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I remember first mentioning in passing, to my fiancée, that I really wanted a Kindle. I did a fair bit of reading, but found that I was often discouraged for two reasons, which I think will probably make me sound like a little bit of a freak.
The first reason is my incredibly strange phobia of touching anything dry, like cardboard or the pages of a book when my hands haven't been moisturised. The feeling rips right through me! The second reason is that I just can't get comfortable with a book. I mostly read in bed, but trying to find a comfortable position whilst holding open a book is downright impossible, I find.
The Kindle Paperwhite solved both of these issues, whilst also bringing much more to the table.
Now, I didn't know a great deal about the Kindle machines before I got my (dry) hands on one, but I was very impressed by the miniature library and instantly set about buying numerous books that I had been waiting to buy. This is one of my favourite points about owning a Kindle. There were a number of titles that I wanted to read, but I kept forgetting about some of them - not any more. Now, if I see a book that I'm dying to read, I can just add it to my Amazon wish list, as the Kindle is tied directly to your Amazon account once you've linked it. Not only does this mean that you can have a catalogue of books ready to purchase once the one you're reading has been finished, but it also means that instead of running to the book store, all you need to do is hit 1 button and the book is instantly purchased and downloaded to your Kindle.
This is where the next point comes in. I understand that there are a couple of different versions of the Kindle Paperwhite. You can either have a 3G version, which means that you can connect to the internet much like a smartphone in order to download your books, or you can have a WiFi version, which just allows you to connect to WiFi hotspots in or outside of your home. The latter type is the one that I have, but it's just fine. You will generally pay more for the 3G version and never have I found myself out in the middle of nowhere with no WiFi connection in sight and suddenly thought to myself 'Oh man, if only I had 3G so I could download a book right now'. When you are connected, though I can't speak specifically for the speed of 3G, your book is downloaded and ready to read within a matter of seconds after hitting the purchase button. So if you've finished a book, but you're not quite ready to drop off to sleep, you can just grab the sequel!
This brings me onto my next point about reading in bed. It's fantastic. No more keeping the partner awake with a side lamp or having to stop reading because they want to go to sleep. The Kindle Paperwhite's inbuilt light is incredible and has a surprising scale between very dim and glaringly bright. At its lowest setting, you can still easily read, but it casts no glare so that anyone in the same room would still easily be able to drop off to sleep. Unfortunately this does mean that you can easily lose all track of time and read into the small hours of the morning, suddenly realising it's 3am and you have to work in 5 hours.
Part of this is also down to how easy it is to get into a comfortable stupor whilst reading on the Kindle. I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm reading a traditional book, I can't lie on my back, because having both arms elevated to keep the book open gets painful very quickly. I prefer lying on my side to read, but keeping the pages open again is a fine and painful balancing act after more than a few minutes. However, with the Paperwhite, you can easily support its small frame with one hand and whether you're lay on your back or on your side, it's very easy to find a comfortable position. It helps that the Kindle is very light and generally ligher than most paperback novels, despite its incredible storage capacity.
The Kindle Paperwhite can hold thousands of books. So far, I've only downloaded around 10, but taking into consideration the fact that these books are not forming a steady fort beside my bed, I find it much more convenient than owning the physical paperback copies. Another great advantage to this is that, although you might decide to have a spring clean of your Kindle library eventually and delete your back catalogue, you can easily share your Kindle with a partner or housemate so that they can read all of the same books. Plus, if you're a total neat freak, you don't have to worry about them folding over one of the pages as a bookmark (HOW DARE YOU).
The battery life is extremely impressive. It lasts an enormous amount of time between charges. Keep in mind if you do buy one, that it will take a few full charges to see the machine's optimum battery life, as it has to Index the books you've purchased. Generally, whether using it often or not (I had exams and whatnot whilst owning mine at first), you will find that the battery lasts weeks between charges.
The e-ink technology that the Kindle Paperwhite uses is very impressive and really makes for a very crisp and clear reading experience. The font on screen can be adjusted in size or even style to best suit the reader, a very useful tool for those who have less than perfect eyesight. The Paperwhite even has an inbuilt dictionary, so that unknown words can be highlighted for a definition. This is very useful, as even though I consider myself to have a decent vocabulary, I'm constantly finding new words, which is very useful as somebody who writes novels in their spare time.
I find it very hard to think of anything negative to say about this Kindle. The one thing that comes to mind is that the charger must be connected to a computer when the battery needs charging. It doesn't come boxed with a wall adapter, so you only have the option of USB charging to begin with. However, I believe that you can couple this cable with an iPhone charger or something similar to wall-charge the Kindle, but it's something I would recommend reading into to make sure that you don't damage this wonderful piece of hardware.
All in all, I love the concept of e-readers. I'm currently writing my first novel and have numerous other ideas in the pipeline, so I don't want the traditional publishing industry to succumb to e-publishing any time soon, as I'm a huge fan of traditional publishing too. However, for me, as a reader, the Kindle makes it far easier to enjoy this hobby.
Specifications of my model.
* Intel Pentium processor P6100 2.0GHz,
* 3MB L3 cache
* Chipset: Intel HM55
320GB 5400rpm
DVD-Super Multi DL drive
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
15.6" HD Acer CineCrystal LED LCD
Integrated Intel HD Graphics
Keyboard and Touchpad
WLAN: Acer Nplify 802.11b/g/n
6-cell Li-ion battery
2 in 1 Card Reader
1.3 megapixel webcam
The 15.6" widescreen Acer Aspire 5742Z carries powerful processing capabilities, despite not featuring the new i-series processors. The slimlined design measures around an inch in width for convenience and a classy, professional body. Battery life is empowered by smart technology that manages power consumption and LED display to extend the batteries capabilities. A fully charged laptop affords me roughly 2 hours of continous use before the need to recharge.
The 3GB of RAM in this model is easily enough for the casual user, supporting multiple applications simultaneously; It easily facilitates the numerous word documents, web pages and applications that I run consecutively whilst conducting research for my studies and completing reports. Additionally, I have experienced no trouble in managing flash based applications, basic flash and browser games, or media, be it audio or visual. The Intel HD integrated graphcis stand in place of a graphics card, though I have not personally tested the abilities of this as I have not used the system for serious gaming.
(Upon testing the system's abiltity through system requirements lab, I have found that it is able to run games with low requirements, such as The Sims, however it could not run more demanding games such as Call of Duty, World in Conflict or Command and Conquer).
The widescreen design of this model means that its design features a full size keyboard, with no minimisation of the outer numerical pad. The touchpad responds well and, as is common with newer models, allows multi-touch functionality such as zooming without the need for the keyboard. However one disadvantage that I have found with the keyboard display is that Caps Lock does not display an LED to signal whether it is turned on or off. A minor issue, however this can be annoying at times.
The integrated webcam is a 1.3 megapixel camera, however it is of a much higher quality than other 1.3 MP models that I have used in the past. The quality is excellent for a webcam, especially an internal component, though it is very dependant on lighting. In low lighting the picture is harder to make out; but in adequate lighting, it is an excellent webcam.
My decision to come to Coventry University was made on the 30th of August 2009, days before the majority of undergraduates would be moving their lives to new cities and beginning their University careers. My unconditional offer to another University had fallen through for unfortunate reasons yet I was not willing to wait another year to get my degree, so I blindly searched through clearing for a place offering my course and chose Coventry.
Coventry lies in the heart of the West Midlands, only a short journey away from Birmingham. The city itself is relatively small (in fact, from the bridge over the ring road outside my house, I can see from one side of the city to the other!) and the University campus is spread across the eastern side of the city centre, near to the ruins of the old cathedral.
My own area of study, the languages and business department, lies just beyond a large courtyard, surrounded by the alumni and (one of the) student union buildings, and overshadowed by the ruins of the cathedral. Fountains spurt from the floor and trees line the paths down to the faculty buildings. Cobbled paths lead up through the ruins, past medieval buildings and foliage and into the shopping precinct. It really is the most beautiful part of the city, in my opinion. Unfortunately, it is the only part of the city I like, but i'll touch on that later.
The other campus buildings are spread out around the same area of the city, with the Journalism and Media campus, Engineering departments and library and student center a little further south/south west of the city centre.
Overall facilities at the University are quite good and suit all of my personal needs. There are various computer rooms throughout the campus buildings, with a large amount of computers in the library buildings too. They have recently been upgraded to Windows 7, and the Journalism and Media campus has Mac desktops, however the computers in the Business and English faculty are still running on Windows Vista. My only complaint about these facilities is that besides the language centre and fifth floor computer rooms, the other computer rooms are like hidden gems. If you can't find a computer when you need one, and don't know about the other well hidden rooms throughout the campus buildings, then you might be left without a computer (though this doesn't happen too often).
Teaching is good at the University and the lecturers generally have a good grasp of their subject areas (this may sound obvious but I've seen such terrible teachers in the past). My lecturers so far all seem very willing to help and provide a range of resources and handouts through the University's learning system online.
There are a range of cafés around the campus buildings - off the top of my head I can think of two in the Business and English department, two in the Journalism and Media department, two in the library and the recently renovated and (quite stylishly) redecorated student union café. The campus buildings are all very close to a huge range of local bars, newsagents and delis too so it is always to find somewhere to eat and drink, even in short gaps between lectures. Everything is very close together.
Accomodation in the first year is generally in student halls or shared housing. Unfortunately from the second year onwards you have to find your own accomodation and I've not particularly had the best experience of this. A lot of the properties I have viewed in the city (most of them) are in bad condition. I've seen completely damp ridden, black stained walls where you could literally smell the damp in the air in several buildings and I could easily say that half of my friends have complained about damp in their accomodation. It seems a prevalent issue in the city, and the standard of housing doesn't seem to be very good.I hope I find somewhere better for my third year in October.
A brief personal comment on the city: I really truly do not like it, if i'm honest. Luckily I like the University, but the city is awful. It always seems very dirty and grey and you get the feeling that the council don't really care very much about the standards. The level of unemployment and homelessness seems rather high in Coventry and you see a fair few homeless individuals around. Also there seems to be a lot of visually displeasing people here. I'm not being offensive for no reason; the amount of people I see walking around wearing dirty clothing and drinking alcohol in the middle of the day, swearing and talking about drugs is alarmingly high in comparison to other cities I have lived in.
Overall I think that it's a good University, despite not being very high on league tables, but if that sort of thing doesn't concern you then the actual Uni is good. However I definitely cannot recommend the city, and this aspect of University has actually made me look forward to the day I can leave and move back home, rather than these three years being the 'best time of my life' as many people describe University life.
# # # Welcome to Bad Company. # # #
This installment in the Battlefield: Bad Company series is the second game produced by DICE, the company that brought PC classics such as Battlefield: Vietnam, Battlefield 1943 and Battlefield 2 to the PC market (and which are still enjoyed to this day by an avid fanbase). The game addresses shortcomings from the first game in the series, and improves upon multiplayer, whilst still offering up a solid single player storyline.
# # # Graphics and Sound. # # #
Bad Company 2 boasts fantastic visuals reflected in the atmospheric effects, attention to detail in vehicles, weaponry and character animation and ballistics. In addition to this the sound in-game is incredible and was carefully recorded on location by the developers using real weaponry; this quality reflected in-game was clearly reflective of this effort.
# # # Single Player. # # #
The campaign follows Preston Marlowe, a member of the unconventional 'Bad Company', as they investigate an off-the-records mission. Cue the rag-tag neccessities of such a crew: the hard-ass, the captain so close to retirement, the nerd and the guy who just wants to blow everything up. The missions are varied and exciting making use of a range of gadgets and vehicles to annihilate the enemy and mostly every building in the company's path.
# # # Multi-player. # # #
At the beginning of a round, players get the choice of four different classes to play: Sniper, Engineer, Assault and Medic. Each of these classes gains experience separately, gaining their own unlockables exclusively. At the same time, the player levels up individually, unlocking different weapons from pistols to shotguns and assault rifles. These classes may use a combination of weaponry providing each part of their kit takes up a different 'slot'. For example, the assault soldier can use C4, like the sniper, but in such a case he would not be able to use the grenade launcher at the same time.
Vehicles are possibly one of the finest aspects of the game that add something new to the same recycled forumla used by other games in the FPS genre. They vary greatly and include attack helicopters, tanks, APCs and even UAV drones with hellfire mounted missile launchers. These can be destroyed through a variety of means such as airstrikes called by a sniper, C4 charges, other vehicles or landminesplaced by an engineer (or even a grenade launcher if you have a massive stockpile of grenades handy!).
Game modes vary between objective control, asset destruction squad deathmatches and onslaught, a mode in which players team up in a mode reminiscent of Gears of War's horde mode.
# # # In Conclusion. # # #
This game definitely brings some new elements to the market. The familiarity of vehicles as featured in the PC Battlefield 2 draws in nostalgic DICE fans looking for a graphically improved, console take on the old favourite, whilst offering newcomers something that other FPS games do not supply. The range of weaponry is extensive and impressive, with attention to detail; in addition there are a range of gadgets that enhance gameplay and once more bring new elements unseen in other FPS games which broaden the ability of each class.
# # # Downloadable Content. # # #
Since release, the game has been well supported by a variety of downloadable content, as with previous Battlefield games. There have been, to date, seven map packs that have added new maps to the multiplayer gameplay, whilst making existing maps available in game modes in which they were not previously playable.
There has also been a Vietnam expansion pack released which adds a plethora of new content including numerous new weapons, new vehicles and new maps to play them on. These are not simple reskins of the same existing weapons, rather detailed degradation of older weapons to reflect the time period and condition of equipment in the Vietnam war.
After reviewing several outlets for purchasing this palette, I had decided on a seller through ebay. High feedback was reassuring, and postage, despite taking a long time, was free. Overall I paid £20 for the product and packaging. Take care to examine a seller's feedback before committing to any purchase. There are some inevitable negatives labelled as damaged product or non-arrival but that is the risk you take ordering long distance on makeup products, and in the majority of cases the product will arrive okay.
I chose the Matte palette as I am not a fan of shimmery eye shadows. The pallette contains all of the colours I would ever need to use, and varying shades of the major / most popular colours. They are very vibrant colours and a highly pigmented. A little goes a long way, however they are quite stainable so you will need to scrub away with a makeup wipe to remove them! :)
My particular pallette came with 'Coastal Scents' printed across the front of a shiny black plastic case, in attractive font. The case acquires small scratches all over the exterior, however this is always the case with any product that has this sort of finish (Xbox elite, black Nintendo Wii etc). This particular case also had a small mirror on the interior for makeup application, and came with two small makeup brushes. I would however recommend that you have your own set of brushes as those that usually come included in makeup sets are just for show and not usually very good quality.
Although that said, the makeup applies easily if using fingers. If using a brush there is some powdering.
Need for Speed is a game that feels vastly different in every installment. Constantly being developed by different development teams, it's always playing very differently to it's predecessors.
So it comes as no surprise that the lastest game in the Need for Speed series feels completely different to the last. However when the development team responsible, Criterion Games, is the same team responsible for Burnout Paradise, you know that you're in for a game with much more of a freedom feel and a variety of high octane game modes.
Welcome to Seacrest County, where illegal street racing is fast and brutal, and the only difference between them and the cops is a badge. The geography of the region is very sporadic and includes desert, forest, seaside and mountainous regions.
Seacrest country spans over 100 miles of open road which can be freely explored in free drive, similar to Burnout Paradise. There is also a career mode. Players can now play as the cops and the career mode is available to both racer and cop, and each has its own path. There is no storyline or plot to speak of however events are much more easily found as the player chooses which they wish to participate in, rather than having to drive to the location as in Burnout.
Objectives remain similar in the career. Racers much evade and escape the police, whilst the cops must aim to take out and bust the illegal racers.
Both the cops and the racers have special abilities to aid in catching and eluding their rivals respectively.
- Spike Strip - This damages the chasing vehicle is a strike is successful, though only a little. The real advantage is that it causes the car to spin and come to a halt, increasing the gap between you and your pursuer.
- Jammer - Scrambles the electronics of the chasing vehicles and interrupts any EMP lock being targeted on the user. Prevents the chaser from using any abilities and shuts down their radar.
- Turbo - A more powerful version of the turbo available to all players, this propels the racer at an incredible speed. Very useful for escaping the police that are closing in. Has a short time delay.
- EMP - Slows down the targeted car and reverses their controls.
- Spike Strips - This damages the chasing vehicle is a strike is successful, though only a little. The real advantage is that it causes the car to spin and come to a halt, increasing the gap between you and your pursuer.
- Helicopter - The chopper may lay down spike strips when upgraded, and always increases the search radius leaving racers on the radar.
- Road Blocks - Constructs a blockade of police cars further down the race track. A head on smash will cause severe damage and slow down the racer greatly. Breaking through the small gap or smashing in between police cars may afford the racer an escape though.
- EMP - Slows down the targeted car and reverses their controls.
These abilities may be upgraded as player progress increases, allowing them to perform differently. For example the helicopter gains the ability to follow players into confined tunnel spaces and throw down spike strips.
Both racers and cops have cars that are exclusive to that class, however they also share a large amount of cars. As a general rule, the cops are generally faster and more resilient than the racers, taking a lot more punishment to disable them.
- Online Modes:
* Race - 8-player races, no Cops.
* Hot Pursuit - 4 Racers vs 4 Cops.
* Interceptor - 1 Racer vs 1 Cop, free-roam.
On completion of matches players are awarded 'bounty'. This is dependant on actions performed during the events, and the outcome and placing in races. There are bonuses available for coming first, or taking down other players. This bounty system is how players level up, separately, as cop or racer, and gain access to new cars.
One noteable addition to Multiplayer is a feature called Autolog. This lets you track your friends progress on events and their times, and allowing you to jump right in and try to beat them. If you succeed, it taunts your friends into attempting to take back their top times. It also allows you to challenge them to pursuits, where one person plays as the cop while the other plays as the fugitive who's on the run. It also keeps track of your progress in earning bounty as you play.
Being a fan of arcade racers, I would greatly recommend this game for purchase. I personally do not like realistic sims as much as arcade racing games, so I found this rather refreshing. The reintroduction of the cops vs racers mode is fantastic and very entertaining.
I almost feel ashamed for first hearing about Red Dead Redemption just weeks before its release; I hadn't been following it at all, however as soon as I looked at the teaser trailers and content information I knew that I absolutely had to have this game.
Red Dead Redemption is Rockstar's latest open world action-adventure, with a new twist: it has cornered a previously tame market, the Western genre. Released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in May of 2010, it is the sequel to 2004 western shooter Red Dead Revolver, with a new storyline.
Red Dead Redemption's story follows a former outlaw, John Marston as he tracks down members of his old gang. He does this at the hands of federal agents who have abducted his family in blackmail for John's help.
Metacritic and GameRankings have awarded an average score of 95% to Red Dead Redemption; this places this game as the highest ranking game across both of the websites. Reviews reflected this score crediting the game's incredible visuals, storyline and free roam.
Single Player:
So the story follows a former outlaw, John Marston as he tracks down his old former gang members for the government. The story actually begins with a rather excellent FMV of John trying the direct approach to confronting the gang at their hideout, which is less than successful. We learn that his brother is in fact one of the members of his previous gang.
This FMV introduces us to our our first contacts within the West who provide the initial 'missions' and a gentle introduction into the environment, subtly disguising horse riding and firearm training as entertaining tasks for the farmhand with whom you are staying.
The story soon advances introducing us to a plethora of colourful characters illustrating the diversity of society living in the Wild West; the drunk, the clinically insane and the traitorous. Despite their personality pitfalls, these characters help to advance the story and, after satisfying their personal wants and needs, aid us in a standoff with the gang's hideout. Fortunately this is not the end of the story, as we discover there is more to the story and are led across the border (on a rather flimsy raft!) to Mexico.
The range of missions available are quite varied and interesting and a far cry from the sort of things you would expect in Rockstar's Grand Theft series. Sure there are still hitman missions, however the option of riding horseback after your target, lassoing him and riding him to the county jail is a welcome addition rather than just blasting him in the face with a semi-automatic.
Introduction to weaponry is implemented well, with blacksmiths selling a larger range of guns as the game progresses, and the chance to discover new guns in gang hideouts. The same applies to horses, with general stores selling deeds allowing you to purchase and ride much faster steeds which will prove very useful for faster travel.
There is a karma system in Red Dead Redemption that sees you branded with either positive or negative honour for your actions within the world. Such examples of events that can affect this standing are killing or capturing thieves that have stolen from a shop (random events that will happen in your close proximity) and returning the money; this would provide a positive honour standing. However you may choose to kill the thief and steal the money for yourself, giving negative honour gain. 'Fame' is another statistic that increases with actions such as completing main story plots and eventually leads to law enforcement turning a blind eye and shopkeepers giving you discounts on their goods.
My personal favourite aspect of this game is actually the Multiplayer game 'lobby'. This is essentially just a free roaming mode in the entire sandbox open world where you may kill other players, instigate wanted levels and gain a bounty, raid gang hideouts, hunt wildlife and basically just do whatever you want. You may level up by gaining exp in this mode which gives way to new weaponry. This ramping up in levels does actually provide you with a tactical advantage over the lower level players, as some of the guns you obtain become incredibly powerful, however the advantage is never too unfair.
There are also game modes that can be started from the free roam menu by selecting the option from the menu, or travelling to a starting point if you want to play that particular section of the map in the game mode rather than a random assignment.
Some of the game modes in Red Dead Redemption include variations of capture the flag, deathmatch free for all and team deathmatch.
I picked up my Sony Ericsson W995 in June of 2009, signing on for a 2 year contract with Orange. It had only just been released as one of the newest models, and having never had a contract phone before, nor a very good model, I decided to choose the W995.
I forked out for Orange care in addition to my monthly bill because at the time the model was valued at about £350, and I was paranoid about losing or breaking it and being down such a large sum of money.
The W995 is marketed as a media-friendly phone. Sony Ericsson are well known for releasing phones under three of their mainstream categories. These either focus on the music and video aspect, the camera and motion capture hardware, or a combination of both.
The W995 falls into the latter, combining high quality speakers with an 8 megapixel camera.
I do not use my phone to listen to music, as I have an mp3 player, however I have used the phone to access youtube and watch music videos and have listened to music on occasion when forgetting to charge my music player. From even such sparing use of the speakers, It is easy to see that the sound is clear and sharp. The phone even comes with sleek external speakers that can be attached if listening to music with a group of friends.
I have used the camera extensively and love the quality of both picture and video captured by the W995. Video playback is excellent on this model, and due to a super-sensitive microphone, the audio playback is incredibly loud and clear even at low volumes. The picture is excellent and not a far cry from High Definition recording. Photos come out clear and transfer well to a computer, however I have noticed some stretching on the photos. As far as I am aware, the camera does not have anti-shake software, but I have captured photos from slow moving vehicles in the past and still obtained relatively good shots.
Where the phone lost quality marks on my review was due to my phone ceasing to work after around 8-10 months of use. I find it hard to wake up in the morning so I set multiple alarms. Numerous times during use of the phones alarm, I would set 3-4 rolling alarms in the morning with a 20 minute gap between them. Quite often the phone began to freeze when the alarms backed up, and I could not reboot it without removing the battery. Eventually this killed the phone and I had to have a replacement sent (thank god for Orange care).
I have also deducted marks due to the flimsy nature of the battery case. Often if you drop your phone a tiny distance, the back panel flies off easily (despite being relatively secure in general).
You can now pick up the W995 for much cheaper, though I would advise shopping around due to a large fluctuation in prices depending on retailer.
Overall I would not recommend this phone for purchase at this point in time because there are far better models out there that can do the same and more, however it is still a good phone.
Crackdown 2 is the sequel to the popular original Crackdown. It takes place in the same city as its predecessor, however time has advanced and the map is different to the first, with technology also having changed.
The progression of the game's story continues from the events of the first game. The repercussions of the agency's actions from the first game caused a catastrophic reaction that almost destroys pacific city. A containment of super-strong individuals infected with an aggressive virus that can be transmitted to their victims is accidentally released and plagues the city.
Time has progressed by a decade and, due to terrorist activity, the agency's efforts into cleansing the city have been halted. The culmination of terrorist attacks and mutant activity has forced the agency back into their compound in the center of the city.
You play as a new agent who has just been 'created' after the agency successfully restarts their agency programme (having been disabled by the terrorists). Terrorists pose the daytime threat to the player, whilst the infected individuals emerge at night to pose a different kind of threat to the player.
Character progression sees the same system that was present in the first game. Around the city there are hundreds of coloured orbs, each corresponding to a certain upgradeable attribute. These increase the character's Agility, Strength, Firearms, Explosives and Driving skills separately once enough have been collected. They are given to the player for carrying out certain requirements pertaining to the skill.
Xbox Live
Four players can play cooperatively online in Crackdown 2, carrying out different missions at the same time (as opposed to the original where only two players could carry out the same mission at the same time). There is also a competitive coop mode. There is also a sixteen player free-for-all game mode which sees players fighting against each other competitively.
A demo for Crackdown 2 was released on June the 21st on the Live Marketplace. Post-release this means that gamers can test the game before deciding to purchase it, without the need for rental, as long as the demo is hosted.
Lemon Aid is a concealing product by BeneFit Cosmetics for smoothing and evening skin tone around the eyes.
Now I will admit, I am a male; however this is a fantastic product and the first makeup product that I have chosen to use.
I have quite dark marks under my eyes and have never really attempted to correct this, however when my partner bought Lemon Aid for the first time I allowed her to test it on myself and was surprised with the results. The dark bags disappeared almost entirely, when used with a powder and it wasn't even remotely obvious that I was wearing anything, despite my relatively pale complexion. It is very effective at concealing dark shadows or redness under the eyes.
The product has a slightly waxy texture to touch but applies evenly very easily without leaving your skin feeling suffocated or shiny. It comes in a small flip-lip container, the product contained within one side and a small mirror in the other.
Unfortunately the hinge on my container broke quite soon after obtaining the product, but I do believe this was owing to somebody else using the product in my house and not admitting it rather than the product design!
Lemon aid is easily applied with the fingers and works well with other makeup products. Eyeshadow and eyeliner can easily be blended over the surface of Lemon aid meaning that it is fantastic for those who use small amounts of makeup. In addition to this it makes an excellent primer - this saves you having to buy the primer separately so you effectively have a product that can do two jobs in one, and your makeup has much more staying power.
The only minor issue you need to be careful with is that occasionally Lemon aid can cling to your eyelashes easily and this is quite visible if you do not make sure to remove the excess from your eyes.
The third game in the series, Fallout 3 is set roughly 30 years after its predecessor. It is now in full 3D and relates to the same world as the previous games however it is set in and around post-apocalyptic Washington DC.
The Game of the Year Edition features all five pieces of downloadable content that shipped after the game's release: Operation: Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout and Mothership Zeta.
In Fallout 3 you play as a young man/woman who ventures out of the safety of his home in Vault 101 to persue his/her father into the wasteland after his disappearance. This departure gives way to the vast and desolate wastelands of a post-apocalyptic Washington DC, infested with mutants, raiders and robots.
The story brings our hero to the largest settlement in the wasteland relativly early in the game, named Megaton (built around an undetonated atomic bomb). We are updated with information about the hero's father here and additional to this are the side quests offered from here onwards. You are then given freedom to either persue the main storyline or venture out to explore and/or complete side quests.
Between the main plot and subquests, the scope of the game is massive and offers an incredibly large amount of playtime and objectives to complete, and an enormous area to explore.
Aspects of Gameplay.
Fallout 3 feels closer in similarity to the Oblivion series than the previous Fallout games. Our hero explores the wastelands from a first person perspective, however a third person viewpoint may also be used (however from a personal and general opinion the third person viewpoint affords a lower appreciation of the game).
The combat system now features something called V.A.T.S (Vault Assisted Targeting System) which freezes the action in first person, focusing upon the target enemy. From here you can then choose specific body parts to target and are given a chance to hit and approximate damage. Additional to this are the effects that can result from this, for example: fully disabling an enemies legs can result in slower movement.
There is a Karma system within Fallout 3 that reacts to actions you perform and grants you a standing based upon these actions (in laymens terms, the 'good guy' or 'bad guy'). Actions such as murder and theft will afford you a lower karma rank. Karma Levels range from Very Evil to Very Good. This standing can influence certain aspects of the game and award you with items for having positive karma. It can also effect the followers you gain whilst playing through the story with good, bad and neutral ranked players all receiving different aquaintances.
There are two 'categories' of statistics that the player can influence within Fallout 3. The first is the SPECIAL system. This stands for:
Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility and Luck.
And skills:
Barter, Big Guns, Energy Weapons, Explosives, Lockpick, Medicine, Melee Weapon, Repair, Science, Small Guns, Sneak, Speech and Unarmed.
A further aspect of leveling your character is the Perks system. This grants you 1 perk every level which you may choose from that influence your character and gameplay for the rest of the game.
Weapons variety immensely from simple melee weapons to pistols to rifles to nuclear warhead launchers, and landmines made from bottlecaps as fragmentation.
Ammunition for these guns vary too and you must be strategic as often you can find extremely tough enemies that may take a decent chunk out of your ammo supply.
Overall I would recommend this game to any fans of the RPG genre. It is amongst the best RPGs I have had the fortune of playing and will give you your money's worth easily. For only around £27 (time of review publication) you will get hours and hours of play from this game. Buy it.
The Samsung N130 has been outdated by newer models in the N series, however it still holds its own as a very powerful and affordable netbook.
Available at a little over £200 from Amazon (new) you may first be struck by the high number of praising reviews offered by past customers on Amazon. Holding 73 customer reviews, with 68 being 4 star rated or higher I can confidently say that I agree with the majority and recommend this netbook with high regards.
Appearance and design.
Weighing in at just 1.3KG this netbook is very easy to transport between the home and office, place of study and everywhere inbetween. Unlike the traditional 15.6 inch lapops, you will instantly notice that the netbook feels very durable without sacrificing a transportable lightweight feel.
The exerior is matte black repelling scratches and fingerprints far easier than if the case was glossy (déja-vu of the Playstation 3 release models and newer slimline versions here).
A generous 10.1 inch LCD screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio ensure you can enjoy navigating the internet, completing work projects or even playing low requirement (yet highly addictive!) flash games on websites such as facebook. Listening to music or watching videos on youtube should also come easily to this netbook.
Battery life on this beauty is very impressive compared to systems I have utilised in the past. I have come to expect a good 4 to 6 hours worth of battery life before having to plug in thus far (from full charge, surfing the internet and doing some microsoft-office related work).
The N130 is a very quiet machine and even after extended use I have not noticed the exterior reaching uncomfortable temperatures. The fans do an excellent job of keeping the system cool, and do not produce a very high level of noise at all.
My only problem with this model is that the audio is not incredible, but for the size and price I can hardly complain.
Recommended additional purchases.
* Decent pair of headphones or earphones for personal use (and to offset the slightly disappointing audio)
* Carrying case (optional - would fit into a backpack however you risk scratches or bums even with the matte finish)
* Upgrade ram from 1GB to 2GB. Instructions are available online and on a netbook this is very straightforward and not very expensive for the large performance increase you will gain (though keep in mind this may void your warranty).
I'm very happy with this purchase. For the low price of £200 I have a fantastic little netbook that I can virtually take anywhere, which is perfect for an internet addict such as myself. The fact it is a Samsung only further compounds my opinion that this is a great purchase. I own numerous Samsung products (including my HD LCD TV - 32 inch) and love the value for money and quality of build.
If you need a netbook you should strongly consider this.
I'd been looking to upgrade my ancient Creative Zen mp3 player to an ipod and decided upon a 16gb nano after reading numerous reviews all praising the model, which is an upgrade on the previous older model, adding a radio, motion video capture and audio recording feature.
For those of you looking for an upgrade I will summarise the advantages of this product:
* The addition of a functioning FM radio not present in older nano models
* Motion capture good quality, keeping in mind the device is primarily a music player
* Larger storage space (16GB) than previous nano models
* 10% increase in LCD screen size on previous nano models
* Subsequently a 20% increase in menu display size
* Large variety of colours all applied to a conveniently miniscule design
* Voice recording (audio capture)
The nano comes in a wide range of glossy colours all blanketing a smooth aluminium body. The LCD screen measuring 2 inches in previous nano models has increased by 10% now measuring 2.2 inches. This may sound like a negligible increase, however in such a small model it is a very welcome upgrade. Despite the screen size increase, the menus have not changed in style. There are however additional options to accomodate for the new audio and video capture features and the FM radio.
In terms of the newest features, the FM radio is good quality and has no trouble picking up signal from the most well known stations that I tested. The audio quality is good and I experinced no distortion or breaking. I cannot however praise the video capture feature. This is the biggest letdown for the nano in my opinion. Video capture resolution is 640x480 (VGA) and I am of the belief that if you don't do something properly, it's not worth doing. Obviously one cannot expect an incredible resolution from such a tiny model, however I believe that the resolution offered defeats the point in having motion capture on the nano. Anything I deemed worthy of recording would look abysmal in such a low resolution.
For a music player I am definitely not disappointed, however I feel that the addition of a subpar camera makes it feel a little less sophisticated.
Pokémon HeartGold is a remake of the original Pokemon Gold, also based within the region of Johto. There are a number of adaptations to graphics and gameplay to bring the game up to a standard more befitting of the increased capabilities of the Nintendo DS as opposed to the older Game Boy systems.
The game throws you quickly into the action offering you a nostalgic choice of either Totodile, Chikorita or Cyndaquil, and naming your antagonist and protagonist. One of the first things you will (hopefully!) notice is the graphical overhaul upon venturing off into Johto, as well as some familiar faces among the tall grass.
The original 8 gym leaders (and the elite four) are present and waiting to battle you throughout HeartGold, and that's not even the end of it. Upon defeating them you unlock Kanto region from the Red and Blue games to explore, including their respective gym leaders giving you even more to complete. This all adds up to a lot of gameplay hours, not even counting the enormous number of pokemon to catch, including a large number of legendarys.
Another cool addition is that the leading pokemon in your team will now follow you around the world as you explore (with pretty nifty graphics) and you can interact with them to assess their mood and happiness as well as receive items they may have picked up along the way.
Pokemon HeartGold makes excellent use of the DS stylus. The regular directional controls plus four face buttons comprise the character control and interaction, however this is all portrayed on the upper screen, with the lower display containing your pokégear which can be accessed with the stylus without much interruption to gameplay or the claustrophobic feel of an obstructive menu system. Not only this, but the stylus is also used to its best ability in a new series of mini games called the pokéathlon, reminiscent of wii sports, some of which are rather challenging.
One final mention is the excellent pokéwalker that comes with the game. This allows you to transfer a pokémon into the device and put it in your pocket where it basically functions as a pedometer, except turning your steps into "watts". Watts can be used on the device itself to play a minigame and discover items or catch pokemon you may not see in the game itself. At the end of a journey you can then transfer said items and pokémon onto the game cartridge and use them in the game itself, as well as unlocking new zones on the pokéwalker with the spare watts transferred.
Pokémon SoulSilver is a remake of the original Pokemon Silver, also based within the region of Johto. There are a number of adaptations to graphics and gameplay to bring the game up to a standard more befitting of the increased capabilities of the Nintendo DS as opposed to the older Game Boy systems.
The game throws you quickly into the action offering you a nostalgic choice of either Totodile, Chikorita or Cyndaquil, and naming your antagonist and protagonist. One of the first things you will (hopefully!) notice is the graphical overhaul upon venturing off into Johto, as well as some familiar faces among the tall grass.
The original 8 gym leaders (and the elite four) are present and waiting to battle you throughout SoulSilver, and that's not even the end of it. Upon defeating them you unlock Kanto region from the Red and Blue games to explore, including their respective gym leaders giving you even more to complete. This all adds up to a lot of gameplay hours, not even counting the enormous number of pokemon to catch, including a large number of legendarys.
Another cool addition is that the leading pokemon in your team will now follow you around the world as you explore (with pretty nifty graphics) and you can interact with them to assess their mood and happiness as well as receive items they may have picked up along the way.
Pokemon SoulSilver makes excellent use of the DS stylus. The regular directional controls plus four face buttons comprise the character control and interaction, however this is all portrayed on the upper screen, with the lower display containing your pokégear which can be accessed with the stylus without much interruption to gameplay or the claustrophobic feel of an obstructive menu system. Not only this, but the stylus is also used to its best ability in a new series of mini games called the pokéathlon, reminiscent of wii sports, some of which are rather challenging.
One final mention is the excellent pokéwalker that comes with the game. This allows you to transfer a pokémon into the device and put it in your pocket where it basically functions as a pedometer, except turning your steps into "watts". Watts can be used on the device itself to play a minigame and discover items or catch pokemon you may not see in the game itself. At the end of a journey you can then transfer said items and pokémon onto the game cartridge and use them in the game itself, as well as unlocking new zones on the pokéwalker with the spare watts transferred.


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Sailor beanie hat
grey melange
The stylish beanie hat is made of the finest Mongolian cashmere mixed with the softest Wool. It will accompany you throughout the cold winter days to keep you warm. It is the perfect accessory to any basic outfit. It features a hand-embroidered silk label.
one size and unisex
30% cashmere 70% wool
We recommend dry-cleaning.

subset: commoncrawl


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Stormers move top after Durban win
Schalk Burger scored the only try as the Stormers climbed to the top of the Super 15 table with a tight 16-6 victory over the Sharks in Durban.
The only touchdown came early in the first half, with the visiting captain capitalising on good work by his South Africa team-mates Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana.
Peter Grant kicked the remaining 11 points to make it six wins from six for last year's finalists.
Meanwhile, the Reds recovered from a poor start to make it five wins from six thanks to a battling 30-25 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg.
The Australians played half of the opening 40 minutes with 14 men after yellow cards to James Slipper and captain James Horwill.
They had fallen 11-0 behind thanks to a try from Michael Killian and the boot of the inconsistent Andre Pretorius, but scores from Luke Morahan, Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane saw them to victory.
Jaco Taute scored the Lions' only other try, but Mike Harris' 15 points proved decisive at Ellis Park.
Melbourne Rebels kept their slim finals hopes alive with a thrilling 26-25 victory over the Western Force in Perth, but the Hurricanes are facing a real battle to save their season after slipping to a 26-14 defeat against the Bulls in Napier.
The combative Cheetahs had no match for the core experience provided for the Blues by front-row internationals Keven Mealamu and John Afoa as the Auckland side edged a scrappy match 29-22 at Toll Stadium in Whangarei.


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Standard character mark
Woven textiles and textile products, namely, bed linen, bed pads, bed sheets, bedspreads, mattress covers, mattress pads, and pillow cases
Business in Macomb, MI


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Height of Unemployment - Cobwebs in the pussy of a prostitute.
Height of Trouble - A one handed man hanging from a cliff and his ass is itching.
Height of Technology - Condom with a zip.
Height of Sophistication - Sucking nipples with a straw.
Height of patience - A naked woman lying down with her legs apart under a banana tree.
Height of Innocence - A teenager girl applying ointment to her nipples.
Height of frustration - A boxer trying to scratch his balls.
Height of Disgust - While wiping after a good shit, your finger pokes through the paper.
Height of Competition - A guy pissing beside a waterfall.


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Dil Ki Baazi (1993) DVD
Genre : Family
Starcast : Rakhee Gulzar, Avinash Wadhavan, Akshay Kumar, Ayesha Jhulka,
Description : Unemployed Vijay lives a poor lifestyle in Bombay, along with his mother, Nirmaladevi, who works as a Manager for a young woman's hostel. He meets wealthy Aarti, and her dad, Daulatram, hires him. Ajay Kashyap dislikes Vijay and gets him fired, but Daulatram, again, comes to his rescue, introduces him to Santosh Kumar, who employs him.
Duration : 02:34:52
Size : 240 MB


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I so agree with all you wrote here. When you're young, you have this idealist view of helping others. Then you get older and find out the world isn't like you thought.Originally Posted by queenb;4130509;
Giving to some charities often means padding the pockets of the top executives of the charity. Check out how much goes to the needy first. I'm very picky about my charities.
In America, I support Fabio's right to squander the whole thing. I hope he doesn't but he has that right and other people's moral judgements of how he spends it, shouldn't influence him. He seems like a real family type guy so I think he'll listen to his parents and be smart about his winnings.


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- Styled after the Japanese Cook´s Knife this blade is just right for preparing not only fine Asian but also Western cuisine.
- With hollow edge.
- Professional knife for restaurant chains and large kitchens.
- High-carbon, stain-resistant steel. 56° Rockwell hardness for excellent edge retention.
- Polished blade surface.
- Ergonomically shaped special handle with thumb rest and pronounced protective end, two non-slip plastic components.
- Hygienic: NSF-tested and certified.


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Generally speaking, I'm not a joiner.
It's not that I'm a loner--well, maybe, a little bit--but I'm not a joiner of clubs, groups or social circles. I belong to the Modern Language Association--the MLA--because a long time ago I was an English professor with a specialty in 17th Century English Literature. I belong to the Writers Guild of America, West--the WGA--because I write for television. And that's about it.
In August I met with Food Bloggers, Los Angeles---the FBLA. A dozen of the group gathered to share recipes and talk about blogging. They were nice enough to invite me to join them.
Coming to a food writers' gathering has so many benefits, not the least of which you get to enjoy what other people like to cook.
I don't believe I had ever met another food blogger. What fun to meet in the group and talk about issues only a blogger would love.
Topics like which was better Word Press or Blogger?
What are the work arounds when Blogger won't post your photographs?
What are your reasons for blogging?
How can you expand the number of readers who see your blog?
FBLA meets once a month. The meetings have a theme or topic. Food is always shared, I'm told, along with information of interest to the group.
I'm looking forward to joining them again.
Inspired by California-Mediterranean cuisines and farmers markets, I cook healthy, flavorful dishes that are easy-to-prepare yet elegant. I write for Zester Daily, One for the Table, Luxury Travel Magazine, Huffington Post & New York Daily News. My latest Amazon eCookbook is 10 Delicious Holiday Recipes. My handcrafted chocolates are available at www.dchocolates.com. "Subscribe via email" and you'll get an email whenever I post a new recipe.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Food Blogging is More Fun with Friends
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A Burbank, Calif., couple happened to be in the right place at the right time with a box spring mattress when a toddler fell from three stories up after crawling out of a window.
According to CNN, Konrad Lightner and his wife Jennifer were moving on Sunday and spotted the toddler hanging out of an apartment window and called 911.
"We called 911 and Konrad threw the box spring down trying to break his fall and stood there to catch him," Jennifer told CNN affiliate KABC.
According to KABC, police said the 3-year-old had apparently climbed out of the window onto a telephone or cable line.
"Once we saw that his leg was going over the window, Jenny called the police," Konrad told KTLA. "He started hanging from (the wire) and he started crying and I knew he couldn't get back to the window so I was just getting ready for him to let go."
Parents of the toddler were unaware that he opened the window and climbed out, but were thankful the Lightners acted quickly.
"I didn't hear the window open," Morgane Milligan told KTLA. "My son pushed out the screen and decided it was really fun to throw toys out there. I'll never be able to repay them for what they've done."
In other mattress news, surveillance footage captured a cyclist being hit by a passing truck, and a mattress that fell off the same truck coming to his rescue at the same time.
Watch closely. As the truck zooms by, the cyclist is hit and the mattress flying off the truck flies underneath him and the ground.
According to the video time stamp, the incredible moment took place Tuesday just before 5:00 p.m.
It is unclear where the incident took place, but the footage is filmed in a spanish-speaking country. However, Daily Picks and Flicks reports that it happened in the city of Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, and also report that eyewitnesses say the cyclist was not injured.
Towards the end of the surveillance video, the cyclist stands up from the mattress and pulls his bike out from underneath the mattress.


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The Savannah Morning News Summer Camp Expo will be held Sunday, April 1 from noon until 4 pm at the Savannah Mall.
The Summer Camp Expo offers parents and guardians a "one stop shop" for all the summer camp opportunities available locally and regionally.
The Summer Camp Guide will appear in the Savannah Morning News on April 1, and online at savannahnow.com.
"We have exhibitors for camps of all kinds," said Mark Cox, of the Savannah Morning News. "Parents will get to meet the camp personnel, and kids will get to have fun!"
Live entertainment on stage will include the "My Kid Can Sing" competition, an online video contest on coastalmommies.com. The competition will be held at 2 pm.
For more information, a complete guide to the summer camp exhibitors will be published in the Savannah Morning News on Sunday, April 1, 2012. Visit us online at savannahnow.com/summercamp.


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ACParadise Network: American Cosplay Paradise American Cosplay Experience American Cosplay Snapshots
Cosplayer edamame > Costume of Hungary / Elizabeta Héderváry (Axis Powers Hetalia)
- Most Recent Photo
- 07-07-2011
- Series
- Axis Powers Hetalia
- Character
- Hungary / Elizabeta Héderváry
- Year Completed:
- Construction Difficulty:
- Costume worn at:
- Anime Expo 2011
About this Costume
- Construction Details:
There's not a whole lot to say about this! It was thrown together two days before the con at the behest of a friend who had Japan all ready to roll and the fact that I had a wig that would work. The dress and apron are vaguely based on Simplicity pattern 2325! I'm rubbish at following directions, though, and spent more time embroidering leaves around the hem of the dress and the kerchief than I did actively trying to piece the whole thing together nicely.;; I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow multiple petticoats, and I think that made everything look at least 20% cooler.
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Felina Uptown Girl Low Rise Thong 530506
Sorry, no other customer-recommended styles found.
This product was discontinued May, 2011 and is no longer available. Please consider one of the Customer-Recommended Replacements above, or try a new search.
This sexy little thong features ruffles on the sides and back for flirty and feminine finesse.
Try these keyword searches with similar features:


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Hotel Marco Polo
Select your stay dates to check availability at Hotel Marco Polo
Hotel Marco Polo
About the Hotel
Property Location
When you stay at Hotel Marco Polo in Garda, you'll be on a lake and convenient to Golf Club Ca degli Ulivi and Baia delle Sirene Park. This hotel is within close proximity of Paolo Bonomelli Boutique Olive Farm and Museo del Castello Scaligero.
Make yourself at home in one of the 127 guestrooms. Rooms have private patios. Satellite television is provided for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature bidets and hair dryers.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a seasonal outdoor pool or take in the view from a rooftop terrace and a garden. Additional amenities include wireless Internet access (surcharge), a television in the lobby, and tour/ticket assistance.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Hotel Marco Polo. Relax with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge or a poolside bar. A complimentary buffet breakfast is included.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include express check-in, express check-out, and a 24-hour front desk. Free self parking is available onsite.
Hotel Facilities
- Television in lobby
- Tennis on site
- Number of outdoor pools - 2
- Free breakfast
- Pool umbrellas
- Beach umbrellas
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Elevator/lift
- Coffee/tea in lobby
- Multilingual staff
- Number of floors - 3
- Total number of rooms - 127
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Poolside bar
- Bar/lounge
- Number of buildings/towers - 3
- Pool sun loungers
- Restaurant
- Garden
- Free self parking
- 24-hour front desk
- WiFi (surcharge)
- Express check-in
- Express check-out
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Conference center
- Rooftop terrace
Room Facilities
- Hair dryer
- Private bathroom
- Bidet
- In-room safe
- Satellite TV service
- Shower only
- Desk
- Cribs/infant beds available
- Patio
Hotel Policy
Know Before You Go
- Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed EUR 999.99, due to national regulations. For further details, please contact the property using information in the booking confirmation.
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- Fee for wireless Internet in public areas: EUR 5.00 (for 3 hours, rates may vary)
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
Mandatory Fees and Taxes
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the hotel:
- A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 1.00 per person, per night. This tax does not apply to children under 14 years of age.
We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.Show all hotel policy Show less hotel policy


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The appearance of advertisements and product information on this site does not constitute an endorsement by Equipment World Magazine, and Equipment World Magazine has not investigated the claims made by any advertiser. Product information is based solely on material received from suppliers.
Responding to demand for an extended reach 10,000 lb crane, Tiger Cranes offers the 1069 service crane. The Tiger Crane model 1069 crane features hex boom construction with 29 feet 3 inches of reach, a lifting capacity of 11,000 lbs. and a crane rating of 62,000 ft/lbs. The 1069 meets ANSI B30.5 standards and OSHA 1910.18 requirements. Sequenced extension cylinders provide maximum strength all the time. The 1069 Tiger Crane has a boom mounted winch for ease of stowing. As with all Tiger Cranes, the 1069 is factory tested and certified with real weights.
Tiger Cranes™ new extended reach 1069 crane or to find the name of your local distributor, call 1-800-225.8789 or visit www.tigercranes.com.


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|Figure 1 A view of the molecular structure of the asymmetric unit of the title compound, with partial atom labelling. Displacement ellipsoids are drawn at the 50% probability level. Only half of the diprotonated [H2en]2+ cation, situated about an inversion center, is shown (atoms N5 and C7). The Na+ ion is also situated on an inversion center. The H atoms and water molecules have been omitted for clarity.
Volume 69| Part 11| October 2013| Pages m605-m606


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When John Venuto's father Lorenzo retired, his friends all said the same thing. "Everybody told him that he needs to open up a restaurant," Venuto says. "His passion was always cooking."
Living in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the time, the family knew this area well — they owned a condo here for 25 years. The family made the move from Brooklyn to Wildwood, and son John, who worked at restaurants and lived in Florida, came north to help out.
And during the second week of September, Sofia opened. As it turned out, Lorenzo wasn't the only family member with a passion for cooking. Raised in an Italian household, with both parents born in Italy, John, brother Peter and sister Mariaenza are all proudly first-generation Americans,
Lorenzo is the chef in the kitchen, John is the pizza chef who also does all the breads and the baking. John makes the pizza sauces — his father makes the marinara sauces, the brown sauces and soups.
Mariaenza does all the operations and does salads and desserts and makes sure that all the customers are happy. Peter is a silent partner.
"My mother makes our meatballs from an old family recipe," Venuto says. "Her meatballs are her thing."
All this cooking adds up to a very family-oriented place that people hate to leave. Venuto says the locals have been treating them great.
"When people come here, they become family," says Venuto.
As one would expect, the menu reflects the foods the Venuto family was raised on.
The antipasti section of the menu covers many of the classics such as mozzarella caprese ($11), baked clams ($9), calamari fritti ($11 and the zuppa di cozze ($11), mussels in red or white sauce.
Salad choices include the Sofia salad ($15) made with mixed greens, walnuts, sliced pears, cranberry and balsamic glaze. Also available are a caesar ($11) with the addition of chicken ($2.50) or shrimp ($3); an antipasto salad ($11) with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, red onion, black and green olives, giardiniera, salame and provolone; and a gorgonzola salad ($13) with mixed greens, walnuts, roasted peppers, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.
Sofia pasta ($18) is a large, fat macaroni, sauced with marinara sauce, sautéed mussels, fresh arugula and shaved imported Parmigiana-Reggiano.
Seafood lovers will find plenty to enjoy with a zuppa de pesce ($28); shrimp scampi ($27); a red snapper filet Milanese ($28); or a shrimp Fra Diavolo ($27).
Sauteed broccoli rabe ($12); sautéed spinach ($10), sautéed asparagus ($10); roasted peppers ($8); and a mix of eggplant, celery, onions, green olives, capers and sweet and sour tomato called caponata ($7) all can be ordered as side dishes.
Their most popular gourmet pizza is the Nonna Maria ($18), a thin-crust, square pizza, with sweet plum tomatoes, parmigiano cheese, lite mozzarella, oil, oregano and garlic topping.
The margherita pizza ($17) is also a thin crust pie with sweet plum tomato, garlic, fresh basil and the wet mozzarella cheese. Four cheese pizza ($18) has mozzarella, Fontina, provolone, and topped off with gorgonzola blue cheese. Giovanni Manichitta ($22) is a mixed seafood pizza made with shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops and calamari all in a marinara sauce or Fra Diavolo on top of the pizza shell with fresh mozzarella chopped on top and one leaf of basil in the middle to decorate.
Venuto was kind enough to clear up the confusion between calzone, panzarotti and stromboli.
"A calzone is a round pizza shell that just has mozzarella and ricotta inside and baked — a panzarotti is made the same way but deep-fried," Venuto says. "A stromboli has mozzarella, sausage, mushroom, peppers, onions and pepperoni. The stromboli is a pizza rolled up with three slices in it so it can breathe while it is baking. Everything is made fresh daily."
Also home-grown are the organic basil and parsley used on their pies.
Desserts are homemade at Sofia. Expect cannoli, tiramisu, ricotta cheese cake and a Sofia puff, the latter made made from a semolina dough, shaped like a small calzone, filled with cannoli cream, deep-fried and coated with powdered sugar.
Pasta and meats for every appetite
The list of pasta shapes include rigatoni, penne, spaghetti, linguini, fettucine, farfalle, capellini and fusilli. Sauces include al pomodoro ($13) made with tomato and prosciutto; aglio-olio ($13) made with oil and garlic; bolognese ($18), the famous meat sauce; vongole, red or white ($18); or vodka ($19), a meat sauce with the addition of heavy cream, fresh tomato and of course, vodka.
Chicken ($25) is served with pasta and can be prepared saltimbocca, marsala, Francese, parmigiana or picata. Veal ($28) can also be made with the same selection of sauces.
Beef at Sofia is certified angus, and includes choices such as a 10-ounce filet mignon ($30), a 12-ounce New York strip ($27) and a surf and turf ($39). The pork chop ($25) is topped with onions, mushrooms and a brown sauce.


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From some of the guys in IT to our Sales staff, there are lots of people at Lion Brand you will find with a hook or needles in hand, and we truly enjoy being around these crafts that we enjoy so much.
Recently, a group of us were in a meeting and many of us kept our hands busy by working away at knit socks, crochet scarves, and other projects. Here's Laura at that meeting–looking particularly yarn-friendly–as she works on a scarf in Hometown USA. Yes, she's wearing the Learn to Knit Cuffs in Hometown USA and a sweater in Fishermen's Wool, and yes, those are photos of some of our older yarns on the wall behind her! Being bedecked in yarn suits Laura, since she's the one providing pattern support to those of you with questions!
Do you knit and/or crochet around the office or on the go? Leave a comment and tell us about your experiences!


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Tommy Hilfiger
Signature Solid Twin XL Sheet Set
Details http://www.belk.com/p/tommy-hilfiger-signature-solid-twin-xl-sheet--set/9200633TH0954.html
Orig. $54.00Sale $32.4032.40
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Showcasing signature style, Tommy Hilfiger's Solid Core sheets are crafted with cotton percale fabric and come in your choice of color. Easy to pair with any bedding in your home, they are a must-have for your linen closet. Twin XL sheet set includes: 1 Flat sheet: 66-in. x 102-in. 1 Fitted sheet: 39-in. x 80-in. + 12-in. pocket 1 Standard pillowcase: 20-in. x 30-in.
- 39-in. x 80-in.
- 200-thread count
- Machine washable
- Cotton
- Import
This item is part of the collection: Signature Solid Sheet Collection
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2018 Propulsion and Energy: Cincinnati here we come!
29 July 2014, 2:25 p.m. EDT
by Duane Hyland, AIAA Communications
The future of energy will be here before we know it, said Alton Romig, vice president of engineering and advanced systems at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, better known as the Skunk Works. He was addressing today's plenary session at AIAA's Propulsion and Energy Forum in Cleveland.
Romig discussed the state of the art in energy systems, considered the possible futures, and analyzed the challenges that may prevent such a future from unfolding. His vision included innovations such as compact fusion energy; producing energy from excess heat on aircraft systems; warp drive; reliable hydrogen systems for aircraft; and reliable electric aircraft propulsion systems. His vision also touched on alternative fuels, advanced electrical power sources, energy harvesting techniques, and revolutionary advances in energy storage, such as efficient and larger capacity batteries.
Romig acknowledged that some of these goals are well off in the future. But it's just a matter of time before we attain them, he said, reminding the audience that it was "only 50 years between Goddard's first liquid-fueled rocket launches and the Moon landing." In short, technology advances quickly.
Drivers that will speed us toward that future, according to Romig, are globalization, climate change, fuel costs and government support of programs. Each of these will generate change as we move forward.
Romig said the path ahead is filled with barriers – some practical, some attitude-related – that prevent change in systems. One such attitude is "incrementalism," the belief that change can't be achieved in great leaps but only in small steps. This view leads to program death when results don't come soon enough to keep people interested in a project, causing cuts in funding or outright cancellation. Other barriers, he said, include "lack of funding, the valley of death – created when technology takes too long to come out of development and then languishes waiting to be approved; the time needed to certify new systems per FAA and/or military standards; and the shortfalls in our nation's STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] education programs."
Heat generated by systems is another barrier to advancement, said Romig. "Right now we are at the limit of what we can do to mitigate heat, especially in establishing heat sinks on systems; the thermos bottle is just about out of capacity." Solutions must be found so systems can run cooler and be less of a threat to aircraft or generators, he said.
Progress in energy systems will not be rapid, said Romig, and will probably stall unless the barriers are surmounted. However, he added that "competition drives everything" and expressed optimism that the competitive need to establish new systems will create the needed solutions.
Romig ended his talk by asking the audience to "think about how technology accelerates today as compared to the past….I don't know if tech will run past mankind, but if good things happen in 100 years, imagine where we might end up. These ideas are not totally crazy and could completely revolutionize the aviation industry as we go forward."


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TIMOTHY KING, Personal Representative of the
July 12, 2005
v Nos. 259136 and 259229
Livingston Circuit Court
GROUP, P.C., and MCPHERSON HOSPITAL,
a/k/a TRINITY HEALTH-MICHIGAN,
LC No. 04-020535-NH
Before: Owens, P.J., and Cavanagh and Neff, JJ.
Defendants appeal by leave granted the trial court?s order denying their motion for
summary disposition. The motion had been brought on the ground that the statute of limitations
in this medical malpractice action had expired. We reverse.
The first issue on appeal is whether the saving provision in MCL 600.5852, giving the
personal representative two years from the issuances of letters of authority to file a malpractice
claim, is tolled during the 182-day mandatory notice period required by MCL 600.2912b(1)
before suit can be filed in a medical malpractice action.
Recently, the Michigan Supreme Court stated that MCL 600.5852 is a
saving provision designed ?to preserve actions that survive death in order that the
representative of the estate may have a reasonable time to pursue such actions.?
Lindsey [v Harper Hosp, 455 Mich 56, 60-61, 65; 564 NW2d 861 (1997)]. It is
not a ?statute of limitations? or a ?statute of repose.? Thus, the notice tolling
provision, [MCL 600.] 5856(d)[1] ? which explicitly applies only to ?the statute of
limitations or repose? ? does not operate to toll the additional period permitted
under [MCL 600.]5852 for filing wrongful death actions. [Waltz v Wyse, 469
Mich 642, 655; 677 NW2d 813 (2004).] Hence, MCL 600.5852 is a saving statute that is not tolled during the 182-day notice period. In
the present case, the statute of limitations began running on September 6, 2001, the date of the
alleged malpractice. Letters of authority were issued on September 26, 2001. Notice of intent
was sent on September 5, 2003, tolling the period of limitations with one day remaining. The
period of limitations recommenced running after March 5, 2004. One day was added for the
tolled period of limitations; because March 6, 2004 was a Saturday, the limitation period expired
on March 8, 2004. MCR 1.108(1). The two-year saving provision pursuant to MCL 600.5852
expired on September 26, 2003, and could not be tolled. Therefore, the complaint filed on
March 11, 2004, was not timely.
The second issue on appeal is whether a successor personal representative of the estate
would have an additional two years from the date of his letters of authority to file suit under
MCL 600.5852, which would result in a timely filed complaint. Under the circumstances of this
case, the successor personal representative was not entitled to an additional two years.
Recently, in Eggleston v Bio-Med Applications of Detroit, Inc, 468 Mich 29; 658 NW2d
139 (2003), our Supreme Court examined a similar issue. In Eggleston, a temporary personal
representative was appointed, but he died a short time after. Id. at 31. A successor personal
representative was appointed, and he filed a malpractice claim. Id. The claim was brought
within two years of the successor?s appointment, but not within two years of the appointment of
the temporary representative. Id. Our Supreme Court stated,
The language adopted by the Legislature clearly allows an action to be brought
within two years after letters of authority are issued to the personal representative.
The statute does not provide that the two-year period is measured from the date
letters of authority are issued to the initial personal representative. [Id. at 33.] However, the present case is distinguishable. Notably in Eggleston, the temporary
personal representative never filed suit, while the predecessor personal representative in the
instant case did. Thus, our Supreme Court did not have the occasion to address the issue facing
this Court, which essentially is whether a personal representative who fails to diligently pursue a
malpractice cause of action on behalf of an estate within the allotted time may nonetheless save
the action from dismissal by substituting another personal representative. MCL 700.3613 states
that a successor personal representative ?must be substituted in all actions and proceedings in
which the former personal representative was a party.? The successor representative here must
be substituted in the action already commenced and does not have an additional two years under
MCL 600.5852 to pursue the malpractice claim.
The trial court improperly denied defendants? motion for summary disposition because
the claim was not timely filed.
/s/ Donald S. Owens
/s/ Mark J. Cavanagh
/s/ Janet T. Neff


text:
Us Coptic Christians worried about Egyptian riots
Coptic Christians in US alarmed at deadly riots in Egypt
Islamic authorities provide counseling to Muslims after attending Methodist Church dinner
Malaysia Muslims get counseling after church meet
Christian movie "Courageous" in top 10 at box office
Christian police drama in top 10 for second weekend
Pope urges southern Italian residents to care for eachother
Pope denounces "inhuman" mafia in southern Italy
Category: General News
WA Wants To Count Votes Faster
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Lawmakers are looking for ways to accelerate ballot counting on Election Day. A state Senate committee began considering a bill yesterday that would reject ballots that don't arrive to the auditor's office by 8 p.m. on the night of the election. Republican Sen. Pam Roach says she wants to find ways to speed up the process so that the results of the election come sooner. Washington currently counts ballots so long as they are postmarked by Election Day.


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For thousands of years, rings have been more than just adornment. They have been symbols of authority, symbols of promises, and even legally binding signatures. Today rings still speak volumes about you. Our rose gold oval april birthstone rings are as eloquent as they are beautiful and always one of a kind. Choose iolite and platinum or tanzanite and white gold: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from an anniversary or graduation to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Our inspired gift ideas with a personal touch will make this a Valentine's Day to remember. Our amazing array of designs by talented jewelry designers like Bijoux & Bijoux, Ji Hwang, Jeet Palavwala, and others means you can find rose gold oval april birthstone rings that you can't find anywhere else. Because all Gemvara rose gold oval april birthstone rings are made from scratch to your specifications, we can hand-select the finest quality gems and recycled precious metals to perfectly suit your design. April's birthstone is diamond, the enduring symbol of forever and the most dazzling of gems. Oval gemstones have an inherent elegance, with an elongated shape that draws in the eye. Warm 14 karat rose gold glows with an inner pink hue which flatters skin tones. Gemvara also offers many styles in luxurious 18k rose gold, which has higher gold content. When washing your hands, don't leave any rings on the rim of a sink where they can slip down the drain! Clean rose gold oval april birthstone rings in a bowl of water with mild dish soap: use a soft brush where dust collects. Gemvara's exceptional heirloom-quality rose gold oval april birthstone rings are designed to be passed down for generations, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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Damien, Jesse and Gianna From the BLOK
It's easy to spot the three siblings who make up Irvine-based, avant-garde hip-hop act BLOK. Meeting them for this interview at the Gypsy Den in Costa Mesa this Tuesday afternoon, they're the only ones wearing black-and-white-striped pajama pants and slippers (main vocalist/producer Damien B), a white nightie with leopard-print tights and hat (backing vocalist/hype woman Gianna Gianna) and a black-and-yellow blazer with a Joker pin (vocalist/hype man Jesse St. John, also sporting a plastic tiger snout affixed to the side of his head). Their audiences get an up-close look at such sartorial splendor—with Damien B frequently stepping offstage and spitting lyrics from well within the audience's personal space as St. John and Gianna tirelessly jerk about in nonsensiscal, spastic dance moves. A BLOK show is as much performance art as concert.
OC Weekly: Where does the inspiration for the live show come from? Is it just an extension of your natural personalities?
Damien B: It is an extension of our personalities a lot. I like to combine the energy of a punk show, that kind of of intense energy, but at the same time, I like just the entertainment aspect. It singles you out. "I'm playing the music right in front of you."
Jesse St. John: The live show is sort of a visual interpretation of what the music hopefully sounds like. It wouldn't make sense if we were just standing there singing it.
Gianna Gianna: I just let my inhibitions go completely so that everyone feels comfortable enough to let theirs go as well.
Do you ever worry people will see all that during your shows and think it's too gimmicky, or just a novelty act?
Damien B: We dress like this in real life. I listen to music that's kind of like our music; they listen to music that's variations of our music. It's just us. We're not doing anything beyond ourselves. We're not forcing anything. It's really what we are—amplified through a speaker system.
Musically, what led you toward the direction of BLOK?
Damien B: I've always liked hip-hop/rap since I was little. I liked Busta Rhymes, Rage Against the Machine and 311 back then. Pretty much immediately, I got into electronic stuff, as well as roots music and world music. Taking sounds from everywhere and mixing it all together into one sound and trying to make it sound cohesive . . . BLOK are really derivative of what I've always liked.
Where did the name come from—with no C?
Damien B: I wanted something that was very blunt. Everything is straight to the point, pretty much. The word "BLOK" has, like, a city-street connotation, kind of an urban connotation, as well as the geometric shape, so it's combining design with urban. I took out the C because it's stronger, I think, without it.
It's more distinctive. Otherwise, it's just some word.
Gianna: Or a mall.
St. John: Or an action, I guess?
Damien, you're fast when delivering your lyrics, especially live. Do you worry that people aren't grasping much—or any of it?
Damien B: A lot of times with the recordings, too, people ask me to still write down the lyrics for them. They'll get a phrase here, and because they just processed that one, they miss the next one. My lyrics are very conscious. I want to combine the elements of underground—like the normal elements of intellectual underground hip-hop—and at the same time, I want people to just go and dance, and they don't have to listen to the lyrics.
What's it like working in a group consisting exclusively of siblings?
St. John: It's so easy to make music together because we all know one another's references, we've all been exposed to the same things. All of us know everybody's intentions.
Damien B: I can skip a lot of steps—I know how to explain to them whatever I'm thinking, and vice versa. They know how to communicate with me, just from living together all of our lives.
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BLOK with Pop Noir and the Polyamorous Affair at Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, (949) 642-0600; www.detroitbar.com. Mon., 9 p.m. Free. 21+. BLOK can be found online at www.myspace.com/theofficialblok.
Hey, Orange County/Long Beach musicians and bands! Mail your music, contact info, high-res photos and upcoming show dates for possible review to: Locals Only, OC Weekly, 2975 Red Hill Ave., Ste 150, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Or e-mail your link to email@example.com.


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Rockstar looking into fix for disappearing cars in GTA 5
Apparently there's a glitch in Grand Theft Auto 5 that results in your car disappearing. Several players have reported vehicles mysteriously disappearing from their garage, or flat out losing upgrades following completed missions.
"I upgraded my car and then completed a mission, and now my car is gone," one user noted. Another added, "I've lost some of my upgrades after completing some missions and then checking my garage." Neither revealed which system they've experienced the glitch on.
Rockstar is aware of the issue and is "looking into" a fix. Unfortunately, the developers have yet to come up with a workaround to recover a car if missing (but you can share your ideas in the comments below). The most recent update from Rockstar notes that the issue "may occur if you drive another character's personal vehicle."
Again, the developer is looking into a fix to prevent this from occurring in the future, but so far there's nothing yet. I've yet to experience the issue (Xbox 360 version), but let us know if you are suffering from the glitch.


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I laugh when people die
when i watch the news i laugh when they talk about people dying, even if it is a kid. i laughed when one of my friends died and when my sisters friend died, and when my great grandma broke her hip. i personally am not afraid of death, i do not believe in god. i do believe that death will be beautiful when it arrives.


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Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Eleventh Season
Read between the lines of Jessica Fletcher's famous novels and you'll discover what her legions of fans already know - mystery has a way of following this witty writer wherever she goes. Angela Lansbury returns to her iconic role in all 21 sensational Season 11 episodes of the Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe-nominated series, Murder, She Wrote. Join guest stars Jeffrey Nordling (24), Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond), Ann Cusack (The Informant!), Jeri Ryan (Boston Public, Star Trek: Voyager), and more as they become part of Jessica's acclaimed investigations that span the globe from hometown Cabot Cove to tropical Martinique. With two bonus episodes from Season 12 (the final season), no crime lover's collection is complete without these entertaining adventures from the literary sleuth whose life is a real page-turner.
- Length
- Rating NR
- Released:
- Added Oct 27 2009
- Production Year 1994
- Empire SKU 1502523
- UPC Code 025192045059
- Studio Universal Studios
- Packaging Custom
- Number of Discs 5
- Disc SS-DL
- Subtitles English
2 Bonus Episodes
- Audio
English Dolby Digital Stereo
- Video
Standard 1.33:1 Color


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SAN ANTONIO – The Spurs completed the goal they set months ago, winning their fifth NBA title after beating the Miami Heat, 104-87 in the NBA Finals.
Kawhi Leonard, finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, was named the Finals MVP. Manu Ginobili had 19 points off the bench, while Patty Mills added 17.
Express-News Spurs writers Jabari Young and Mike Monroe discuss Game 5 and if this is the best Spurs championship team.


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By Elizabeth Marie Himchak
The new site supervisor at the 4S Ranch Boys & Girls Club recently arrived with more than a decade of youth-related work experience.
Jon Rios said he started his career with children as a 17-year-old working at the Boys & Girls Club in National City.
After various positions with other youth-related programs including being a teen mentor at South Bay Community Services, working at the school run by the county office of education for youths in the juvenile court system, and most recently developing a violence prevention program in Escondido, Rios has returned to the Boys & Girls Club organization.
"I've always found it really enlightening (working with youths)," Rios said. "I learn more from them than they learn from me.
"It's awesome that I get to be someone they look up to for direction, as an example," he said.
Rios said when one's career entails "having fun most of the day, that is great."
The San Diego native said he studied sociology at the University of California San Diego, which helps him when working with children and teens in after-school programs.
Rios said his goal is to provide leadership opportunities along with other life lessons to children who come to the club, rather than have just supervised play as was the case at the recreation center he attended as a youth.
"When I found out there was structure here, it was exciting," Rios said. "It's more than just recreation. So much more (focus) on education and even recreation (activities are) educational."
He said when members play games, those games are designed to build character and self-esteem. Through a rotation system, children end up trying activities they might otherwise shy away from.
"(Years ago) only kids who loved sports were in the gym, or those who were big enough (to play)," he said. "Now all participate due to rotation."
Besides learning about sports, members learn about the arts and have time to complete homework.
Rios said he is also very focused on maintaining a 20-to-1 ratio between children and staff members, because a higher ratio for the kindergarten through eighth-graders means the children do not get enough supervision.
Providing a quality after-school program at the club is more than just a job for Rios since his son, Eric, a kindergartner at Turtleback Elementary, is also one of the club members.
"As a parent, hearing a parent is directing this place raises the standard," he said. "I tell the staff to treat the kids like they are your own. That is literally true for me."
Rios said he also occasionally asks Eric if he has fun in certain rooms or with particular activities. If he says yes, that means they are working.
The 4S Ranch Boys & Girls Club, 16118 4S Ranch Parkway, has 130-150 members attend its after-school program daily. They come from Westwood and Turtleback elementaries in Rancho Bernardo, and Monterey Ridge and Stone Ranch elementaries and Oak Valley Middle School in 4S Ranch. Busing is offered from all but Stone Ranch, which is a short walk's distance.