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Distance: 0.19mi
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Nearby points of interest
Distance: 0.19mi
Distance: 0.21mi
Distance: 0.45mi
Distance: 0.47mi
Distance: 0.19mi
Distance: 0.21mi
Distance: 0.45mi
Distance: 0.47mi
About Wally's Desert Turtle
"The Finest Dining in the Coachella Valley" Executive Chef Pascal Lallemand brings his culinary experience to the desert offering a refreshed and re-imagined take on Modern California Cuisine. And the local response has been "Amazing"!
An Official California Dining Destination, Wally's Desert Turtle in Rancho Mirage proudly supports local Ranches, Farms and Fisheries committed to the smart-stewardship of the planet through sustainable, earth-friendly and ocean-friendly practices.
The finest local ingredients, impeccable service and exceptional surroundings always make for "A Great Night Out" at Wally's Desert Turtle.
Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Dining Style:
Casual Elegant
Contemporary American, Californian, Steak
Hours of Operation:
OPEN Six days a week at 5:30 PM with a last seating at 9:30 PM.
Special seating available. Please call for details.
February - March
Open 7 Days a Week
April & May
Closed Mondays
June 20th - October 13th - Closed for the Summer
Cross Street:
Bob Hope Drive
Dress Code:
Business Casual
Price Range:
$50 and over
Payment Options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Phone Number:
(760) 568-9321
Great Live Entertainment Nightly with the Bolivar Brothers, Michael and John ... playing the standards, the classics, some current hits, and a sprinkling of guest requests ...
Celebrating Springtime in the Desert with a $38 Three-Course Seasonal Prix Fixe Menu in our Bar and Sahara Lounge, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, Sundays through Thursdays.
Wally's Desert Turtle offers a wide range of superb catering events including elegant and intimate cocktail receptions, large-scale charity luncheons, formal plated dinners, and grand party buffets. We are also proud to be the exclusive onsite event caterers for the PGA Tour CareerBuilder Challenge, formerly known as the Humana Challenge, and previously as the famous Bob Hope Desert Classic. Wally's is also the exclusive caterer for the Clinton Foundation of the Coachella Valley. Call or email our Special Events & Catering Department Ph#760-568-9321 or Email at email@example.com
Parking Details:
Valet Parking, Private Lot Self-Parking, and Street Parking available
Public Transit:
Sunline Transit Agency
Bus Line #111
Bus Stop #659
Highway 111 and Rancho Las Palmas Westbound
Executive Chef:
Executive Chef Pascal Lallemond
Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Special Events & Promotions:
Thanksgiving Day - Special Prix-Fixe Menu: 1:00pm - 10:00pm - Reservations a Must - "A Beautiful Fall Affair"
Christmas Day - Special Prix-Fixe Menu: 3:00pm - 9:30pm - Reservations a Must - "A Winter Wonderland of Lights, Music, Dancing, Food and Libations"
New Year's Eve - Special Prix-Fixe Menu: 5:30pm - 1:00am - Reservations a Must - "Always a Celebration to Remember"
Valentine's Day - Special Prix-Menu: 6:00pm - 10:00pm - Reservations a Must - "The Most Romantic Day of the Year Deserves to be Celebrated at the Most Romantic Restaurant in the Desert"
Easter Brunch - Special Prix-Fixe Menu: 10:30am - 2:30pm - Reservations a Must - "Celebrate the Season of Renewal"
Mother's Day - Special Prix-Fixe Menu: 1:00pm - 10:00pm - Reservations a Must - "Champagne Brunch to Celebrate our Moms"
May/June Events - Special Prix-Fixe Menus: 6:00pm - 10:00pm - Reservations Welcome - "Dads, Grads, Proms, & Restaurant Week"
Restaurant Photos
Send a Gift Card
Buy now and send it instantly by email, or print a card to give in person.
Private Dining
Wally's Desert Turtle is one of the desert's premier locations for upscale private dining. An elegant, classy and majestic space to host family celebrations, corporate events or just memorable moments.
Wally's Desert Turtle Ratings and Reviews
OMG, you cannot go wrong when you dine at Wally's. Everything from the cocktails to the appetizers to the entree and then, of course, the dessert. The service is amazing; serving warm dinner rolls with butter - nothing better. The restaurant is quiet enough to have good dinner conversation while still being able to enjoy the wonderful musician. Wally's is my favorite restaurant whether it be a special occasion or people in town that you want to enjoy for an evening.
Absolutely fabulous!! This is a more formal restaurant, which we enjoy. We have driven by Wally's numerous times when visiting the desert (we do not live in the area) but had never eaten there for whatever reason. Both my husband and I think that this is one of the finest restaurants ANYWHERE! The restaurant is beautiful, the staff is very well trained and attentive without being intrusive and the food is excellent. It is a festive atmosphere and it was so nice to see the patrons dressed nicely (most men had jackets and many had ties - what a refreshing change!!). We asked our server what we should order as he told us the restaurant is known for its Dover sole. It was the best we have ever had. We look forward to going back to this restaurant on our next visit to the desert area.
This was our second visit to Wally's and it was every bit as enjoyable as the first time. Exceptional food and the wait staff is very attentive without being to intrusive. We especially enjoyed the saxophone player and appreciate that it is quiet enough that we could easily carry on a conversation. We will definitely be returning
This long established premium food and service experience never disappoints. There's a reason it was the go to for Presidents and socialites. The service is prompt, courteous and delightful. My filet mignon was outstanding and while Wally's isn't a steak house per se, you'd be hard pressed to find a better one in the desert. My husband had the abilone and said he hadn't had that in years and it tasted exactly like it did when he was a young man. It was tender and breaded. Our guests enjoyed their white fish and rack of lamb. They said is was the best meal they had enjoyed in the desert. They are from Portland and love fine dining so I took that as a great compliment. Our party each ordered a souffle. Mine was bananas foster and it was light and hot and sinfully delicious. Judging by how the conversation drew to a dead stop during dessert, I'm pretty sure it was unanimous that the souffle's are world class. The decor is classic Steve Chase and that's something I'm glad they haven't tried to update. Not only was Mr. Chase a great humanitarian, as well as the finest interior designer of his day, he understood how to design an elegant space that makes everyone look their best and doesn't distract from the main attraction, the glorious food.
Terrible service. Waited 45 minutes after finishing our entries to ask about our dessert which was ordered with our dinner. Arrogant waiter told us they were swamped (restaurant was less than half full) with orders for Soufflés and that two had "exploded" while being prepared. We cancelled order and requested a check which still had a charge for desert. From the time we finished our entries until we had a correct check 65 minutes had passed. Will never return to Wally's!!!
loved this place the first time went but service has been going. sent this email to them and never heard back: "We have been coming to Wally's for years. The problem is that each time we come the service declines. While it was once both personal, warm and professional. It is now most often rushed and perfunctory. And there were mistakes that even a less elegant restaurant would not make. Empty glasses left for 20 minutes +. Waiter kept asking if my wife was done with her plate and eventually took it before she was done. Our guess was that our mains were fired and the rush was on. Worst, as soon as our table was cleared of our main course, desserts were immediately set down! No coffee first offered, no time to digest a bit-----Probably because a souffle was ordered and was beginning to fall. "
This isn't a lovely restaurant. Wonderful service, old school type place. It is one of our favorites. Love to go there when it is restaurant week here in the valley...makes it a little more cost effective. Grand mariner soufflé was wonderful. I had lamp chops.....also good.
This was our second visit to Wally's and it was exceptional! We brought two friends who had never been before, and they were thoroughly impressed. The food is wonderful, and the service is great - they are there when you need them but don't hover and bother you, as in other restaurants. We can't wait to go again, after the summer hiatus.
the food was excellent but the service was terrible. Our waiter may have been new but he just stood around by the kitchen entrance. Did not walk around the tables. Never asked how our food was or did we want anything else. I had to ask where my wine order was and he said he thought we brought our own wine. Well, how could we drink it if you never opened our bottle?
We did not bring wine but ordered from the menu by the glass.
Thankfully the guys who brought the food and bus boys were very good.
the food was excellent and that is the only reason we would return.
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The Comic Speculator is a blog written by WorthPoint Comic Book "Worthologist" Matt Baum that takes a look at each week's hot new comics and back issues and the comic market place in general. Prices discussed here are taken from the Overstreet Guide to Comics (OVST), Comicspriceguide.com (CPG) and current online auction sales. Sales numbers and rankings are courtesy of ICV2.com. The codes under the prices of new titles discussed are Diamond Comics order codes that can be used to help your local comic retailer in ordering the issues discussed.
Below you will find all the info you could possibly need on the hot, new comics shipping this Wednesday, March 9. For a full list of comics shipping this week, click here. To find a comic shop near you, click here.
Here's a list of all the variants shipping from Diamond this week and some info on the hot ones. The variant Ratios (i.e.; 1:10) represent how many of the regular issues the retailer has to order to receive one of the variants. If a ratio is not included it's because I couldn't get the information or because the variant is a new printing. The prices I post here are suggested, reasonable prices, based on the ratios and may be higher or lower at your comic shop.
Soulfire Volume 3 #0 Ensemble Variant Cover
Retailers could order three of these variants for every 12 regular covers ordered.
Captain Swing #3 (of 4) Raulo Caceres Penny Dreadful Retailer Incentive Cover 1:3
Boom Studios!
Starborn #4 Cover C Humberto Ramos 1:10
Boundless Comics:
Lady Death #3 Michael Dipascale Art Deco Retailer Incentive Cover 1:3
Batman And Robin #21 Gene Ha Variant Cover 1:10
Batman Incorporated #3 J.H. Williams III Variant Cover 1:25
Justice League Generation Lost #21 Kevin Maguire Variant Cover 1:10
Superboy #5 Francis Manapul Variant Cover 1:10
Wonder Woman #608 Alex Garner Variant Cover 1:10
Jennifer Blood #2 Jonathan Lau Variant Cover, 1:10
Jennifer Blood #2 Tim Bradstreet Virgin Variant Cover, 1:10
Jennifer Blood #2 Ale Garza Variant Cover, 1:15
Jennifer Blood #2 Tim Bradstreet Negative Art Variant Cover, 1:15
Jennifer Blood #2 Eric Basaldua Variant Cover, 1:20
Once again, there's a veritable mess of Jennifer Blood variants. If you need any of these I'd wait and snipe them online. If Jen variants were going to be hot, it would've started with the first issue but all of those seem to be selling very cheap. Wait a week and you should be able to find these for a steal.
Red Sonja Revenge of the Gods #1 (of 5)(Lucio Parillo Red Variant Cover) 1:10
Red Sonja Revenge of the Gods #1 (of 5)(Lucio Parillo Negative Art Variant Cover) 1:15
Red Sonja Revenge of the Gods #1 (of 5)(Lucio Parillo Virgin Variant Cover) 1:25
Sherlock Holmes Year One #2 (of 6)(Daniel Lindro Negative Art Variant Cover) 1:10
Sherlock Holmes Year One #2 (of 6)(Daniel Lindro Variant Cover) 1:10
Sherlock Holmes Year One #2 (of 6)(Aaron Campbell Black & White Variant Cover) 1:15
Sherlock Holmes Year One #2 (of 6)(Francesco Francavilla Virgin Variant Cover) 1:25
Warlord of Mars Dejah Thoris #1 (David Finch Black & White Variant Cover) 1:10
Warlord of Mars Dejah Thoris #1 (Greg Land Black & White Variant Cover) 1:25
Warlord of Mars Dejah Thoris #1 (Arthur Adams Nude Variant Cover) 1:50
This one could be tough to find and not just because, you know, she's naked on the cover. Well topless anyway. Pervy nerds might be looking for this one because Art Adams draws some sexy ladies, but most shops won't be ordering the 50 needed to get this variant and those that do will be looking to get their money out of it. Watch for a solid $50 price tag here.
Dungeons & Dragons Dark Sun #3 (of 5)(John Watson Black & White Variant Cover) 1:25
Dungeons & Dragons Dark Sun #3 (of 5)(Peter Bergting Sketch Design Variant Cover) 1:10
Ghostbusters Infestation #1 (of 2)(Blank Zombie Hand Variant Cover)?1:10
Ghostbusters Infestation #1 (of 2)("25 Copy Incentive" Cover) 1:25
Jurassic Park The Devils In The Desert #3 (of 4)(John Byrne Sketch Variant Cover) 1:10
Transformers #17 (Marcelo Matere Sketch Design Variant Cover) 1:10
Incredible Hulks #624 (Dale Keown Captain America 70th Anniversary Variant Cover) 1:15
I'm not sure why Dale Keown can't get it together and start drawing a Hulk title again. The guy is an amazing penciling talent and this cover should be a pretty sought after variant. Watch for a $10-$12 price tag here.
Sigil #1 (of 4)(Ed McGuinness Variant Cover) 1:15
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #155 (Sara Pichelli Variant Cover) 1:20
Venom #1 (Paulo Siqueira Variant Cover) 1:15
Venom #1 (Joe Quesada Sketch Variant Cover) 1:50
These variants will probably go pretty fast, especially because the normal cover is going to disappear as well. More on this one later. Watch for a $9-$10 price tag on the 1:15 and a $30-$35 price tag on the 1:50.
Honey West #3 (Color Photo Cover) 1:5
Honey West #3 (Black & White Photo Cover) 1:10
These are comics that could sell out very quickly due to conservative ordering, popular demand, shipping errors or even mobs looking for some payback on Ebert, Vegas, Meta-Critic and just about every other Oscar prediction site that left them broke after screwing up their Oscar pools. Pick them up while you can or pay too much for them later . . .
Written by ERIK BURNHAM
Art and cover by KYLE HOTZ
Solicitation: IDW's Infestation event continues here in this bi-weekly, two-part Ghostbusters tale! Thanks to a plague of poltergeists that resist long-term storage in the containment grid, the Ghostbusters are dealing with a surplus of work . . . and their job is only going to get harder when Britt's zombies try to take a nibble out of the Big Apple! Written by Erik Burnham (The A-Team: War Stories) and illustrated by Kyle Hotz (Marvel Zombies).
32 pgs
Why it'll go fast: Infestation sales slowed down a little with the second issues of the G.I. Joe and Star Trek crossovers, but I'm betting they pick up again here. If there was one IDW property where fighting zombies fits with the tone of the comic, it's Ghostbusters. Art by Kyle Hotz should help the title sell as well. This might not be an instant sellout, but I'm guessing it goes fast. It'll be interesting to see the actual numbers IDW printed on these later this month.
Written by MIKE CAREY
Penciled by LEONARD KIRK
Cover by JELENA KEVIC-DJURJEVIC
Solicitation: In the war for forever, time is only an obstacle. Warriors jump from century to century and their battlefields span all of history, but this has led them to a stalemate. But now, a 16-year-old girl from present-day South Carolina will turn the tide. The symbol on her chest makes her part of this war, but will she save us or damn all of creation? New York Times best-selling scribe Mike Carey (Age of X, The Unwritten) and Leonard Kirk (New Mutants) begin the next great comic epic.
32 pages
Why it'll go fast: It's been more than 6 years since we've seen CrossGen comic, but the nerds will come out of the woodwork looking for this one. CrossGen developed a rabid fan base but didn't have the support of a major publisher, like Marvel, to survive the ballooning production costs. I'm guessing retailers go easy on this one but when it sells out before Friday, they'll re-order heavily and push this one to a sellout. Now bring on Scion! I loved that title back in the day. Speaking of which, where's our old-skool CrossGen reprints, Marvel?
Written by RICK REMENDER
Penciled by TONY MOORE
Cover by JOE QUESADA
Variant Cover by PAULO SIQUEIRA
Sketch Variant Cover by?JOE QUESADA
Solicitation: America . . . meet your newest hero! The lethal alien symbiote known as Venom is in the custody of the U.S. military . . . and with a familiar face from Spider-Man's world inside the suit, the government's own personal Spidey is going into action as one of the nation's top covert agents in hostile territory!
48 pages
Why it'll go fast: Dan Slott has been pushing the new Venom in the pages of the recent sold out Amazing Spidey issues and nerds took notice. Retailers will probably order heavy on this one due to the huge Amazing Spidey sales. This one is going to be very hot and I'm guessing it'll be selling for $10 by next week. Venom has been a hot Spidey villain for years and now that the alien is being forced to work for the U.S. military and being worn by Peter Parker's friend Flash Thompson, it just got a lot more interesting.
Matt Baum is WorthPoint's comic book Worthologist. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact Matt or post your question below in the "comments" section below. Also, you can follow him on Twitter, where I'm always screaming about something nerd-related. Thanks to all Matt's new followers and keep the comments coming!
You can also hear me on the Marvelicious podcast where I host a segment called "Who the Hell is this Guy?" Marvelicious is a comic-book-action-figure podcast hosted by my good friend and professional toy-nerd, Justin Kozisek. My segment involves a brief history of a B-list character the toy-nerds have never heard of. It's fun stuff for comic and toy nerds alike so check it out. We need the downloads.
Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint to search its database or use its "Ask A Worthologist" feature. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price. And finally, a word to the Federal Trade Commission; all the comics discussed here are purchased solely by the writer, who receives no gifts or free merchandise from any publishers, even though he would graciously accept them.
WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"We realize that family values are important to outdoor women and we want to do all we can to assist you in passing on your land management heritage to the next generation."
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"You would think that those who are always talking about family values would want to create an environment of permanent relationships for people of the same sex. But they're not advocating family values. They're advocating their values. - Mayor of San Francisco"
"Our birth rate is now half that in 1965, ... When I am chancellor, family values will be enshrined in our taxation system."


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Smartphone Film Scanner
Preserve all your favorite memories that seem stuck forever on film with this scanner that digitizes your 35mm film and is compatible with iPhones and most Android phones. A free app lets you edit the images and make videos.


text:
" Brand: Bosch / Type: Electric / Colour: Brushed Steel "
* Prices may differ from that shown
The Bosch Exxcel HBG33B550B Built-in single oven is a 67 litre capacity Hot Air Multifunction cooker that utilises a Hot Air distribution system to circulate heat evenly across all 3 cooking levels / The Bosch 3D Hot Air technology has increased the ovens performance to an Energy Efficiency rating of A-20%; this is 20% more efficient than a standard A rated appliance and has been achieved without compromising the ovens performance.The Exxcel HBG33B550B offers a range of 8 cooking functions including:-3D Hot Air cooking Conventional Top and Bottom cooking Pizza function Defrosting Hot Air Grilling Full width and Half width variable Electric Grilling and Bottom only cooking.The oven has an Automatic on/off programmer and an Electronic Clock/ Timer / Boschs 3D Hot Air system distributes heat evenly to all cooking levels ensuring consistent cooking temperatures throughout the oven which is ideal for batch baking and for cooking large joints of meat; the hot air seals in the moisture and cooks the food evenly with no need to rotate the food.The oven has a Smooth Enamelled oven interior and EcoClean? Liners on the back of the cavity to aid easy cleaning / Easy-Fit shelf support rails offer the choice of 5 different shelf positions for the 2 wire shelves / The door is fitted with a SoftClose mechanism to gently and safely close the oven door without slamming / The door is also fitted with Heat reflective glass to conserve energy and a full glass inner door and an interior light are fitted to provide good visibility whilst retaining heat and maintaining temperature. /


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Welcome to Apply, Shine Groups online application system
Apply is our online application system. This allows potential contributors to easily apply for the latest Shine Group programmes. To access the system, you will need a unique URL for the programme you wish to apply for. You have most likely come to this page because the address you have been given is incorrect.


text:
i'm having a bit of an identity crisis. you see, dearest reader, over the weekend jon and i bought a new car. yes, shocking, i know. well at least i am shocked– quite shocked!
we're a one car family, so our one car has to be able to transport all of us. and i mean ALL of us: jon, myself, jude, his giant car seat, plus nico and bang. and usually her cage. and all our crap. so our little two-door volkswagen was pretty freaking cramped. nico rode in the hatchback trunk for christ's sake. it was time. we had been talking casually about looking for a larger {used} car for a while now and i knew the time was soon. but i had figured soon to be more six month-ish not... tomorrow.
the trouble of it is that jon and i are both car people. we're very aware of cars and their models and makes and brands and what things that might imply. when we first started dating one of my very first duties as the jon's girlfriend was to learn to identify the model and make of a car... at night... by only its headlights. it was a game we played and we're both quite good at it. we watch top gear, we talk body styles and compare years to years, i have a kelley blue book app on my phone, we're... car people. to someone who isn't a car person this probably doesn't make any sense, it's just what you drive to get around. but it's just... a thing. jon was a little boy who grew up loving classic cars, with corvette posters and facts about MGs; i was born into a racing family in a racing town.
i had a love affair with our last car. i picked it out and waited oh so patiently for the day it would arrive from germany. i looked over its purchase papers again and again, imagining what it would be like when it was mine. when it arrived i drove it hard, and loved it hard, and cared for it tenderly. it was just a little car, but i wore it with pride; my own, my volkswagen.
everything about that car was what i was: we lived in the city, downtown, in a tiny urban apartment, and we drove a tiny fast city car.
so what does that mean, is this what i am? i own a home, still in the city, but on a double lot. i drive a car, not for speed, but for safety.
i looked over at my reflection flickering by on the buildings along the street this morning and didn't recognize what i saw. what's happening to me, to us!?
i think i like it though. the leather steering wheel and the sun roof are helping take the edge off.


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Final: Caps 4, Bruins 3
All over at Garden. Caps, 4-3. Bruins now 1-11 in games follow their last 12 victories.
2:39 to go, TV break. How soon will B's pull Thomas for extra attacker?
16:47 – Caps, 4-3 — Boychuk jumps to net and cashes in at left post.
4:00 to go.
Prior Bostonian Knuble hits post wth 7:09 to go. Score remains 4-2, Caps.
Midway through second. Bruins slightly better, but not looking good. Caps take timeout with 10:20 to go.
Very quiet at Garden with 13:30 to go.
Bruins need early burst of energy to get back in this one.
40:00 in books. Caps, 4-2. For 22nd time in 27 games, Bruins enter third period without lead.
17:31 — Caps, 4-2, PPG. — Laich gains position on McQuaid, top of crease, deflects home Wideman wrister. Likely won't happen, but Turco option to replace Thomas for third period.
15:34 — Zanon roughing (elbow) on Perreault gives Caps third PP of period.
11:22 — Caps, 3-2. Beagle drills in 20-footer from slot off Semin feed out of corner. Puck squibs free in Corvo-Seidenberg collision. Bruins with 0:00 in lead time this afternoon.
8:59 — Zanon off for holding. Caps power play. Ovechkin at left point.
Bruins, 2-2 — Marchand, unassisted. Caron solid hit on Ovechkin along wall in neutral zone helps free puck for Marchand to scoop and score. No. 23 for the Li'l Ball o' Hate.
Bruins announce that Pouliot out today with lower-body injury.
Late Lucic goal cuts Caps lead in half, 2-1, into first intermission. Shots, 13-13.
19:54 — Caps, 2-1 — Looch collects dead puck in left wing circle off Bergeron-Beagle faceoff and snaps in 12-15 foot forehander.
18:14 — Ten-bell save by Vokoun, flashes left leg to stop Seguin stuff attempt at right post off Krejci feed.
16:03 — Rookie MacDermid hauled down. Bruins with second PP chance.
11:19 — Bruins with first power-play chance. PP1: Marchand-Bergeron-Caron with Rolston-Chara at points.
8:41 to go in period. Caps still with two-goal lead, 12-5 shot lead. Bruins slow to perk. Caron begins game on third line, quickly bumped up to Marchand-Bergeron combo.
8:15 — Caps, 2-0. Hendricks digs puck out of Thomas pads after Brouwer deflects puck on net. Coach Claude Julien calls rare timeout in attempt to help club regain focus.
7:50 — Caps, 1-0. Semin pots doorstep rebound on forehander. Caps with 10-3 shot lead.
Caps with three shots on Thomas in first three minutes. B's yet to land one on Vokoun.


text: How about having the ignore user option more readily available. So we can access it right from the post instead of having to go into our settings to do it. That way anyone who comes here and is obviously ungrateful or acts in a manner that is too childlike, can just be ignored by all the individuals who wish to do so.


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Building Knowledge Wisely
We believe in knowledge and character. This is where you grow into the person you want to be…the person you should be.
A Strong Reputation
Alcorn State is more than a great HBCU. We are a great university.
Our Land-Grant Tradition
Backed by more than 140 years of success, we are advancing research in agriculture, applied science, and so much more.
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We believe in reaching out beyond campus, in engaging with the community around us to enrich all of our lives.
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Alcorn State University is committed to providing a safe community for students, faculty, and staff, and does not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or retaliation. Learn more about the resources on our campus to prevent and respond to situations that create an unsafe environment.
Welcome to the Office of Educational Equity and Inclusion at Alcorn State University! We are pleased that you are visiting the Web site and hope that you will join us in our efforts to enhance the spirit of diversity, inclusion and social justice on our campus and beyond.
Alcorn State University is committed to sustaining a diverse and inclusive campus community that respects and invites the unique contributions that every individual brings to our great university. In our view, diversity of thought, identity, and life experience offer tremendous resources, and the spirit of multiculturalism must be infused throughout our institution to ensure the richest possible living, learning, and working environment. Thus, diversity exists in many facets – including, but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, culture, language, age, physical ability, emotional condition, family makeup, religion, genetics, veteran status, cognitive ability, geography, and intellectual perspective -- and helps to broaden and deepen our knowledge of ourselves, others, and the world around us. At Alcorn, we strive to celebrate and learn from differences, draw strength and inspiration from our commonalities, and work collaboratively and proactively to build an engaged community where all members feel affirmed and empowered to achieve success. Diversity is not a simple "add on" to existing practice, but rather, must become an "add in" to guide our everyday habits; as a result, it becomes embedded within the very fabric of the institution. Through continuous reflection of our beliefs, policies, and practices as well as ongoing educational programs that foster healthy interaction and understanding, the institution and its members will remain inspired to eradicate existing biases and barriers in order to achieve equity – ultimately positioning the university as a model for social justice.
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Sample size available.
BRAND: Loloi Rugs
COLLECTION: Discover
COLOR: Charcoal
MADE IN: China
CONSTRUCTION: Machine-Made
MATERIAL: 100% Polyester
THICKNESS: 1⁄4" (approx.)
WARRANTY: 1 year - manufacturer
Prized for its ribbed texture and incredibly soft microfiber polyester, the Discover Collection balances contemporary design with amazing comfort. The patterns enjoy an abstract modern art feel. Power loomed in China of 100% polyester for durability.
The digital images we display have the most accurate color possible. However, due to differences in computer monitors, we cannot be responsible for...
Rugs Direct recommends you avoid using your vacuum's beater bar on any area rug. For complete information on area rug care and cleaning, please click here.
Rugs Direct in-home delivery is available for selected rugs in this collection.
Standard curb-side delivery of oversized rugs is free on most purchases from Rugs Direct.
However, special "white glove" delivery is available for selected rugs in this collection at additional cost. If you select this option, we will make an appointment to deliver your purchase at a time convenient for you and place the rug in...


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Outdoor adventures with William Pike
Great Barrier Island by kayak
You hear of trips being planned on Sunday afternoons, over a few drinks, at club nights, in a tent, or simply over a phone call. But I haven't heard of trips being planned whilst in hospital. Back in 2007, minutes before I was wheeled away to the operating theatre to have some minor panel- beating done on the #8 wire holding my left patella together, I said to my mate, 'we should paddle around Great Barrier Island'.
Extended trips away in the wilderness take considerable time to plan. After weeks of list making, research, and a few get-togethers, it looked like we might actually get to Great Barrier Island. Exactly one year after that operation, we were packed and ready to board the ferry.
Departing Westhaven, Auckland, it took us five hours to get to Tryphena, on Great Barrier Island. We'd need to be back there in ninedays time to get the ferry home. An easterly 3.5 metre swell was forecast, with the long range weather set to improve. We headed up the east coast first. For two and a half hours I was seriously wondering if we would be able to land anywhere without encountering some massive surf, and breaking ourselves, our kayaks - or both in the process. Good timing between waves and a rocky outcrop for shelter helped us land safely. We had made it! We were on Great Barrier Island, we had the bay to ourselves, a priceless view, and the pounding surf was music to our ears.
As the we ticked the days off and the kilometres stacked up, we were treated to an improving forecast and a reducing swell. Up at 7am, paddle until lunch time, back on the water until early afternoon was our routine. On day five, after paddling for hours in sweltering conditions, we paddled into the flat waters of Haroataonga Bay (Google it). This was a stunning spot, so we made it home for the next two nights.
The next morning I tiptoed less than 100 steps and dived into the crystal clear water. What a perfect start to a lazy day on the beach. I wandered back to my tent with a deeply satisfying grin on my face. We didn't see a single person for the next two days. Life was good.
Great Barrier is well-known for it's fishing and diving. Although we didn't have any luck with the crayfish, we did alright with the snapper and mussels, night-after-night. With a chocolate pudding desert to top it off, our meals were always fit for a king.
In a touring sea kayak, you can pack a huge amount of gear (around 200L in volume) in the water-tight holds. We took luxuries like; small deck chairs, snorkelling gear, a spare foot (not a luxury for all), basic tramping equipment, tripod/photography gear, large hot plate for cooking, books, fruit, and a pillow – joking.
On day nine we found ourselves back at our starting point. What an achievement, and what a privilege to spend time in such a beautiful place. The Hauraki Gulf is a mecca for sea kayaking. There are countless day trips one could enjoy, or overnighters and extended adventures like this one. If you think sea kayaking might be for you, join a club and learn the do's and don't's before you venture out. Then set yourself a goal, paddle the Te Ara Moana. The translation means 'the sea-going pathway'. It is a self-guided five day sea kayak tour along approximately 51km of Auckland's picturesque south eastern coastline connecting five of Auckland's charming Regional Parks.


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The kitchen's gone, the equipment's gone, and the floor is gone, but Wheeler's Restaurant will be back, according to the Sheepshead Bay staple's proprietor.
"There's no time table right now, but we are continuing to work at it, but you can expect to see Wheeler's in the future," said owner Mike Starace.
Like many Sheepshead Bay Road businesses, Wheeler's was flooded when Hurricane Sandy's 14-foot tidal surges hit the area. The floodwaters damaged the floor, warped the wood paneling and tossed about heavy objects as if they were made of cardboard.
"I have an eight-foot bottle cooler which holds about 40 cases of beer and it was flipped on its side," said Starace. "It would take five men to move that, without the beer in it."
Taking stock of his losses, Starace found there was only one thing that he could salvage from his bar and restaurant — the bar itself.
"It's OK," Starace assured this paper. "But the tables and chairs took a beating. The equipment is all shot, the stoves, refrigerators, dish washer all need to be replaced, but we'll be back."
Currently, the beloved purveyor of burgers and booze is working on getting power back to his sockets, and hopes for a late December opening.
He plans on using the down time to make Wheeler's better than it's ever been.
"It will be better than ever and the prices will not go up, " said Starace. "The cheeseburgers will remain the same, good as ever."
Wheelers is just one of a dozen Sheepshead Bay restaurants still bailing out after Hurricane Sandy's visit. Many restaurateurs on Emmons Avenue either remain without power or cleaning out their flooded eateries.
Across from the Sheepshead Bay UA movie theater on Harkness Street, the TGI Friday's remains closed. Jordan's Lobster Dock opened for the first time since the storm on Saturday, although the beer taps weren't working. Randazzo's Clam Bar on Emmons Avenue remained close, but owner Rosemary Randazzo told the blog Sheepshead Bites that they will reopen before Thanksgiving.
"There will be a re-grand opening," Randazzo told the local news blog. "Soon as we get everything out, we'll bring in new things."
©2012 Community News Group
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|SalesVantage.com >> Article Archives >> Telemarketing >> Cross-selling: A Management Perspective
The goal of Cross-selling is to get more of or all of a customer's business - to keep it "all in the family."
Cross-selling is one of the most important and rewarding services a salesperson or a customer service representative can provide. It is so powerful because the return on investment is very high and the impact on the relationship is very positive. Generally, it's much easier to sell to current customers than to a prospect. In addition, the more you can link your customer into your company, the more loyalty you gain. Cross-selling a range of products can also give you more flexibility in solving problems, offering value, protecting your margins, and keeping competitors at bay.
Although most organizations would like to have more Cross-selling, many struggle to make it happen. In some organizations, it is the customer service representatives who are hesitant because they think they didn't sign up for a sales role. Some salespeople and customer service representatives are concerned about "being too pushy," "facing rejection," feel they "don't want to risk my current relationship," and "don't have enough time". In some organizations, management is committed to a "service culture" that blocks the sales offer because representatives don't understand that the cross-selling can add to, not detract from quality service.
In fact, service and sales are one continuum. Great service means proactively helping the customer, and that often requires Cross-selling. Great sales mean providing a quality product and supporting that with quality service.
There are several parts to the Cross-selling Success Formula:
Linda Richardson, founder and CEO, of Richardson a global sales training company, author of nine best selling sales books, and faculty member at the Wharton School, is the driving force behind the Richardson sales curriculum. visit www.richardson.com or call 215.940.9255.
More articles by Linda Richardson
More articles on Telemarketing


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Decision makers
- Nashville Humane Assoc
- Billy BiggsAnimal Control
- Billy Joe Walls
- Michael Jameson
- Erik Cole
- Neighborhood Liaison Erin Williams
- Neighborhood Liaison Scott Wallace
- Deputy Mayor Greg Hinote
- Mayor Karl F. Dean
- Tennessee Governor
- Nashville Humane Assoc
Honor the Animal Cruelty Code of Laws
0 have signed. Let's get to 50,000.
Please Honor the Animal Cruelty Code of Laws
- U.S. Senate
- Nashville Humane Assoc
- Animal Control
Billy Biggs
- Billy Joe Walls
- Michael Jameson
- Erik Cole
- Neighborhood Liaison Erin Williams
- Neighborhood Liaison Scott Wallace
- Deputy Mayor Greg Hinote
- Mayor Karl F. Dean
- Tennessee Governor
- Tennessee State Senate
- Tennessee State House
- Nashville Humane Assoc
Hoarding 80 - 100 Domestic Rabbits in Filth and Sickness, then Dumping them into the Wild to suffer and die is Not Acceptable!
The Court found the Nguyen Family Guilty of Animal Cruelty and fined them $25.00.
"It just happens. We can't really control what they do," Nguyen said. "We just wanted to raise the rabbits and give them life. It's just like buying a bunch of birds and letting them go and give them life"....
"The hutch was overrun with rabbits, they were coming out of sewage drains; under cars, in yards as far as a block away.
A Local Rescue was able to catch four of the rabbits. One of them died from a gangrene infection shortly thereafter. The remaining three were taken to a veterinarian, who made an alarming discovery. All three of the rabbits were infected with coccidia, a parasite that can be transferred between animals. If a dog or cat ingested the rabbits' feces, it could contract the infection, according to Grassmere Animal Hospital. The rabbits were later found to have Hepatic coccidiosis the liver form of coccidiosis and they did not make it".
According to 8.12.080 - Companion animal hoarding: the owners were guilty of not One but Several Violations including Hoarding.
"Adequate Care" shall include but not be limited to medical treatment for illness, injury, disease, excessive parasitism, or any malformations.
Read More Here: http://www.animallaw.info/local/loustnnashville.htm#s8.12.030/
2. 8.12.030 – Cruelty to animals prohibited:
B. .No person shall fail unreasonably or cause another person to fail unreasonably to provide adequate food, water, care or shelter to any animal in the person's custody or to abandon any animal in the person's custody.
3. 8.12.090 – Animal offender school:
A. There shall be established, under the supervision of the animal control division of the department of health, an animal offender school for the purpose of providing education about proper animal care and cruelty prevention to persons found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be in violation of any provision of this title.
Backyard Rabbit Breeders are being cited for Animal Cruelty & Neglect, including 375 rabbits being confiscated from the Vice President of the Indiana State Rabbit Breeders Association who is no longer permitted to breed rabbits.
Dumping of domestic rabbits is a serious animal cruelty issue resulting in feral domestic rabbits populating, suffering and dying excruciating deaths. Domestic rabbits do not have wild instincts and cannot survive when dumped in the wild having an average life expectancy of three days before it is typically brutally killed by a predator or even a human. They do not have the capability to fend for themselves and need proper care and food and shelter, if you cannot provide this they should be surrendered to a shelter; otherwise you will cause them great suffering.
It is our Opinion that this family blatantly allowed rabbits to reproduce, live in filth and go without proper Vet Care and publically admitted on more than one news video/interview to releasing the rabbits into the wild -
where they cannot survive and will suffer and die horribly, and they released them with illness that could be contracted by any animal eating its feces. 80 – 100 rabbits! This irresponsible behavior is deliberate Cruelty to Animals and was taken lightly by the Owners, Animal Control and the Court.
We are requesting that the Companion animal hoarding Code of Laws be honored and sections 1 through 6 be applied while not permitting ownership of future rabbits and that the remaining animals in their care be monitored and Sterilized if not cared for properly.
We are asking that the Cruelty to Animals statute 8.12.030 be honored regarding the abandoned rabbits dumped in the Woods and that Animal Offender School be honored for the Guilty Violation of Animal Cruelty.
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The mining industry is in upheaval. Too many miners are writing off billions of dollars and a slew of chief executive officers is being shown the door.
But few people in the business – the miners nor their advisers – will speak bluntly about the tough territory ahead. For the most part they try not to spook shareholders, generating platitudes about focusing on current operations rather than adding acquisitions.


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"But we don't like to touch the church teachings on birth control, because we've gone so far in the other direction that a return to them is too bumpy a road. Birth control was the province of sailors and prostitutes and Christians didn't do that sort of thing. Not so much the advent of the Pill, but instead its general acceptance in society, both secular and Christian seems to have almost killed off the last vestiges of opposition to contraception. Find me a place where the Roman church is not ridiculed for its historical stance on the matter - it is almost universal. We worry so much about the world polluting the church for the most part, but this issue, for some reason, is beyond the Pale."
Puritanboard Doctor


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Former UND student charged with marriage fraud in Fargo jail
By Stephen J. Lee
Grand Forks Herald
Jeff Goble, the former UND student charged with fraudulently marrying a Bosnian woman so she could obtain U.S. citizenship, is now in custody in the Cass County Jail in Fargo.
Goble, 23, was arrested last week in Philadelphia shortly after returning from Bosnia, where he went a few months ago, allegedly to escape prosecution.
Goble was charged in federal court this month in Fargo with marrying Alma Numic, 28, in June 2008 at a wedding chapel in Grand Forks in return for $15,000 from Numic.
Numic had returned to Bosnia in the past year and remains in Sarajevo. She has not been charged in the case.
According to court documents, friends of Numic told investigators that Numic and a friend, Kristen Blessum, cooked up the plan to allow Numic to more easily obtain U.S. citizenship.
Numic was in the United States legally as a student, but her visa would not have allowed her to stay indefinitely, said Nick Chase, the assistant U.S. attorney prosecuting Goble.
The federal investigation began when someone aware of the allegedly fraudulent marriage contacted authorities, according to court documents.
But she never became a U.S. citizen, Chase said. The investigation continues, and other charges may be filed in the unusual case, he said.
Federal marriage fraud has a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and is defined as anyone who gets married "for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws."
Chase can't say much about the specifics of this case.
The federal agent who wrote up the affidavit of probable cause behind the criminal complaint leading to Goble's arrest said the two had never met until shortly before getting married at a Vegas-like wedding chapel in Grand Forks and didn't live as a couple after the wedding. The complaint alleges Numic paid Goble $15,000 in three installments.
Later, Goble moved to Seattle, as did Numic and Blessum. At some point, Numic returned to Bosnia.
In April of this year, a friend of Goble's told federal investigators that Goble went to Bosnia in December because he didn't want "to go to prison," and planned to lay low there for three years until the case against him was dropped.
He was arrested May 4 in Philadelphia, which "was the first place he landed," after returning from Sarajevo, Chase said this week.
Goble will remain in custody in Fargo until his arraignment in the next week or two, Chase said.


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A crowd of roughly 100 filed into a conference room in Boise City Hall Wednesday night to hear a presentation by Adam Park, Mayor Dave Bieter's spokesman, detailing a smoke-free ordinance that would enhance restrictions already a part of Idaho state law. Accompanying him were Jim Hall, the city's parks director, Ralph Blount of the City Attorney's Office, and Capt. Randy Roper of the police department.
The ordinance proposes to ban smoking in all indoor public places—including parks and the Greenbelt—and a violation by a smoker would net a $69 citation. Additionally, businesses would incur $119 per violation, which Park says could add up quickly if a business allows patrons to smoke.
"It's largely self-enforced," said Park. "If somebody is at a bar and they light up, somebody [a patron] will typically approach and ask that they not smoke. ... Only if they refuse to leave would a citation be involved."
After Park's presentation ended, the podium from which the audience could ask questions quickly turned into a soapbox for comments and hyperbole from either side of the issue. The audience leaned slightly toward pro-smoking.
"I don't smoke. I have never smoked in my life. I was raised in a home where there was smoke, and, as far as I know, this far, I've never been affected by it," said Mona Lindeen, the first commenter/questioner.
"Who pays your salary?" Tom Derrick asked of Adam Park. "I wanna know who to vote against next time for being a bunch of nanny-staters and of which I'm sure you're one."
Derrick went on to talk about Quinn's, where he enjoys the atmosphere as-is, ending with, "This is tyranny," to which many applauded. Michael Parker, a Boise State Communications student, asked about the effect on hookah bars. Park and Blatt confirmed that if adopted as written, the ordinance would ban smoking in hookah bars.
"I've watched [the city] slowly, incrementally take away more rights. Oh, I'll make sure to fill out my comment card," said Charles McAffee sarcastically. "You're doing a great job in this dog-and-pony show. I really believe that the City Council is going to read my comment."
Margery Soni, a nurse practitioner at a pulmonary medical practice, said she deals with smokers struggling to quit every day. She had never met a smoker, she said, who wished they could have smoked more.
"I'm also a mom, and I can't tell you how many times I go with her to the park, to the Grove, to the Greenbelt, and I feel terrible as a mom having to expose my child to secondhand smoke," said Soni. "So we avoid those places. That's a hard thing to explain to a 3-year-old why we can't go to those places when we live in a free country."
Thomas "Ted" Challenger, owner of Dirty Little Roddy's, China Blue and Main Street Bistro, agreed with the city's research. He claims that since switching to smoke-free, his business has grown. When he announced the change on Facebook, he received 350 positive comments, said Challenger.
"I have three female employees that are pregnant, and they didn't have to quit this time around," said Challenger amid raucous applause.
Overall, Park said it went well.
"It was direct democracy at its finest," said Park. "I thought it was really a good discourse, a good opportunity for people on both sides of the issue to come down. I hope we have equally as good a turnout on Oct. 18."
That's when the public gets a second opportunity to weigh on in the matter.


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Despite the high number of people still dying on our roads, the trend is towards fewer fatalities on our roads.
You are here
Scouts get 12 computers from Scotiabank
Scotiabank, through its Brighter Future Programme, has donated 12 computers to the T&T Scouts Association. The presentation took place yesterday at the association's headquarters, St Ann's. The bank's public and corporate affairs manager, Adrian Raymond, said Scotiabank recognised the importance of technology in engaging youths and was happy and honoured to perform the bank's corporate social responsibility by assisting the Scouts Association with computers.
Raymond said as a past scout member he could see the value of the scout organisation. He said, too, there was a positive difference in the lives of former scouts. "They (scouts) seem to continue life with the basic principles of always being prepared, disciplined and focused." he added. National Scout Commissioner for T&T, Azamuddin Khan, said scouts made better citizens and described a scout as one who was appreciative of the law, patriotic and who wanted to be part of a better T&T.
"Men are at risk, through crime and school dropouts, so we are upgrading our programmes to meet the shortcomings in society," said Khan. He explained the computers would be used to provide online training to scout leaders as well as to engage scouts. "Young people today are using computers and in order to speak their language we need to upgrade our programmes." Khan said there were over 700 scouts in T&T and stressed the Scout Association's importance in educating young people to play a constructive role in society.


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Season greetings.
We will be in Dubrovnik in May & would like to do a day trip to Montenegro & was wondering if anyone has advice on which company to use. I have seen 2 Atlas & Viator. Has anyone used these companies or have advice on other options.
Many thanks.
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Day trip to Montenegro which company
Season greetings.
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We used Viator in September for the Montenegro day trip and it was fine--exactly as advertised. I've used them in several countries because it is so nice to make the arrangements on line before leaving home. Also, they give frequent flyer miles. Don't forget to take Euro's to spend in Montenegro. We weren't warned and had none. Very few places take credit cards.
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Thanks Jane,
Did you need a visa for Montenegro ? We don't need one for Croatia but the Viator website says that you need one for the tour to Montenegro.
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I am pretty sure that we did not get a visa. Are you from the US?
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Take 2 on this post - 1st one must have been eaten for lunch! We used Atlas on our day trip to Montenegro in '06 - literally just days after Serbia and Montenegro officially split. We weren't sure if we'd encounter any problems because of this, but fortunately we didn't have any problems at all. We actually booked our trip on line with Atlas about 4 months before our trip and we did confirm our reservation at the Atlas office once in Dubrovnik. We took the Historical tour (Atlas also offered the Blue Tour) and enjoyed every minute of it. Of course we would have enjoyed a longer visit to both Kotor and Budva, but limited time just comes with the territory on organized tours. Crossing the border between Croatia and Montenegro (in both directions) was a breeze. If you're a US citizen, you won't need a VISA. And Jane's suggestion of having Euro's available is a good one (even though Montenegro isn't in the EU their currency is the Euro).
We also used Atlas for another day trip from Dubrovnik to Mostar and would highly recommend that as well if you have the time.
Had 2 different guides for our Atlas trips and both were excellent, very knowledgable and quite personable.
Besides Atlas, also recall both Gulliver and Elite offering day trips to Montenegro.
Hope your trip was as memorable as ours. The scenery is magnificant - ENJOY!
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We booked ours with ATlas just the day before we went. We thought it was extremely well run.
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Thanks Jane,Debs & NeoPatrick looks like both are fine so I guess it will depend on which is running on the day we decide to go. I saw that Viator don't run everyday but will look into the Atlas timetable.
We are from Australia but have found out that unless we are staying over 90 days we don't need a visa so it is all systems go.
Thanks again for your advice & have a happy New Year.
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You might also consider just renting a car and driving in as it is really, really easy and gives you more freedom. It is cheaper too.
It is a beautiful and easy drive.
Just a thought.
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I have to say that I'm not usually one for tours and am the first one to always "do it on our own", but we were thrilled that we took the Atlas tour. We were given a lot of commentary by a great guide on the bus -- and we knew little to nothing about Montenegro and its history before going. They also took us to the former palace of King Nickolai I, which was not even open to the public at that time, where we had a private tour and "history lesson". The drive up the mountain in Montenegro with 25 switchbacks (count 'em) was hardly an "easy drive" by the way. They also had prearranged a simple lunch stop at a winery in the beautiful countryside where we also had wonderful local ham and fresh cheese on great homemade bread. They took us into the city of Kodor for a number of things you could opt to do, and later ended up at the resort town of Budua. Unless we had done a lot of planning, we never would have accomplished half of what the tour covered if we had attempted to do it on our own. This was one time I was glad we took a "tour". If your goal is to just say you've been there and to see some pretty scenery, on the other hand, then I'd think driving yourself would be a good choice.
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Our Viator tour was exactly like the Atlas one described above. Actually, Elite is the provider for the Viator tour. Viator just makes reservations on their web site and someone else provides the tours. It's just so easy to use Viator's web site and I have used them for several countries.
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Sure it is different experience and all depends on how much freedom you like and what you want out of the trip.
There is a ton of info on the internet about Montenegro so very easy to learn a great deal before going. There is a great bookstore with English books in Dubrovnik also at good prices. It is on the main street & we loved hanging out there during our month in Dubrovnik. It is easy to do your own research!
We ran into a few small tour groups with droning on and on guides with heavy accents and we were glad that we were not stuck with that. Different strokes for different folks.
We did not see the former palace that would probably have bored us to tears ( after all we travel with a young child & have seen more than our share of palaces in the last 15 months of traveling). We did not need another at this point in time, the freedom was more valuable to us.
We did get to stop when ever we wanted and do what ever we wanted. We talked to lots of locals which we enjoyed and found some great places to swim which was lots of fun. Had a great meal ( that locals recommended), It was an easy and very fun day for us...just what we wanted.
We took our time at the views of Dubrovnik and saw one of the most spectacular sunsets on the way back over Dubrovnik from the best viewing point. We did not have to rush or be concerned about someone else's timing or needs.
We had fun talking to people on the yachts as well as exploring various areas hiking around and touring Kotor and a couple of smaller towns.
We found it a great day trip to do by yourself as many here have done. Some might prefer a tour, but there are advantages & disadvantages to all choices.
I am not against small or private tours ( we found them very helpful at Knossos & Troy) but we happened to like this one better driving and the freedom to do it as you please. YMMV. I mention it only because some people do not realize how easy and enjoyable it is to do on your own.
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You bring up a very good point, which may not have been clear from my post. If learning about and seeing the home of one of the last "constitutional monarchs" of Europe in a rather obscure little country that most of us know nothing about, who was light years ahead of the rest of central and eastern Europe in introducing what we would consider "democracy" for the people "bores you to tears", then by all means you should NOT take an organized tour to Montenegro. We found it absolutely fascinating, but of course, to each his own.
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I just wanted to add that I took the Atlas tour and really really enjoyed it. I would second Patrick's last post. Lots of people talk about doing it on their own, but I learned so much on my tour. Plus the switchback drive over those mountains would have frightened me to death (and I'm used to mountain driving).
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At one of the 'switchback' road stops on the Atlas tour, there was a souvenir vendor selling things from the hood of his car! Simply amazing he was able to do this considering how narrow the road up/down the mountain is!
Regardless of how you get to Montenegro, you'll be treated to spectacular scenery!
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If you choose to rent a car and do the trip on your own (and it's pretty easy to do so), get a copy of the Rick Steves guidebook to Croatia. He has very good directions for a daytrip to the town of Kotor and the surrounding area.
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There are many, many posts on fodors ( and other places) where people talk about how easy this is to do on your own based on their experience of doing it. Everyone had a fabulous time.
Do a search if you are curious.
I do not remember any switchbacks and most of the roads were in good condition and mostly flat. There is a reason why most drivers say it is easy!
The scenery is to die for and it is nice to be able to stop where ever you want and take that in or explore a corner or village that looks interesting. You can not do that in a tour.
All the info that you can get on a tour, you can read yourself before going.
As far as "bored to tears" , we have been traveling for 16 months straight & had just been to Athens, Ephesus, Olmpia, Rome, Venice, Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pumukkale, Pergamum, Delphi, Crete, Palace of Knossis, Mycenae, Troy,Aphrodisias,Sirince etc etc.
We stayed longer at each than most people can & have done many fine private tours and seen many fine castles etc during these many months & had just done a tour of Dubrovnic and some of the islands around there.
We just did not need another private tour at that point in time no matter how fascinating.
We spent 45 plus days in Croatia, so learned tremendous amount of the history in that part of the world as we do every place we go.
We also travel with a child who just turned 7 who loves history & knows more than many adults about history, but we pick and choose what we want to focus on. YMMV.
For us seeing the beauty, meeting natives,wandering the towns, following our guidebook on our own, swimming in a few places, eating the food was more important in this particular place at that particular moment in time.
But then we do tend to like to do things on our own unless it is a great private guide.
There is no one "right way" to do things.
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"I do not remember any switchbacks and most of the roads were in good condition and mostly flat. There is a reason why most drivers say it is easy!"
Anyone who does not remember the switchbacks clearly missed one of the most spectalar roads and mountain views I've ever seen in Europe. Yes, you could easily skip doing it, but if you don't remember it, you clearly never did it!
And please don't misunderstand about visiting the "fascinating" home of King Nickolai I. It is not a "castle". It is not particularly spectacular. That wasn't the point. If you don't care about learning something about the unique history of Montenegro, then by all means you should probably skip it.
I agree wholeheartedly that there is no one "right way" to do things. I pointed out that we did this as a tour despite the fact we normally shun them, and we ended up extremely glad we did. But as I've said, it was for the history and the learning about Montenegro. Otherwise, I'd strongly suggest doing it on your own.
I'm NOT posting this to argue that our way was best, but rather to clear up a couple of misunderstandings about the "castle" and about the drive.
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Ha ha! We had just come from a month on Satorini where we went up and down the most spectacular switch back in the world in our RV ( second only to the hard way into Delphi).
Not something too many people are brave enough to do..the views do not get any better than that. Or thrills!
We did not need another spectacular mountain view or switchback either.
I guess I took these words of yours wrong NeoPatrick:
"If your goal is to just say you've been there"
It is easy to do in this kind of medium where we can not hear each other talk. I thought that sounded like you felt the tour was the *only* way to do this daytrip well or learn any history about Montenegro.
My point was that one can learn history and connect with the area without the tour ( and sounds like many also did it with the tour).
I am sure there are advantages and disadvantages to both and each can be right for different people and even at different times.
I am sure someone who spends two weeks or a month there learns more than either day tripper.
It is hard to compare the value of each if you have not done both. You can not presume to know what my experience was, nor could I know yours. It sounds like we were both really thrilled with our experiences!
My original post was just wanting to make sure that the OP was aware that she could do it on her own for much less if she was interested.
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I took this picture on the switchback road just outside of Kotor.
I would never attempt that drive, and I'm used to driving many of the narrow Rocky Mountain roads and passes in Colorado. We had to stop several times to wait for a cow or a sheep or goat to move out of the road. The bus driver received applause from the entire group at the end of the drive.
There are times when a tour is the way to see and do things that you just might not see or do on your own. For me, this was definitely one of those times.
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When driving towards Montenegro from Dubrovnik and vice versa, which side is the view/bay? Thanks.
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|You are in: Sport: Football: FA Carling Premiership
Thursday, 18 May, 2000, 14:39 GMT 15:39 UK
Hammers wrap up Kanoute deal
West Ham have completed the Ł4m signing of French international striker Frederic Kanoute from Lyon.
Hammers chairman Terence Brown flew to France last Friday to finalise terms for the 23 year-old, who has signed a four-year deal.
Kanoute has already had a spell on loan this season at Upton Park, making nine Premiership appearances and scoring two goals.
Midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe has moved in the opposite direction for Ł6m.
Foe was sent off in last Sunday's goalless draw with Leeds for stamping on Matthew Jones.
Aldridge said that although Kanoute was a great signing for the club he was sorry to lose Foe, but pointed out it had always been the player's intention to return to France.
"We welcome Freddie to Upton Park and wish Marc every success with Lyon," Aldridge said.
See also:
17 May 00 | FA Carling Premiership
Zola hoping to stay with Blues
16 May 00 | FA Carling Premiership
Spurs seal record Rebrov deal
15 May 00 | Football
Leeds snap up Dacourt
15 May 00 | FA Carling Premiership
Fergie wins manager award
15 May 00 | FA Carling Premiership
Olsen was 'a mistake'
14 May 00 | FA Carling Premiership
Dons down as Bradford survive
14 May 00 | FA Carling Premiership
Premiership clockwatch
14 May 00 | FA Carling Premiership
The fight for survival: In pictures
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Australia's debate over 457 visas and the temporary importation of skilled workers may be more politicised than in other countries because employers can bring in people more quickly than they can elsewhere and the wider Australian scheme includes tradespeople and not just professionals, as is the case in other countries.
The heated debate that has pitted government against business has drawn in two more figures,
While all countries have visa schemes to bring in skilled workers on a temporary basis, Australia's 457 regime goes further than equivalents in other countries, said Peter McDonald, head of the Australian National University's Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute.
"Australia has set up quite an efficient system, I think, which is probably ahead of the other countries," Professor McDonald told BRW. "The arrangements are such that it is easier for employers to directly recruit that person and get that person in the country relatively quickly."
The 457 regime's inclusion of skilled tradespeople – due to Australia's greater shortage of these skills than in many other countries – further sets it apart from other schemes, said Mr McDonald, a member of the federal government's ministerial advisory council on skilled migration, which provides counsel on the 457 program and the impact of skilled migration on the economy.
Prime Minister
The alleged abuses of the scheme that have prompted political and union leaders to call for it to be tightened have mostly occurred in the trades, Mr McDonald said.
"We bring in . . . skilled tradespeople on 457 visas," he said. "In other countries, it's more the managers and professionals and para-professionals rather than the skilled tradespeople. Look at all the examples of rorting that occur … they're pretty much all in the trades. That's why we've got more political debate. However, I'm not saying we should cut that out. We still need to recruit in the skilled tradespeople more than other countries do."
In the year to June, skilled tradespeople accounted for 7930, or one-quarter, of the 48,080 visas granted under the 457 regime. This was more than double the number of visas granted to tradespeople a year earlier.
No firm figures yet exist to quantify the abuse, but Mr McDonald, who said it was important to deal with rorting where it occurred, said it was unlikely to be more than 2 per cent of 3 per cent of the total.
While figures show New Zealand is importing fewer skilled workers on a temporary basis than it has been in recent years, the UK and US seem to be stepping up their efforts.
A halving of the positions of essential skills in demand since 2010 has resulted in New Zealand cutting the number of managers and professionals brought in to the country via its Essential Skills- Skill Level 1 visa regime.
Positions on the essential skills in demand list fell almost one-third to 20,702 last year from 30,489 in 2010, government figures show. Over the same period, visas issued to Skill Level 1 temporary migrants fell 22 per cent to 907 from 1162 in 2010.
"The removal and addition of occupations is the result of extensive consultation with industry groups, other stake holders and relevant government agencies alongside analysis of economic, labour market and immigration data," a government statement to BRW said.
UK government figures show that skilled temporary migration via the so-called Tier 2 scheme, the country's closest equivalent to Australia's 457 regime, has risen over the past three years, even as overall migration numbers have been cut.
While the UK's net migration number has fallen almost one-third to an estimated 163,000 in the year to June 2012, from 235,000 in the year to June 2010, the number of Tier 2 visa holders has risen almost 1 per cent to 70,816 from 70,201.
"Reforms in recent years have targeted abuse and delivered a more selective immigration system, one that allows us to reduce net migration but at the same time attract those whom Britain needs to create a dynamic economy – talented business people, skilled workers, university students, academics and those with exceptional talent in the arts and sciences," British High Commissioner to Australia Paul Madden said in a statement to BRW.
Zuckerberg 'Likes' Immigrants
While the US has many different categories, it has also been increasing its intake of temporary skilled workers under the H-1B visa scheme for speciality occupations. The number of H-1B visas issued rose 15 per cent to 135,530 last year, from 117,409 in 2010, US figures show. Over the same period, total US non-immigrant visas rose almost 39 per cent to 8.9 million from 6.4 million.
Perhaps reflecting a sense of frustration with the fact that skilled temporary immigration has grown more slowly than other categories, Facebook founder
Zuckerberg is teaming with other Silicon Valley figures, including entrepreneur Joe Green, to start the group, which is expected to broadly focus on economic issues such as immigration and education reform, website politico.com reports.


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A motorcyclist was seriously injured and a 61-year-old driver was arrested Thursday night after a hit-and-run collision in San Marcos.
The motorcyclist was traveling east on Montiel Road near Nordahl Road about 7:20 p.m. when he had to brake suddenly to avoid a collision with another vehicle that turned in front of him, sheriff's Deputy Steve Bentz said.
The man lost control of the motorcycle, and as it was skidding a man in a Dodge pickup made a left turn from westbound Montiel and ran over him and the bike, Bentz said.
The pickup's driver, who was identified as Richard William Flaig, left without stopping, Bentz said.
Flaig was taken into custody and booked into Vista jail where he is being held on $50,000 bail.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Bentz at (760) 510-5049.


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Death Notice: Ronald Bower
Ronald Bower, 61, of Bertha and formerly of Hewitt, passed away on June 25, 2012.
The memorial service for Ronald will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 2, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Hewitt. Friends may call on Monday at the church one hour prior to the service. Ronald. Arrangements are with the Domian-Anderson Funeral Home of Bertha, a Schuller Family Funeral Home.


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A man tried to abduct a girl from a Wilmington street and throw her into the trunk of his car, but she fought him off and escaped, police said today.
Detectives interviewed the girl at the Los Angeles Police Department's Harbor Division station this morning and were working to create a sketch of the man that could be released later today
The crime occurred at 12:40 p.m. Wednesday in the 1100 block of Marine Avenue.
"The report does seem to be credible," Los Angeles police Detective Arnold Castellanos said. "At this point, we don't know the motives behind it. We are still investigating."
Police did not release the girl's age, identifying her only as a minor.
The man, police said, grabbed the girl from behind and tried to put her in the trunk of a 1990 two-door white Honda. The car had a faded front fender, a dent on the right side of the fender and a yellow interior.
The assailant was described as about 54 years old, Latino, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 180 pounds. He had short hair and a black mustache. He wore a dark green hat, a peach long sleeve shirt, gray pants and black shoes.
Detectives asked anyone with information to contact detectives at 310-726-7940.


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Photo: Getty Images
In response to Marc Jacob's love of the man skirt, big department stores are weighing in on their fashion merit. Barney's says yay (they think they already carry them) but Bloomingdales is leaning towards nay. [The Cut]
Among the fashion elite, only one man could create a suit impeccable yet durable enough for James Bond. Tom. Tom Ford. [Starpulse]
Prada won't let Hermes have all the fun: the Italian label has designed their own special edition Hyundai Genesis sedan. To be unveiled at the 2009 Seoul Motor show, details on the car's bells and whistles are still under wraps, but we're expecting supple leather, wood trim and a hefty price tag. [Yosax]
Antonia Marras, who already designs Kenzo's women's RTW line, has now been given creative control over the label's menswear line and accessories. Marras' promotion marks Kenzo's first headline men's designer in nearly a decade; the men's collection had been in the hands of its design studio since 2001, when Roy Krejberg exited the brand. [DNR]


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RepairPal is your advocate for car care advice and guidance
Q: why cant i get fire to my plugs and power to my fuel pump on 1992 Dodge Ram Van B350
van just shut off when i looked in to problem i found fuel pump worked when i by passed it with a toggle i tested all relays , replaced cap & rotor & tested coil all were good but still no fire
I just had the same problem. I suspect it is the timing gears and chain. If you have never replaced these, and have over 200,000 miles on van, it's a good bet it is these gears. On some models they put an Aluminium gear with nylon teeth on it as a quieting function. But over time, these nylon gears get brittle with age, and come off the teeth of the gear. This will cause the chain to loosen, and jump timing on the engine causing it to quit. Replace gears and chain, and also check in oil pan for loose nylon "Bits" that might have also been trapped in the oil sump. The sump has a screen, so the Bits should not go any further, but you will have to clean them out, or your engine will starve for oil and burn up...costing you more $$$.$$. While you have that front end apart, now is a good time to replace the water pump at the same time for good measure. Be careful about timing when installing the gears and chain...take your time...and before you know it, you will be back on the road. $50.00 on average for chain, $80.00 for kit. Double rollers are good and a little more money and will last you another 200,000 to 300,000 miles. Don't forget gaskets, and torque all bolts properly. ;-)
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Popular south Indian actress Shriya Saran, who has made her mark in Bollywood with films like "Awaarapan" and "Mission Istaanbul", is appearing in another Hindi film – "Valmiki Ki Bandook". She says it is an "interesting film."
"It is called "Valmiki Ki Bandook". It is very interesting. It has been shot in Dholpur (in Rajasthan), so the language, dresses everything is inspired by that," SShriya Saran told reporters here Sunday at the launch of a clothing store.
The actress was seen in a special appearance in "Zila Ghaziabad" this year while the 2012 movie "Gali Gali Mein Chor Hai" had her in a full-fledged role.
To be directed by filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia's assistant Karan Bhutani, "Valmiki Ki Bandook" will also feature Jimmy Shergill, Jackky Shroff and Kay Kay Menon.
– IANS} else {


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Taylor Swift showed off her sense of humor and culinary skills with a handwritten note on a homemade jar of jam for tourmate Ed Sheeran. Buzzfeed posted a photo of the sweet treat with a message from Swift on the label reading: "Yo Ed I'm really happy 4 you and I'm gonna let u finish but this jam is the best JAM OF ALL TIME - T."
The message is a direct reference to Kanye West's infamous interruption of Swift's 2009 acceptance speech after she won Best Female Video for "You Belong With Me." West stormed the stage and took the mic from Swift, saying, "Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time."
Swift was nominated for Video of the Year and Best Female Video at this year's VMAs, which air Sunday on MTV. She alluded to the 2009 incident in a recent tweet to fans: "Two VMA nominations!! If you vote and get us one, I promise to keep a firmer grip on the mic this time."
- Kanye West Storms the VMAs Stage During Taylor Swift's Speech
- Taylor Swift Recounts Kanye West VMAs Incident on 'The View'
- Kanye West to Perform at 2013 MTV Video Music Awards
This article originally appeared on Rolling Stone: Taylor Swift Isn't Done Making 'I'mma Let You Finish' Jokes


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The powers that be tried their damnedest to stop the critical prediction train from storming onto the internet even sending an actual snowstorm in late October replete with hazardous conditions and giant tree branches knocking out power to my whole neighborhood for two days. But fear not loyalists, the Rotten Watch is back (albeit a day late) to kneed your doughy, movie-ravaged brains with predictions aplenty. This week Stiller and company get all caper-y and our favorite bong hitting duo returns for some holiday cheer.
Just remember, I'm not reviewing these movies, but rather predicting where they'll end up on the Tomatometer. Let's take a look at what This Rotten Week has to offer.
A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas
Forget Michael Moore. If you are looking for movie-makers who speak to the American people (especially generation Generation Y-ers), stand up to the man, and actually make fair points on the ills of society then look no further than good old pals Harold and Kumar. In the first movie, the duo explored the societal trappings of post-college, mid twenty-somethings, adrift in a world without borders and exemplified how the young, unfettered mind can accomplish goals when they believe the ends ultimately justify the means. Then, in the second flick, the pair ran commentary on the nature of race relations in America, the folly of conventions like marriage and exposed and lambasted the government for justifying their own freedom-making ends through strictly unconstitutional means. Oh yeah, and they did it all while getting blazed to bejeesus at every turn and partying with Neil Patrick Harris. Hell, Kal Penn even got a job with Obama for his weed-smoking anti-institutionalism. These guys are geniuses.
And needing to strip down more of the things idiot Americans think are "important" and "real" the two finally get to tackle holidays and religion. Have at it boys. Both are frontiers of the mindless sheep and perfect examples of why America is going to hell (pun intended). And don't even be subtle about it. Shoot Santa with a shotgun and make Jesus an over-entitled rich kid. It's all fair game.
From a critical angle, the boys' first two trips, one to White Castle (74%) and the other to Guantanamo Bay (53%), were better than could be expected of movies (at least on the surface) about two dudes getting high. But just because I love the flicks, doesn't mean critics will be over the moon for a third installment. In fact, critical scores tend to dip over time. First time feature director Todd Strauss-Schulson now takes the pair into 3D in an effort to explore the medium while also seemingly breaking the fourth wall in an effort to expose it. Why not? These guys make fun of everything. The Rotten Watch for A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas is 49%.
Tower Heist
I'm not much of a thief. In fact, here is a list of things I've stolen in my life: one pack of baseball cards from Toys R Us at the age of eight (got caught), a copy of my biology midterm in high school (got away with it, but still got a C somehow), the sanity and logic of a hot chick way out of my league (got married, boom). So I'm not the kind of guy who could put together a large, layered, multi-faceted caper.
And I would never have thought dudes like Ben Stiller, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck and to a much, much lesser extent Michael Pena would get together to pull off a movie heist a la, Danny Ocean, Rusty and crew, but this flick might have some legs, comedic and otherwise. The movie's big boys (Stiller and Murphy) may have cashed out most of the comedic compounding interest built up from early in their respective careers, by either being in everything that comes across his agent's desk (Stiller) or just starring in some very off-putting flicks (Murphy). But that doesn't mean the coffers have completely run dry. These are still two funny dudes, and put in the right flick, the laughs are still there.
Brett Ratner (Rush Hour 3-19%, X-Men: The Last Stand-57%) may not have put together a perfect movie, (some early mixed reviews), but the cast is there, some laughs are there and, in terms of straight up comedy, I think you can do much worse. Is that a compliment? I think it is. The Rotten Watch for Tower Heist is 60%.
Recapping last week:
Which Rotten movie will have the highest final Tomatometer score?
Coming off the end of the competition, the Rotten Watch turned in another strong performance. Check out these predictions:
In Time (Predicted: 35% Actual: 36%)
Puss in Boots (Predicted: 77% Actual: 82%)
The Rum Diary (Predicted: 65% Actual: 50%)
I knew something smelled fishy with the Justin Timberlake vehicle. Dude's still got plenty of talent, but action films might not be in his wheelhouse. That's fine. No one is good at everything. Meanwhile The Rum Diary kept falling and falling throughout the week, finally settling at the halfway point. It was just a bit out of range for me. Overall though, another resume-building week.
Next week, Theseus gets all Greek-y on us and Adam Sandler stars in a movie with himself. It's going to be a Rotten Week!
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Beirut, Washington at Loggerheads over Hizbollah
Officials said that the marathon talks between the Lebanese and American diplomats ended Wednesday on a collision course over the dispute of how the two countries view Hizbollah resistance movement.
The Lebanese speaker Nabih Berri and the American ambassador unveiled a clear dispute in how each country viewed Hizbollah and other Arab groups fighting to liberate their land from Israeli occupation, said The Daily Star.
In one of the fiercest criticism against US policy in the region, Berri blamed anti-American sentiment on Washington's bias toward Israel and reluctance to rein in the Jewish state, and admitted that his meeting with the US envoy, Vincent Battle, had been "marred by a deep misunderstanding."
According to the Beirut-based paper, Berri insisted that his country would not revoke its request for "cooperation in freezing financial assets" of groups his government deemed as terrorists, and indicated that Washington was not all that satisfied with Lebanon's position.
The US diplomat later headed to Koraytem, where he met Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Political sources said he heard the same view from the prime minister.
Berri said that he had made it clear to the American diplomat that "Lebanon rejected the so-called new terrorist list," in reference to the recent list released by the United States which included 22 organizations which the superpower has demanded that their assets be frozen – Albawaba.com
Top Headlines
- Nasrallah Says Hizbollah Not Afraid of the U.S.; Report: Hizbollah Next on America's List After al-Qaeda
- Hariri and Nasrallah at Loggerheads
- US Harsh on Hizbollah, Lenient on Israel as it Condemns 'Dangerous Escalation' in Mideast Violence
- Hariri Heads to Germany
- Egyptian FM: Cairo Not Bound by US Lists of 'Terrorist Organizations'


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.hack//G.U. Vol. 1// Rebirth - PS2 - Review
Not only did Bandai's .hack series sell generously worldwide despite mediocre reviews, but the amount of cross-promotional merchandise purchased seemed to be just as staggering. It seemed like every diehard .hack fan owned their fare share of DVD's, artbooks, t-shirts, keychains and wallscrolls before the four-part series had ended. This certainly caught the attention of Bandai and their newly formed partner Namco, because what was supposed to be a conclusion now seems more like a beginning.
That's right, much to the delight of fans everywhere; .hack is making a return with its newest installment, .hack//G.U. And much like before, .hack//G.U. will unfold over several different games, three to be exact, with Rebirth leading the way. Thankfully, the name isn't the only thing that has seen a change, because from top to bottom, Rebirth provides more enjoyment in its debut than the previous series managed to do in four games over a period of several years.
With a new series also comes a new protagonist. The dual-bladed Kite is no longer the story's main focus. This time around, players will get the pleasure of experiencing a kid named Haseo in all his angry teenage glory. Haseo is the bad boy of fake virtual online worlds - the kind of player that likes to prey on the weak, a PKK (Player Killer) if you will. His over-confident world soon comes crashing down, and before too long you almost feel sorry for young Haseo.
In his journey to become the absolute best, Haseo attempts to track down the games biggest and strongest character known only as Tri-Edge. This same Tri-Edge managed to send Haseo's close friend, Shino, into a real-life coma after an online confrontation, and Haseo wants to unravel the mystery behind the event and save his beloved friend. Of course, Tri-Edge crushes him when they finally meet, and the result of the battle causes Haseo's character to lose all data, therefore dropping him back down to level 1. Confused and angry, Haseo now makes it his goal to not only save Shino, but to track down the mysterious Tri-Edge as well. He soon figures out, however, that many other things are not what they seem in this new world, which ultimately sends him on a journey of a lifetime.
The previous online universe known as "The World" doesn't make its return this time around either. It and the virtual lives of millions were destroyed in a fire that consumed the servers and the building that housed them. Of course the company behind this, C.C. Corp, has released a newer version called "The World R:2.", and as you might've guessed, it's full of mysterious events that just so happen to affect the real world as well, much like what happened to Shino.
If you are not familiar with how this whole .hack universe works, it is actually pretty interesting to say the least. Instead of playing an actual MMORPG, you take on the role of a kid who likes to play MMORPG's in his free time. This means that you get to control Haseo when he's both online playing the The World R:2., and offline during his everyday regular life. While offline Haseo can perform multiple tasks that many people playing online RPG's would do. Reading and sending e-mails, chatting in forums, and reading about the latest news are everyday occurrences for Haseo, but that's about extensive as it gets. You cannot freely roam Haseo's real-life world or anything, but that is probably for the better.
The way that .hack//G.U. handles the story is actually a big improvement over previous .hack installments. Seeing all the events unfold in both worlds becomes intriguing enough, and you honestly become involved and seriously want to know who is behind all the freakish occurrences. That is something that just didn't happen for me in the previous versions, but unfortunately, more than half of the story was ruined in Rebirth due to horrendous voice acting. It's not that the dialogue sequences are terribly long, or anywhere near the length of games like Xenosaga, but the poor quality makes them feel like an eternity. This became extremely frustrating because you had to constantly resist the urge to skip the cut-scenes in fear of missing important plot points, which is inexcusable for a RPG, at least in my eyes.
The battle system is another area that has seen remarkable improvements. The long-drawn-out fights from before have now been replaced with a system that's much smoother and focuses on real-time, which in comparison ends up feeling like something from Square's earlier efforts. This result is a much quicker, much more exciting battle that really helps take advantage of the game's new special moves and "Rengeki" system.
One of the main reasons for the new system's success is the smaller confines of the fighting areas this time around. Once a fight ensues, a barrier of light surrounds the area and helps keep all party members and enemies within range. One of the biggest problems from previous .hack titles was that select enemies had the tendency to scamper off during battles, which would in turn cause you to chase them endlessly across the map. This grew increasingly frustrating over time, but thankfully, the light barrier helps keep those days far behind us.
These restricted areas also help you string together powerful attacks, which can end up resulting in some deadly combos, and can even sometimes trigger the coveted Rengeki mode I mentioned earlier. During this mode, Haseo can unleash devastating damage on to his enemies, receive after battle bonuses, and even raise the team's morale. Which, if happens, allows the whole party to combine their skills for one gigantic massive attack, which pretty much eliminates any foe's still standing in your way.
Overall, I think
there is little doubt that .hack fans will devour Rebirth as quickly as
the four before it, but I also think it has more than enough charm and upgrades
to attract some RPG fans that might not normally stray into the anime genre.
Despite the sub-par voice acting and recycled visuals,
.hack//G.U. Vol. 1: Rebirth is a much improved
direction for the series, and one that I think anyone looking for an offbeat RPG
will appreciate experiencing.
|Review Scoring Details .hack//G.U. Vol. 1// Rebirth
Gameplay: 7.5
Rebirth doesn't do anything new, or bring anything to the RPG genre that we haven't seen before, but the improvements to the battle system make a world of difference over its predecessors. After while, the frequent tussles do grow a bit tiresome, but not much else irritates.
Graphics: 7.5
Once again, the visual improvements in Rebirth are much improved over the previous series, and really add a ton of value to the game. The drab color palates from "The World" have been replaced with vibrant locations that help make exploring "The World R:2." much easier on the eyes. Many of the characters look generic, but at least the environments and backgrounds are very well designed, and sometimes even beautiful.
Sound: 7.0
The comforting and soothing audio of the soundtrack is unfortunately overshadowed by the often times horrible voice acting. Seriously, your patience will be tested thoroughly, especially during the very long cut-scenes, but at least the rest of the game's sound helps distract you from it.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 8.0
The premise behind the .hack series is very interesting indeed, and the amount of promise shown by Rebirth only enforces the fact that Namco-Bandai plans to increase the quality of the series. Hopefully, in the next two .hack installments we can start to see more of Haseo's real-life world, which would certainly help support the fact that the game is essentially two worlds wrapped in one, which isn't always apparent.
Overall: 7.5
With such a solid base already existing with Rebirth it will be fun to see where Namco-Bandai can take the series, especially at the near-end of the console's lifespan. If they continue to improve the series as they have this time around, the final two installments of .hack//G.U have the potential to really make their mark in the RPG genre.