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- Home
- Your Government
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- Planning & Zoning
Planning & Zoning
Planning in the City of Inver Grove Heights is centered on a comprehensive plan and specific zoning and subdivision ordinances that execute the comprehensive plan. The focus of these ordinances is to provide for the orderly development and redevelopment in the city.
The city's planning division is primarily responsible for the review and management of new developments, subdivisions, and redevelopment. The division coordinates the preparation of the comprehensive plan that lays out the long range plans for land use, transportation, parks and open space, housing, sanitary sewer and water, and economic development. The division also provides information and assistance to residents, businesses and developers.
The planning division administers the city's zoning and subdivision ordinances, which govern how property can be used and divided. The division makes recommendations to the Planning Commission and City Council on all land use issues. The division also acts as staff liaison to the Planning Commission, preparing reports and minutes.
If you have questions about zoning, please call the Planning Department at (651) 450-2545.
Comprehensive Plan
In addition to complying with legislative mandates and regional planning requirements, the City of Inver Grove Heights has undertaken this plan to actively plan for its future so that the physical form of the community represents what the community wants to be, rather than a reaction to trends and patterns that result from outside forces.
This plan looks to the future and prescribes a plan and implementation strategy that is intended to provide guidance for decision making for the next 10 to 20 years.
The comprehensive plan includes the following chapters:
Land Use Regulations
The zoning and subdivision codes (Titles 10 and 11) of the Inver Grove Heights City Code is the outline for land use regulation. Included in the zoning chapter are the requirements and restrictions for the use of property, including location, size, height of building, the position of buildings on lots, and the density of development.
The zoning chapter also includes a zoning map that assigns a specific category to each parcel of land within the city. Inver Grove Heights has 16 different zoning districts that range from residential (low-density development) to industrial. The zoning chapter is periodically reviewed and amended to reflect the changing values and goals within the community.


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The kids arrived from Canada on Monday- a day late, but safe and sound. We are all very thankful that the delay only meant an extra night at home, not being stranded in an airport...
We have been keeping very busy with last-minute shopping, cooking, and outings. Today is reserved for tomorrow's preparation and lots of eating!
Yesterday the kids and I went into Denver for the day. We took the light rail in and spent a couple of hours at the 16th Street Mall. None of us had ever been there, and we enjoyed looking around, despite the wet-ish snow that fell persistently all day.
We checked out the shop at the Hard Rock Cafe, had lunch at Einstein's, and browsed (not for long enough) in the Tattered Cover's flagship store.
Then the girls and I headed up to the Buell Theatre to see "Little House on the Prairie- The Musical", starring Melissa Gilbert, while Ben stayed downtown to wander and explore.
The show was FABULOUS! All of us enjoyed it immensely! I even brought my bonnet (yes, I actually own a prairie bonnet! lol) with a Sharpie to get autographs if that was a possibility, but it wasn't. No matter. We all had a great day.
Fortunately, I kept myself pretty organized this year with everything- gifts, menus & cooking, cleaning... so though I have things to do every day, I am keeping the stress (at least the stuff I can control!) to a bare minimum. It was such a treat to be out having a fun day two days before Christmas!
Now Rich is off too, his boys are here, and Becca will arrive sometime today. It is busy and much more crowded than we are used to, but it is very cool to have everyone here together for the holidays.
Merry Christmas everyone!
1 day ago

subset: commoncrawl


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by Liz Stott
The Marion Bermuda Race 2011 sailors and guests joined in a final celebration of a fast and safe race on Saturday, June 25, as His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Gozney, and Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club Commodore Robert Mason, presented three-deep trophies for each of the four classes as well as nineteen fleet, special and regional prizes. The prizes that these sailors took home were well deserved for excellent performance in a race that had a robust start, some dead calm midstream, and finished with wind again.
Over 200 guests arrived at the historic Commissioners House at the Royal Naval Dockyard after a harbour cruise aboard excursion boats, with the prize giving held on the veranda. The house is now one of Bermuda's main museums that tells the story of Bermuda's colorful four hundred year history much of which focuses on sailing... from pirating privateers and tall ships to modern cruising and racing yachts of all kinds and sizes.
The big story of the race is Lilla, a Briand 76 (Skipper Simon DiPietro) who set the Marion Bermuda Race course record with an elapsed time of 68:58:45 and a corrected time of 71:48:26. Previous course record was 72 ½ hours, set in 1989 by Warren Brown's War Baby, a custom 61 S&S design. With a crew of 12 multinational crew members, Lilla enjoyed quite a romp to the onion patch, making 10's and 11's consistently, with top speeds reaching 13.5. De Pietro's Class 'A' entry started the race at 1:30pm EDT from Buzzard's Bay Marion, Massachusetts last Friday and officially crossed the finish line at St David's Head, Bermuda at 11:28am on Monday, June 20.
Two formidable competitors came in behind Lilla, coincidentally, all of the top three boats hailing from the south coast region of Massachusetts (Mattapoisett and Marion). Pescatore, a Hinckley SW 59, skippered by George Tougas, arrived in Bermuda with an elapsed time of 86:50:57 and corrected time of 78:20:17. Margalo, a Baltic 48 DP with skipper Chip Johns arrived with an elapsed time of 87:43:42 and corrected time of 78:46:48.
There were 53 boats registered this year - 50 at the starting line and 42 who finished the race - an increase in all categories from the 2009 race. Of the 50 who started, five retired early out of Buzzards Bay due to fatigue, injury or rigging failure (Alastor, Patchwork, Aries Dream, Truant, Hotspur II). Hotspur II rallied by fixing their rigging issues with a touch and go in Marion, and returning to the course after repairs the very same day to cruise to Bermuda. Lyra, Sparky and Honeymoon retired towards the end of the race, as they weren't making much headway with the very light winds.
Weather-wise, the start of the race was well controlled despite a very blustery and wet day, with winds in the 25 kt range gusting up to the 40s. Boats who legged out early were able to take advantage of cold eddies and the Gulf Stream currents and got on the right side of things.
The slower boats ended up becalmed on two occasions mid-race but were able to catch a break on Wednesday with increased winds speeds in the range of 15 kts SW. The last batch of boats to arrived on Thursday, June 23, and ended up with virtually no wind, thus retiring and motoring inbound.
All of the skippers and crew interviewed exclaimed how welcomed they were in Marion and Bermuda, and throughout the entire preparation process. The competitors all felt accomplished and thrilled to be celebrating in Bermuda with their crew, family and friends. Over half the fleet took home trophies, with a few notable mentions - click here for final Trophy Awards.
Simon DiPietro, skipper of Lilla, took home the lion's share of silver, winning First Place in Class A, the IRC Trophy, the Blue Water Sailing Club Board of Governors Trophy for the first yacht to finish 'Line Honours', the RHADC Past Commodores Trophy for best performance by an electronically navigated yacht, the SAIL Magazine Bermuda Ocean Cruising Yacht Trophy for the best combined performance in consecutive Marion Bermuda and the cruiser division of the Newport Bermuda races and the Founders Trophy, for the monohull yacht with the best overall corrected time.
Chip Johns, skipper of Margalo, also garnered his fair share of the winnings, earning third place in Class A, the Beverly 'Polaris' Trophy for best performance by a celestially navigated yacht, and the Navigators Trophy, presented to Larry Hall of Margalo, the Navigator of the first celestially navigated yacht.
Mark Stevens, skipper of Kiva, a Hinckley 51 CB won the Double-Handed Trophy, with teammate Hank Halsted, for being the first yacht to finish with a crew of two, finishing fourth overall with a corrected time of 81:14:41. Kiva also won the Mini-Class trophy, for the best corrected time of a yacht in a 'mini-class' of three or more yachts - in this case, Hinckley Yachts S'Wester.
The perfect summer evening set the stage for celebrations, with the sun setting and warm breezes wafting during the prize-giving ceremony. Following the prize-giving and photos, sailors, guests and the many volunteers who make this race possible enjoyed a gala banquet in the Keep, the parade ground below the Commissioner's House. The party spirit continued with music and dancing after dinner and a starlight harbour cruise back to the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.


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Man found guilty of stabbing manslaughter of cousin
BREAKING: John Henry Brown, 33, has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of his cousin Caroline Widgell, 28, in Toowoomba in July 2013.
Brown will be sentenced tomorrow morning.
EARLIER: Murder accused John Henry Brown's defence counsel has invited the jury in his murder trial to return a verdict of manslaughter.
Brown, 33, has pleaded not guilty to murder arising from the death of his cousin Caroline Widgell, 28, who was stabbed in the chest at a Seppelt St address in Wilsonton Heights just after 9pm, July 4, 2013.
In his closing address today, defence barrister Robbie Davies told the jury it was not in dispute that his client had caused Ms Widgell's wound.
What was at issue was whether he intended to kill his cousin.
Mr Davies said if there was any rational hypothesis consistent with innocence, the jury must acquit his client of murder.
"What he is guilty of, ladies and gentlemen, is manslaughter," Mr Davies submitted to the jury.
Crown prosecutor Mark Whitbread argued that by the evidence put before the trial John Brown had intended to kill Ms Widgell or at least cause her grievous bodily harm.
Brown had been staying nearby at a Lindemann Crt home of his cousin and had arrived on foot at the Seppelt St residence and went straight to the back yard where Ms Widgell and others were gathered.
After calling her away to the front yard where the pair was alone, he had stabbed her "one quick and sudden blow to the chest", Mr Whitbread said, submitted what other intention had he had but death.
Ms Widgell had turned away and walked back to the house, telling her cousin, "John stabbed me, Cuz".
At the close of the Crown case this morning, Mr Davies made a defence admission that a steak knife found in the front yard soon after the incident had blood on its blade that was DNA matched to Ms Widgell.
Mr Whitbread submitted similar steak knives were found in the kitchen drawer at Lindemann Crt where Brown had been staying, suggesting he had taken the knife to the Seppelt St address, also suggesting intent.
Brown had left the scene after the incident and was found later that night in Wine Drive Park not far away, he said.
When challenged by police, Brown had immediately fallen to his knees and put his hands behind his head, telling police "Just put me in jail", Mr Whitbread submitted.
During a subsequent police interview, Brown had told a detective "I killed my cousin, does that mean anything", he said.
Forensic pathologist Dr Nathan Milne who conducted the autopsy told the court Ms Widgell had a wound 4.3cm left of the middle of the chest which was 16mm in length by 7mm in width.
He estimated the depth of the stabbing wound to be about 7cm between the third and forth rib.
He estimated the degree of force to cause such a wound to be "as little as mild".
The jury will retire to consider a verdict after summing up of the case by Justice Peter Lyons.
EARLIER: A jury charged with determining whether a Wilsonton Heights man murdered his cousin more than three years ago is expected to begin verdict deliberations this afternoon.
The Crown has closed its case against John Henry Brown who has pleaded not guilty to murdering his cousin, Caroline Widgell, in Wilsonton Heights in 2013.
The jury will hear closing addresses from the Crown and Brown's defence counsel which were expected to begin about 11.30am.
The jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict this afternoon.
The trial, before Justice Peter Lyons, began on Monday.


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I am tragically humored by your brilliance, here.
KO had a Special Comment about this that was brilliant
I feel like I can't read any other blogs today. This was the best. The best. Except for maybe your study of the candidates. Tengrain, whatever you took yesterday, keep taking and start sharing! BRAVO!
Day-yum, you are a fecking genius. This is brilliant.
Oh my- feel better my darling Tengrain!
Brilliant. But query: snark? I'm suffering outrage overload, so I can't tell anymore.
Yeah, real brilliant, sky is blue, grass is green, I drop a stone — it falls to the earth.
Lets see, chimp is an f'ing traitor and war criminal on par with Hitler, and has murdered more innocents in 5 years than Hussein did in 30……by 50%. Hmmmmmm…..
Tell us something we don't know? How about getting this on the front page to wake up all the pieces of S— that don't care?
You are in my pantheon of small g gods. Was this column a hidden dig at our preznit??
Oh, and hey, idiot. Do you know what it would take to remove Chimpy from office? The House needs a simple majority (possible) to impeach, and then the Senate needs a vote of TWO-THIRDS OF THE ENIRE SENATE to remove him from office (impossible). Quit whining and blaming Pelosi about impeachment. There's no way in hell that you'll get a single Republican in the Senate to vote to remove Cokehead from office. NEVER. GET OVER IT. IT'S NOT PELOSI'S FAULT.
TENGRAIN REPLIES: no URL and a fake email address? Sorry, pal. This is a forum, but you have to play by the rules.
Oh but we just hate Bush radical left that we are. After all, we're just educated idiots, at least that what the uneducated keep saying.
Awesome Awesome Awesome!!!!
I hope this make wingers heads explode!!!! Nice work tengrain!my brain is swimming…. What will McStagger do next??? And what did I do with that electric knife??
Pingback: Pants on Fire « butner blogspot
Equally humbled and inspired… CM1
Made my day.
If the investigations that would be initiated in an impeachment trial were actually conducted honestly and objectively, it's very likely that evidence of wrongdoings would surface that meet the level of high crimes and misdemeanors. Impeachment should have begun long ago but can be brought against Bush even after he leaves office, if we can't get congress off their sorry asses now. Comic strip is tragically hilarious.
All this means is I have to pick up my game…Darn you, Tengrain.
First rate, Tengrain!
Just to remind you, Tengrain, brilliance and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee at Joe's Diner.
Can I borrow a buck? — rgds, Tengrain


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Art & Romance
Borgo Egnazia is a stylish family owned hotel in the beautiful and unspoiled region of Puglia, and is a truly privileged location to embark on newly married life. Boasting crystal clear waters and an architectural landscape only Italians could have mastered, it is an idyllic Italian romantic escape. Honeymooners can also take private cooking classes, enjoying local Apulian cuisine, or, if you can tear yourself away from the hotel, visit the picturesque Apulian villages, and cycle through 2,000 year old olive groves.
Set in the heart of a 750-acre organic estate in Tuscany, just an hour's drive from Florence and Pisa, Borgo Pignano has a strong focus on sustainability. Buildings have been restored and decorated using environmentally friendly materials, locally sourced stone and eco-paints. Aiming to be self-sufficient, the restaurants and new spa use home-grown produce chosen by the in-house herbalist. Wellness focused activities include horse riding, yoga and Pilates classes, trekking, biking and painting classes with an alumnus from The Royal Drawing School.
A beautiful four-star design hotel, whose public areas, as well as its Fusion Bar & Restaurant, are home to contemporary art exhibitions. Gallery Hotel Art boasts an amazing location just next to the Ponte Vecchio and is within walking distance to the Uffizzi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral and Palazzo Pitti.
An elegant family-owned hotel, the Grand Hotel Excelsior is the ideal place from which to explore the magnificent Amalfi Coast and the famous sights of Herculaneum, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. With fabulous views, exquisite food in Michelin-starred restaurant Terrazza Bosquet, beautiful gardens surrounded by orange trees, it's perfect for families or couples. Learn how to make the perfect pizza, visit Capri, soak up some sun or cool off by the hotel's pool.
This glamorous boutique design hotel revisits the vibrant style and spirit of the 50's and is superbly located in the historical centre. Continental Hotel offers breathtaking views overlooking the River Arno and the Ponte Vecchio and is only a few steps from the Uffizi Gallery, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Pitti and the Cathedral.
Located on the banks of the River Arno in the centre of Florence with unrivalled views of the iconic Ponte Vecchio, it is the most glorious place to stay. Owned by the Ferragamo family, the hotel offers an enchanting 'living experience' with original works of art by Cocteau, Picasso, Bueno and Rosai in its drawing room, 73 generous guest rooms and suites and the award winning Borgo San Jacopo Ristorante, featuring classical Italian dishes by Chef Beatrice Segoni in a contemporary setting designed by Architect Michele Bonan.
Located in the historic heart of Naples, the perfect setting from which to explore the city's treasures. The hotel has 82 rooms and suites and 2 restaurants including Michelin starred rooftop restaurant Il Comandante with views out to Ischia and Capri. Hotel Romeo's outdoor pool is located on the 9th floor with views of Mount Vesuvius. Hotel Romeo is within an hour's drive of 5 listed UNESCO World Heritage Sites and just a 40 minute ferry ride to Amalfi.
Set in a 500-hectare wine estate in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma and with just 33 rooms and suites, L'Andana is a luxury hotel located in a former Medici villa where Grand Duke Leopold and his court resided during the summer season, providing a palatial sense of grandeur and typically-Italian romance. Guests can enjoy relaxed Italian cuisine overlooking the Tuscan countryside at informal restaurant La Villa or sample gourmet at Trattoria Toscana.
Whilst riding his motorcycle in Provence in 1994 Alain Ducasse discovered this home and lovingly converted it into a country inn with just 12 unique and elegant guest-rooms and delicious gourmet food. Surrounded by luscious gardens, olive trees and lavender, and overlooking the charming village of Moustiers Sainte-Marie, this romantic hideaway perfectly reflects the finest ingredients of Provence.
Masseria Cimino is located on the 8th hole of San Domenico Golf, one of the best courses in Italy which stretches along the Adriatic coast. With just 15 rooms, some of which are located in an ancient watchtower and others in the 18th century farmhouse, this romantic hideaway is adjacent to an archaeological site from the ancient city of Egnatia, a reminder of Puglia's rich history.
A boutique 'Masseria' farmhouse located among 60 acres of olive groves, the hotel is set in a historic building dating back to the 14th century used by the Knights of Malta. Family-owned and run, the hotel opened in 1996 as the first luxury 5-star Masseria in the region when Puglia was a little-known destination. Home to two tennis courts and its own 18 hole San Domenico Golf course with views of the Adriatic as well as a Thalassotherapy spa, the hotel is perfect for sports enthusiasts to stay healthy and active on holiday.
Palazzo Manfredi is a rare gem of elegance and hospitality in a unique historical setting, with rooms and a large terrace overlooking the Coliseum, the Imperial Forum and the Domus Aurea. This luxurious property steps back in time into a perfect balance of old and new with exquisitely-appointed rooms and suites masterminded for an elite clientele which appreciates the highest levels of comfort and refinement.
Winner of Condé Nast Traveller's Best Spa 2010 in Europe, Rosa Alpina - owned by the Pizzinini family - is a Dolomite delight just two hours away from Venice. As well as the wonderful Rosa Alpina spa with Sun Hydrator and Muscle Toning treatments, there's a spoiling three-Michelin starred restaurant, St Hubertus, and fantastic downhill and cross-country skiing. The area is renowned for its 130km of slopes in the 'Sella' massif - as well as hiking, biking and rock-climbing in summer.


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Dragon Tales (Tails)Pterosaur as Dragon
Please Support the Research of S8int.com!
Since 2002, Chris Parker has done the majority of the research and writing of articles for s8int.com. If this site has been an encouragement to you, please donate to support Chris's ongoing research. (S8int.com is not incorporated and your donations may not be tax deductable.)


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Recognising 'over' or 'under' are imbalance, if/when/whether we notice that imbalance is of our own creation is where wisdom comes in.
It seems to me, given that Shanti has already expressed their response definitively, that 'if' is an unnecessary accompaniment to an apology.DavidB said:
I apologize if my pictorial reply to Shanti was perceived as potentially divisive or insensitive.
Can I gently ask David, did you really think your response would promote 'openness'? I guess I'm asking for honest reflection on your part - how 'inadvertent' was it really? Sure to take offence takes as much ego as to create it, but it takes two to tango.
It seems you were already more closed than open ... (and no thing wrong with that, just brings a different experience).
It's easy to agree and converse with those with the same ideas - far more self awareness is required to stay open when one is not sure of another's perspective.
...and so you responded at that level of awareness, capacity and/or willingness to stay open.I felt that the discussion with Shanti had become fruitless. I felt that continuing intelligent discussion had unfortunately become unattainable, as any attempt to point out potential errors in perception were met with what I perceived as defensiveness and accusation. I felt that any further attempts to point out potential errors in perception would only result in deepening potential errors, further defensiveness and further accusation.
The only choices that you can employ & express to facilitate peace and oneness or defensiveness, accusation & potential errors, are in your responses DavidDavid said:
In human interaction, we sometimes inadvertently create friction, but of course I'm here to discuss ideas, concepts and experiences in an attempt to create a deeper understanding of all those things mystical, and potentially maybe even helping others deeper their understanding too. My hope is that we can all discuss these things with an openness to learning and discovery and in the process develop a long lasting state of peace and oneness.


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ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Japanese gardens are about inspiring and soothing the soul. And you don't have to be a gardening expert or Zen Buddhist to appreciate all they have to offer — the beauty, the tranquility, even the Zen.
Anderson Japanese Gardens, a 12-acre wonderland of landscaping and design, is regarded as one of the top Japanese gardens in North America, along with ones in Portland, Ore., and Delray Beach, Fla.
Most every day, diverse groups of visitors can be seen strolling through the site: hospice patients, cancer survivors, people practicing yoga and tai chi, brush painting classes, Red Hat women, grief counselors, church congregations holding services and just plain tourists.
Reflecting a design that originated in 12th-century Japan, the gardens contain a large pond, a five-story waterfall, a granite pagoda, curving bridges over boulder-strewn streams, and well-manicured plants and trees leaning toward the water. They attract about 40,000 visitors a year in this city 80 miles northwest of Chicago.
"It's a great space to cast away a lot of the baggage of the modern world and tune back into something more elemental," says curator Tim Gruner.
The gardens were the inspiration of industrialist John Anderson (no relation to the 1980 independent presidential candidate from Rockford with the same name).
During a business trip to Oregon in 1977, Anderson visited the Portland Japanese Garden on a cab driver's recommendation, and was so impressed by its calm and serenity that he decided to create his own version. He invited the garden's highly regarded Japanese landscape architect, Hoichi Kurisu, to Rockford and asked him to design a garden around a swampy pond next to his new hillside house.
Construction began the following year, with Kurisu remaining faithful to the style and methods used in Japan's Kamakura period, for manmade structures as well as the dozens of natural features. An authentic Japanese guesthouse, tea house and gazebo were built by a traditional craftsman using just files, chisels and hammers.
The gardens were opened to the public in 1998 when the Andersons turned them over to a foundation.
John Anderson, 69, recently handed off the chief executive's duties to his son, David, but remains actively involved. Kurisu, too, still visits periodically to provide guidance.
David Anderson, 40, first got to know the gardens as a "pretty cool" place to grow up next to, riding his bike, playing hockey and fishing there. Now his goals are to add a children's garden, carry out a shoreline restoration and overcome patrons' disappointment at the closure of the popular onsite restaurant, which he says had become a distraction.
The gardens are costly to maintain and unprofitable, he says, breaking even only with several hundred thousand dollars in annual contributions from his father.
This landscaping marvel shows no outward sign of financial challenges, however. The site is pristine, and reflects a devotion to daily pruning and upkeep — woe to the renegade pine branch that tries to grow upward rather than outward.
And discoveries await visitors who take the time to examine nooks and crannies: the bamboo "deer chaser" fountain in the woods that periodically makes a knocking sound as it hits a rock; the coin basin; the detailed craftsmanship in the gazebo by the waterfall.
"There's a lot of little detail," says Anderson. "If you fly through, you miss it."
The gardens embody three essential elements of Japanese gardening: the permanence of stone; plants for texture and color; and the soothing, reflective qualities of water. Even the most basic of backyard gardeners can take home ideas on how to use those elements themselves.
With input from curator Gruner, here are some tips to help create the feel of a Japanese garden:
— PRUNE HEAVILY. Pruning keeps plants in proper scale for their space. It also makes your garden more interesting if you can see through to the other side. Prune in a way that creates a sense of mystery — a little added texture and depth.
— LEAN YOUR PLANTS. Lean plants in to a focal point, whether it's a waterfall or your front door. Plants leaning in toward the sidewalk make for an inviting, comforting feeling.
— INCORPORATE WATER FEATURES. The sound of running water creates interest in a garden. It also attracts frogs, dragonflies, and birds bathing and preening.
— USE BIG ROCKS. Go with the biggest rocks you can afford, handle and move. "You don't have to have boulders, they're just really great," says Gruner. You can also use rocks to change the flow if you have a water feature.
— THINK CHARACTER AND COLOR. Restrained use of unusual plants and trees, or those of contrasting color, will enhance a garden. One good option is dwarf white pines, which have great character, few disease problems and grow in small spaces.
— APPLY WHIMSY CAREFULLY. Whimsical features such as wind chimes, stone frogs or humorous sculptures can spice up a garden, but don't overdo it. If the oddities play off nature (no gnomes, please) and are carefully integrated, whimsy can work.
— VISIT MODEL GARDENS. Take a look at some other gardens that "really pop," says Gruner, and adapt the features you think work best.
Anderson Japanese Gardens aim for tranquility
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Japanese gardens are about inspiring and soothing the soul. And you don't have to be a gardening expert or Zen Buddhist to appreciate all they have to offer — the beauty, the tranquility, even the Zen.


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Brewers duo gets chance to face Mo in All-Star Game
Gomez, Segura both ground out against Yankees icon in eighth inning
NEW YORK -- Carlos Gomez actually got a hit off of Mariano Rivera as a rookie in 2007, driving in a run with a bases-loaded infield single in the ninth inning of a Mets-Yankees game in the Bronx. As nervous as he might have been then, it was nothing like the scene he faced Tuesday night in the National League's 3-0 loss to the American League in the All-Star Game at Citi Field.
He wasn't on deck while players stood in both All-Star dugouts and gave Rivera an ovation. That challenge belonged to Gomez's Brewers teammate, Jean Segura, but he was getting ready. The scene, he said, gave him goosebumps.
Gomez knew his spot was due up in the eighth, but he didn't think Rivera would be in the game.
"When I see Mariano, I continued to clap," Gomez said. "Because a guy like that, like a gentleman, like a great person and a fantastic ballplayer and real professional, it's a guy that everywhere you see him, on the field and off the field, you're going to tip your cap. He deserves it, now and when he's retired."
Segura, obviously, had never seen Rivera. This was his one and only chance. He wasn't nervous, he said, but he knew the significance of the moment.
"It feels pretty good because this is his last All-Star Game," Segura said. "This makes you feel great in that situation."
Segura saw four pitches, all cutters, and grounded out to second. Two batters later, as much of the sellout crowd at Citi Field pulled for Rivera to finish out the eighth inning, Gomez came up.
He battled Rivera for six pitches, all of them cutters, and grounded out to short. He couldn't get that upset. The moment was still special.
"It's fun," Gomez admitted. "To have the experience when you know the best closer comes to pitch in the eighth, and you know he's going to retire and be the last hitter and the last out, I'm really happy. It's the best.
"I'd have been really excited if I get a base hit. I got a ground ball, but I'm still happy because Mariano got me out."
Both Gomez and Segura entered the All-Star Game as mid-game replacements. Segura followed National League starter Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop in the sixth inning. Gomez replaced Bryce Harper in right field an inning later.
For Gomez, it was a moment he'd been waiting for. His parents didn't get to see him play at Shea Stadium when he made his Major League debut with the Mets in 2007, but they were able to see him Tuesday.
"To have them mention my name to come here and represent the National League, it's special even if you don't play," Gomez said. "And when the manager told me, 'You're going in to right field,' I was excited like a kid, and I said OK.
"I don't remember the last time I played right field, maybe once for the Mets. Being in right field, everything's closer, so close it's a little weird. But I can play anywhere. If you have in your mind, you're here to enjoy and do your best."
Segura had some memories beyond the Rivera at-bat, including two defensive plays that gave fans at Citi Field a glimpse of what Milwaukee fans have been watching all year. His quick feed to second base helped start a double play on Edwin Encarnacion in the seventh before he started one on his own to double up Torii Hunter in the eighth.
"I didn't have any nerves. I just felt great," Segura said. "It feels pretty good."


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Scott Brown to join Boston law firm Nixon Peabody
Former senator Scott Brown said today he is joining the Boston law firm of Nixon Peabody, where he will focus on matters relating to the financial services industry and commercial real estate.
Brown, who lost his seat to Elizabeth Warren last year, will work out of the firm's Boston office, according to a press release from Nixon Peabody. Though he will be leaning heavily on his Washington contacts to drum up business for the firm, he will not be a lobbyist, according to Nixon Peabody officials.
"During my time in politics, I never hesitated to reach across the aisle to work with members of any political party to secure a preferable outcome,'' Brown said in the press release. "My approach is consistent with the way Nixon Peabody does business and I believe we can be successful together.''
The job allows Brown to begin cashing in on his contacts with the financial services industry, which he helped oversee in the Senate. He received hefty donations from the industry during his race last year against Warren.
Warren often accused of Brown defending the interests of Wall Street, a charged he denied. Notably, he voted for the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul that was opposed by most of the financial services industry, but he then worked behind the scenes to help loosen several key banking regulations.
The firm said Brown has a broad network of contacts and can offer a range of legal services.
"Scott's ability to connect people with opportunities is an excellent fit with Nixon Peabody's culture and strategic priorities,'' said Andrew I. Glincher, the firm's chief executive and managing partner. "Scott's personality and entrepreneurial spirit will build strong relationships.''
Glincher said in an email to his staff that Brown was introduced to the firm by James Vallee, a lawyer in the Boston office who served with Brown in the state legislature.
The Globe reported in February that Brown was looking for jobs at law firms, where he would use his star power to attract clients.
"He would be very marketable to some law firms,'' Martin W. Healy, chief legal counsel for the Massachusetts Bar Association, told the Globe in February. "There is a possibility that a firm would entertain him on a short-term basis, more in a rainmaker kind of a capacity, and may be willing to tolerate his aspiration to seek higher office.''
Brown's hiring at the firm comes several weeks after he signed a contract with Fox News to serve as a regular pundit and commentator. He has not said whether he will seek office again, although some Republicans hope he will run for governor in 2014.
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1. What happens if my flight is cancelled by Rex?
When a Rex flight is cancelled, Rex will search for alternative means to get you to your destination. We will attempt to:
i. offer you a seat on an alternative flight on the same day or another day;
ii. find alternative means of transport (like buses) to bring you to the destination airport;
iii. fly you to the nearest alternative Rex port and you make your way from there.
If you accept alternative transport from us, we would have been considered to have fully discharged our responsibility with regards to your air ticket.
If you refuse the alternatives provided or if no alternatives are provided, then we would refund the remaining unused portions of your itinerary on Rex to your credit card or to your travel agent. You are required to write to us for a refund (see point no. 8 "Contact Us" below).
2. Will I get a refund on my fare if I am given a flight to an alternate destination with Rex due to a delayed or cancelled flight?
No, if you have made a decision to accept an alternate destination, the ticket would be considered as used and there will be no refund.
3. Will Rex provide refreshments in the event of a delay?
In the event of a delay exceeding 90 minutes (excluding uncontrollable delays like those due to weather conditions etc), Rex will provide refreshments or vouchers for refreshments if requested. Do note that due to the limited facilities at some of the regional airports Rex operates to, refreshments/meals may not always be available at those ports.
4. Will I be able to use the Rex Lounge (Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide only) in the event of a lengthy delay?
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You could choose to take the connecting flight(s) at any later time during the validity period of the ticket with no extra charge. However if you decide to cancel the remaining unused sectors, you will be eligible for a full refund of the disrupted portion. Please write in to claim your refund (see point no. 8 "Contact Us" below). This does not apply if the connecting time between the 2 flights, as scheduled, is less than the Minimum Connecting Time. The Minimum Connecting Time is generally set at 45 mins but could be amended from time to time.
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The Conditions of Carriage excludes all compensation for consequential damages arising from disruptions.
7. What does the insurance purchased on the Rex website cover?
Whilst Rex has partnered with Chubb Insurance Australia Limited (Chubb) to offer travel insurance for the convenience of passengers, the insurance itself is a Chubb product. Therefore, any enquiries regarding the insurance need to be directed to Chubb by calling 1800 766 950 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.com .
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Some complain ComicCon's gotten too star-focused and lost soul. These people would doubtless not enjoy the parade of LBD's sported by boldfaces at the 'GPhoria Strikes Back' party hosted by G4 and Lucasfilm. But everyone there was so into it!
Aisha Tyler's vaguely Dune-like tunic contributes a hint of ass-kicking.
Let's hope Chris Hardwick is not required to move his arms at any point tonight.
What do you wear to an event peopled with giant wookies? Like many, Alessandra Torresani opted for an always-safe LBD.
Blair Butler's iteration is a classic sheath.
Alison Haislip's? Strapless.
Actress/Producer Morgan Webb: either boldly asymmetrical or brazening it out!
Actress Jessica Chobot demonstrates the next generation of bandage dress, where it's like instead of a nurse did the wrapping, a kindergartner did.
Ashley Eckstein's outfit worked less well at the AmFar benefit last week.
Felicia Day's getup clearly states: Chewbacca's here. I'm wearing jeans.
Olivia Munn, in tinsel and her element.
[Images via Getty]


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Jay Elwes / December 13, 2016
Aleppo is not the end
Jay Elwes / November 16, 2016
It may be that a general election is the only way ahead for Britain
Jay Elwes / November 9, 2016
Donald Trump has shattered the post-war consensus
Jay Elwes / October 14, 2016
She could well become the fourth PM to be killed off by Europe
Jay Elwes / September 14, 2016
And her weakness is more important than Jeremy Corbyn's
Jay Elwes / August 18, 2016
Find our full September 2016 issue here Britain has had a change of prime minister and a change of government—and now it needs a change of plan. The pre-Brexit targets developed by George Osborne...
Jay Elwes / August 4, 2016
I have had one encounter with the Chinese state—and it left me feeling that our countries will never be true partners
Jay Elwes / July 14, 2016
The European Union referendum delivered a startling result—but not a conclusion. Having voted to leave the EU, Britain faces more questions and uncertainty than it has for a generation and the...
Jay Elwes / June 30, 2016
Lawrence Summers—"There is a better than fifty-fifty chance if a hard Brexit scenario appears"
Jay Elwes / June 24, 2016
"Britain has done something very out of character—it has taken a leap of faith."


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The Killing may not be dead after all.
Showrunner Veena Sud and executive producers Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin are reportedly back in the writers' room hammering out story for a third season, according to Variety.
Is AMC resurrecting The Killing?
The Killing, which was axed after two seasons by AMC in July, could return to the cable network as early as May, though it's still unclear what the show's return would look like. In November, reports surfaced that AMC was trying to work out a deal with Netflix in which the online streaming site would share costs for the third season, with the show airing on AMC first before becoming available on Netflix. Variety reports the deal is still being worked out. AMC declined to comment.
When AMC announced The Killing's cancellation in July, the studio issued a statement saying it would "try to find another home for the show." In August, both Netflix and DirecTV were reportedly in negotiations with Fox Television Studios, which produces The Killing, to pick it up for a third season.
Are you excited The Killing may get a second life?


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Rainham Roads
Roads around the Rainham - old photos of how roads used to look in days gone by
Rainham Secondary School for Girls 1955?812 hitsThis photo was taken in the quad at Rainham Secondary School for Girls in around 1955
Rainham Kent Hopping Hop Picking in the 1930s662 hitsRuby Mudge (in the middle) hopping with her mother and sister Norah (at the left). This must have been taken in the 1930's.
Rainham Brickfields Workers 1900s826 hitsI have attached a photo of some workers at one of the local Brickfields.
Co-op Sports Day Tug of War 1925447 hitsA picture of a Tug of war team at a Co-op Sports day at the Rec. about 1925.
Rainham Bed/Cart Race Photos 1980s2201 hitsPhotos of Rainham Cart Race from 1982 and 1983. They ran from the Cricketers to The Angel – calling in at The Macklands Arms of course. Raising money as they went..
Gillingham Northern Relief Road A289 & Medway Tunnel25452 hitsGillingham Northern Relief Road/Wainscott Bypass Kent and Medway Tunnel Photos for A289 construction
Rainham Spectacular 1972 - Recognise the Faces?6917 hitsThese photos were taken in the mid 1970s at the Rainham Spectacular - do you recognise yourself or anyone else?
Gooding / Mudge Family - Rainham Hop pickers 19263006 hitsRainham hop pickers 1926. Great Grannie Mudge is the lady in the centre. She lived in Solomon Road, next to the school. She was the mother of Hilda Mudge who married Herbert Baden Powell Gooding at St Margaret's Church and lived with the Gooding family in her later years in Solomon Road.
Fred Packham Rainham Haulier - F.Packham Haulage Company1711 hitsMr Fred Packham was a local Rainham haulier running a haulage company in the 1930
Old Photos of Station Road Rainham Kent14310 hitsOld Photos of Station Road Rainham Kent taken over the last 100 years
Rainham Kent Brickfields 1881 - Horace Smith5487 hitsMy great-great grandfather Horace Smith was a timekeeper at a brick field in Rainham. In 1881, aged 20, he lived with his family at 8 Broad Walk, and was described in the census as a "Clerk in Brickfield".
Old Aerial Photos of Rainham from 1930 & 19905471 hitsThese old Aerial Photos of Rainham are from 1930 & 1990 and show the development and changes in the area
Photos of Orchard Street Rainham - Then and Now4778 hitsOrchard Street runs from the A2 and connects with Thames Avenue, Broadview Ave and Arthur Road. These photos show changes in the last 20 years
Miss Rainham 1981 - Kim Unger3721 hitsKim Unger was crowned Miss Rainham in 1981. This photo was taken during the rather wet Rainham Spectacular in 1981 where Kim won the Miss Rainham contest
The Railway Pub Football Team, Station Road Rainham2975 hitsThe Railway Pub, Station Road, Rainham football team pictured on Boxing Day 1971 .Some names in the photo are Peter Foster, John Perrin, Billy Huggins, Maurice Mills, Ron Ward, David Wood, Billy Hales
Photo of Locomotive 73088 BR Standard 4-6-0 at Rainham Station2505 hitsLocomotive No. 73088, one of 12 BR Standard 4-6-0 engines built in the 1950s which from 1955 to 1959 pulled express trains serving the Kent Coast at Rainham station
Edwards Family of Walnut Tree Farm Rainham2991 hitsThe photo shows the Edwards family fruit picking at Walnut Tree Farm, Lower Rainham Road. The 1907 Victoria plum harvest is proudly displayed
Rainham & District Co-op Share Book2818 hitsI wonder how many local residents recognise or had one of these Rainham & District Co-operative Society Ltd Share Books?
Doctor Dennys Drake of Ashe House Rainham Kent2367 hitsI recently received a request for information about the location of Ashe House that was the residence/practice of a Doctor Drake located in Wigmore. This shows how with the help of local directories I've managed to identify the location
Prestige Launderette Rainham 19723673 hitsPhoto of Prestige Launderette Rainham at 35 Station Road taken in about 1972.
Herta's Hairdressers Rainham3106 hitsHerta's Hairdressers Rainham - International Hair Stylists
Rainham Royal Mail Sorting Office3482 hitsUntil the early 2000s the Royal Mail sorting office was in the centre of Rainham opposite the Green Lion pub.
Reads Terrace Orchard Street Rainham2303 hitsMany of the older houses in Rainham and elsewhere were given names for various blocks of houses. One set of houses in Orchard Street Rainham is known as Reads Terrace and is shown as being built in 1887.
Richard Arthur Light (Richard Onyx/Owyn Light) - Mysterious Disappearance in 19191854 hitsRichard Arthur Onyx Owyn Light seems to have been disowned by his family and moved around the country quite a lot. He went missing in 1919 and seems to have married Florence E Quarton and appears again in Nottingham
Aerial Photos of Rainham 20132794 hitsThese photos of Rainham from the air were taken in 2013. Thanks to Den Lyon for providing them
VE Day party for children on Thames Ave Rainham3445 hitsThis photo of the VE Day party for children was taken on Thames Ave, Rainham Kent
Natwest Bank Rainham 1970s3044 hitsThis photo of the Natwest branch in Rainham was taken in around 1972. Incredibly this is one of the few locations that is very little changed since then.
Liptons Supermarket Rainham in 19723883 hitsPhoto of Liptons Rainham 1972
Great Lines Steam Fair 19652388 hitsI spotted this video on YouTube showing a steam fair at Great Lines in around 1965. Quality is variable but might spot someone in it!
Maidstone Road Rainham from the Air 20162720 hitsThis aerial photo of Maidstone Road was taken in 2016 showing the view towards Gillingham.
Beveridges Chemist Shop Rainham2209 hitsBeveridges the chemist shop on the A2 at the top of Holding St
Old Midland Bank, High Street, Rainham Kent4156 hitsMidland Bank was originally located on the A2 opposite Maidstone Road and next to Hidsons car dealership
Little Crown Pub Chatham2088 hitsLittle Crown pub in Chatham High Street which had a sign showing 1892
Betabake Bakery Shop & International Stores in Rainham Kent4078 hitsBetabake bakers was located on the A2 High Street in Rainham, the shop next door was International Stores.
Avenue Nightclub Central Hotel Gillingham9833 hitsThe Avenue Nightclub was formerly the Central Hotel and was located on the corner of Featherby Road on the A2 in Gillingham.
Dennis & Edmonds Family History2919 hitsThe description of James (1840-1924) and Willie (1852-1916) as relatives of the wedding couple, Henry and Elizabeth, led me to consult Kent marriage records available through FreeReg.org.uk. I did not find a marriage between members of the Edmonds and Dennis or Wells families on any date since 1800. However, the source of the photo, Dave Cory Dennis, has now assured me that the bride is his paternal grandmother and that her mother, Elizabeth (1833-1922), shown seated beside the bride, was a sister of William Edmonds (1822-1902).
Medway Snow Photos 1987 (Chatham/Gillingham/Rainham)3727 hitsMedway Snow Photos 1987 (Chatham/Gillingham/Rainham)
The Fredville Oak at Nonington near Dover1797 hitsCover photo of The Fredville Oak at Nonington near Dover. Locally known as "Majesty" this ancient tree is possibly 600 years old.
Old Gas Showroom Rainham Kent - Manor Farm pub5429 hitsOld Gas Showroom Rainham Kent Maidstone Road now Manor Farm pub
The Mulberry Tree Inn on Lower Rainham Road3621 hitsThe Mulberry Tree Inn on Lower Rainham Road
Gillingham Technical High School (GTHS) - Form R4 19822693 hitsGillingham Technical High School (GTHS) (Rainham Mark Grammar School) - Class photo of Form Rutherford R4 1982
Gillingham Technical High School (GTHS) - Form S4 19822484 hitsGillingham Technical High School (GTHS) (Rainham Mark Grammar School) - Class photo of Form Scott S4 1982
Gillingham Technical High School (GTHS) - Form N4 19822081 hitsGillingham Technical High School (GTHS) (Rainham Mark Grammar School) - Form Newton N4 1982
Old Photos of Earl Street Maidstone February 19815220 hitsThese photos of Earl Street Maidstone were taken in February 1981
Photos of Rainham by Hazel Thorn6246 hits
Photos of Rainham in 1970s8501 hits
Sid Callaway- Farmer and Cricket Patron4836 hitsSid Callaway- Farmer and Cricket Patron. Having joined Rainham Cricket Club in 1919 he served the club as a player, president and patron until 1988 when he died. He goes down in history as the longest serving member of the club to date and the most important patron since Richard Wakeley Junior, another farmer who served as captain and patron during the early 1900s.


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Tailored Entertainment exclusively represent the UK's best '90s influenced covers bands for weddings and functions. Our artists play the biggest dance floor fillers from the era, including hits by Fatboy Slim, Will Smith, R Kelly, Spice Girls, Charles & Eddie, Artful Dodger...and many more! For a friendly chat about booking your live music, please call our expert team on 0800 564 2240.
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Hold on tight. Freshman Year are about to take you on an epic joyride through the biggest, most bruising riffs pop-punk has to offer.
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Our bands work regularly in Surrey and can travel comfortably to venues such as Langshot Manor House, Barnet Hill Hotel, The River Bourne Club, Hartsfield Manor, Kingston Lodge, The Georgian Hotel and many more.
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NEW YORK (AP) - The coming Broadway season has something for everyone - a musical by Sting, a magician-filled SUV, the incomparable Hugh Jackman, the equally regal Helen Mirren, a musical set in a funeral parlor and not one, but two Gyllenhaals. Here's a look at some highlights of the 2014-15 season:
NEW YORK (AP) � The coming Broadway season has something for everyone � a musical by Sting, a magician-filled SUV, the incomparable Hugh Jackman, the equally regal Helen Mirren, a musical set in a funeral parlor and not one, but two Gyllenhaals. Here's a look at some highlights of the 2014-15 season:
You want A-listers? Broadway listened. Bradley Cooper, Michael Cera, Hugh Jackman, Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ewan McGregor, Glenn Close, Gretchen Mol, Kristin Chenoweth, Helen Mirren, James Earl Jones, Matthew Broderick, Tavi Gevinson, Nathan Lane, Rose Byrne, Alan Alda, Brian Dennehy, Mia Farrow, Candice Bergen, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Chenoweth, Carol Burnett, Anjelica Huston and Tony Danza.
It wouldn't be a new Broadway season without some revivals: "Side Show" returns for a second time; Tom Stoppard's "The Real Thing" for a third time in October; Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance" for a third time in the fall; "The Elephant Man" for third time starting in November; and the screwball comedy "Noises Off" for a third time next winter.
Producers have dug deep into America's past to pull out four classic tales: The play "You Can't Take It With You," by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, which first debuted in 1936, comes back in September; the 1944 show "On the Town," with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, returns in October; "An American in Paris," an adaptation of the 1951 Gene Kelly film, comes in spring; and another Comden-Green comedy, "On the Twentieth Century," steams into town in February.
Hugh Jackman is coming back this fall in "The River" by Jez Butterworth, but does it really matter what he's doing? For the record, the play, the first since Butterworth's "Jerusalem," is about a trout fisherman in a remote cabin who is visited by two of the women in his life. It's new and moody but Jackman is box-office catnip � his one-man show in 2011 routinely sold out, as did "The Boy From Oz" in 2003 and "A Steady Rain" with Daniel Craig in 2009.
Helen Mirren will be playing British Queen Elizabeth II this spring in "The Audience," which imagines the private weekly meetings between the monarch and 12 prime ministers, while Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe will be romancing each other starting in March in the Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein II musical "The King and I."
Three-time Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown will seek redemption this winter with his musical of "Honeymoon in Vegas." Brown's last show, the lush and romantic "The Bridges of Madison County" closed in May after just 137 performances. Brown's luck on Broadway has been pretty awful, with "Parade," ''Urban Cowboy" and "13" each not lasting long.
Kenneth Lonergan's play "This Is Our Youth" debuted off-Broadway in 1996 and has over the years featured such high-profile actors as Mark Ruffalo, Josh Hamilton, Matt Damon, Colin Hanks, Chris Klein, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anna Paquin. Now it's time for Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin and Tavi Gevinson, all three making their Broadway debuts.
Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick will be together again on Broadway in a revival of Terrence McNally's "It's Only a Play." The duo last appeared together in "The Odd Couple" and famously before that in a little show called "The Producers." In the updated version of "It's Only a Play," Broderick plays an anxious writer, and Lane is stage actor-turned-TV-star best friend.
Seven magicians � including an anti-conjurer, a futurist, an escapologist and an inventor � take the stage for "The Illusionists � Witness the Impossible." They're going to hang upside-down, pull gross things from their throats and use swords in creative ways. Critics might be scared to give them a thumbs-down.
Two shows promise sparks from challenging material: The London import "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," based on an adaptation of Mark Haddon's best-selling novel about a teenager with Asperger's syndrome who tries to find a dog's killer, and "Fun Home," a musical adapted from Alison Bechdel's memoir about growing up in a funeral home with a closeted gay dad.
There's no reason to grow up this season: "Finding Neverland," a musical led by Diane Paulus explores the Peter Pan book's back story and Allison Williams stars as the iconic title character in NBC's Dec. 4 telecast of "Peter Pan Live!" the heavily anticipated follow-up to "The Sound of Music."
Maggie Gyllenhaal will make her Broadway debut starring opposite Ewan McGregor in "The Real Thing" starting in October, while her brother, Jake, will also make his Broadway bow in Nick Payne's play "Constellations" beginning in December. Those who love Gyllenhaals might be able to see both in the same day.
Producers of A.R. Gurney's romantic play "Love Letters" seem to have found a way to get you to see the show over and over: they've stacked it with changing pairs of stars. Brian Dennehy and Mia Farrow start out in September, then Carol Burnett and Dennehy, then Alan Alda and Candice Bergen, then Stacy Keach and Diana Rigg, and finally Anjelica Huston and Martin Sheen.
A polite dinner party spirals out of control in Ayad Akhtar's "Disgraced," which hits Broadway in September having already won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for drama. It will star Hari Dhillon, who played the Muslim-American lawyer at the heart of the play in London. Akhtar, the author of "American Dervish," is one of theater's most vibrant, exciting young writers.
Sting, a 16-time Grammy Award winner and former lead singer of The Police, has written the music for "The Last Ship," with a story by both "Red" playwright John Logan and "Next to Normal" writer Brian Yorkey. The musical is inspired by Sting's memories of growing up in northeast England.
Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy both will come off-Broadway to co-star in Eugene O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music starting in February. And "In the Heights" composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda will premiere a hip-hop retelling of the life and death of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton at The Public Theater in January.
Follow Mark Kennedy on Twitter at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits


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The Winter Palace
A Novel of Catherine the Great
Other Editions of This Title:
Digital Audiobook (1/9/2012)
Paperback (10/23/2012)
Hardcover, Large Print (4/20/2012)
Hardcover (1/1/2012)
Paperback (1/1/2012)
The Wall Street Journal • The Washington Post
From award-winning author Eva Stachniak comes this passionate novel that illuminates, as only fiction can, the early life of one of history's boldest women. The Winter Palace tells the epic story of Catherine the Great's improbable rise to power—as seen through the ever-watchful eyes of an all-but-invisible servant close to the throne.
Her name is Barbara—in Russian, Varvara. Nimble-witted and attentive, she's allowed into the employ of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the world's most eminent court. Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev, Chancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen—and to wait for opportunity. That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the indomitable Catherine the Great. Sophie's destiny at court is to marry the Empress's nephew, but she has other, loftier, more dangerous ambitions, and she proves to be more guileful than she first appears.
What Sophie needs is an insider at court, a loyal pair of eyes and ears who knows the traps, the conspiracies, and the treacheries that surround her. Varvara will become Sophie's confidante—and together the two young women will rise to the pinnacle of absolute power.
With dazzling details and intense drama, Eva Stachniak depicts Varvara's secret alliance with Catherine as the princess grows into a legend—through an enforced marriage, illicit seductions, and, at last, the shocking coup to assume the throne of all of Russia.
Impeccably researched and magnificently written, The Winter Palace is an irresistible peek through the keyhole of one of history's grandest tales.
Praise for The Winter Palace
"A majestic and splendidly written tale of pride, passion, intrigue, and deceit that is brought alive from the first page to the last."—Rosalind Laker
"At the same time baroque and intimate, worldly and domestic, wildly strange and soulfully familiar, The Winter Palace offers a flickering glimpse of history through the gauze of deft entertainment."—The Washington Post
"A thrilling point of view . . . Readers are treated to a firsthand account of the young princess's slow ascent to the throne, a path deliciously strewn with discarded lovers and sanguine court intrigues."—Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"[A] brilliant, bold historical novel . . . This superb biographical epic proves the Tudors don't have a monopoly on marital scandal, royal intrigue, or feminine triumph."—Booklist (starred review)
Praise For The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great…
Advance praise for The Winter Palace
"Stachniak's brilliant, bold historical novel of eighteenth-century Russia is a masterful account of one woman's progress toward absolute monarchical rule. . . . This superb biographical epic proves the Tudors don't have a monopoly on marital scandal, royal intrigue, or feminine triumph."—Booklist (starred review)
"Awash in period details and as gripping and suspenseful as any thriller, The Winter Palace gives us a unique look at the making of a queen. Eva Stachniak allows us to peep through keyholes and overhear whispers as we navigate the intrigues of Imperialist Russia along with Sophie, the princess who became Catherine the Great. I loved this book, and this glimpse into a world of silk and shadows, grandeur and gossip."—Melanie Benjamin, author of The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb
"The Winter Palace is an intensely written, intensely felt saga of the early years that shaped the eighteenth century's famous czarina, Catherine the Great. Her survival in the treachery of the Russian court was an amazing feat, and Eva Stachniak captures the fluidity and steeliness that propelled Catherine from a lowly German duchess to one of the towering figures of the century."—Karleen Koen, New York Times bestselling author of Through a Glass Darkly
"Eva Stachniak has given readers a thrilling glimpse into the scandals and secrets at the heart of the Russian Imperial court. With deft prose and exquisite detail, Stachniak has resurrected one of the most compelling ages in history. Turn off the phones and lock the doors—you will not put it down."—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of Silent in the Grave
"This novel is literary sable to sink into on a cold winter's night: luxurious and elegant, gilded with details, yet piercing in its depiction of the flamboyant decadence of the Russian court, and the tumultuous rise to power of Catherine the Great, as seen through the eyes of a scheming lady in waiting and spy. Once you enter the glorious, dangerous world of The Winter Palace, you will never want to leave."—C.W. Gortner, author of The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
"Utterly enchanting from the first page . . . Eva Stachniak brings to life the sensual feast that was Catherine the Great's Russia in this beautifully written, tightly plotted novel."—Tasha Alexander, author of And Only to Deceive
Bantam, 9780553808124, 464pp.
Publication Date: January 10, 2012


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This expert outdoorsman (who was featured in MOTHER EARTH NEWS issue 65's Profiles column) has spent years perfecting-and teaching others-methods of building safe, snug snow caves and winter shelters in the winter wilderness. (See the snow cave photos and diagram in the image gallery.)
During the winter in the northern Rockies, one can sometimes see a ptarmigan making its home for the night: In full flight, the plump white bird will suddenly dive into a soft drift, hunker down in the resulting depression, and let blowing flakes settle on its feathers to form a protective blanket.
Snow, you see, is one of nature's most practical insulators. The falling flakes, each of which may contain more than a thousand loosely clustered ice crystals, can pile up into a fluffy mass (composed of as much as 90% air) that is virtually—in form and effect—the frozen equivalent of goose down.
Many of nature's creatures, in fact, use the heat-retaining qualities of snow for protection from winter's cold. But we humans, in all of our "wisdom", generally cling to our dependence upon technology . . . even in situations such as winter mountaineering trips, where—for shelter—we most likely sit huddled within the frigid confines of thin ripstop nylon walls. Worse yet, some individuals have actually perished needlessly from "exposure" to snow and cold, when a little knowledge of the resources at hand—and an ability to use those materials—could have saved their lives.
That's why, after many years of laboring as a trapper and guide—and after doing considerable search and rescue work here in the mountains of Colorado—I made a special effort to work out effective methods for building snow caves and winter shelters. It's also why, when I now lead a group on a winter survival cross-country tour, I don't allow my students to bring tents. Instead, I teach them to use their wits, and the crunchy substance beneath their feet, to make overnight homes.
Selecting a Site for a Snow Cave
An ideal spot for a snow cave would be a firm bank or drift that's six feet or more deep. But not everyone who needs winter shelter, of course, will find a place where the precipitation is that substantial . . . and even those who do will sometimes discover—early in the season, especially—that the piled crystals are too loose and powdery to make good caving material.
Fortunately, one of the characteristics of snow is that it tends to compact itself (and harden) once it's been disturbed. So when the cover is too shallow to accommodate a cave, you can build yourself an "artificial" drift in which to burrow: Find a hill that's 10 to 20 feet high and covered with 24 inches or more of snow, and then—with a shovel, your feet, or whatever—push the white matter down the incline to form a large pile at the bottom. With that done, wait 10 to 20 minutes to let the material "set", and then proceed to dig your cave.
Likewise, if you find a site where a drift is sufficiently deep but not firm, you can tromp around the area and poke the powder repeatedly with a stick or your ski poles perhaps also mounding more snow on top and stirring that up a bit—to encourage the mass to harden.
In any case, it's important to remember that if you're in an avalanche-prone area, you need to be very careful about choosing a site. Always check with rangers for snow condition reports before venturing into the wilds . . . and be aware that the lee—windless—sides of mountains are particularly dangerous, and that new snow on the ground increases the danger of a slide.
Construction of Snow Caves
Virtually every book I've read on the subject of snow caving recommends carving a narrow tunnel into a drift or bank, and then hollowing out a larger living area—at the interior end of the shaft—by scooping out the material and transporting it through the burrow to the outside. I've found, however, that the method is very time-consuming . . . and that a digger is likely to get a kink in the back—and snow down the neck—in the process.
Therefore, I've come up with what I believe is a much better technique: First, open a large vertical hole (about four feet on a side, working from "ground" level up) directly into a drift or pile of snow. You can use a lightweight folding shovel—a tool that I think all winter back-country enthusiasts should carry—or, in a pinch, some kind of make-do implement . . . such as a snowshoe, ski, or flat stick.
When the "doorway" is done, go on to excavate your living quarters by digging out a rounded, dome-shaped area (a flat roof will sag and collapse) that's somewhat wider and higher than the entrance itself. The exact dimensions of your abode will, of course, be up to you . . . and will depend upon the number of people you intend to house. Given the right snow conditions, you can construct caves large enough for six or more individuals . . . but a smaller shelter—such as the two—person model shown in Figs. 1 and 2—takes less time to build, tends to be more stable, and is a more appropriate project for beginners.
Once you've hollowed out the cubicle, take some of the loosened snow and pack it up to form a sleeping bench (or two or three) that's 20 inches or more high, a bit wider than a sleeping bag, and as long as its occupant-to-be is tall. If you're building a one-person shelter, you can dig a fairly shallow chamber and position the single platform parallel to the opening. If you're making a two-person grotto like the one in the accompanying illustrations, you'll need to excavate a deeper cavity and place a bed on each side of the doorway.
After you've finished contouring each bench to your satisfaction, lay a thick "mattress" of insulating material-spruce or fir boughs, dry grass, or a backpacking pad on top, and cover that with your sleeping bag. Be careful not to put any substantial weight on the bench just yet, however . . . you'll need to give the snow a chance to settle before you take your first nap.
Since the next major step in the cave construction is to block up the original 4 foot by 4 foot entry hole, it's a good idea to move the rest of your gear inside first. (This is another advantage of my snow-caving technique . . . you don't have to push, pull, and squeeze your equipment through a tiny, confining burrow to get it under shelter.) You may also want to carve a shelf or two in the cavern's interior surface, to hold a candle and other small items . . . and thrust a short stick partway into the wall to make a handy clothes hook.
Now—using your shovel, a snow saw, or just your hands—fashion "bricks" from the material that you scooped out of the cavity. For starters, try to make a number of cakes that are the approximate size (precision isn't required here) of a standard 8 inch by 8 inch by 16 inch cinder block, and then—as you build the wall—custom-tailor whatever others you need to fit specific spaces.
To fill the opening, lay the bricks in courses just as a mason might. Start with a horizontal foundation of end-to-end bricks across the entrance, and then position each block in the succeeding rows so that—whenever possible—it straddles the juncture of the two cakes below it. Remember, too, to spread a handful or so of snow "mortar" between the chunks as you work. The final product will be a sturdy wall that completely closes off the cavity, bottom to top.
At this point, take a break (gather firewood, get some camp chores done, go on a hike, whatever) and allow the wall a chance to firm up. After 20 minutes or so, you and your domicile will be ready for the last few construction steps.
Using a shovel or flat stick, cut a small entrance hole (this one should be just big enough to crawl through) in the bottom center of the snow-brick wall. Ideally, the highest part of the opening should be lower than the top surface of the sleeping benches (rising body heat will then be contained inside the cave), so dig down as close to "floor" level as you can when you cut this cavity.
Winter Shelters: About Vents and Fires
Just about here in their instructions, many survival and winter camping manuals will tell you to crawl into the cave and—with a stick or ski pole—poke a couple of small holes through the roof for ventilation. I don't follow this practice myself, however, for two reasons: [1] Snow is relatively porous and—in my experience—usually allows plenty of breathable oxygen to pass through the walls and into the cave from outside. [2] Vent holes let rising warmth escape and draw cold air in through the entrance . . . thus defeating the purpose of the shelter.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Though many snow-cavers agree with Mr. Wilkinson's theories concerning vent holes, some do not. One possible compromise would be to thrust a couple of long sticks through the roof but leave the shafts in place, so that they can be pulled out for immediate ventilation if occupants begin to feel the symptoms—which include dizziness and difficult breathing—of oxygen deprivation.]
Interestingly enough, the same people who recommend roof vents will often also instruct you to build a small fire in your cave for warmth, and/or to use a cooking stove in the chamber for preparing meals . . . but these procedures also tend to get in the way of the intended function of your den. Combustion consumes oxygen, of course, and—in addition—the extra heat it produces will tend to increase the interior's humidity . . . which in turn will make you feel colder, and cause a crust of ice to form on the cave wall that effectively seals off the passage of air from outside. If you don't use a fire, the inside surface will remain dry, and any snow that gets on your clothes will brush off. But if you do use one—even a small backpacking stove—you'll get wet virtually every time you come in contact with the walls.
A much better idea, I think, is to reserve the cave strictly for sleeping and resting, and to do your cooking outdoors. If there's a strong wind, you could build a semicircular breakwall of snow blocks near your abode, and light a fire within its borders.
Other Snow Shelters
Although a cave is certainly one of the most effective shelters you can make from snow, it is by no means the only kind. In fact, there are a number of ways you can use snow to obtain protection from the elements.
If there's deep cover, for example, you can build a home simply by digging a 3- or 4-footwide trench to a depth of 4 (or more) feet. Then put skis, snowshoes, or tree boughs across the opening . . . place brush (or a sheet of plastic) over that . . . and pile an insulating layer of snow on top. Some folks also cut blocks and stack them around the trough (to make raised walls) before installing the roof, and others actually carve additional underground chambers—for storing gear and such—into the sides of the trench.
In forested areas you'll often find a funnel-shaped "bowl" in the snow on the windward side of a tree . . . and this can be fashioned into a snug home by lining the floor of the depression with boughs and covering the cavity with a roof made from layers of whatever materials are available, finished off with a thick coating of snow.
Of course, there's also the igloo . . . the classic Eskimo shelter, which—unless you've had considerable practice—can be pretty difficult to build. Here again, however, I've developed techniques that, I believe, make the task easier.
The traditional method involves cutting blocks and placing them end to end, on their narrow edges, in a circle that gradually spirals upward, round and round, one layer over another. In order to accomplish this, however—and to achieve a dome shape rather than just a vertical wall—each block must be carefully trimmed and positioned so that it both slopes in the ascending direction of the spiral and leans inward slightly.
To simplify the process, I place the rectangular blocks flat on their broad sides . . . make one circle of bricks . . . and then—on successive go-rounds—merely move each layer of blocks inward a couple of inches, so that the desired cupola shape is gradually formed. I use snow "mortar", too . . . both as I work and to fill any cracks and holes in the final product. Then, about half an hour or so after closing in the igloo, when the structure has hardened, I carve out a small entrance door.
A Few Final Pointers on Winter Shelters
Experience, they say, is the best teacher of all . . . and that's certainly the case when it comes to developing a proficiency at building (and camping in) snow shelters.
After a few winter back-country outings, for example, you'll acquire a sensitivity to the different kinds of snow—in terms of texture, moisture content, and "packability"—and to the degree to which varying conditions will affect the type of shelter you should (and/or can) build. New precipitation, for instance, is often too fluffy to make good material for a large cave . . . but might be just fine for a one-person chamber.
You'll also learn, rather quickly, that it's important to pace yourself as you work . . . making sure that you don't perspire excessively and—as a result—become overly (and perhaps dangerously) chilled. Always dress in layers, too, so that you can adjust the amount of clothing you're wearing to suit the weather and the activity at hand. And remember: To stay dry is to stay warm.
In addition, you may find that it takes some time to accustom yourself—both physically and psychologically—to life in a snow cave. You can't expect such a shelter to be the Waldorf-Astoria, but the grotto's temperature will hold at a range of 30 degrees Fahrenheit to 38 degrees Fahrenheit (once you've been inside for a while), and neither you nor such items as jugs of water will freeze . . . even if the mercury outdoors dips to 30 below. Should you be caught in an emergency situation without a sleeping bag, then, a snow cave will still keep you relatively warm. If necessary, you can use a few isometric exercises (tense the muscles in your legs, hands, and feet for several seconds, then let them relax, to stimulate blood flow) off and on through the night to avoid frostbite.
Some folks find that the darkness and silence inside a snow cave can be disturbing . . . so be prepared, when you blow out your candle that first night in your shelter (and do be sure to extinguish the flame, so that it doesn't consume oxygen while you're sleeping), to cope with an instant attack of claustrophobia. Most people get used to the quiet and close quarters in a very short time, however.
During the day, if you leave the cave—to go for a hike or gather firewood or whatever—be sure to mark the entrance conspicuously so that you'll be able to find your home when you return. Remember, too, that snow has a way of "swallowing" camp litter . . . trash that, come spring, will show its ugly face all too plainly. Be sure to keep all refuse and waste in one place, and to pack it out with you when you leave.
And finally, I strongly recommend that you practice building snow shelters before placing yourself in a situation where you might need such a structure. A wilderness emergency—such as getting caught in a sudden blizzard—is not the ideal time to try to construct your first snow cave. And reading the information in this article and in other books is not, by itself, sufficient preparation for—say—going on an overnight cross-country tour without a tent. I always show my students a detailed narrated instructional slide program prior to an outing . . . but even then the participants generally take three or four hours to build their initial cave or igloo.
After you've had some experience, however, you should be able to carve out a shelter in an hour or less . . . so take some time this winter to teach yourself the art of snow caving. Find an appropriate site close to home, and spend an enjoyable afternoon or two practicing construction techniques. Once you've polished your skills, you'll be able to explore the wonders of winter's wilderness with confidence . . . knowing full well that a warm, comfortable home is never more than a few feet—of snow—away.


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François (Frank) Sels studied art in Antwerp, and then he worked in a printing firm for a short while. He joined Studio Vandersteen in 1963, and succeeded Karel Verschuere on 'Karl May' and on 'De Rode Ridder', introducing the King Arthur-cycle in the series.
De Rode Ridder
Starting in 1964, he illustrated several comics in the magazines Ons Land and Ohee, working with scripts by Lorenzo Wadlin and his childhood friend Hugo Renaerts. He specialized in historical, viking and western stories, such as 'Mister Grizzly', 'Abraham Lincoln', 'De Ilias','Tall Bull' and 'Kleine Antilope. For magazine 't Kapoentje he worked on 'Arkulleke', 'Bongo Tegen de Kux Klan', 'Kleine Antilope' and 'De Avonturen van de Zeearend'.
In 1966, Sels resigned from Vandersteen, only to return when he didn't find work with publisher Het Volk. He got a job at the 'Bessy' studio, where he and Edgard Gastmans were responsible for the production of stories for Bastei Verlag in Germany. For a period of two years, Sels and Gastmans produced a complete 'Bessy' story almost every week. After a final break with Vandersteen in 1969, they began working for Bastei directly. Sels created the series 'Silberpfeil, der Junge Häuptling', that first appeared in the weekly Felix, and then in it's own weekly comic from 1971 until the late 1980s.
Kleine Antilope
Sels opened a studio to keep up with his large production, and employed such artists as Gastmans, Robert Wuyts, Eric De Rop, Jean Bosco Safari, Claus Scholz, Jan van Rooy and his son Erwin. Through Studio Sels, he earned the reputation as the fastest comic artist in Europe, cranking out as much as 42 pages a week, without too many concessions to quality. 'Silberpfeil' also appeared as 'Zilverpijl' in Ohee in Belgium, and the production for Germany lasted until 1986.
By then, the title continued with reprinted stories. In the final months of his life, Sels did some stories for the Bastei horror comics, and he started a science fiction comic, 'Op zoek naar Alfadir', that was completed by his son in 2004. Frank Sels commited suicide in December 1986. In later years, the German publisher Wick has collected most of the artist's work in the series 'Frank Sels Archiv'.
horror comic by Frank Sels


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I really don't know what else to say other then I find myself in a mental purgatory.
My story starts late last year when I noticed I had a swollen lymphnode in my upper thigh. I went to the doctor who prescribed anti biotics. After five months it still didn't go down and she suggested I see a surgeon for biopsy. I was hesitant but I went to the surgeon who also agreed on the biopsy. I still hesitant but my mother insisted since my grandfather had passed away from suspected lymphoma many years ago in Thailand. So I reluctantly agreed. The surgeon told me he would just remove the entire node- and I asked if that was best. He told me it was and the chances of side effects were slim. So In late April I had the biopsy done.
It came back negative (although the surgeon mentioned the pathology report was odd since the node had a feature normally associated with the thyroid)
A few days after the surgery I noticed localize swelling in my ankle and foot. I assumed, naturally, that it was due to the surgery (it was). However as it persisted I finally returned to the surgeon to have it looked at.
He was shocked- and told me I had developed lymphedema. Told me that I had terrible luck since only 20% of people who have all their nodes removed develops it and I only had one removed.
First thing that came to mind was "what is lymphedema? The surgeon told me it was nothing to worry about- that it wasn't harmful. He told me that I could wear compression stockings to keep the swelling down if I wanted to.
He also informed me that there was a decent chance that my lymph might re-channel as I heal. Though after research I am wondering if this is false hope?
This all happened this past Thursday. I was fine- then I decided to google Lymphedema. After reading about it I am horrified. I really don't know what to think now. I can't think- my mind just lingers on this potentially debilitating condition that has no cure- and from my recent understanding may be unable to prevent from progressing. I don't know what to do.
I feel even worse knowing now that I could have potentially prevented it with diligent research instead of trusting my doctors. After reading patoco's recommendation to a another member about insisting on a needle biopsy I felt devastated and angry at myself for being ignorant.
I am currently uninsured (the only time in my life I am), I thought I would be okay for a year (never had a health issue) and will be insured against once I start classes this fall.
I am a 24 year old male living in Alabama and I am glad this site is here. I feel there is a light at the end of the tunnel after reading everything- although right now its hard to see it through the bleakness of my feelings of despair.


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Good evening and welcome to the Thargoid and Fer-de-Lance.
We are finally open! I've been planning this for ages, the paint is hardly dry and we've just had a delivery of Jameson's. We are still short of chairs, but you might appreciate the chance to stretch those space-weary legs. My thanks to Mobius for the lovely new sign.
I am Garthyre your hostess. My staff and I are here to make you feel at home.
This is the place for news, views and chat. Come here if you want to share something, but don't feel it right to start a whole thread.
For instance:
Did anyone see the fleeting glimpse of @DavidBraben on Click during Kate Russell's Webscape segment, yesterday?
Not worth a thread, but definitely worth a mention.
This is also the home for memes:
I have an extensive library of books for you to borrow to help pass the time on those long explorations, but please feel free to add your own if you think they'll be read by my discerning clientele. New just in:
Time Enough for Lave
The Krait With The Dragon Paintjob
The Coriolis Vacancy
The Krait With The Dragon Paintjob
The Coriolis Vacancy
While everyone is welcome, I may suggest that some discussions deserve spinning off into their own thread. This isn't the same as asking you to take it outside, just that some ideas deserve more room.
Also, please let us all know about your achievements and promotions. It's a big galaxy out there - if you have done something you're especially proud of, this is where you will find an interested audience. So if you have finally lost your Harmless status or if you have just attained Dangerous, we want to hear about it.
Yes, I do plan to still be open in 13 months time. And beyond.
We're pretty informal here, just order a drink when you come in and make yourself at home. Just don't sit in Sheldon's spot.
The Wall of Elite: Dangerous Commanders
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The List!
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11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Windows Phone Application Jumpstart To give you a jumpstart on application development, we'll walk through in detail building an app, styling it, and adding advanced capabilities. We'll also cover submitting it to the marketplace and monetizing your app.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Windows Phone Garage Open Lab Bring your laptop fully loaded with Visual Studio 2010 and the latest version of the Windows Phone Tools. Get some help with an app you are working on or use the information from the Jumpstart to build an app around your favorite data feed. No ideas? No worries – we'll have a few starter templates that you can build on!
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