers memorable experiences.
There are also an array of thrilling adventures to be had from shark-cage diving, sailing, fishing, and surfing, to mountain climbing, abseiling, rock climbing, hiking, scenic flights and more.
Western Cape Sites and Activities at a Glance:
• Cape Town's Long Street for after-hours fun
• Table Mountain (either by aerial cableway or on foot)
• Superb beaches – Clifton, Camps Bay, Muizenberg, Boulders
• Robben Island – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The Cape Winelands for a wine-tasting safari
• Whale watching in the Overberg
• The West Coast National Park
• The Garden Route – spectacular natural beauty
• The V&A Waterfront – shop til' you drop
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Cape Town & Western Cape Convention
Telephone : +27 (0)21 487 8600
Email : email@example.com


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Cookbook author, celebrity chef and co-host of the Food Network's talk show, The Kitchen, Katie Lee, certainly knows how to harness food in her delicious recipes, but she also incorporates some of the same ingredients into her beauty regimen. Recently, Lee teamed up with Stolichnaya vodka on their #SearchForMary to find original Bloody Mary recipes across the nation. We chatted with the glam chef about everything from primping to pancakes.
So we know you're hanging out with Stoli today for a Bloody Mary brunch. Is there a way to make a Bloody Mary healthier? "I think a Bloody Mary is a healthier choice because with the base being tomato juice, it's not a sugary drink, and you're getting some lycopene in there, which is good for your skin and a good antioxidant. I use low-sodium juice, which I think makes a big difference. You don't want to get puffy from your drink or raise your sodium levels, so I use low sodium. One of the other great things about a Bloody Mary is the spices in it. Spicy foods can spike your metabolism. And Stoli vodka is a nice robust vodka that will hold up to those spicy flavors of the Bloody Mary, so it really is a good pairing."
Any tips for keeping brunch on the healthy side? "When you go out for brunch, look for healthier options and make some adjustments. Tell them to go easy on the cheese if you're going to have an omelet and you want cheese. Or sometimes, I'll ask them to make my omelet with egg whites and one egg yolk. That way I still get the flavor of the egg yolk in there and also the yolk has some B vitamins, so I still like to get one yolk and the rest be egg whites, so you feel like you're still indulging but you're making healthier choices."
Do you have any favorite healthy brunch recipes? "If I'm at home, what I'll do, because I do love pancakes, is I make a pancake recipe that is just cottage cheese, oats and eggs in the blender. And it's high protein, high fiber, and no guilt."
Sounds delicious! What's one of the best beauty tricks you've picked up? "I really like to use food in my beauty products and my makeup artist uses a lot of oil, so I picked up that tip from her. I add a little coconut oil to my foundation when I put it on and it just gives a nice sheen and it's still really moisturizing. Especially since it's still cold out and my skin is dry. I tend to have dry skin all year long and in the summer, I'm in salt water a lot because I surf, so having that little bit of oil makes my makeup have that perfect little glow to it."
Is surfing one of your go-to workouts? "Yeah! I love surfing. I started surfing about four years ago; the ocean was a fear of mine and I like to do things to get out of my comfort zone. So, I decided to take a surf lesson and I got obsessed with it, so that's one of my workouts. And then, I religiously do Tracy Anderson. I love her workouts. And I'm just a really active person; I love to eat, but I love my skinny jeans too, so it's a trade-off. If I want to eat all that good stuff, I've got to workout."


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Killpatrick's Memorandum On "Occupy Seattle Exit Strategy"
TO: Campus Community
FROM: Paul T. Killpatrick,
DATE: December 5, 2011
SUBJECT: Occupy Seattle Exit Strategy
A Thurston County Superior Court judge on Friday upheld a Seattle Community College District emergency rule that prohibits camping on the Seattle Community Colleges' property.
The Emergency Rule is an amendment to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 132F-136-030, outlining permissible activities on the Seattle Community Colleges' property. The new rule states: "College property may not be used for camping, defined to include sleeping, carrying on cooking activities, storing personal belongings, or the erection of tents or other shelters or structures used for purposes of personal habitation." The rule will be in effect for 120 days. The college district has started the process to adopt a permanent rule.
I will be meeting tomorrow morning with representatives of Occupy Seattle to establish a timeline for posting of trespass notices and a peaceful and orderly exit strategy.
I would like to share with you the text of the address I made last Thursday at the General Assembly (GA) of Occupy Seattle stating our commitment to working collaboratively with Occupy Seattle to ensure a peaceful and orderly exit strategy:
"Thank you for allowing me a few minutes to address your General Assembly.
My name is Paul Killpatrick. I am the president of Seattle Central Community College.
I wish for you to know I am supportive of many things that you believe in. I am here tonight to discuss a possible exit strategy from Seattle Central. I've had weekly meetings with some of your members and I understand that Seattle Central was not your first choice to relocate – with good reason. We are not set up to host an encampment. To that end we need to discuss an exit strategy – a strategy that will ensure that no one will be injured, that violence will not be used.
I hope that we can send a message of peace and true communication to the rest of the world – that when reasonable people assemble solutions can be found. That is why I am not waiting for the courts to decide if an injunction is possible or not.
I wish to start a good faith effort today. Let us show the rest of the world that Seattle is different. We can make this work. To quote Cornel West, "Occupy is not a place, it is a movement." This is my message to you tonight. Thank you."
On Friday, I sent a follow-up email to a representative of Occupy Seattle stating, "The college is still interested in having an open discussion with interested members of Occupy Seattle. As I said at the G.A. last night, the college is committed to seeking a peaceful resolution and an orderly exit strategy. This is something that is going to take collaboration between the college and Occupy Seattle." I requested this message be posted on Occupy Seattle's website in the form of a "Message from Dr. Paul Killpatrick, President of Seattle Central."
Further information about the Emergency Rule along with a link to the news release is available on the Chancellor's Blog.
The last six weeks have been difficult and tense for many of us. I hope we will see a peaceful resolution to this situation soon, and I hope that Occupy Seattle finds a new, more manageable home.


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Ryan Gosling is, to borrow from Zoolander, so hot right now. How hot? Well, even in the company of fellow movie meteors like Michael Fassbender and Tom Hardy, the one-two of Drive and Crazy, Stupid, Love, and the release of political thriller The Ides Of March, will make him the brightest star in the firmament for the next few months – and probably a whole lot longer. The two films couldn't be more different, flaunting a dazzling range to go with those chiselled features and musical talent. Sure the accent may have floated about down the years, but the charisma and talent have been evident from those long-forgotten Disney days. To mark his return to our screens, we've assembled some of the Canadian's finest moments.
ESSENTIAL VIEWING: Blue Valentine (2011)
As good as Ryan Gosling is as Crazy, Stupid, Love's hollowed-out lothario – and he pinches the film from under heavyweight co-stars – his romantic tour de force was in a very different kind of relationship movie. How Blue Valentine didn't reap him the Oscar recognition his on-screen partner Michelle Williams garnered is for the Academy to know and us to guess at. The pair are equally terrific as a disintegrating couple who fall in and out of love to a chorus of ukulele, shouty abuse and broken glass. It's the nearest thing to a horror movie on Gosling's CV; a heartbreaking dissection of a failing marriage, captured Method-style by Derek Cianfrance. The director's insistence that Gosling and Williams punctuated the film's 'before' and 'after' chapters by spending a month living under the same roof probably added authenticity to the petty bickering – we'd love to have been a fly on the wall when they were budgeting groceries – but the ferocious fight scenes in the odd-ball themed hotel show two actors at the top of their game.
ESSENTIAL VIEWING: Half Nelson (2006)
It's safe to say that, for all his good qualities, heroin-hooked middle school teacher Dan Dunne probably wouldn't have made it into the Mickey Mouse Club. Gosling, though, has always been happier delving into less wholesome – and riskier - territory than his fellow Disney alumni, and Dunne is a reminder of his mastery of morally-conflicted characters. He's terrific throughout, always believable whether battling for the soul of a lonely student (Shareeka Epps) or smoking crack in the school bathrooms, and picked up a richly-deserved Oscar nomination for his troubles. Forest Whitaker pipped him, terrifying the Academy with his portrayal of Idi Amin, but the Kodak Theatre will be hearing from Gosling again. Count on it.
ESSENTIAL VIEWING: Drive (2011)
Gosling's 'Driver' may not have the growly presence or Mount-Rushmore features of other nameless movie monoliths, and he probably couldn't beat Charles Bronson or Clint Eastwood in a fight either (he doesn't even carry a gun), but he definitely matches them for pure, inscrutable cool. This pulsing, '80s-homaging thriller gives him minimal dialogue to work with, but plenty of opportunity to explore the darker side of the human psyche – as well as a stupidly fast Chevy Impala to drive. The project was Gosling's baby and his pick of Nicolas Winding Refn as director turned out to be inspired. The star's new-found cachet enabled the Danish auteur to realise his glossy, ultra-violent vision without interference, while Refn constructs a neon netherland that Gosling's Steve McQueen-like getaway driver inhabits like a ghost. It's more proof that Gosling isn't a man who reads from the Hollywood playbook. He even does his own stunts in the film - a surefire way to give studio accountants a coronary.
RECOMMENDED: The Believer (2001)
The role that, as he puts it, "gift-wrapped my career", The Believer is Gosling's American History X, a blistering turn as skinhead that got his picture onto a lot of casting directors' desks and helped the film to a Sundance gong. His equivalent to Edward Norton's Derek Vineyard, a young student called Danny Balint, is fuelled by an anti-Semitism that's just as explosive. The difference? He's Jewish. The fallout of this scouring depiction of a cerebral, violently self-hating Jew meant that no US distributor would touch it, leaving Gosling's startlingly complex performance largely undiscovered. He spits his character's hideous ideas with a raw intensity ("Take the greatest Jewish minds ever", snarls Balint at one point, "Marx, Freud, Einstein… what have they given us? Communism, infantile sexuality and the atom bomb") and projects a combustible mix of tight-coiled rage and a razor-sharp intellect. As gift wrap goes, it's probably not something you'd want to find under your Christmas tree.
FOR THE FAN: The Notebook (2004)
We put this in the 'For the Fan' bracket knowing that it's a pretty big category. Huge. Ginormous. In fact, The Notebook's army of devout fans could beat Gosling's other fans to death and be home in time to weep gently into their pillows. And for good reason: Baby Goose pulls hard on the heartstrings as the big-hearted Noah, a smart kid who endures prejudice and the hairiest meet-cute this side of Titanic to win the heart of Rachel McAdams' lovelorn Southern belle. Unfortunately, the war happens and he loses it again. Cue one of the most glorious gestures in movie history. The first and comfortably the best of the Nicholas Sparks' adaptations, it's undeniably mushy but hugely charming - a romance that will have all but the most stony-hearted reaching for a hankie. That muttering sound you heard, though, was men everywhere cursing. He builds her a house for Pete's sake! Flowers would never be enough again.
ONE TO MISS: The United States Of Leland (2003)
Gosling's nose for interesting materials has kept him clear of anything approaching a turkey so far in his 15-year Hollywood career, although this turgid misfire runs pretty close in the poulty stakes. It's a big stew of movie cliches with Gosling's young offender, Leland Fitzgerald, giving everyone around him ample opportunity to examine their own lives and reach the inevitable conclusion that, no, they definitely shouldn't be in this movie. The notion that the amnesia-struck, enigmatic Leland is unknowable, and therefore his murder of an autistic boy is in some way unjudgeable, translates into a lot of vacant looks from Gosling. It's definitely not his finest moment, although a fine cast – Kevin Spacey, Don Cheadle, Michelle Williams included – struggles equally with the stodgy material. Still, he got an early opportunity to work with Williams and things worked out rather better second time out.
RECOMMENDED: Lars And The Real Girl (2007)
Like Truman Burbank or Rain Man's Raymond Babbitt, the protagonist of this quirky comedy is a likeable outsider with, to the untrained eye at least, some pretty weird tics. Like in-a-relationship-with-a-sex-toy weird. He could be a figure of fun yet Gosling gives him a sweet innocence that carries the film through potential icky terrain. Sure, Lars doesn't sleep with his internet-bought 'Real Girl', and the locals have a Pleasantville-like willingness to play along with his delusion, but Gosling's naive charm lends a fairy tale-sweetness that leavens a movie with has plenty to say about the way people interact - not all of them positive. Plus, that moustache is proof that he can negotiate some pretty leftfield facial furniture too.


text: In addition to supporting the new mobile service, DivX ® technologies power Mei Ah's online Video-On-Demand services in China ( http://www.116.tv/ ) and internationally ( http://boyabo.com , since 2011). Boyabo.com offers titles in the DivX format for download-to-own as well as download-to-rent and uses DivX DRM technologies to enable consumers to download and enjoy content offline and across an extensive, multi-manufacturer ecosystem of consumer electronics devices, as well as Windows and Mac computers.In addition to adopting Rovi technologies for the delivery and display of entertainment, Mei-Ah has adopted Rovi TotalCode to streamline content preparation. TotalCode offers professional-quality batch encoding of video content in a broad range of digital distribution and broadcast formats and is being used by Mei-Ah to generate titles for both download and streaming. "Our work with Mei-Ah is a showcase of the breadth and depth of Rovi technologies for enabling the digital entertainment value chain from content creation through consumption," said Matt Milne, Executive Vice President Worldwide Sales and Marketing, Rovi Corporation. "As Mei-Ah's services attest, Rovi technologies provide an end-to-end solution and enable the variety of use cases required – from downloading for viewing offline and across a range of devices to streaming directly to portable devices – to deliver the entertainment flexibility and freedom consumers crave." DivX technologies are recognized by millions of consumers around the world for delivering great video performance, visual quality, and multi-screen interoperability. Over 750 million DivX devices have shipped into the market worldwide, ranging from Blu-ray players and HDTVs to game consoles and smartphones. DivX movies can be easily transferred via optical disc, USB drive, and SD memory cards or content can be streamed over a home network using DNLA for playback on registered DivX Certified devices. About Mei Ah Entertainment Group Mei Ah Entertainment Group was founded in 1984 and listed at Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1993. Majoring in video distribution, the Group has been actively engaged in film investment and production since 1997, it has produced more than 150 titles to date and have a film library of approximately 600 titles, including many box office hits and internationally acclaimed titles. The Group has also been involved in TV series production and distribution, television channel operational, multi-media development and recently the cinema lines throughout China.


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Barda, Azerbaijan, Aug. 6
By Ayhan Hasanov - Trend:
Armenians committed another provocation on the frontline, Trend's regional correspondent reported on Aug. 5.
Armenian troops shelled the Gapanli village from the positions near the occupied village Seysulan of Azerbaijani Terter region. Shelling continued for half an hour.
The shelling of the enemy was silenced with return fire of the Azerbaijani army.
As a result of the enemy's shelling, several houses were damaged in the village.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four U.N. Security Council resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.


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THE NEW University Technical College due to open in September has announced that it will hold more open evenings for prospective students.
Parents and pupils will be able to find out what the new engineering college will be able to offer them at open evenings at the Oxford Brookes University Ferndale Campus on Thursday from 6.30pm to 8pm.
They will have another opportunity to find out more at an open evening on April 23.
Angela Barker-Dench, principal at the college, said: "The size of attendances and the response we have had at previous open evenings has been remarkable. It is important in the run up to the official opening of UTC Swindon to capitalise on the feedback we have had by putting on two more events. Our open evenings are a great chance to go through the curriculum with the parents and potential students leading up to the opening of UTC Swindon. The evenings are always engaging and informative events, with the aim to let no question go unanswered."
For more information call UTC Swindon on: 07990 601 516.


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WHILE Hollywood hero Ben Affleck appeared in Washington to give testimony about the Congo's humanitarian crisis, rumour has it the star is considering running for the US Senate.
With an atypical audience - members of Congress - the actor and director gave a pointed message: A desperate humanitarian situation in Congo requires a stronger display of US leadership, and it will get worse without one.
Glancing down at prepared testimony, Affleck told the House Armed Services Committee that the US needs to show moral leadership in the region, saying it didn't require a deep investment of tax payer money.
"They deserve better than this cycle of violence and upheaval," he said of the people of Congo. "Without persistent, high-level leadership by the United States, the key players will not come to the table and do their part," he said.
Affleck, who wore a charcoal gray suit and a blue tie, said the US should lead an effort to reshape the United Nations' role in the region. Despite a UN presence in the country for 15 years, and a major peacekeeping operation in the country, a rebel group called the M23 has operated in eastern Congo, terrorizing the region.
The Hollywood's director's star turn in Washington has been seen by some as the evidence that Affleck is looking to run for the US Senate for a seat in Massachusetts. Affleck has been an active member of the Democratic party for the best part of a decade and has campaigned for candidates before.
Politco.com said that Affleck is keeping his cards close to his chest as speculation mounts that he is being sounded out as a possible Democratic candidate for Massachusetts.
"That's not what I'm here to talk about," Affleck told Politco when asked is he was considering a run. "I'm here to talk about what role we can place in making the Eastern Congo a better place."
Yet Affleck did meet privately with Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and other members of his committee. Kerry is widely tipped to be President Obama's candidate for Secretary of State in his second administration, after the incumbent, Hillary Clinton said she would step down in the new year.
Kerry's elevation would open up a special election for a senate seat in Affleck's native state of Massachusetts.
Affleck was one of five witnesses - and the only one asked to pose for pictures by starry-eyed aides - to testify to the committee about Congo. US State Department officials have described the situation in Congo as the most volatile in Africa.
The Argo star told the committee he planned to travel to Congo again next year. His place at the committee table among academic experts and government officials came through his experience founding the East Congo Initiative, a non-profit organization that helps direct aid to the war-torn region. The group, which was founded in 2010, says it is the first US organization to focus solely on aiding eastern Congo.
Affleck's earnestness - and apparent knowledge of the conflict - seemed to impress committee members. Representative Buck McKeon, the committee's chairman, said that he "knew nothing about the Congo other than what I learned today." He thanked Affleck and the other witnesses for informing him.
-with staff reporters
Originally published as Is Mr Affleck going to Washington?


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 2/5/2014 (1209 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Are you a listening loser?
At one time, watching people strolling down a sidewalk involved counting the number of smokers. Then, as society made smoking a social no-no, we started to see more people strolling along with a coffee cup in hand. Paper cups, sippy cups or insulated mugs, it didn't matter; their hands were full.
Today, many people are madly staring at their hand-held devices or talking on their cellphone.
Technology and social media have taken over our lives. Everyone, including grandparents and young people alike, is communicating with friends and family on a Facebook page, and/or sending a 140-character message on Twitter. We are constantly checking our email and networking pages just to see what the chatter is all about. Many employees have become addicted to their connection and resist turning their devices off while at work. Some people refuse to shut them off during important training sessions.
Employers aren't happy to see work time wasted so there's been a scramble to create workplace policies regarding multimedia tools. Some companies in the manufacturing field in particular, require employees to leave personal devices in their lockers.
At the same time, much of our communication is being translated into abbreviations. Think WTF or LOL.
Another factor is the deterioration of handwritten communication. While I once took pride in my penmanship, today I hardly recognize my own script. I might start writing something on a pad of paper only to get frustrated because, let's face it, handwriting is too slow. So, out comes the laptop and off I go, typing away like mad.
Giving up handwriting for keyboarding is one thing, but giving up face-to-face communication and listening is another thing. And bolding your email script, highlighting in red, or typing some words in capital letters just won't do it. Without the benefit of face-to-face communication, many of your messages will be misunderstood. It may also offend the reader.
People are also losing their listening skills. It may already have become a forgotten skill. However, we need good listening skills because they allow us to tap into the speaker's mind, to understand what's being said and to appreciate the emotions behind the communication. Listening allows you to be open to new ideas, to provide better customer service and to demonstrate you care about your employees and/or your colleagues. It allows employees to build trust and foster teamwork. Good listening skills can help you avoid conflict and resolve misunderstandings.
It might shock you to know that in spite of social media, we are still spending a large amount of our time listening to others. Therefore, I believe it's important we continue to pay attention to developing listening skills. Think of listening as a power tool we can use in the workplace to influence situations, reduce our stress and improve co-operation.
Part of the listening challenge is that many individuals hear the words being said but don't understand them. Others tune in and out of a conversation and only pay half attention to the conversation. Some individuals fake attention while others continually interrupt the speaker. And I am sure you've met some listeners who focus only on the facts and discard any notice of the emotion attached to the message.
What we need to do is develop our listening skills to a level that demonstrates an emotional involvement in the conversation. This requires us to avoid prejudging a speaker and making a concerted effort to understand their point of view. It requires us to understand ourselves, our listening abilities and barriers that prevent us from good listening. And, of course, it requires that we make every effort to improve our listening skills.
The following tactics will help you become a better listener.
Self-assessment - Ask yourself what barriers exist between you and a listener? Are there myths or biases that upset you and prevent you from listening effectively? Is your listening ability reduced when you are tired or frustrated? Do you recognize when you've become distracted by fidgeting, or doodling or gazing at your phone? Make a list of your bad habits and then work on them one at a time.
Watch for body language - Did you know 55 per cent of our communication is made up of facial expression, eye contact, hand gestures and personal posture? If you fail to pay attention to these, you are missing the emotional content and a good deal of the message. Focus your attention on these elements, as well as voice tone, to help you interpret attitude and give you direction as to how to respond.
Search for commonality - Listen for something of value to you and search for common ideas. This creates a link between you and the speaker. Concentrate on the words and what is being said. Show interest, ask good questions and demonstrate you are paying attention by using your own body language.
Plan your communication - Think before you talk. Good communication requires spontaneous analysis, thinking, planning and choosing your words carefully.
Work hard at listening - You aren't going to get perfect overnight, but if you are self-aware, practise listening skills, focus attention on the speaker and resist distractions, you will continue to become a better listener. Be determined to build better listening habits.
Technology is creating instant communication. I continue to believe strong listening skills need to remain an important part of our skills repertoire. As much as you love your portable device, it is an inanimate object that doesn't know how to love back or create a real personal relationship.
Barbara J. Bowes is president of Legacy Bowes Group and president of Career Partners International, Manitoba. She can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com