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We have been so impressed with the creativity of the campaigns Verve Search have produced for us and the coverage it's achieved. Their dedication to quality and results is second to none. And it shows in the results.
Anders Nilsson, Head of PR and Outreach,
Verve Search's bold and innovative approach has proven to be a huge success for us time and time again. They regularly exceeded our expectations not only with their creative campaigns and production but also with their forward thinking. They continue to get links from some of the most high-profile sites in the Nordics and we couldn't be happier with the results!
Anna Stower, SEO Manager
Since we started working with Verve, we've been really impressed with how much they've been able to achieve. We're extremely pleased with the results they've been able to generate and this has made a significant contribution to our bottom line.
Jon Davies, Head of Marketing,
A Contact Lens Company
Alternate Architecture
Client: GoCompare.com
Market: UK
Campaign URL:https://www.gocompare.com/home-insurance/alternate-architecture/
Some of the most iconic landmarks in the world had rejected designs that look a lot different from the recognisable designs we know and love today; can you imagine a giant Elephant in Paris? In Alternate Architecture we took the original designs for a number of iconic buildings and compared them with the sites as we all know and love them today.
GoCompare.com are one of Verve Search's longest standing clients. They increased our budget, asking us to create a campaign for their Home Insurance products that would:
- Achieve top-tier, authoritative, editorially valid links that increase site authority.
- Deliver LinkScore results of over 1000 points.*
- Support and increase brand recognition efforts through coverage, social and print.
We produced content that had the 'comparison factor' which GoCompare.com are famous for and would also appeal to general interest publications. Beautiful designs of famous monuments as they are and as they could have been were designed in house and presented in a clean simple format. Our outreach team would target top-tier journalists with a range of angles and stories that were incredibly successful at peaking the interest of the public.
Achieved top-tier, authoritative, editorially valid links that increase site authority.
LinkScore: 12,372
199 links from some of the largest authority sites including
|Daily Mail
|This Is Money
|USA Today
|Lonely Planet
|Mental Floss
Delivered LinkScore results of over 1000 points.
Supported and increased brand recognition efforts through coverage, social and print.
This campaign peaked the interest of journalists and the general public alike with over 970,000 coverage views and 10,263 social shares, from relevant and highly authoritative social media accounts;


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Yesterday was full of creativity we reset the shop a bit and painted for Rough Luxe coming up. We also put some items on SALE! Be sure to swing by and check out our sale items this week!
We also just add a small children's section for those of you looking for baby gifts. And one my favorite things is vintage art and I just hung a bunch of it yesterday:-)

subset: commoncrawl


text: Michael Steiner 0 Posted February 17, 2019 53 minutes ago, Django said: A fair comparison I think could be Apple (vs Android/PC). A lot of the criticism is similar as well: overpriced, old tech, limited closed system etc.. Haha, I too thought about that comparsion just this morning. Indeed, the critics sound somewhat similar. My main production tools are all from Canon and Apple – I must be a crazy dude for some Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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One hundred years of solitude" by Garcia Marquez revolves around the lives of the Buendias of 100 years. The text also focuses on the city they discovered, Macondo. The text is full of strange happenings where individuals can predict when they are likely to demise. When the book opens, the Melquiades are performing some magics that are very difficult to comprehend. The reason why this text is extraordinary is its ability to surprise. In every character that the reader meets, the unexpected shortly follows.
Marquez takes us through the insomnia that encompasses Macondo. While explaining this, he sticks to his style of writing. He does not describe incidences so much to enable the reader to think. Although there are bizarre incidences of murder, characters haunting, revenge, and war, the text is simple to understand. The reason why the reader might find this text complex is the Buendias way of naming their children. For instance, Aureliano boasts of over 20 sons all named after their fathers who do not feature in the text (Marquez, p 92).
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When we meet with Ursula, she is already a married woman running away with her husband and other citizens through the jungle. She manages to live up to the end of the book with her kids and grandchildren. The one hundred years of solitude are evident in her, given that she even loses her sight. This is why the author is successful in passing his message on solitude.
The generations of Aureliano and Arcadio do not live as their ancestors, and this makes the town to rot. The final destruction of Macondo comes when the entire family of Ursula is eliminated (Marquez, p 210). Finally, another reason why the reader finds it interesting to read the text is that each time one reads the text; it comes as a surprise how much detail one had missed.
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Hong Kong is definitely among the best places to go to and take a vacation. Tourists come and go all-year round. The Tsim Sha Tsui area, within Kowloon Peninsula, is probably where hotels, restaurants, specialty stores, and so on are saturated. Just try looking at the map of the area. With the huge number of hotels about, which should you choose? There are, of course, really big hotels like Shangri-La, The Peninsula, Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, and the likes. However, if you want a cheaper place to stay, you do have lots of options with 3- to 4-star hotels. When my wife and I visited Hong Kong last month, we chose to stay at BP International House.
First and foremost, I would just like to say that this is probably the busiest hotel I have ever stayed in so far. Never have I seen more or less 5 groups of people checking in at a time, and that's from morning 'till afternoon. I did not stay in the reception area the whole day, but while we were there waiting for a room for about 1 hour and while we were passing by the reception area, there were always people checking in. I've never seen a baggage counter filled with lots and lots of traveling bags. So we got immediately curious as to why. Is this hotel really good?
One of the key priorities in choosing a hotel in Hong Kong is its location. BP International House is situated near the Jordan MTR station. It's merely a 5-minute walk away depending on how fast you walk. There are taxis and buses abound as alternative modes of transportation. Here are some of the things you can find near the hotel: local restaurants on the streets in front of the hotel; 7-elevens, which probably are too abundant in Hong Kong. There's probably one on every major street, sometimes two; the high-end Elements mall; Nathan Road, which is very famous for shopping; and Temple Street, Hong Kong's night market. Before I forget, there's a restaurant on the 2nd floor and one just beside the hotel.
The next priority is the price. For a 4-star hotel, BP International House is quite cheap. We had the room with the view of the harbor. The room is a bit small but it's good for 2 persons. The rooms are cleaned every day, unless you tell them not to. Nevertheless, they do a good job of cleaning the room. The bathroom is not big, but adequate for a single person. There's enough supply of soap, shampoo, toothpaste and you'll be provided with disposable toothbrush and comb, the latter, you will get a new one every day for some reason. But then, freebies are always welcome.
The beds are comfortable and you have ample lighting inside the room. There's a 32-inch TV with cable, of course, but there aren't too many channels. Well, you're most likely in Hong Kong to go out and tour the city anyway. There's a small refrigerator, some kitchen utensils, and a water heater. We also panicked when we first went into the room. There were no regular wall sockets to charge our phones/gadgets so we had to get an adapter. Bring one with you or ask for 1 or 2 of them at the reception desk. They'll let you borrow them for free. Just don't forget to return it to them.
The room also has good air-conditioning. We came from the Philippines, thus, we wanted it to be as cold as it could be since it is summer time here. I try to raise the temperature if my wife starts to feel really cold though.
The beds are comfortable. If you got the twin-bed room, just push them together if you'd like. They won't put it back when they clean the room. We also got the harbor view and it was great. Among the issues we had was that our room was at the end of the hallway. Therefore, we had to walk all the way to the elevators, and that's from one end of the building to the other.
This hotel is good, but there are things that they could improve on. First, there's only one set of elevators. On a busy day or during peak tourist season, it'll take a while before you could hop on one. We were at the hotel on a week day, on a regular day, on a day between cold season and summer season, but there were still time when we had to wait for around 3 minutes just to get an elevator.
The hotel's staffs are nice, from the receptionists, the attendants, maintenance and security, as well as the manager. I had one argument with a receptionist regarding our room and I immediately went to the manager for assistance. I understand they're really busy, but we're still their guests just like everybody else.
All-in-all, I would suggest first that you search around for reviews on the internet and see which hotel better suits your needs. As for BP International House, it has a good location, clean rooms, nice staff overall, and fairly priced rooms. The huge number of tourists, and even locals, in the hotel may be a testament to the quality of the hotel. You just have to sometimes bear the long wait times for the elevators. But other than that, BP International House is a good place to stay in for your Hong Kong vacation.


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Rate & Reviews
How would you rate Nexus Brewery?
839 Reviews
839 Reviews
Beer was great service was spot on nice clean place prices where fair but I have gotten better chicken and waffles out of a truckstop heat lamp bar in the south chicken was over cooked and waffle was not cornbread and the crackling ain't no Cajun style and when you say soul food and ain't got no fish and grits you don't know soul food
Well run business! To others who may have had a bad experience and posted a negative comment, all I have to say is if a mistake is made, they DO make it right if you bring it to their attention. I WILL be back and I am happy to be a Nexus Neighbor. Perfect outcomes are better than the individual experiences. Thanks for the great beer, food, service, and having the right attitude. I'll be back many times to come.
Awesome service, and the food was seriously good as well. I had the Cajun Burger, and the sausage actually tasted like the andouille I remember. The battered fries were crispy and delicious, and the IPA I had was really good too. The price is a little bit more than some other breweries and restaurants I go to, but the food was easily a cut above. I'll be back!
This place has seriously gone up a handful of notches since it opened. Experience is evident in the quality of the food and the sourcing/research/crafting of the beer, of which there are often seasonal varieties. I could wish for a veggie burger with the abundance of black beans & quinoa on the menu but that's no trouble - there's definitely vegetarian food and the fried chicken - take your pick, it'll be perfect. Do yourself a f[l]avor and check this place out.
Mike(one of the bartenders) was super friendly and also super helpful. His recommendations were amazing. By far some of the best food and beer i have had in a very long time. The fried chicken breast, mashed potatoes with gravy, and mac cheese were amazing. Definitely will be getting my business again.
This is the place that started the chicken and waffles trend in Albuquerque. I've been going there regularly, though not as often as I would like, since they first opened and they are one of my three favorite breweries in New Mexico. Food has a great southern flavor to it (something we don't get enough of here), the staff has always been the standard-bearer for excellence and courtesy, and the beer could carry it to open several tap rooms alone. Their Scotch ale is my favorite bar none, but they've always had a fantastic stout and other heavy beers. Here's a hint, go during happy hour if you can get in, and order the chicken chicharrones, I promise you won't regret it. The only downside is they do fill up quickly, but that's a testament to how good they are despite how hard it is to find their location...the first time.
I visited on Independence Day weekend in 2014. It is still the Best chicken and waffles I have ever had. Catfish was a nice sized potion, seasoned to perfection. The owner and chef made herself available for compliments and general conversation. Great atmosphere to dine with the family.
2/24/2016 - I ordered the Hot Wings. They were under cooked...a little pink inside. Breading outside was done right, so it means something's not quite right with the wings. Cooked any longer and the breading would have been bad. Plus these were Cajun and they didn't taste very Cajun, they tasted almost like KFC. Don't make hot wings a feature option on your menu if you can get them perfect every time. I just won't order hot wings again. There are a large number of other items on the menu I can't wait to try next time. By the way, the cup of gumbo was amazing. I wanted to lick the small ugly little bowl. The beers were all amazing. Service was great. I'll do another review next time I visit. Hoping for a better main course next time.
I found this place via Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on the Food Network. I did not disappoint. I had the chicken and waffles, it was nothing short of spectacular. I have had chicken in waffles all over the country, this was top notch!! The beer was great, food was great, staff was great. If I lived here I would be here once a week, at least!
Over priced food and beer which sucked. The food was ok. Stop the brewery madness Albuquerque... you suck at making beer Abq ..sick of these abq breweries... face it.. abq sucks at making beer... And no, high alcohol content doesn't constitute good beer.
Love this place. Love the atmosphere. Love the food especially and if i was a drinker I bet i would love the liqueur as well.
Lived in ABQ years ago, but go back once in a while for work. Hands down the best green chile in the city! Food, beer, staff and etc. are awesome and friendly. Highly recommend!
5 star original post: Absolutely love this place! Amazing award winning beer and awesome food! Definitely must go!
Update 9/19/16 downgraded: So sad to see members lost their discount on beers ($1 each) when you use your rewards on the new rewards systems 😔. Since the inception of their original system, you were able to get both discounts especially since you have to spend $100 to get a $10 discount 😩. Not happy about the change at all as frequent guests!
The food is good but the problem is you aren't acknowledged when coming in and there is a sign that says wait to be seated which means you wait around 15 minutes or more until you either leave or get someone's attention. If you are seated it really matters which section because some of the wait staff will happily ignore you even if they have to walk past you to serve the other tables. Maybe they aren't bad servers, just racist. I'm certainly not going back to find out.
This place was great, food was awesome and the service was top notch - our server was very attentive and had an excellent personality. Fried chicken plate, fish and chips, fish tacos were what we ordered and everything was good. The seasonal Kolsh was great, had to have three!
Pretty good place to go and sit down to eat. Beware for phone orders, they tend to be so busy to either get them wrong or they are not even submitted into the system when you get there.
Great gumbo! And fresh beer.
Right off the highway, good spot to grab lunch.
Quick Notes
·Big variety of beers on tap
·Beer served from cask offered
·Special night for Walking Dead for all you zombie lovers
·Decent size interior
·Awkward location
·Beers on average are pretty tasty
Nexus was my first brewery stop in ABQ. It was a nice way to start my beer pilgrimage but I found many more breweries along the way that topped 'em. But regardless, good beers, good food, and good service. I really can't ask for much more.
This was a great find! Food was excellent as well as the beer! Service was great and we had an excellent waitress. Definitely be back!
"Lovely food and good service"
Quick, friendly service and delicious food with lots of choices that I'm sure would have been equally as good.
Absolutely love the food and the wine! Friendly staff and very clean. Definitely one of my favorite places.
Great place to take a date. This brewery has a great polished look compared to other ones in the area. They have a delicious honey wheat and the porter is tasty. The staff is attentive and helpful.
This was an overall amazing experience
• The waiters were extremely kind
• The food was superb, 9.5/10
• The scenery was nice and casual with a tad bit of interest thrown in
● I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, There Was no wait time...at all (This was especially suprising on a count of the fact that it was super busy...), I never felt not once...that I was waiting...the waiters constantly checked around...the food was out in little to no time...I constantly felt like I was getting top of the line service
• I've been to plenty of restaurants...but this is one of the few places I was more than happy to spend 60$ on one meal...and heck...I'd spend even 80$ if I was more frivolous
• Overall I think this is my #1 place to casually dine...I loved it
I'm coming next week because it was just too good to forget
Very good beer! The food is top notch too. Try the Scottish Ale!
Your face is puzzled as you try to navigate the back roads and alleys but it all makes sense one you park your car and walk inside. Nexus has a fantastic atmosphere that envelopes great local brews and amazing food. The staff is super helpful and you can't help but walk away knowing that you'll be back. Like everything, the first time is the hardest but once you know how to get there, you'll definitely be coming back.
The beer was pretty good and the food was really good. The pulled pork red chili sandwich was awesome! Their fried fish was also amazing. But the wait to get a table was almost 25 minutes.
The place is a little hard to find but a big sign helps. The Scottish brown ale is magnificent and this is the last place I ever expected to find decent gumbo on Fat Tuesday. Three thumbs up since we're so close to Los Alamos
This place is a true gem! The waffles are fluffy on the inside and have a great flavor. The chicken was juicy and well seasoned. I highly recommend!
This place both surprises and delights. I have drank at craft breweries that have great beer (Locavore in Littleton CO). I have ate at craft breweries that have great food (Mud Shark in Lake Havasu AZ). But Nexus has figured how to provide both great beer and superb food. And, the service is prompt and friendly. A well thought out and executed establishment.
Awesome beer, great atmosphere, delicious food and really great bartenders. Very attentive without being overbearing. Great place to stop by for certain.
Great nachos, good beer, and a ok atmosphere. Good friendly service who make u feel welcomed. A great little spot to walk too when u take ur car/truck to Discount Tire on the corner of I-25 and Montgomery.
Good micro brew selection. The honey chamomile wheat is like something I've never tasted before, which made this trip worth doing. Only complaint is location. My GPS took me next door, then parking lot was completely full. Otherwise excellent
This was the first brewery we visited when we moved here 5 years ago. It's still our favorite place to go. Great beer and food, service is top notch.
Thursday 6pm. No wait. Hostess very friendly. Table we had was broken and wobbly. Not where you can just put a folded piece of paper and fix it, no, seriously broken. Staff aware but still continue to use table and offered no solution for us. Catfish a bit undercooked. Sweet potato fries not great. Hubby ordered salad with special instructions that were not followed. Simply no blue cheese. Ketchup bottle empty. Waiter was nice but forgetful. Beer was good. Place was clean. A year ago the food seemed much better and better priced. Probably won't return, sorry.
Amazing food. If you like spice you will love this place. Best fried chicken I've tasted.
Great Beer. Awesome Service & the soul food is to die for! New VIBE for New Mexico! Loved every moment of it!
Visited Nexus with two friends some time ago; I ordered the fried chicken with waffles. The chicken was not cooked properly: pink and rubbery. They asked if I wanted a new order, but I said no - I lost my appetite by then. Also, the service is bad. Finally, somebody responds some time later, but it's too late. We won't go back.
The food was down home good,seasoned just right, very authentic. The chicken and waffles....DAMN !!! Fried Catfish was the truth and the gumbo was straight out of the New Orleans.The waitress Alex, was on point with suggestions.....and sang a few bars of Amazing Grace and she was just as good as the food. Oh the beer selection was delicious
First of all: the food is great! The menu was unique and had some fun "New Mexico" fare that I didn't even know was a thing. I had the chicken and cornbread waffles. I'm telling you, the chicken was delicious! The breading was perfectly seasoned and flaky, the meat was juicy and tender. My bro in law had the open faced enchiladas and thought they were excellent with lots of chicken and amazing green chilis. Everyone's portions were ginormous- so go easy and maybe plan to share. The beer was also pretty good. I liked the chocolate porter.
While I wouldn't say this place is not kid friendly, they do not have kids menus and drinks are not kid sized or priced. That being said our waiter was very patient and helpful with the kiddos!
Nice atmosphere. Stopped for a beer and a quick bite. The IPA was decent but the catfish bites need some work. They were not of southern standards that I was expecting.
I have the gumbo and my friend had the red beans and rice my other friend had the Fried Chicken and Waffles. Every one of those meals was very very good and the prices were decent they have a cream beer that was really good too. The one problem I did have with it is They don't serve Coles or Dr pepper. They have a cola they make, I did not try it I didn't want to risk being disappointed
Great place to get Southern food and craft brews. I recommend the staple Southern Fried Chicken and Waffle three-piece meal paired with their honey chamomile wheat beer!
My oh my. These guys know how to make amazingly good chicken and waffles. The chicken carries just the right amount of crunch!
Great beer and food. Lifetime membership pays for itself after a few visits. I'm unhappy that the Cajun burger was taken off the menu!
We had a great meal. The food was awesome and very much what Australians think of as American. There are very few vegan options, but a fair bit of vegetarian. The fried pickles were yum. The quinoa salad sounded more vegetable-heavy that it turned out, it's about 80% quinoa.
The beer was excellent and the 5-ounce glasses are good for tasting the different varieties. Service was helpful and pleasant, atmosphere comfortable and noise level moderate. Definitely going back on my next visit to Albuquerque.
Like most places in America that aren't trendy vegetarian venues, if you want vegetables you order them as sides. Then eat 1/3 to 1/2 of each thing you order, and either share, or take away the boxed remains for your next 2-3 meals. It's expensive and quite challenging to eat a balanced diet in America without cooking at home.
Best Nashville hot chicken I've had. So good I tried making it. Had cravings for it and dreams of this dish. Stout beer was also on point.
Truly an OK place, but probably not better than that. The beer would have been great ten years ago, but these days it is just average, and there are better choices locally. The food is actually much better than the beer, which is a shame. The Gumbo was really nice, and my only complaint was that the portion was not larger. As a restaurant this could get a better rating, but as a brewery they stile themselves to be it is just a middle of the road option. Just a note of warning on a brisk November day this place was hot, even unpleasantly so. Turn down the thermostat a bit.
Slow service...waited forever for a table...then, guess what?? SLOW SERVICE. Cool suggestion: hire some servers who want to make fat tips and SERVE the heck out of your paying customers. Nice to see the restaurant on Food Network's 'Triple D"...don't coast...please deliver!
The food is the real star of the show here. Amazing down home selection of southern style cooking at it's finest. The blackened fish tacos and chicken and waffles are my favorites. Sadly, I can only give three stars because they bill themselves as a brewery and their beer just isn't great.
Excellent food and drink. Highly recommend the chicken and waffles or gumbo. Loren, my server, was excellent this last time even though I barely stopped in for 20 minutes for a quick bowl of gumbo. Thanks for everything!
Superb food. Slow kitchen though. Food and beers sealed the deal though. Gumbo if you like spice. Wings too. Hearty and scrumptious? Go fried chicken. I had imperial cream ale. Scottish ale too. Both were great. Pretty trendy too.
I love Nexus brewery!!! The food is amazing as is the brew and the people who work here are a pleasure and should offer classes about service and hospitality. Try anything and everything-the fried chicken and greens make my heart sing; the brews make my sensibilities soar.
We had lunch at Nexus Brewery today and the food was delicious!! My husband had the Southern fried chicken meal and I had the fish tacos. They were both so yummy!! Our waitress was Erin and she was great! Try it out! You won't be disappointed.
Amazing Hot NM fried chicken. I ain't gonna lie that chicken is spicy. So if you like heat or if you don't the food is amazing. Plus the beer selections are top notch. Great atmosphere. We'll be back.
The good thing about having your tires changed at Discount Tires is that you discover a new taproom behind the corner.
Still had to drive so could not try the beers but the food is good and the service is fast and friendly.
To my surprise all prices include tax. Finally a place where you know upfront what your bill will be. More stores, restaurants and breweries should follow this great example...
Delicious food and beer. Took a while to get seated and to get out food, but it was amazing. We had the spicy chicken, a few beers, and we decided for a dessert of the biscuit things with bread pudding. Everything was spectacular. Server was very kind as well. We will be going back soon!
The beer is good and the food is outfreakingstanding! I had an IPA and the hot chicken. The staff was a little behind tonight because it was packed. However, I am willing to look past the delayed service for great quality beer and food. If your in the mood for a good beer and some damn good food, Nexus is always a solid choice.
Talk about fast service and great menu. Lunch is reasonable. ..staff is super friendly. ..they actually like working here. Lady sat in wooden chair, said it was hard and waiter brought her a pad to sit on!!! Impressive that he listened and cared!!!!
I've been dying to try this place for at least a couple of years, thanks to Food Network. Boy, oh boy! I wasn't let down. I had the delightful pleasure of having the fried pickles, a bite of Mac and cheese, a bite of the NM spicy chicken sandwich and the beloved chicken and waffles. My tastebuds were enamored from Nexus, the host and waitresses were kind and I enjoyed every bite. I didn't really care for the bbq sauce. I will definitely be back!
Perfect sized brewery a little hidden off I-25 easily accessible via the frontage road heading north. Popular for their chicken & waffles which would be even better if they had real maple syrup to douse them in. Delicious new mexican inspired soul food and elevated bar food to go with their own amazing beers. I enjoy both the Honey Chamomile Wheat and the Chocolate Porter, but have not ventured past those to try the others yet. The parking can be a struggle at times, but usually is not a problem. Nice little additional dining area separate from the main area works great for more privacy for a casual dinner meeting and the patio is perfect to be able to enjoy the outdoors when the weather entices you to.
I've never taken time to write a review of a restaurant but this place deserves my time. This is some of the best food I have ever eaten! Flavorful and unique! The fried chicken dishes were spicy and properly cooked. Red bean and rice...outstanding. My only regret is that we do not live in Albuquerque so I could eat here more! And a special shout out to our OUTSTANDING server, Ashley who was well-trained, knowledgeable, and very attentive. She made recommendations that were spot on for what we all wanted! Also, a special thanks to our bartender, Sophia who knew her products and served up some of the best custom brews I've had, which were well-paired with the food. Go out of your way to eat here!!
Please note that Nexus Brewery is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant. I went today with my dog and was asked if he was a service dog. The person who I assume is the manager proceeded to ask me for documentation, which is a violation of the act. I told her that she was not allowed to ask me that and she did not say anything for about 30 seconds. She then offered me a table outside in the 100 degree heat.
What this woman did was not complaint with ADA and discriminatory. My dog was not wearing a vest, but service dogs are not mandated to wear their vests. Similarly, handlers are not mandated to present documentation if they do not want to.
The manager came outside while I was standing with a friend trying to decide on a different brewery to visit. She once again told me she would "gladly" offer me a seat outside and I declined. I am not going to support a business that violates the rights of people with disabilities. We ended up going to La Cumbre and we walked in without being interrogated.
So if you have a service dog and they do not look official enough, prepare to be asked for documentation and to have your rights violated.
I enjoyed our meal, my three year old daughter did as well, but not my wife. Lol
We just ordered the chicken and waffles with a side of fries. Everything was cooked well and tasted good to me. Our server Nick, was attentive and did a great job. Food just didn't work out for my wife.
Nexus is always been one of my favorite places in the world to go! The service is always top of the line, the beer is amazing and the food is great!! they make the most amazing Chicken and Waffles! Honestly, it's the best fried chicken in the state of New Mexico. My biggest dilemma is ordering between the chicken and waffles and the enchiladas. Both are very large servings that will definitely fill you up. I think they make some of the best enchiladas in the state too. I highly recommend Nexus to anyone who wants a place to have some good beer, some local wines, and food that's much better than your usual bar food. It's outstanding!!
I think it's pretty obvious that this food isn't intended to be healthy and has a heavy southern influence. You should know that going in. With that in mind, I had a glorious bacon infused burger with a red chile based sauce and it was amazing! It was dripping with grease and flavor and I enjoyed every bite of it. I also tried the chicken fried steak and it was godly! The fries here were exceptional. They were not over salted so you can still taste the potato quality and they were also fried perfectly so that they had a great crunchiness on the outside while being soft in the middle. The beers I tried were good quality too. Lots of flavor, good amount of carbonation. I look forward to going back to Nexus.
Nexus was a recommendation given to me by a couple in Santa Fe. I do not regret going there. The food was delicious and the service was great. My family and I did not wait too long and is was a very mellow, yet busy, establishment. I highly recommend getting the cherry-peach cobbler for a dessert. I don't eat desserts often, but that was damn good.
Great beer and great food. We had a private party there tonight and they were so gracious and the food was perfect. The servers were wonderful and friendly the entire time. Thank you guys. We'll be back!
My friend said they had the BEST gumbo
Now we have both been to NO and I've had some really fine gumbo. I said "Sure, sure". We'll, they have dam fine gumbo. The beers are really good, the service was excellent and the venue is really comfortable. I'm going back-frequently. Prices are $$.
The best food at a Brewery in the city. No doubt. Plus the best membership program. Pay once, you're in for life. Plus the staff is all always dope, the crowd is chill, and the beer is way more than decent.
Great beer and great food! I had an Imperial Cream Ale and a Scottish Ale to drink and both were outstanding. We split an order of fried catfish for an appetizer. There was malt vinegar and two types of hot sauce in the condiment caddies (thumbs up). I had the chicken and waffles. They were superb. This is REAL fried chicken, not Church's or the Colonel's. I highly recommend this brewery.
Great soul food, great service, good craft beer. Can't beat the fried chicken, my favorite. Collard greens best ever. A regular place that we will continue to frequent. They are consistently good.
I love this place. You can sample the beer. Great beer too. The chicken chicharrones are awesome. My daughter loves the chicken and waffles. Pic of Scottish ale.
This place has amazing food, if you haven't been here you need to, it won't disappoint.
Great job Wendy Jenkins, your crew is amazing and the hot chicken (wings) are the best I have every eaten.....
Oh my. The beer is extraordinarily good. I am a fan of a good red ale. This may be the best Red ale I've ever tasted. Better than Deschutes, better than Karl Strauss, Nexus Red 2.0 is wow. Just wow good.
The New Mexico Hit Chicken is legit. Like it's cousin in Nash Vegas, it's not the first few bites that start the sweat rolling down your brow. It's the last few that tear you up. Again, so good. It's served with the white bread and pickles to make sure you forget about that other hot chicken.
Great, prompt and friendly service with good prices to boot! I am looking forward to my next visit. Nexus Brewery is New Mexico's best kept secret.
What a unique microbrewery! Loved the food as well.
Not sure exactly which beer is my favorite, but the Imperial Cream was definitely up there.
Being from the South, I loved the Soul Food offerings. That may make me a bit biased, but who isn't?
If you are in town or are looking for a great spot to have a brew, I highly recommend it.
Always love any food we get here. Service is always wonderful and we cannot get enough of this food. Love this place. We come once a month at least
Their food is top freaking notch & their local brews are quality, in my opinion. I always get the chicken & waffles: 1 large, quartered Belgian waffle topped with 4 pieces of perfectly fried, crispy, juicy chicken, served with probably half a cup of syrup. They have other options too, which I have heard are all very good. I also have had their chocolate ale; basically coffee flavored beer. It's good stuff. Stop reading & GO.
What can I say. This place is awesome. Food was spectacular. Service was top notch. Biggest pieces of chicken I have ever seen. A special treat for the discerning soul food loving Star Trek fan.
Delicious food, I got the absurdly hot chicken and it was one of the spiciest things I've eaten in a restaurant ever (and I pretty regularly eat extremely spicy food). That's a good thing, I absolutely loved the food! My only issue was that I was in a group of about 15 but even though we called twice to confirm that we wouldn't need reservations and were assured both times that we would be fine, we ended up waiting almost two hours for a table because they apparently weren't prepared for a party of our size. Good food though!
The spicy chicken is super hot but delicious. It is a New Mexico twist on the spicy chicken recipe and it does not let you down. Have one of their great beers to tackle the heat. Their atmosphere is modern and has one of those dimly lit tavern vibes.
It did not take the full 25 minutes for our chicken to arrive. It was hot and delicious. The sample of beer I tried was good but when I ordered it. It was double type still great just not what I thought I was getting. Service was good except for the greeting at the entrance. It said wait to be seated, then we were ignored
We will go back,there were just a few glitches.
We had cornbread waffles and collard greens because you would be nuts to miss out on either whenever you visit. The spicy fried chicken was a new thrill and now another mandate. Beer is fast catching up to the food if the fine scotch ales were representative.
The food and beer were awesome! I had the gumbo and my daughter had chicken and waffles, both were great. The bartender answered our questions with good advice on the food. Will be back again.
Amazing food and some amazing beers.
The nachos are amazing, the chicken and waffles are very flavorful.
The service is great,very busy during the dinner and lunch of hours.
if solo, hang at their bar and order. small but well worth the wait if you're in Albuquerque.
Consistently great food, service is usually good esp. considering how busy it can get. I appreciate whoever is cycling the menu periodically but is still keeping a high level of quality to the dishes. 10/10 the best fried chicken I have ever had in my life too. The batter is always super crispy and the meat is punitively hot. Keep up the great work!
Today I give it a 4 food was not as on point as usual. Overall Nexus almost never disappoints. You can not go wrong with any choice on the menu it has a great soul-New Mex flare that is unique and comforts my soul.
The chicken cracklings appetizer is the best appetizer I've ever had with zero competition. Try it with the creamy blue cheese dressing!!! The chicken and waffles were Georgia quality with a Cajun spin from succulent cornbread waffles!! Get the cornbread waffles, just do it! and the New Mexico hot chicken wings were some of the most unique and spicy wings I've had in ages, absolute 10/10 on all fronts, winner winner winner. Burger with TRIPLE AMERICAN CHEESE, fully melted, WILD!
Food is unbelievably delicious!! Asked for well done sweet potato fries and they were the best I ever had!! You better be hungry because they aim to please with huge servings. As soon as we sat on the patio with our dog they greeted her with a bowl of water. Service is outstanding!! However, if you order a dish and you want to replace the meat wit rice, you will pay extra.
Very disappointed. Came in on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Ordered a side of mac n cheese with 2 sides of chicken. Also ordered the gumbo which was great. Food arrived and waitress said the chicken would be out in a few minutes. A couple minutes turned into 10 minutes. Waitress came out and said the fryer was too hot and burned the chicken. Was hoping to eat the side of mac n cheese with the chicken. At this point my mac n cheese was cold as I patiently waited for the chicken. 15 minutes later the waitress came out and told us that they were still waiting on the chicken, but that they had taken our chicken off of our tab and then proceeded to ask if I still wanted it. 10 minutes later when I approached management to voice my concerns about the chicken, they stated that they wouldn't charge me for the chicken that I never received, effectively ruining my dining experience with no explanation aside from that it got burnt and then added that a bunch of other people had ordered chicken which meant I couldn't get mine. Really expected more from Nexus and their serving staff and I'm not sure I can continue my patronage there.
Brewery aside, this is the best place for some grub. Do yourself a favor and get the chicken and waffles or fish swai tacos. Their gumbo is amazing as well. We always come here for good food and the imperial ale. what a treat!
The fried catfish was great. I enjoyed the fried pickles and that delicious cheese burger oh my gosh was great. The Imperial cream beer was just as good. Thank you Nexus for the wonderful food and beer. Your waitress name Tammy was an excellent server. I will be back.
Great chicken and waffles and yummy beer!!! My son got the boneless wings and they were perfectly crispy on the outside and hot and juicy on the inside. The waffle was equally fluffy and delicious!
Lively place, cool atmosphere, family friendly. We tried the Cream Ale, Blood Orange Wheat and Honey Chamomile Wheat. All were very light, so this may be a great starting brewery for non-beer drinkers. Imperial had more flavor, but was still pretty light. Food smelled good... Staff was amazing!
Lost my wallet in men's room while enjoying a super NM burger.
Didn't notice. It was found by another customer who turned it in. Great group of customers!Loren locked it up so I could retrieve it next day. Huge relief! Amazing staff and food!
Going back soon
Great staff and service. Yummy beer. I had an IPA and my wife loved the wheat ale and my son loved the cream ale. The waiter made a mistake with the food order and promptly fixed it which happens and appreciated the quick response. Upon arrival it was very busy inside and would have to wait 20-30 mins, but we noticed a table outside and the waiter said we can go ahead sit there.. it was a beautiful night.
Nexus has the best soul food in ABQ. They are my go-to when I have family in town and everyone has been impressed so far. Their chicken and waffles is no joke!! I also loved their fried catfish and mac & cheese! The portions are huge, I always leave with leftovers! They have a solid list of permanent beers, but if you are interested in their rotating beer menu/specials you have to ask. If I could change one thing, I would just ask that they provide a printed out list of the beer specials, or even a chalkboard would work!
Came here on the recommendation of several people for a date night with my wife. We started out with some appetizers and beers, and they were all good. The main courses were chicken and waffles and fish tacos; the portions were huge, and the food was well made and very tasty! Service was a little bit slow, but they were very busy. Overall, it was a great experience, and we will definitely come back again.
Great beer, order the NM hot chicken it was missing the bacon and cheese. Service was lacking. We felt like more bother than a customer. Waffles were very tasty.
Great spot to grab a beer, I did a flight and enjoyed every one. The food smelled excellent, but I didn't get a chance to try any. The bartender was very friendly and knowledgeable on beer and the local area.
Very disappointed recently. I always thought the food was much better than the beer. Now the beer is better. The beer has not improved. The food order was wrong and the chicken was extremely greasy. Never had a bad meal here before this one. Second star for the beer.
Heard all the great things about Nexus Brewery and Restaurant, so wife and I decided to try it. Ordered fried zucchini. Way too much oil was in bottom of basket. Ordered chicken and Belgian waffle. Chicken was overcooked with lots of coating -- coating was swimming in oil. By the time we finished, almost all the chicken coating was left on the plate. Some pieces of the generously sized fried chicken were old and dry. And if that was a Belgian waffle, I would never order another. It was a sorry excuse for a Belgian waffle. The whole time we were there, I never once was able to figure out how this place received such good reviews from others. Our experience was not good, so we won't be going back. Instead, I'll go back to Golden Pride Fried Chicken restaurants for my fried chicken. Much better there, and not swimming in tons of oil.
We have been here many times, finally I remember to take some pics, even my little one loves their fried chicken and waffles. Too bad my tummy takes very little fried stuff, or I would like eat here every week! Tasty! Tasty!! Tasty!!!
One piece of my NM Hot Chicken was raw in the center. It was served on top of white bread, which soaked up a disgusting mix of burnt marrow and bland chili oil. Our flight of beers were all served flat. I am a huge Star Trek fan and was sorry the theme didn't extend into the menu. The service we received by Isaac was great and he did everything he could to make us feel welcome.
Enjoyed dinner tonight.
Fried Catfish Taco with Fries
Chicken and Waffles
Side of extra waffles
Side of Mac and Cheese
The tacos were alright, nothing extraordinary.
The chicken was really good. Crispy, juicy, southern flavors..
The waffles and mac and cheese were good too.
I got the 4-beer sampler. The imperial creamy ale was my favorite. Next time I want to try the wings and burgers.
Gotta Check This Place Out!
The staff was great, very attentive. We had the New Mexico Burger with gumbo, wings, collards and nachos, and a lot of their delicious hot sauce. Burger was cooked just right, gumbo is on point and the wings were bone sucking good! Oh, and the Scottish Ale was on point!
The fried chicken was definitely the highlight of the meal. DH ordered it with dark meat instead of chicken breasts. The batter is crisp and lightly sweet. The gravy was delicious. Collard greens were tender and tasty. I enjoyed the citrus quinoa salad. Good blend of textures and flavors.
Nexus constantly delivers when it comes to comfort food. I've travelled across the country and been lucky enough to have some delicious soul food. Nexus is definitely a place to stop by when you are craving some home style cooking but too lazy to do it yourself (or they just plain do it better than grandma).
The music was great!! The food was alright in my opinion, but the fact that they were only playing Whitney Houston, Prince, and Michael Jackson really made it a great experience for me! Whoever was in charge of playing the music really made the trip for me!
It's been almost a year but I will give it another go today. Hopefully the service will be better and the chicken isn't burnt this time.
I am pleased to say that I will be returning much sooner than before. Everything was great and what my friends had looked amazing. Nachos, fish tacos, chicken and waffles, and the beer was excellent. The service was also great.
Thank you for a much better experience this go round.
Great food. The best chicken you will find. Service is a different story. It's hit or miss on the service. Even just to pay for your food. Waited for 20 minutes for the person to run the card, just kept telling us, "I'll be right back." If the service was better this would have been five stars. That's how bad the service can be. Out of the last 5 times I have been here, I think I've had decent service twice.
Tried this place as it is convenient to the hotel. Not very good. We had wings, fried chicken, and the pork sandwich. The wings were big, but not very flavorful and I'm not too sure they were cooked all the way. Fried chicken, just ok, pork sandwich was just slightly better than good. Our wait person was very good. Beer was good. Most likely will not go back should we be this way again.
We ordered a lot of different items and each of us liked our choice! They were very efficient with ordering over the phone and the pick up was a breeze! The only thing that was disappointing was that it was pretty pricey for what we ordered - but that's not the fault of the establishment. I should've checked further into it. It came out to $81 for fried catfish, 2 hamburgers, nachos, and 2 soft drinks. Again, delicious and enjoyed our food! Would love to see prices on their menu online next time so I can better judge my expenses!
Great food and really hot being a native to Albuquerque I really didn't expect the heat they can definitely out heat the locals. Any one that likes good food and some good heat I dare you not to like this place. It is great for the family
I'm so disappointed with this place ! I can't believe the manager Constance was rude to me when I went to pick up my food! Even asked me if I had paid already when my order was online! What's the point of putting my order to be picked up ASAP if it was going to take an hour when it should of had took at least 20 minutes! Food quality is not the best ! I'm really considering of taking my business somewhere else ! If I'm not going to be getting quality food ! I been a customer for over 3 years but not anymore ! You should reconsider on what kind of manager you hire! I do not recommend this place to anyone !
Damn, the collard greens were OFF THE CHAIN Y'ALL! 6 STARS, NO DOUBT! And to top it off, the Imperial Cream brew was no doubt top 5 best ever! Thanks, y'all! We'll definitely be back, Lord willing.
Amazing food, great beer. Nexus is definitely in the top 3 restaurants to take out of town friends and family. Something for everyone! From crispy yet juicy fried chicken to fish tacos that will change your mind about fish tacos. Seriously good food for comfort or cravings!
We recently went, had the NM burger and NM Hot Chicken, both were excellent. My boyfriend said the burger was one of the best burgers he's ever had, making well worth the $15 (just means it won't be a frequent place for us) and the hot chicken was a very generous portion and the chicken itself had a lot of meat on the bones. Not for the faint of heart in terms of spice, but that's a selling point for me! The regular and sweet potato fries were also tasty. Definitely going to be returning!
Delicious soul food. So many good entrees on the menu it's hard to decide. Award-winning beers. I'm a member of their rewards program, so I get a $10 voucher every 100 dollars I spend there. What a treat!
Chicken and waffles? Check. Collard greens? Check. Nashville hot chicken? Check. Fried catfish? Check. I know it's a brewery, but I don't know who goes here for the beer. They all come here for the food, and it's just nice that you can have a cold beer to go with your hot, hot chicken. My personal favorite is the fried chicken breast with mashed potatoes, sub homemade mac n cheese for the collards.
We love to support local and Nexus never disappoints! The chicken tenders with red Chile bbq and side of honey pecan sauce is Heaven! Mac n cheese, collards are just a few of our fav!
Ordering online was easy, and they gave us a pick up time so that we wouldn't be in contact with a lot of other people. It didn't quite work out that seamlessly because other people kept walking in and not staying 6' away, so we went outside to wait for the growler fills. At least they did have the door open for fresh air. I'd have liked to see the staff wearing masks though.
Food was good, service not so good. Took 20 minutes for someone to take a drink order. We had to go and ask for service. Everything from there on took forever. Ended up cancelling our 2nd round because after another 20 minutes it still hadn't come. Cancelled it and got our check.
Ordering online was easy, and they gave us a pick up time so that we wouldn't be in contact with a lot of other people. It didn't quite work out that seamlessly because other people kept walking in and not staying 6' away, so we went outside to wait for the growler fills. At least they did have the door open for fresh air.
I would've given them 5 stars, but they gave me grief. When I arrived to pick up my food, it wasn't ready. I was told I couldn't wait inside. Coronavirus! I get it. I showed them my car because they told me to wait there and someone would bring it to my car.
I waited and waited. I answered emails. I texted. It rained. It stopped raining. I finally called about 25 minutes later. I waited on hold forever before I was told it was ready and had to go back in to get it. By the time I got home, it was getting cold.
Here's the thing though, those greens and that chicken were life itself!! Oh my GOD!! That food is so good, I'll take the hassle. I'm so going back ANYWAY. They made me so mad, but those greens are SO GOOD. They've got me, for better and for worse. 😁
Jena L.
When you lure a vegetarian to this place and offer her your well known Chicken and Waffles, you have converted her to a Semi Vegetarian for the day! Okay,...read this and 712 more


text:
Danger Lies Ahead!336
- Mark learns a new perspective about the people around him in Lights out at Camp What-a-Nut.
- The King's Quest is an Imagination Station adventure where Mark experiences how God is at work in our world.
- Jack Davis gets tangled up in a dangerous web of intrigue in Danger Lies Ahead.
- Patti's future becomes a difficult lesson in truth and consequences in A Carnival of Secrets.
Product Details
|Focus on the Family
|Publication date:
|Adventures in Odyssey Books Series , #2
|Sales rank:
|Product dimensions:
|5.94(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.94(d)
|Age Range:
|8 - 12 Years
Read an Excerpt
Danger Lies Ahead
By Paul McCusker
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.Copyright © 2006 Paul McCusker
All right reserved.
Chapter OneThe banner "Welcome to Odyssey Municipal Airport!" stretched across the airline gate, ready to greet the passengers on the approaching plane. Mark Prescott leaned across his mother's seat to get a closer look out the window. Although the pane was dotted with raindrops from yet another late August storm, he could see the banner and felt his heart leap at the name "Odyssey."
"Are you glad to be back?" Julie, his mother, asked.
Mark nodded.
Julie rubbed Mark's back. "I was just thinking how nice it is to be home again. Funny, huh?-thinking about Odyssey as home."
Mark understood what she meant. When his parents separated the previous June, Mark was sure nothing worse could ever happen to him. That is, until Julie moved Mark to her grandmother's house in Odyssey, halfway across the country from his father, Richard, and their home in Washington, D.C. Then Mark knew it was the end of the world.
But that was last June.
In the three months since then, he had made new friends, enjoyed Odyssey's gentle charm, and taken part in some exciting adventures (including taking a trip in a time machine and solving a mystery). Slowly, Mark felt less like a stranger and more like a welcome friend. By August, it was as if he'd always been there-and always would be.
Mark and Julie followed the crowd of passengers from the plane to the baggage-claim area. A horn sounded a warning blast, and the conveyor belts loudly whirred to life. Mark stood nearby, grabbing their luggage when it came past. They tossed the cases onto a cart and pushed it to the long-term parking area where Julie had parked the car only a few days before.
Only a few days? It seems longer than that, Mark thought, then said so out loud.
"Did it seem long because you didn't enjoy yourself?" Julie asked as she closed the trunk.
"I guess so," Mark said with a shrug. "It wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be. It's like ... our house wasn't ours anymore."
Julie nodded her head, a lock of her long, brown hair falling across her face. "I understand. Everything looked the same as it did before we left, but it seemed different somehow. Once or twice, I felt like I was a visitor in a museum." She started the car and backed out of the parking space.
"All my old friends were either away on vacation or they didn't want to see me," Mark complained. That bothered him a lot. Somehow it didn't seem fair that they went on with their lives without him being there to give his approval.
Julie paid the parking attendant, wound up her window, and pulled away. "That's the hardest part. When you go away, you think everyone should suddenly stop in their tracks and never do anything important without you. You think you're the only one who can change and make new friends or have new experiences. And when you come back, it's a shock to find out that their lives kept going-just like yours did."
"Yeah, but Mike Adams is hanging around Tom Nelson! They couldn't stand each other before!"
Julie laughed and said, "Just like you never thought you could have a girl as a friend."
His mom was referring to Patti Eldridge, a girl who had become Mark's closest friend in Odyssey during the summer.
"That's different," Mark replied. He stared out the passenger window thoughtfully. "And I thought you and Dad ..." He glanced down at his lap uncomfortably.
Julie finished his sentence: "You thought your dad and I would get back together again. I know."
She was right. The reason they had gone to Washington, D.C. in the first place was so that Mark's mom and dad could iron out their differences. But by the time Richard dropped Mark and Julie off at the airport for their return trip to Odyssey, it was clear that wasn't going to happen.
"I'm sorry, Mark," Julie said. "I really thought your dad and I would work it all out. I thought this trip would be the end of our separation. I know you're disappointed."
"Wars have ended quicker than you to getting back together," Mark said as they drove away from the airport.
Julie smiled wearily in return. "You have to be patient. You may not see the improvements, but they're there."
"Then why aren't we together again?"
"Because we're not ready," she answered. "I won't get back with your father until I'm sure we're ready."
"But that's what you and Dad keep saying!"
"I know. But some things came up in our counseling session that we have to figure out." Julie sighed. "You wouldn't understand."
"What wouldn't I understand?" Mark snapped. "Why do you always think I don't understand?"
Julie glanced at Mark, a pained expression on her face.
"I'm sorry," Mark said. "I didn't mean to be so sharp."
Julie acknowledged the apology with a nod, then reached across the seat to touch Mark's hand. "It's all leading somewhere, Mark. You have to trust us. We've needed this time to mend our wounds."
Mark shot her an ornery look, then said, "Maybe you should buy some Band-Aids."
She pinched him playfully and drove on.
Chapter TwoAt home, Mark hurriedly unpacked his case. He was eager to talk to Patti, to tell her everything that had happened. He smiled at the thought of Patti listening attentively to the disappointment and frustration he felt. He imagined her reaction. She would be sympathetic. She would understand how he felt. In other words, she'll do all the things a friend is supposed to do, Mark thought. She wasn't at all like those uncaring friends he left back in Washington.
But Patti wasn't home. Her mother reminded Mark that she had left to go to Camp What-a-Nut, a summer camp in the mountains. She'd been gone a week.
"On no," Mark whispered. He had forgotten all about it. What was he going to do for a whole week?
The situation got worse when Mark walked downtown to Whit's End. It was an ice cream parlor and discovery emporium for kids, filled with room after room of displays, inventions, play areas, a library, and workshops. It also boasted having "the largest train set in the county." Mark, like most of the kids in Odyssey, liked going there-not only for the fun, but also because of John Avery Whittaker, the owner. Whit (as he was best known) was a kind, generous, and wise man who used Whit's End as a way to help kids. Sometimes it was enough for kids to simply have a place to play, but Whit often listened to the kids' problems and offered a word of advice. He'd helped Mark on several occasions.
But Whit wasn't there when Mark arrived. He had gone to camp, too. Tom Riley, Whit's best friend, stood behind the ice cream counter and cheerfully served customers. "Howya doin'?" Tom asked Mark in his gentle drawl.
Mark shrugged and answered, "Okay, I guess. Patti and Whit are gone."
Tom tugged at a loose strap on his overalls and buttoned it up again. "Left for camp while you were in Washington, huh?"
"Yeah," Mark replied, cradling his head in his hands sadly. "I forgot all about it."
"Plenty of other people are still around," Tom observed.
"But not Patti or Whit," Mark complained.
Tom watched Mark thoughtfully for a moment, then snapped his fingers as if he had just thought of a great idea. "Why don't you go to camp?" he asked.
Mark lifted his head. "It's too late ... isn't it?"
"I don't think it's ever too late to go to Camp What-a-Nut. Most years they have plenty of room." Tom leaned close to Mark. "I'm sure Whit would be glad to see you. In fact, he was saying just the other day how different the place seems when you're not around."
Mark's spirits brightened. "He said that about me?"
Mark found it hard to believe considering the tension between them right before Mark left for Washington. Mark had stayed at Whit's house for a couple of days after Julie left. While he was there, he disobeyed Whit by sneaking into a locked room, where he broke a treasured heirloom of Whit's. Mark apologized and Whit forgave him, but it didn't take away from the surprise of Tom's words.
"Yep, that's what he said." Tom nodded and hooked his thumbs in his overalls straps. One of them came loose.
* * *
"Camp what?" Julie asked as she leaned across the kitchen table.
"Not Camp What-Camp What-a-Nut," Mark corrected her.
"That's a silly name," she said.
Mark could argue. He didn't know where the camp got its name and wasn't sure it was important at the moment. "I was thinking that maybe it would be fun to go ... you know, before school starts."
He nearly choked on the word school-and even felt a tightening in his chest at the realization that summer was ending so quickly.
"But I don't know anything about it," Julie said, spreading her arms. "Where is it? How much does it cost to go?"
Mark pushed a brochure that Tom Riley had given him across the table. Julie looked surprised, then picked it up.
"Camp What-a-Nut, nestled next to the beautiful Lake Manitou in the Green Ridge Mountains, offers sound moral teaching combined with recreational facilities and large dormitories for the campers. Archery, canoeing, swimming, softball, horseback riding, and a number of crafts are all just a part of the fun found at Camp What-a-Nut ..." Her voice trailed off as she continued to read to herself.
Mark shook his leg impatiently.
"Hm," she finally said.
Mark looked up expectantly.
"Well ..." she began as she set the brochure on the table again.
Mark stopped pumping his leg.
"If you really want to go, I guess you can."
Mark shouted and hugged her.
Chapter ThreeFrom the porch of Pine Lodge, Camp What-a-Nut's main cabin, Mark watched his mother carefully maneuver her car past the potholes in the dirt road that led away from camp. He waved, but he knew she wouldn't wave back. She wouldn't dare take her hands off the steering wheel for fear of landing in one of the holes.
He leaned forward and rested his arms on the large, brown log that served as the porch's handrail. From this vantage point, Mark could see most of the camp. Several small cabins, built with the same kind of logs, circled the driveway at the center of the camp like a wagon train under Indian attack. Beyond the circle, a carpet of thick grass stretched toward playing fields, a fencedin swimming pool, and a large stable. The green carpet suddenly gave way to a wall of trees that covered the mountain like badly combed hair.
To the left, a large, blue lake twinkled in the sun as if someone had thrown glitter all over it. He longed for a closer look. The air was fresh with the scent of pine. Mark hummed softly with the serenity of it all.
Then a screen door slammed behind him.
"Okay, Matt," Mr. Gunnoe, an assistant director of the camp, said.
"Mark," Mark corrected him.
Mr. Gunnoe adjusted his glasses and looked closely at the registration slip in his hand. "Mark. Right. We went over the rules of the camp while your mother was here, we took care of the medical release, we got your tuition paid in full, your suitcase is right here, and-let's see -we'll put you in Wabana."
"That's the name of the cabin you'll stay in. Follow me."
"Where is everybody?" Mark asked as they walked across the circle and under the flagpole that marked its center. An American flag flapped in the soft breeze with a sound like birds' wings.
"They're at lunch in the cafeteria-over there." Mr. Gunnoe pointed to a long building just off the circle of cabins. Unlike everything else, the building was made of large sheets of metal bolted together. It reminded Mark of an Army boot camp he once saw on television. A large bell in a wooden frame sat in front of the building.
"They ring the bell when it's time to eat," Mr. Gunnoe added. He held open the screen door of Wabana as Mark lugged his suitcase into the dark, cool room. The cabin was filled with bunk beds, lined exactly opposite each other along two walls. Each bed was made, except for one at the very end. On that one, the covers were tossed aside, and clothes were strewn about. It was a startling contrast to the rest of the neatness.
"Disgusting, isn't it?" Mr. Gunnoe said, obviously noticing Mark's gaze. "That's Joe's bed."
Mark frowned and asked, "Joe Devlin?"
"You know him? Too bad for you.Your bed is right next to his."
Mark groaned loudly.
"Sorry, but it's the only one left in this cabin, which is the only one designated for your age group." Mr. Gunnoe pulled a pencil from behind his year and scribbled on a piece of paper.
Mark dropped his suitcase and glanced again at the disheveled bed nearby. He was genuinely surprised that someone like Joe Devlin would come to camp. More than that, he dreaded the idea of being so close to Joe. They had had several arguments since Mark arrived in Odyssey; one even led to a fight. It wasn't Mark's fault, though. Joe Devlin was a bully.
"The kid's a terror," Mr. Gunnoe said. "We've already reprimanded him once. Twice more and he'll be expelled from camp."
"Good," Mark whispered.
Mr. Gunnoe showed Mark where the toilets and showers were, then gave him a sheet of paper with the afternoon's schedule. It gave Mark the option of taking a swimming, archery, or woodworking class. Mark decided he'd try the archery.
Just like Robin Hood, he thought.
* * *
Until Mark saw Patti walk toward him from the cafeteria, he had forgotten that their last conversation ended with her slamming the phone down in his ear. It happened right before Mark went to see his father. He had been staying at Whit's house, and Patti had called him at the wrong time (just as he was about to solve the mystery of Whit's locked attic door). He was rude to her, and she got mad and hung up.
Now he wondered what Patti would say to him-if she spoke to him at all. He stood perfectly still and waited for her to get closer. A tight smile stretched across his lips and froze in place. "Hi, Patti," he squeaked when she was within earshot.
She was dressed in her favorite outfit: faded jeans, T-shirt, and baseball cap. Her right arm was in a cast because of an accident a few weeks before. It was covered with good wishes and signatures. Mark braced himself as she stopped directly in front of him. She tipped the baseball cap away from her forehead. Her eyes burned into his.
"How's it going?" Mark asked.
Patti slugged him in the arm.
"Hey!" he cried out.
"That's for being so mean to me on the phone!" she shouted. "Now apologize!"
"That hurt!" Mark whined.
Patti punched him in the other arm. "Apologize!" she demanded.
"All right, all right, I'm sorry," Mark said. He glanced around quickly to make sure no one had seen them.
"Say you're really sorry," she insisted, raising her fist.
"I'm really sorry," Mark said, then nearly whispered, "Really, really sorry, Patti. I mean it."
Mark was sincere, and Patti knew him well enough to realize it. Her tone softened. "Okay. So, what happened to you?"
Mark wasn't sure if she meant at Whit's house or in Washington. Either way, he didn't think it was the right time to explain. "All kinds of things. I'll tell you later. Do you like camp?"
"Uh huh," she replied. "Did you come up to visit for the day?"
Mark shook his head. "I'm here for the rest of the week."
Mark expected her to be pleased with the news. Instead, she frowned and said, "Oh, really?"
"Yeah. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," she said in a voice that meant something. She screwed her face up as if she was thinking hard about whether to tell Mark what was on her mind.
Perhaps she would have if they haven't been interrupted by a tall, red-headed boy who ran in their direction and called Patti's name. He had a lean, athletic build that was well-displayed beneath his muscle shirts and gym shorts. Though Mark guessed he was only a couple of years older than either him or Patti, his voice had already changed to a deeper, more teenage pitch.
"I've been looking for you," he puffed as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"Hi, David." Patti giggled strangely. "I was just talking to-" Patti stopped, then looked at Mark with wide, surprised eyes. She had clearly forgotten his name.
"I'm Mark," Mark said.
Patti blushed. "Yeah. Mark. And this is David Boyer. He works here. At the camp, I mean. He sets up tables for the meals and teaches some of the classes and ... oh, he does everything."
"Hi," Mark said uneasily. Patti was acting very weird all of a sudden. If Mark didn't know better, he'd swear she was gushing.
"Is this the kid you told me about?" David asked Patti.
Patti cleared her throat and answered, "Well, uh-"
"You shouldn't have acted like that on the phone," David said to Mark. "It wasn't very polite."
Excerpted from Danger Lies Ahead by Paul McCusker Copyright © 2006 by Paul McCusker. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.


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BEIJING • China does not intend to assume the role of a "big brother" but instead seeks to build a shared future with all its neighbours, Premier Li Keqiang said in Beijing yesterday.
He insisted several times that China is still a developing country and has a long way to go in its modernisation drive.
There are no grounds to consider China a superpower, nor does it have any intention of behaving like one, Mr Li said.
"China has a long way to go to realise modernisation. It needs a stable regional and peaceful international environment, and China is committed to safeguarding that environment," he said.
The Premier made the comments while answering questions from Asian editors during a meeting at the Great Hall of the People.
The editors, from 21 Asian media outlets, had gathered in Beijing for the two-day annual board meeting of the Asia News Network (ANN).
The ANN, founded in 1999, is one of the world's largest media alliances. It comprises leading, mostly English-language, news groups with a combined readership of at least 14 million.
Mr Li said that even if China succeeds in its modernisation drive in the coming decades, Beijing will not seek hegemony or bully any other country, however small that nation is in terms of population or land mass.
Just as a person might accidentally bite his lip, it is only natural that neighbours will have differences, the Premier said, but the key was to address such disparities in a calm, diplomatic way.
"I firmly believe that our era is one that needs peace and cooperation," he said.
"The common interests among China and its neighbours are way greater than the disparities, and we can always optimise the common interests and better manage our differences."
Responding to a question on China's relations with Asean, Mr Li said that China has consistently supported the integration process of Asean and the building of the Asean community.
He added that he will attend a summit in Laos in September to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Asean Dialogue.
"We are committed to pursuing the policy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in developing relations with neighbours," he said.
"We would like to expand political trust with Asean members and other Asia countries… and make concerted efforts to build a close community of a shared future in Asia."
Mr Li also took questions on other issues, such as the Korean peninsula, the South China Sea and relations with specific countries.
He said that Asia, as one of the most dynamic regions in the world, has played an increasingly important part in the world's political and economic arenas.
The Premier said he hopes that the Asian news outlets, by following the ANN goal of improving Asian media's coverage of regional affairs, can help create an optimal environment for peace and prosperity in the region and around the world.


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Watch Online – Annie Lennox On Idol Gives Back
Last night Annie Lennox gave the premiere performance of a brand new song called 'Universal Child' during Idol Gives Back. The performance followed footage of a remarkable story about a nine year old girl called Avelile before and after she received treatment. The performance is available to download from iTunes US.
Click here to watch the footage and performance on YouTube


text: Multi-disabled Classes: Students with more than one disability are served in a multi-disabled (MD) classroom. In addition to academic and pre-academic skills, emphasis is placed on gross motor, fine motor, communication, socialization, self-help skills and mobility. Therapeutic equipment and augmentative communication devices are used to help each student achieve his/her maximum potential. All learning is incorporated into the academics: reading, language, math, science and social studies. The academic goals are written based on individualized needs and according to the State of Alabama-Course of Study- Extended Standards for Special Education. There are eight MD classes at Children's Center, one class at Father Purcell Exceptional Children's Center and one at Montgomery Children's Specialty Center. Placement in these classes is determined by a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), considering: 1) age and grade level, 2) cognitive ability, and 3) degree of physical disability and medical fragility.


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John Harrison continues to produce high-quality papers on a variety of wind-turbine-related topics. Amherst Island, where John lives, is slated for a 75-mw project that is now in the planning stages. In an effort to give the financial backers of such a project something to think about, he looked at the economics of the Amherst project and their underlying assumptions – many of which are unrealistic and uncertain. In summary, there are any number of very plausible (even expected) things that can cause the returns from such a project to go negative.
Financial Viability of the Ontario Wind Energy Generating System
To me, the most important new news from this study was the surprising (at least until you start thinking about it) reduction in Capacity Factor of about 2% per year that wind turbines are subject to. This loss of efficiency is normally hidden behind the year-to-year variability of the winds and the consequent variability of the generator output. John normalized the average wind speed and the consequent output (recalling that it is a cubed relationship) and the loss in CF stands out like a sore thumb. Intrigued, I ran the numbers for Denmark and obtained a fairly consistent 1.5% annual loss. And when you are lucky to start at a CF of 28% (as Denmark did here), 2% per year is a bunch. Here is the picture of what I got. The spreadsheet that produced it is available for the asking.
UPDATE – September 11, 2011. John has released a similar report customized for Amherst Island.
UPDATE – January 15, 2012. John updated the Amherst Island version of the report and I've reposted about it. He continues to improve it, to the point where the AI-specific report is has valid cautions applicable to everyone.


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Fidelity Japan Trust PLC's Nicholas Price reviews the current environment for investors in Japanese equities. With globally-exposed sectors particularly hard hit by external headwinds, he discusses the potential for a recovery in selected areas and how this is reflected in his latest high conviction stock picks.
Key points
- Japanese equities have lagged other markets so far this year as macro headwinds have impacted corporate earnings.
- In this regard, there has been a clear divergence between the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, with the former hit particularly hard.
- With valuations at historical lows in certain areas, there are stock picking opportunities for discerning investors willing to take a longer-term view.
Japanese stocks have lagged their global peers so far this year, as uncertainty over US-China trade frictions and the impact on the global economy have clouded the outlook for corporate earnings. While the analyst revision index has already reached its typical bottom and earnings trends should stabilise in the coming quarters, share prices are likely to remain volatile amid a steady stream of geopolitical newsflow.
While not immune to external headwinds, the Japanese economy remains relatively stable and H1 growth rates came in ahead of market expectations. Confidence among Japanese manufacturers has clearly weakened, but sentiment in the non-manufacturing sector is holding up. Employment conditions remain tight and capital expenditure plans are supported by non-cyclical factors such as investment in labour saving technology. The Bank of Japan remains highly accommodative and extensive counter measures will be deployed to mitigate the effects of the October 2019 consumption tax hike.
Manufacturing sectors have been hit hard
Against this macro backdrop, there has been a clear bifurcation in corporate earnings between the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. In most global cyclical industries, company results have been generally worse than analyst estimates - with earnings declining sharply - while on the other hand some non-manufacturing stocks and sectors have posted solid earnings growth. One such example held in the Trust is JustSystems, an under-researched tablet-based learning and business software company that is generating double-digit profit growth as it takes share from paper-based education providers.
Looking ahead, it is possible that we see more manufacturing companies announce downward revisions to full-year guidance at the interim stage, especially if the yen appreciates further, although aggregate earnings should be up year-on-year in the second half of fiscal 2019 given the low hurdle rates.
Semi opportunities
Trade frictions coincided with a downturn in the technology cycle, and we saw, for example, semiconductor stocks falling by 50% relative from the peak in late 2017. As we come out of a negative inventory and supply cycle, earnings should bottom in the next quarter or two, and there are opportunities to buy companies at trough valuations. Notable examples held in the Trust include Tokyo Electron (semiconductor production equipment) and Renesas Electronics (auto-related semiconductors), both of which rank among the top 10 active stock weights.
Meanwhile, the machine tool cycle is in the final phase of the downtrend that started in the second half of 2018, and order levels should bottom out in the coming quarter. As we head into 2020, we should see a clear narrowing in the decline given the low hurdle rate versus a year ago.
The advent of 5G handsets will also create a new content cycle for globally competitive component makers even if the overall economic environment is not accelerating. For example, Fidelity's proprietary research indicates that companies such as Murata Manufacturing, a global leader in capacitors and communication modules that is held in the Trust, are likely to see a c.50% increase in content per unit for 5G smartphones.
With valuations testing historical lows in some parts of the market, there are opportunities to capitalise on disconnects between near term sentiment and midterm fundamentals. I am focusing on companies that can grow consistently across cycles and those that are entering or are on the cusp of a new product cycle. I also continue to search for innovative companies at the pre-IPO stage.
News & Insights - Japan Trust PLC
Finding Japan's future winners
Despite the uncertain global macroeconomic backdrop, Japan continues to off...
Half Yearly Results Announced
The Company has announced its Half Yearly Results for the six months ending...
Annual General Meeting Portfolio Manager Presentation - May 2020
The Portfolio Manager, Nicholas Price, has pre-recorded his 2020 AGM presen...
Important information
The value of investments and the income from them can go down as well as up, so you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. Overseas investments will be affected by movements in currency exchange rates. The Fidelity Japan Trust PLC uses financial derivative instruments for investment purposes, which may expose the funds to a higher degree of risk and can cause investments to experience larger than average price fluctuations. The trust also invests more than other funds in smaller companies, which can carry a higher risk because the share prices may be more volatile than those of larger companies. Reference to specific securities should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell these securities and is included for the purposes of illustration only. This information is not a personal recommendation for any particular investment. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment you should speak to an authorised financial adviser.


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When you say Villeret, you touch the essence of Blancpain. This collection, named after the birthplace of the brand, played an important role in the revival of not only Blancpain itself, but that of the Haute Horlogerie as a whole. This is even more so with the Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel 6656, as the brand has been known especially since its rebirth in 1983 by Jean-Claude Biver and Jacques Piguet, for its calendar watches.
Despite some classic design elements is the Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel 6656 not a watch that dwells on the past. This Blancpain is modernly sized, with a diameter of 40mm. As the bezel is rather slim, it provides the designers with plenty of space on the dial to generously lay out the different functions of the watch. Interesting to note is that the leap year indicator doesn't cover one cycle but two in a single rotation.
As is a tradition with Blancpain, does the moon have a face, and is it flanked by stars as it travels through its window. While Blancpain uses Roman numerals as well as classic leaf-shaped hands, they have restyled them, which makes them look more modern. The central second's hand also aides in that. The Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel 6656 is powered by caliber 5954, which comes with a few unique features. For example, all the correctors to set the perpetual calendar are placed under the lugs, a novelty that Blancpain introduced in 2004. It combines this with the ability to set the calendar at any given time. This is unique as perpetual calendars tend to be quite delicate and cannot be adjusted in the hours before the date jumps. A gold rotor, 72-hour power reserve as well as a silicon hairspring form the finishing touch of the modern heart of this classic complication.
While Blancpain can most certainly accommodate your desire for precious metals, this particular version of the Villeret Quantieme Perpetuel 6656 is crafted from stainless steel. Especially over the last few years has the perception of using this material for esteemed complications such as a perpetual calendar changed. While gold may be nobler, stainless steel has the benefit that it can withstand the challenges of daily wear much better. That is also exactly what you want to do with this Blancpain, wear it every single day, because few perpetual calendars offer such a classic appeal in a modern day package!


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Several polluters have recently filed petitions for certiorari asking the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve an important question about how the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) applies to groundwater. Under the act's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), polluters are required to obtain permits from federal or state officials before they can lawfully discharge pollutants into the nation's surface waters. The specific question the Supreme Court is being asked to address now is whether the NPDES permit requirement applies to pollution injected into groundwater that migrates underground to nearby surface waters.
Judging by the extent of the controversy this question has created in the lower federal courts, it appears very likely that the Supreme Court will grant the petitions for certiorari, meaning that sometime next year the court may well issue a major decision on the scope of the Clean Water Act.
The dispute involves a tricky question of statutory construction. Section 402 of the CWA requires a polluter to obtain "a permit for the discharge of any pollutant." The act defines a discharge of a pollutant as "any addition of any pollutant to navigable waters from any point source." The act defines "navigable waters" to mean "the waters of the United States."
While the term "waters of the United States" has given rise to considerable, continuing controversy, it is clear the term encompasses more than the traditional navigable waters, including some wetlands, but not groundwater. Finally, the term "point source" means "any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance," including but not limited to pipes, ditches, channels, tunnels, conduits, wells and other similar conveyances.
If a pipe from a factory alongside a major river deposits pollution directly into the stream, there is no question there has been a "discharge of a pollutant" subject to the NPDES permitting requirement. But the question is more difficult if the factory disposes of the pollution down a well into the groundwater and the pollution then travels underground to reach some component of "the waters of the United States." Focusing on the source of the pollution, both the pipe and well meet the definition of a "point source," and in both cases the pollution affecting the surface waters literally comes "from" the point source. But has there been an "addition" to the waters of the United States "from" the point source if the pollution only reached jurisdictional surface waters after travelling some distance underground? It is fair to say that reasonable minds can disagree on whether Section 402 permitting applies in this situation.
The two cases in which petitions forcertiorariare pending in the Supreme Court illustrate one way to resolve this debate. In Upstate Forever v. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit addressed whether Kinder Morgan was responsible for an unpermitted discharge in violation of the CWA when one of its underground pipelines ruptured and gasoline seeped through the ground into a nearby waterway. The court ruled that the unpermitted discharge did violate the CWA, reasoning that, under the "plain meaning" of the statute, "a point source is the starting point or cause of a discharge under the CWA, but the starting point need not also convey the discharge directly to navigable waters." (By contrast, the dissenting member of the panel argued that, for there to be an "addition" within the meaning of the CWA, "a point source must introduce the pollutant into navigable waters.") The court did not suggest that every discharge to groundwater would trigger the CWA permitting requirement; however, at a minimum, the court said, the plaintiff would need to show "a direct hydrological connection" between groundwater and waters of the United States.
Similarly, in Hawai'i Wildlife Fund v. County of Maui, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the NPDES permitting requirement applied to a county's disposal of wastewater by injecting it underground because the pollution subsequently emerged in nearby ocean waters. The court rejected the county's position that "the point source itself must convey the pollution directly into the navigable waters," ruling that an "indirect discharge from a point source" suffices for CWA liability to attach. Adopting a slightly different test than the Fourth Circuit, the Ninth Circuit said for the permitting requirement to apply "the pollutants must be fairly traceable from the point source to a navigable water such that the discharge is the functional equivalent of a discharge into the navigable waters."
On the other hand, in two 2018 rulings, Kentucky Waterways Alliance v. Kentucky Utilities Co.and Tennessee Clean Water Network v. Tennessee Valley Authority, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit disagreed with the rulings of the Fourth and Ninth Circuit. Both cases involved operators of coal-fired power plants who deposited coal ash in man-made ponds, from which polluted water flowed underground to nearby streams. The Sixth Circuit rejected the claims that the ponds were subject to CWA permitting, reasoning that "for a point source to discharge into navigable waters, it must dump directly into the navigable waters." The sharp disagreement among the lower courts about how to read the CWA seems like the kind of straightforward split that will likely get the Supreme Court's attention.
If the Supreme Court grants review, broader questions of environmental policy will also be front and center. Advocates of the narrow reading of the CWA emphasize the provision of the act indicating that Congress intended to "protect the primary responsibilities and rights of the States to prevent, reduce, and eliminate pollution, [and] to plan the development and use … of land and water resources." Under this view, the fact that a narrow reading of the statute will leave a major source of water pollution uncontrolled by the CWA is simply a natural and unremarkable result of Congress's intent to preserve a major independent role for the states in addressing (or choosing not to address) certain water quality issues.
Under the opposing view, leaving indirect discharges to surface waters unregulated under the CWA would not only create a gap in the act's coverage but create a perverse incentive for polluters to take advantage of what might be dubbed the "groundwater loophole." As stated by the Fourth Circuit, "if the presence of a short distance of soil and ground water of soil and ground water were enough to defeat a claim, polluters easily could avoid liability under the CWA by ensuring that all discharges pass through soil and groundwater before reaching navigable waters. Such an outcome would greatly undermine the purpose of the Act."
Because the U.S. government is not a party to either the Fourth or Ninth Circuit cases, it is hardly surprising that on Dec. 3, the Supreme Court issued an order inviting the solicitor general to express the views of the United States on whether the court should grant the petitions. Given the Trump administration's general preference for delegating environmental protection responsibilities to the states, it seems likely that the solicitor general will favor granting certiorari, converting the already high likelihood that the court will do so into a virtual certainty.


text: With its clean silhouette and crisp tailoring, this sofa will blend with just about any style of décor. It features a unique design of four elegantly tapered legs in front for added style and stability, which are gracefully complemented by the subtle row of hand-applied accent nails just under the arm cushions. Shown with additional kidney pillow. This item is made to order in the fabric or leather of your choice, crafted by hand in the foothills of North Carolina, using time-tested manufacturing techniques and the finest materials available. Visit a Huntington House retailer to learn how you can make it your own.


text: Can someone please share any experience with putting vinyl coverings (wraps) on fire doors? The code is specific on signage for informational purposes but the concept of vinyl coverings isn't specifically mentioned. Some of our staff sees this as another opportunity for facility informational signage (they want to wrap the whole door) and also for seasonal decorating as well. Thanks for any information the Community can forward.


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It's Time to Take a Fresh Look at MLPs
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Many investors who exited energy-focused master limited partnerships earlier this year as oil prices crashed and MLP prices fell even harder, have struggled with when—and if—to get back in. The sector rebounded sharply off its February lows, but since June, gains have stalled as investors judged the easy money had been made and risks outweighed the opportunity.
It's time to take another look at the sector. MLPs, which yield over 7% on average, are still plenty risky and are not the stable, tax-deferred "toll takers" many investors once thought. But the biggest risks are fading, and, as third-quarter earnings season kicks off, there's potential upside. "The tone has changed," says Marcus McGregor, who runs MLP strategy at Conning. "Investors are more comfortable with energy and are noticing, by the way, interest rates are still low and MLP yields are attractive."
Energy prices are not only higher, but are more stable. Crude is near $51, high enough for many U.S. producers to operate profitably, and rig counts are rising. That should lead to more oil and gas volume that needs to be transported through MLP pipes.
Debt levels are getting under control as many MLPs have already cut dividends, sold off divisions, and scaled back or found partners for new capital projects. Pipeline giant Kinder Morgan (ticker: KMI), not technically an MLP anymore, is a poster child for such moves. The shares slumped ahead of earnings, but rose 5% after it reported third-quarter results last Wednesday that were a bit better than expected. Kinder cut its dividend 75% last year, but investors are now expecting a big hike next year.
MLP valuations relative to other high-yielding sectors are appealing. With a 7.2% yield, the MLP index pays out about 5.5 percentage points more than the 10-year Treasury. The long-term average spread is 3.4 points, indicating that MLPs are inexpensive, says Richard Daskin, a subadvisor for MLPs at Cumberland Advisors. MLPs also yield 2.9 points more than an index of investment-grade triple-B corporate bonds. "This is a reasonably good entry point on a spread basis," says Daskin.
The benchmark Alerian MLP index is still about 20% lower than two years ago. Lower growth is expected since management at most MLPs is more conservative and focused on paying down debt, says McGregor. Plus, the environment has gotten tougher: Witness recent protests at the Dakota Access Pipeline. But that makes existing pipelines more valuable, Daskin says.
WHEN IT COMES to picking individual MLPs, investors need to understand the dynamics of the basin they operate in, the market for fuels they transport, and who their customers are, says Daskin. Distribution coverage, debt levels, and access to capital markets are key to understanding risks.
Active management makes sense, and closed-end MLP funds are especially appealing since many trade at above-average discounts to net asset value, says John Cole Scott of Closed-End Fund Advisors. He suggests clients move some assets from muni funds to MLP funds. Two he likes: Nuveen Energy MLP Total Return (JMF) and ClearBridge Energy MLP Opportunity (EMO), which trade at discounts of 6% and 9%, respectively, and yield 11% and 10%. These funds use leverage, which boosts yields but magnifies price moves.
The MLP sector is vulnerable if oil prices fall or rates rise. Some MLPs still have too much debt. Investors should avoid individual MLPs yielding over 10%, which indicates investors think a distribution cut is coming, says McGregor. "Still, there are a good number of MLPs where we see distributions as relatively safe and valuations are compelling relative to other high-yielding sectors," he says.
Dan Heckman of U.S. Bank Wealth Management suggests investors buy MLPs on dips: "We believe those who buy on down days will be very happy, longer-term."
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