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Microsoft makes Windows Phone commercial, sells iPhone instead
Microsoft has released a new commercial for the Windows Phone Nokia Lumia 920, and in it they show off both Apple's iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S. A lot. So much, in fact, it's hard to know what the commercial is about until the very end, when the Lumia 920 finally makes an appearance. Anyone outside Microsoft see the problem there?
The theme is: Don't fight. Switch. The setting is a wedding where the groom and the bride's side both use different phone platforms, and quickly get into a heated, and pretty funny war of insults that escalates into full-blown Mobile Kombat. When nothing but dust and decimation remains, the waiters wonder if Lumia couldn't just help them all get along.
Here's what Microsoft's Michael Stroh had to say on the Windows Blog:
I chuckled when I first saw the spot. As you'll see, it plays off the strong—even irrationally strong—feelings some of us harbor about the technology in our purses and pockets. You might recognize someone you've met among the wedding guests. You might see shades of yourself. I sure did—and smiled.
I did as well. And it wouldn't be out of place on a late night comedy show. Actually, it would kill as comedy. But this isn't comedy, it's the real, brutal, smartphone market, and here is that Microsoft is promoting Apple and Samsung over their own brands, and that's exactly what happens to them in the market already. Apple had a "switcher" campaign for the Mac many years ago, and while they had a generic "PC" character, he was seldom if ever branded, and there certainly wasn't ever any recognizable, competing hardware in the frame.
Ultimately, however, I didn't really end up caring any more about Windows Phone than I did at the beginning, and that makes it a pretty ineffective commercial. Give it a watch and tell me what you think. Anything there that's better than, I don't know, say Microsoft actually releasing an XPhone Halo edition?
Source: Windows Phone via WPCentral
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Reader comments
Microsoft makes Windows Phone commercial, sells iPhone instead
Rene, I have to disagree with you here big time as I think you missed the point.
Ads are not to understood in a vacuum. Nor are they meant to "sell" the device. They're meant to pique interest in the consumer--that's advertising 101. You only have 30/60 seconds to get and maintain viewer's attention--it's rarely about the product, it's about the image. C'mon, channel your inner Drapper ;)
All winter/spring Microsoft has been running Windows Phone 8 commercials on TV ad nasuem. Those were the Jessica Alba/Gwen Stefani ones focusing on the Tiles/personal aspect of the phone. This ad takes a very different approach: humorous, entertaining, poking fun at their rivalries. It's so that people who see the ad will be aware of Windows Phone next time they walk into an AT&T or Best Buy "Oh, that's that yellow phone I saw on TV the other day".
There isn't a single 30 or 60 second ad that has in and of itself sold a product. It's part of a broader image and campaign, but if you view just in isolation you can pick it apart.
The fact is, it's a fun(ny) ad and gets people talking. It's no different than Samsung's iSheep ad making fun of Apple fans waiting in line and we all see that Samsung is riding mighty high today off of that line of attack.
"Microsoft is promoting Apple and Samsung over their own brands"
If you think that was "promoting" Apple and Samsung over their brand as oppose to satire, ergo making fun of them, then I'm not sure what to say exactly. All I know is satire can be very effective.
Yeah, I am channeling my Draper -- and I worked in product marketing for a decade. No way Draper lets the competition get that much screen time or brand recognition.
Most people don't pay much attention to commercials. They see glimpses between getting snacks, chatting, switching channels, and other distractions. They don't get branded satire, they only see the brands.
When you make a commercial, you need to make it survive low attention environments. That's why commercials are often so brand-crazy, and why product placements are so in-your-face about brands.
Samsung's done this type of commercial before, making fun of iPhone owners. That was a brand behind, and arguably still pretty bad.
Glancing at this commercial, 90% of the time, you wouldn't even know it was for Windows Phone, and that really is a problem.
I want Windows Phone to succeed, I just wish they'd give it a much better chance than this.
Halo phone, Daniel! Halo. Phone!!!!
The fact that you have a article talking about a windows phone ad on a iphone site tells me this ad worked.
Wait a min Emeroid, you showed this ad (the 1 min ad, that spent the last 15 seconds showing a close up of the windows phone and talking about it), and no one knew what the ad was about???? Did they speak english?
I agree Rene. I'd add that Windows Phone, and windows 8 in general has some weird marketing behind it. Hard to tell who there targeting. No real clear message. And no real effort. Like they're confident the product will sell itself.
Leaving the road for blackberry to dominate that #3 spot all day long.
I'll admit I would probably buy a halo Xphone.
I showed my wife, a Windows Phone 8 user, this commercial. We laughed. It was a funny commercial, I'll give it that. We laughed about the guy yelling at Siri for karate, old people with iPhones, and we made fun of the old Samsung "yep, simple as that," commercial by touching our phones together. Then I asked her what she learned. She said mainly Galaxy phones can share by touching. But the real telling thing here? 20 seconds after it was over she asked, "Wait, was that a commercial for my phone?" And this was after my encouragement to watch it and pay close attention.
This ad has now been featured on every site I have visited this morning. And it is the first WP ad that has done that. Sure, there have been ads focused on the superior Lumia camera technology, the ease of use vs. competing platforms, etc. I do not remember a single one of those, though I know I saw them.
This is the best WP ad yet.
It was a glorified Nokia Lumia 920/pro AT&t ad, and clearly a blatant attack against any carrier which does not sell Nokia devices (more especifically the Qualcomm based CDMA carriers, which Microsoft is treating as unwanted stepchildren since they dropped Windows Mobile for Windows Phone).
Coincidence? I say No. This was a message to the OEMS and carriers not participating that Nokia and AT&T are their preferred OEM and Carrier. What would be next?
I can see both sides of the argument. On reflection, however, I think where the ad really failed in its message is that it was this: "People are passionate - to the point of violence - about iPhone and Android/Samsung (what great phones they must be to inspire such emotion). Windows Phone, on the other hand, is for dispassionate waiters who watch other people living their lives, but never join the party/fight."
I was going to write a reply arguing this was a great commercial (I have and love my Lumia 920), but now I think I agree with Renee. My first thought was "Hey, just like the commercials Samsung used to gain traction", but then I realized that this commercial doesn't show a single feature of the 920 except it comes in red and yellow. If they just added a few more shots of the phone, how it simply integrates all the social media for sharing such an epic event etc. that would have been great. As it is... not so much.
Besides, that commercial of Microsoft was a glorified Nokia/AT&T commercial than anything else, a point which Rubino misses. If it was Samsung making a glorified commercial for the Ativ S, or what ever exclusive device they have in store for Sprint, he will see your point.
Once again, Daniel showing his Pro Nokia/Pro AT&T bias, yet he won't admit it nor say why microsoft is attacking one of their partners. Perhaps because Samsung and Apple are doing what Nokia clearly refuses to do for the CDMA community (and please, Verizon is not the only national CDMA carrier on postpaid and prepaid).
Those celeb ads were nice, but didn't make me want their phones. Even the old PowerBook ads, I never believe the celebrity actually uses the product 90% of the time. As a matter of fact, a few weeks ago, No Doubt posted a picture on its official Instagram feed of Gwen and Tony, writing songs, in the studio. A MacBook Pro and an iPhone 4/4S with them. Granted, the iPhone could have been Tony's, but no Windows phone in site.
Daniel Rubino, that's great observation. Agreed.
Actually, his observations are clearly BLURRED beyond logic due to his pro Nokia/AT&T bias. I bet he would be bashing Samsung if they had a similar ad glorifying the Ativ S and a carrier like US Cellular or perhaps Sprint!
The problem with the satire in the advert is that it's ambiguous regarding the path to the goal; That Lumia is the answer.
For the target demographic, first time smartphone customers, one could take away the message that if you buy Apple or Samsung you're going to love it so much that you could become dysfunctional.
What if the roles were switched to Coca-Cola and Pepsi with RC Cola in for Lumia? Do you really think you'd be driven to try RC? I think you'd be reminded you want a Coke instead.
I liked the ad, especially its lighthearted silliness (I can't get the Apple tattooed on some dudes flabby chest, who then gets decked, out of my mind) - but I have to agree at least in part. The Nokias at the end were essentially a punchline, and if you don't stick around for the whole ad you won't get it.
Basically we needed to see WP and/or Nokia earlier in the piece.
Windows Phone's biggest problem is Windows 8. I've been using it for about a month now, and while it's not horrible, it doesn't move me to switch from iOS to Windows 8 -- it makes me appreciate my iPad/iPhone even more. Prior to getting Windows 8, I'd thought about going all-Windows... not any more, regardless of what advertising is done by Microsoft.
The wife and I with our non expert marketing backgrounds thought it was hilarious and a great commercial for Windows Phone
I think it's brilliant. I showed this ad to my dad (who still uses a flip phone, and has no idea what siri or Bluetooth is) and he was horrified buy the behavior. He and I and I'm sure each of you work with or know people exactly like that. To him it portrayed fanboys in a bad light, like the windows phone user was the only sane one in the crowd. He was outnumbered but sane. To the tech savvy crowd we are debating and posting about how "our" phone was pictured more, and how Microsoft needs to work on advertising. HELLO!!! We are all giving them far more PR than they could have achieved with this ad alone. On a competing platforms fan site no less. If you ask me "Mission Accomplished"
You're probably reading too much into it. Its clearly a windows phone advert.
But, it'd have been better if they omit the names of the phones they were "bashing" like Samsung has done. Just not show them, strongly elude to them though. They'd have been better subtle "burns" this way.
I think its just the worst marketing when you feature another company in your advert. Windows and Samsung should have more original ideas.
Every time I've seen this commercial, it's been after one of the other commercials (Grant Hill, Gwen Stefani, etc.) I think this is a great marketing strategy. You may not be able to tell from the beginning that it's a Windows phone commercial but you know for sure that it is not an iPhone or Samsung commercial.
I didn't think that the branding for Nokia was strong enough but I did think that it was a Lumia commercial. In other words, it may not have been a Windows phone commercial but it certainly was one for the Lumia, specifically. I'm just not sure that the Lumia name was as prominent as, say, the Apple logo on the dude's chest.
I have had an iphone since the 3G was introduced. I am not bashing iphones or iphone users. But this is why so many people make fun of Apple fans. The ad was bashing iphones. the only feature that is showed was a man trying to get Siri to work (with no luck). But somehow, many people on here think the ad was positive for Apple? Did you really see a positive view on the features of the iphone in that ad?
Keep reaching bruh bruh.....trying to get Siri to magically teach him karate and it didn't work, how will Apple ever live that down!!??!!??
A better & more relevant swipe at Apple would have been if they had the guy asking Siri for directions out of the fight to safety and it gave him the wrong ones or something along those lines. Meaning, most average users know about Apples (overblown IMHO) shortcomings with their Maps app, but not that Siri has network/parsing errors.
The only thing that part of the commercial did was make me think of the ending of "Meteor Man" when they touched the books during the fight scene. METEOR MAN FTW!!!!!!!!
First off I'm an iphone user and probably will be for the foreseeable future, but this ad was made for the Superbowl. Microsoft doesn't really care about features at this point. They're just trying to get people to realize that there's another really good phone out there while taking shots at the IOS and Android users. This is just one ad. They'll spend millions in other ads down the road promoting features. This one did exactly what it was supposed to do. Make people laugh and remember the Windows Phone 8. Ha ha ha ha. So funny :)
This is a good commercial. Now if Microsoft could just make products just as good.
Ad is fun, but it doesn't give the right perspective of the topic, the Windows Phone 8. Main problem is that Microsoft threw Nokia about a decade back in development history. On user perspective, it doesn't mean a thing, if the phone's OS is iOS or Android or Windows Phone or anything else. The main thing is the usability and for what purpose the phone is purchased for. I'm using currently Lumia 920 and N8, I can honestly say that both of them are amazing products, both of them will be excellent chooses. So there will be something available for ever one, go and check them out by yourself.
The title of this article doesn't make sense. In the commercial it shows the Samsung phones as the "cooler" better option, and that iPhones are for old people and are a "one trick pony". How does it sell iPhone instead?
Anyway, although I have had both, Android smokes Apple iOS, I still think this commercial was great. Very funny. However, I don't think anyone that has the capability of Android in their hands would jump to Windows. Not yet anyway. Windows has a long way to go.
I agree with Rene. This ad just doesn't work. It shows other phones and puts them in the eyes of the audience. It shows the War of the Fanboys.
Most of the people here that says that it works, well, it works for them because they are following the technical side of the things. Reading blogs, following companies products and know about this Nokia way before the AD. Basically they are geeks.
But take a common 13-15 year old girl, that cares only about clothes and glitter, would she ask her father to buy her Nokia phone once she sees this AD? No. M$ need to find out a way to be attractive, just like Samsung, they are trying to make the competition look bad, instead of make themselves looking good. And this is the power of Apple, or at least it was not so long ago.
First off I'm an iphone user and probably will be for the foreseeable future, but this ad was made for the Superbowl. Its clearly a windows phone advert. But, it'd have been better if they omit the names of the phones they were "bashing" like Samsung has done.


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Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Ingredients and Preparation
IngredientsMeasuresOlive oil2 teaspoonsSmall white onion, chopped1Carrots, peeled and sliced2Garlic clove, minced1Dried thyme½ teaspoonChicken broth14 ounces (eg, a 14.5-ounce can)Water14 ouncesLow-fat cream of celery soup1 10.75-ounce canChicken breast tenders, cut into 1" squares¾ poundLow-fat milk1/3 cupEgg1All-purpose flour¾ cupBaking powder1 ½ teaspoonsCornmeal1 ½ teaspoonsSalt¼ teaspoonFreshly ground pepper to taste1.
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrots, garlic, and thyme, and sauté for 4-6 minutes, until onions are tender.
Add chicken broth, water, and cream of celery soup to vegetables and bring to a boil. Add chicken, stir, and boil for 10 minutes. Reduce to a simmer.
While soup is boiling, prepare dumpling batter by whisking milk and egg together in a medium bowl. In another bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, cornmeal, and salt. Add flour mixture to milk mixture and stir until moistened.
Drop half of batter, in tablespoons, into simmering soup. Cover and cook for 3-5 minutes, until dumplings are done (they will be puffy and will float on top of soup). Remove dumplings with a slotted spoon and set aside. Repeat with second half of batter. (Makes about 12 dumplings.)
Serve soup over dumplings in shallow bowls and sprinkle with pepper.
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subset: commoncrawl


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even if there was a problem with wifi and WPA, none of us would hardly even notice it....
Most free access points, hotels , your panara breads.... Etc etc are still WEP as well...
2.1 Experiencing WiFi Problems? 2.1.1 Shipping on iPod Touch 2G?
Confession: My iPhone 3G/2.x experience has been relatively painless so far. No dropped calls, almost no 3G issues, very few App crashes, no eternal syncs, etc. While Steve Jobs reportedly said I'm in the norm, along with 98% of other iPhone users, you really wouldn't know that from the intertubes. They're on fire with dissatisfied users, and reader Anon, commenting on a post, points us to a thread on Apple's discussion boards that indicates the dissatisfaction may not be ending any time soon.
The latest problem is with the 2.1 firmware -- technically the 2.1.1 firmware already shipping, apparently, on the new second generation iPod Touch -- and WiFi. Specifically, non-Apple Airport WiFi access points and the WPA security protocol (which should be what everyone is using now, right?)
While some might think this is no big deal, considering the older WEP protocol remains an option, TiPb would remind you that system can be broken in less than a minute these days, rendering it little better than no security at all.
For the record, however, I helped upgrade a 1st gen iPod Touch to 2.1 on Wednesday, and it connected to with no problems whatsoever to a Linksys WiFi router, so this might be one of the increasingly common, more complicated and multi-factor errors Apple's been encountering (like Vista BSODs with iTunes 8...)
On the iPhone side, does this mean we'll be getting 2.1.1 tomorrow as well? And will face similar problems? Or is Apple even now rushing an emergency rebuild of 2.1.1 or even 2.1.2 to finally -- finally -- give the 2%ers some stability?
Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment! Need help with something else? Ask in our forums!
Reader comments
2.1 Experiencing WiFi Problems? 2.1.1 Shipping on iPod Touch 2G?
even if there was a problem with wifi and WPA, none of us would hardly even notice it....
iTunes is bloated
I work for a PDA software company, and one of my testing devices is a Dell Axim X51V (running Windows Mobile 5). Despite TWELVE ROM updates - far more than Windows Mobile devices usually receive - it is very unreliable when connected to a WPA network and you often have to soft reset it to re-connect after waking from sleep.
I'm not really sure why I mention this.
Also, it's funny... I used to have an airport express, and had TERRIBLE connectivity problems (this is pre-touchy stuff from apple). I switched to another router, and still had terrible problems. Finally I found out it was because there were about 12 other wireless networks in range of my apartment. I suppose wi-fi isn't really intended to handle that situation because I had continual connection problems. I'd like to find out how many people are having wi-fi problems in a very congested area vs being the only network available.
iTunes 8 is running amazing for me... actually it even FIXED tons of problems with just general bugs. I'm running vista 64bit. I love iTunes 8 now...
I have just update iPhone 3G to software version 2.1. It connects fine to my DLINK DIR 655 router on wpa2. iPod Touch still doesn't.
WEP is useless. It can be cracked in >1 min. Avoid it like the plague. WAP, with a good length (pseudo-random if possible!) password is the only real solution.
Here's a good generator. Just choose however many characters you need:
upgraded to 2.1 on my iphone 3g and it's pretty much killed it. wifi, which worked flawlessly before, no longer connects to my network. unprotected, wep, wpa, wpa2, not one ounce of difference. no such connection problems to my linksys with my 2 laptops and pc. 3g connectivity also suffering, much worse than pre-upgrade. still searching for solutions but no joy as yet.
Genius isn't really genius.
While it doesn't work with all English songs, it actually doesn't work with any other languages songs.
Chinese/Japanese/Europeans/Tamil... gosh.
It seems like genius works by grabbing data from customers then put it into a database then they're used to compile popular similar tracks - so called genius.
When launched, I thought it read on the beat, speed, intensity, genre, or something...
Not so genius indeed.
My husband bought me a iPhone last Friday and I too have tried connecting to iTunes using Wi Fi. Nothing. I did everything I was instructed by the App store, nothing. I have the Wi Fi signal on my phone all day long but as soon as I go to connect, it says I need to be connected to Wi Fi to access iTunes. I am like..huh? It is so frustrating. I have YET to find anyone who can actually help.
For those of you that have Wpa-2 or any type of encryption on your router. This will work for you. I seem to always have the wi-fi symbol but i could not connect until i tried the following.--This has worked for me and may help you...This is my Fix. The problem is the Iphone is not reaching the internet. The iphone is seen by the Router but is not getting past and into the internet.
- Connect to the WiFi that is giving you the problem. You must be able to connect to it. If you can not connect then this won't work for your problem.
- In your settings select WiFi and then tap the blue arrow next to the WiFi name you are connected to.
- Erase the DNS info and add the following exactly like this: 18.104.22.168, 126.96.36.199
Note: In case the first two don't work try this: 184.108.40.206, 188.8.131.52
I also tried this on my home network that was already working and it didn't seem to effect anything. It still works fine and wasn't any slower or faster. So give this a try and let me know how this works for you.
The DNS fix is not an issue with the iPod touch / iPhone wireless, it's an issue with the router itself. Change your routers DHCP to hand out the public DNS entries from your Internet service provider, rather then relaying DNS through itself. If you DNS entry on your iPod touch is something like 192.168.1.1 (linksys) or 192.168.0.1 (netgear and dlink) then you have the default settings in your router for the DHCP server, and should change them to match your WAN DNS server.
Following Bobby's instructions will not hurt anything until you try to use any open public wifi that uses a clear proxy server.
I have tried WPA/WPA2 with my 2g iPod touch and two access point setup so far. At work I admin a 70 AP Cisco Wireless network. No problem with WPA/WPA2. At home I have an EnGenius Networks Router with WPA/WPA2, and it will not connect. Come on Apple. How am i suppose to bring this to the enterprise, if people can't use it as a viable PDA?
Ok, all I was having problems connecting to my wi-fi at home. Following these steps and this should fix your wi-fi problem. I have the 3g iphone.
goto settings,general,stroll down, until you see reset, reset networking settings. i phone will shutdown and reboot. then goto back to settings choose a network and your wi-fi should come back up.
I had a problem with wifi range with my iphone so here is what I did. I found this company website that claimed that they fix wifi range problems. hdwifi.com I called them up and they recommended the exact product for my problem. Two days later I received it, installed it and I now have full coverage all through out my 10,000sq ft home.
Another Update-
I Just got an iPhone 3G today. While my 2G iPod Touch will still not connect to my WiFi (as mentioned above), my iPhone has no problem with it.
I have had my second gen iTouch for about 24 hours now. Often I have not been able to connect to my Dlink Dir 655 router that is running in mixed G/N mode. So, I went on a mission to figure out what is going on. I started by disabling G and N and just went back to 802.11b with no WEP and things went great. G with WPA was no go. To make a long story short I have it working consistently now. This makes no sense but if I go about half a house away from the router I connect almost 100% of the time. If I go close to the router (same room) it won't connect. If I connect half a house away and then move close to the router it will stay connected and work fine. Go figure!!
Other facts, no microwave on, wireless phone is a long ways away and only one very weak competing network on a different channel. All of my 4 other computers have no problem no matter where they are.
I just tried Bobby instructions and it seems to work. When I put my 2G ipod touch to sleep (with Wifi on) and wake it up, the wifi is still connected. Before it disconnects every time I did that.
If this keeps working after a day or two, then we got a fix. Thanks Bobby.
Also, for those that can't connect to your DIR-655 (which I have), I use WPA only with Mixed modes. My touch connects any where in the house, even if I'm near my router.
Good post. I am having a similar problem with a 2.1.1 iPod and a D-Link router. The iPod will not connect to the WPA encrypted WiFI. I finally got things working, so I thought I would share:
- Download the iPhone Configuration Utility: http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/application_updates/iphoneco...
- Create a WiFi profile using that utility for your WPA wireless network.
- Install the profile on your iPod. This is a tricky chicken and egg problem. The only way to install this profile is to export it from the utility and email it your iPod. So you need to turn off the security on your wireless access point to receive your email (or join your neighbors unencrypted network for a minute). Once received in your iPod mail app just click on the attachment to install it. (You can now re-enable encryption on your access point).
- The profile will ask for your WPA password. Enter it in and the profile will be installed. You will not need to enter this password ever again.
- Go the Wireless setting of you iPod and click on the access point for which you just installed the profile (it probably still can't connect to it). And manually enter the DNS address by simply typing in the address of your router. In my case 192.168.0.1.
Done. Hopefully this helps some of you.
I had wifi range problems and configuration problems as well with my Linksys wireless. I saw an article about a in/wall wifi access point from a company HD Communications that claimed it fixed wifi range problems and supported apple wireless security. I recently had one installed in my home and the claims are true. I have complete coverage and security on my iphone, my wife's itouch and with my laptop. Very cool product. Only down side is they only sell through dealers. I called my local A/V network guy and he was authorized and had worked with the product.
Im sorry but i fail to comprehend ur technical jargon, so i will speak in layman terms.In india u dont have many wifi hotspots, but i had been using wifi at an electronic megastore for a month or so.But after carrying out the 2.1 software update my iphone (3G & 16GB) fails to detect the wifi network.I tried the same at my friends place who happily uses wifi on his laptop, but my phone still couldnt detect the network.After a restart it did detect and connect to the network but then I could not connect to the internet.So i switched off wifi and switched on again and guess what?!No WIFI network detected again!!A few more restarts after that proved futile.Its so frustrating!!!Can someone please HELP?!Apple support and troubleshooting manuals hardly clarify the problem!
got my itouch (2nd gen) three weeks ago and wifi was perfect. then as of this morning---nothing, no wifi at home, or the free wifi @ the coffee shop and bar that i go to where i never have a problem connecting to. only get the "wifi is off or no networks in range"...
after reading MANY posts, i found the following wonderfully simple solution. tried it and WOOT WOOT--- everything is working perfectly again. here are the instructions:
reset your network settings
go to:
reset network settings
I have a 1st gen iPod touch that I recently upgraded to the 2.1 software. Since that upgrade, my wifi connection has either been painstakingly slow or not loading at all in my home with a linksys router. In other public places, it seems to work fine, but it will not work like it used to at home. I tried changing the DNS like Bobby suggested; with the 188.8.131.52, simple websites (i.e. google) work fine for about a minute, but as soon as I close Safari, it goes back to the bad connection I had before, and more advanced stuff, like loading YouTube videos or trying to login to my facebook page aren't working at all. Is there anything else I can try to keep the regular connection i've been having for a few minutes after changing the DNS? Also, does the http proxy matter at all? (whether it's off, manual, or auto)?
DO NOT DESPAIR. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THIS IS WHAT SOLVED IT FOR ME. Firmware 2.2.1, well, sucks when it comes to WiFi functionality. I am doing a copy/paste of my very own solution. I am posting this on different sites so it reaches as many people as possible in the shortest time.
Here's the final solution I found by old fashioned trial and error (AND what a pain in the butt it was to figure out). It worked, is still working and in full WiFi strength!
I have a Netgear WGR614v6 wireless router, but I suspect it will work fine with most routers, specially Netgear.
This is what I did:
1- I logged into my "WiFi Access Point/Router" (Meaning the website where your router's settings are). In my case it is 192.168.1.1 (This is the set Access Point for my router. You'll need to find yours. It should be located on the back label of the router itself.
2- Once I logged into the router's "Access Point" site, I went into "Wireless Settings" located in the menu on the left pane of the screen.
3- Here I chose "WPA-PSK..." as the security to be used, AND, I entered a PASSWORD. This is to maintain the Network Secure and block leachers from using my internet for free!
Don't forget to "Apply" the changes before going to the next step, and wait for it to finish will you? It will need a few extra seconds after it completes (the little antenna lights up on the router). MAKE SURE YOU WRITE DOWN THE PASSWORD!
4- NOW, on the left pane (the menu to the left of the screen, remember?), go into "Advanced Wireless Settings". See that button that reads "Setup Access List"? Click on it! :P
5- Once in, DISABLE "Turn Access Control On". In other words, uncheck it.
6- Apply Changes, and for God sakes wait for it to finish!
7- On your iPhone, go to "Settings", then "General", scroll down to the end and tap on "Reset". Don't worry. It will not reset your iPhone. It will merely bring a new menu. Now from this menu, tap on "Reset Network Settings". Let the iPhone throw its fit... it's OK!
8- Try to log into your WiFi network using the password you were supposed to have written down in step 3 above.
9- You should be able to connect now to your protected network with full strength and all!
I hope this helps you as it did me...
Some really usefull information here if you pay attention, thanks
i read all of the comments up there and ....
first of all: if you experience any kind of wi fi problems with your ipod iphone dont do anything before googleing a little about the network terms like DNS SSID etc. because people think they know what that terms means but they miss the details about them so my first advice is to take a little 101 in wirelesd network over the net with google and wikipedia
second my iphone overheated at the top when connected to my WPA network and after understanding a little about networks and knowing the type of wifi chip thats inside B G only i found the problem.... my router sended the signal in mixed mode (it sended it in N G B protocols or what ever you call them) and my phone worked hard to find the right channel to connect to. what i do was that i put my transmission in mexed B G only not N and my phone disconects for 3 seconds then reconect again because of the same SSID and password and it worked like new not to mention that in 3 minutes turned from hot to stone cold.....
so check every settings you put in your router and dont give N signals to ippd because the hardware dont support it
Some of the solutions by Bobby and others work only for select places. My iPod Touch 2G works on my home router and had to use the custom DNS posted several posts above, but it doesn't work on other routers. Besides, some of these suggestions are only for your personal routers, how about the public ones?
Please suggest a solution for public routers. Thanks.


text:
Forms Jobs
The Community and Business Development Department promotes a holistic approach to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Winston-Salem so they can enjoy livable neighborhoods and increase their opportunities for self-sufficiency. Our focus is revitalizing and stabilizing disadvantaged and deteriorating neighborhoods, facilitating economic development opportunities, developing housing and neighborhood revitalization plans and programs that accurately reflect and address local needs and conditions.
Recommendations for Street Performance Guidelines
City Council Members have expressed interest in the City of Winston-Salem exploring
options and parameters for permitting street performers within downtown. The city's
intent is to facilitate the ability of street performers to perform in certain public spaces
while balancing the needs of people that live, work, and visit downtown.
Based on input received at two public input sessions held in November and from
benchmarking other communities, city staff developed a list of recommendations.
Recommended Guidelines document [pdf]
The Planning Development Division develops housing and neighborhood revitalization plans and programs that accurately reflect local needs and conditions and the desired strategies and outcomes of our citizens. The Division coordinates the implementation and administration of these adopted plans and programs.
The Business Development Division monitors and promotes economic development opportunities throughout the city utilizing a series of related programs to provide concentrated assistance to targeted areas and groups. We focus on enhancing the quality of life by attracting, creating, and retaining jobs; augmenting the tax base; and assisting small and minority-owned businesses.
The Housing Development Division provides financial and technical assistance to qualified owner-occupants and investors to repair substandard properties. In targeted areas, low- and moderate-income owner- occupants are eligible for direct and deferred payment loans. Investor-owners are eligible for direct payment loans to repair single-family dwellings. Investors are also eligible for direct payment loans to repair multifamily properties citywide. This Division is also responsible for the Emergency Repair Assistance, Architectural Barrier Removal Assistance (Handicap Assistance), the Lead Safe Program, and Section 3 Construction Training Program.
The City of Winston Salem has been awarded a three year 1.1 million grant for YouthBuild. The purpose of YouthBuild is to unleash the positive energy of unemployed young adults to rebuild their communities and their own lives with a commitment to work, education, responsibility and family.
To be eligible, students must be between the ages of 16 and 24 years, and have dropped out of high school. Additionally, eligible participants must meet at least one of the following criteria: current or former foster youth, a youth offender, an adult offender, a youth with a disability, a migrant farm worker youth, a child of an incarcerated parent, or a low-income youth. For further information contact Antonio McKoy, YouthBuild Program Manager, at (336)734-1283.
Provides consolidated enforcement of local ordinances relating to nuisance violations for:
The M/WBE Division is designed to assist minority- and women-owned business enterprises in providing goods and services to the city. In addition, this Division provides workshops and seminars for minority- and women-owned businesses, and assistance with the resolution of problems, and complaints relating to the M/WBE program.
Community Services provides relocation assistance to households and businesses displaced by government action and conducts various community outreach and home counseling programs. Assistance is also provided to the code enforcement officers when they encounter broad neighborhood problems that require citizen involvement in correcting the problems.
D. Ritchie Brooks
"We welcome you to help in building a better community."
Administrative Staff
Evan Raleigh
Deputy Director
Mellin L. Parker
Planning Senior Project Supervisor
Ken Millett
Business Development Senior Project Supervisor
Sharon Johnson
Housing Development Senior Project Supervisor
Stephanie M. Stimpson
Auxiliary Programs Coordinator
Sandra Darnel
Code Enforcement Senior Project Supervisor
Evon J. Smith
Minority/Women's Senior Project Supervisor
Christopher Mack
Community Service Project Supervisor
Special Projects Coordinator


text:
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Berkeley Elementary Schools Terrific Kids program honors those students that go the extra mile throughout the year.
In May, the schools Terrific Kids were selected for fairness and cooperation.
Congratulations to the May honorees, and to all of the Terrific Kids for the 2013-2014 school year.
The Berkeley Independent is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Berkeley Independent.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
© 2015 The Berkeley Independent an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
Questions & Answers
Do you have questions about this product?
Get answers from real customers and in-house experts with AnswerBox.
Q:Do any other products smell the same as this one? I love the smell so much but don't need a body conditioner.Asked on 7/9/2015 by Randi from Utah
2 answers
A:The limited edition shower gel Rose Jam has the same smell, but that one is only out for the holidays. The Rose Jam bubbleroon and Pearl massage bar also have that same gorgeous smell!Answered on 7/12/2015 by Haley from Lush Direct
A:Ok. So the Rosejam shower gel is the closest but it's seasonal and limited release around October or November. Stock up!
Bath Bomb: rose queen
Bath Bar: rose jam bubbleroon (you can get this anytime)
Shower Smoothie: Turkish Delight (kind of the same but soapier smelling!)
Hope that helps.
Sent from my iPadAnswered on 7/9/2015 by Lisa from NH
Q:I would like to get this lotion at some point, but I'm also thinking about getting some sort of cleanser for my body from Lush as well. My thought is, what soap/cleanser would be best suited for pairing with this lotion?Asked on 6/12/2015 by Kirsten
2 answers
A:I highly recommend Turkish Delight... it's a complimentary scent and would pair nicely with the body conditioner.Answered on 6/15/2015 by Lisa from NH
A:There is an amazing shower gel, Rose Jam, that is perfect for using with Ro's Argan. It is only available in the Rosie gift set, which showcases lovely LUSH products with a rose scent.Answered on 6/13/2015 by Emily from Lush Direct
Q:My arms (near the shoulder) break out a lot causing a redness. Will this help with the acne and redness?Asked on 6/10/2015 by Karina from Pasadena
2 answers
A:Ro's Argan is very moisturizing, which is designed to be very softening but not cleansing. I suggest using Mask of Magnaminty or Ocean Salt to cleanse, and then use Ro's Argan at the end of your shower!Answered on 6/12/2015 by Pauline
A:This makes my skin feel soft and smell great, but I would not say it helped any redness or acne in my experience. Still recommend but use it with one of their products that has some scrub to it. I use mine with their ocean salt scrub.
Sent from my iPhoneAnswered on 6/10/2015 by Anonymous
Q:Has anyone ever tried using Ro's as a hair conditioner too? It has a lot of the same ingredients as other Lush conditioners...Asked on 5/24/2015 by Katie from Cambridge, MA
1 answer
A:Lush is a non-prescriptive company, which means if you want to try it you are completely free to. I know that people have tried this in the past with great success and soft, fluffy hair. Just make sure to rinse it out fully when in the shower.Answered on 5/26/2015 by Alexander from Lush Direct
Q:I have been using this as a lotion since it was under the lotion section of the website and I just read this and it says it should be rinsed of skin, am I going to be okay? I will start using it correctly now and my skin hasn't had any weird side effects or anything.Asked on 4/11/2015 by Erica
2 answers
A:You're going to perfectly all right! You can do either, rinse it off or pat lotion dry! I've done both, it really depends on your mood and the day you'll have. I personally use both ways, I always like to end my showers with a body conditioner, because I use it in lieu of a body lotion. You can either apply it on your skin and then rinse off or apply it to damp/wet skin and pat dry for a more moisturizing experience. So it's definitely up to you!Answered on 4/13/2015 by Pauline
A:You're totally fine! I used this as a lotion for a long time and confirmed with the manager at my lush store that people use it as lotion too! The only thing is it gets really greasy if not rinsed off. So if that doesn't bother you it's fine :)
Sent from my iPhoneAnswered on 4/11/2015 by Anonymous
Q:Is this product ok to use during pregnancy?Asked on 1/7/2015 by MeMe from Temecula,Ca
4 answers
A:I would say absolutely, though it might not be enough just by itself. It's very moisturizing, but not THAT moisturizing, and an additional product may help with promoting elasticity/preventing stretchmarks/soothing sensitive mommy skin. Try supplementing this (awesome!) conditioner with a night-time lotion or body butter.Answered on 1/13/2015 by Malli from Ithaca, NY
A:Hi there! Thanks for your question!
I would totally feel comfortable using LUSH products while pregnant. The Ro's Argan body butter would be a great product to use on your belly and hips, as your skin will begin to stretch.
I would stay away from any product containing salicylic acid.
Of course, if you are very concerned you can always check with your doctor.Answered on 1/13/2015 by Anonymous
A:I would definitely feel comfortable using LUSH products while pregnant. The
Ro's Argan butter would be a great product to use on your belly and hips as
your skin begins to stretch. Stay away from any product containing
salicylic acid. Of course, if you are very concerned always check with your
doctor. Hope this helps!Answered on 1/7/2015 by Anonymous
A:Of course! All Lush products are all natural. My niece used Rose Argan on
her stomach throughout her pregnancy. You will LOVE it!
donna :)Answered on 1/7/2015 by Anonymous
Q:Can I use this on my face?Asked on 1/2/2015 by Fatima
5 answers
A:We don't suggest using Ro's Argan on the face, no. It is very rich, and you are better off finding something that is specifically formulated for the skin on the face.Answered on 2/13/2015 by Melissa S from LUSH Direct
A:Actually I have been using on my face for over a year before I read the label that after you apply it you are to rinse it off.
Even after reading that I still to this day use it as a facial cream without wasting it by washing it off.
My skin looks amazing and I have many women asking what my secret is......I never tell because it's only between us Lush Lovers!
angelAnswered on 1/3/2015 by Anonymous
A:I wouldn't recommend it, though it's really up to you on your comfort level.
My facial skin would probably be too sensitive for this lotion‹ it is very
thick and very fragrant. It might work okay as a night moisturizer on your
face, but I personally think you would run the risk of acne breakouts given
it's really thick consistency. Feels great on my dry legs though!! :)Answered on 1/3/2015 by Anonymous
A:I have never tried it on my face ! But I have to tell you on the body it
leaves your skin so amazingly soft! This is one of my favorite products.Answered on 1/3/2015 by Anonymous
A:Hi, I love Ro's Argan Body conditioner, but I have never used it on my
face. If I did, it would be as a night creme.Answered on 1/2/2015 by Anonymous
Q:Can this be used a body lotion (if applied thinly)? I love the scent of roses and this is the exact scent I can wear without it being too over powering.Asked on 9/15/2014 by Nathan from Green Bay, WI
1 answer
A:I wouldn't recommend it as a lotion because some of the ingredients are meant to be rinsed off the skin.Answered on 9/25/2014 by Kayla from LUSH DIRECT
Q:How often do you use this? I noticed someone said they get about 5-6 usages out of a pot, I guess you wouldn't want to use it everyday. Do you use a lotion on the days you don't use the conditioner?Asked on 6/5/2013 by Lush Girl from Beaver Falls, PA
3 answers
A:How often you use this product is completely up to you. It is a product where a little goes a long way, so most people are able to use the contents of a pot more than 6 times. If you decide not to use it every day, it would again be up to you to choose whether you'd like to use a moisturizer instead, but the conditioning effects of it do last a long time so some people do not find this necessary.Answered on 10/2/2013 by Kendra M from LUSH Direct
A:I use it about every other day. You could probably go 3-4 days without using it before you had to use it again, especially if you use a moisturizing body wash or soap. Although I have just started using my pot, I *definitely* will get more than 5-6 uses out of a pot - I've used it twice and it still looks like I've barely touched the pot. You don't have to glob it onto your body; little amounts work fine.Answered on 9/26/2013 by Rose from New York
A:I bought this product almost three weeks ago. I use it every day and I still have half the pot left. Also I'm pretty generous with the amount I put on as well.Answered on 7/7/2013 by Lea from Rochester, Ny
Q:I LOVE this stuff but it clogged my drain after just 3 uses. I want to keep using it, though. Any suggestions? Did anyone else have this issue?Asked on 5/16/2013 by Cat from Cherry Hill, NJ
1 answer
A:A little bit goes a long way with this one, so we generally don't recommend using enough product to clog a drain in one use! Ro's Argan contains a high concentration of butters that melt near body temperature, so hot water should help it to go down!Answered on 9/27/2013 by Brandy from LUSH
Q:What is the shelf-life of this product? I purchased this in January and it's now the end of April--is it still usable? I haven't opened it at all, and it has been stored in a cool, dry place this entire time.Asked on 4/25/2013 by Karen from CA
1 answer
A:Ro's Argan has a 14 month shelf life, and both the "made on" and "use by" dates are stamped on the face sticker on the pot. We recommend consulting those dates to ensure your product is within the appropriate time frame for use.Answered on 9/20/2013 by Melissa S from LUSH Direct
Q:Do I have to exfoliate before I use this, or can I just put this on after im done in the shower? Also how much product do I use without it being to much on my body?Asked on 8/25/2012 by Love the smell of roses from Montana
1 answer
A:You can exfoliate first if you'd like- there's no harm in that! The way I like to think of Ro's, is as body conditioner, used similarly to how you would use hair conditioner. So first, I'd soap or shower gel up and get clean, and then after I've rinsed the soap away, I'd step out of the stream of water, apply a generous layer of Ro's all over, letting it sink it for a minute or two. Then rinse off, and hop out of the shower, and gently towel dry.Answered on 8/28/2012 by Megan from LUSH Direct
Q:i use buffy, but i love the smell of RA! if i were to use both of them, do i use buffy first?
the body butter would already moisturize my skin, but i want the lingering scent of RAAsked on 6/12/2012 by lalalauren from Orange County
1 answer
A:I would use Buffy first to make sure all the scrubby bits are rinsed away, then follow with Ro's Argan for that gorgeous scent!Answered on 6/19/2012 by Megan from LUSH
Q:How exactly is this supposed to be used? Even though there are over 100 reviews there is still no description/how to use (or picture) available? Can this be used just like a regular lotion, or is it supposed to be used IN the shower?Asked on 5/26/2012 by gryngolet
6 answers
A:Use it after you have washed in the shower. Apply it to your body and then rinse lightly.Answered on 6/14/2012 by Nat from Long Beach, CA
A:Hi! Not sure if your question has been answered yet ... it is designed to be slathered on, left on a few minutes, and then rinsed off at the end of your shower, much like a hair conditioner.
However, it's worth trying by applying very thinly after showering (too thick and it feels tacky), rubbing in a bit, and leaving on. The scent is more intense that way, and I'm not sure if you'll experience any tacky feeling (I have not as of yet, and have used it about 8 times), but it's a great way to stretch the product and experience the scent if you adore it. Oh, and it also makes my skin incredibly soft, as it is supposed to! :) Happy LUSHing!Answered on 6/7/2012 by Maria the Pale from Buffalo, NY
A:I've only used it in the shower and that's the intended purpose. Think of it like a hair conditioner for the body... you rinse out conditioners unless it's recommended as a leave-in. There are a few users who've said they use it as a lotion but I've never tried it that way.
I shower and wash my hair first and then use this as my last step in the shower. Smooth it over your skin, leave it on for a couple of minutes, rinse it off and pat yourself dry. Done! :)Answered on 6/11/2012 by dorkdeer from Boston, MA
A:you use it like you would hair conditioner. in fact i condition my hair and apply this product in the shower at the same time, turn off the water for a few minutes for the conditioners to work their magic and rinse the conditioners off at the same time.Answered on 6/17/2012 by kenna from atlanta
A:It's a use in the shower lotion - like hair conditioner, but for your skin. Slather it on (a little goes a long way!) and then rinse off. I do it as the last thing before I get out of the shower.Answered on 6/1/2012 by RKMW from Baltimore, MD
A:Ro's Argan is designed to be rinsed off, so we can't recommend using it as a regular lotion. Think of it as a conditioner, and how you use conditioner on your hair; Ro's Argan is a similar product meant for your skin!Answered on 6/1/2012 by Brandy from LUSH
Q:I use Moroccan (Argan Oil) on my hair would you recommend this for people with dry brittle hair?Asked on 5/24/2012 by Jess from Seattle, WA
2 answers
A:I wouldn't recommend Ro's Argan to be used on the hair because it's designed with the skin in mind, and may not be quite right for hair. Instead, you might want to try a deep conditioning hair treatment for dry brittle hair. My favourite is H'Suan Wen Hua as it's packed with lots of strengthening ingredients.Answered on 5/25/2012 by Megan from LUSH
A:No - this is for skin.Answered on 5/30/2012 by fakexpearls from Colorado
Q:How many uses, on average, do you get out of a pot of this stuff?Asked on 4/23/2012 by Sie by the Sea from Outer Banks, North Carolina
1 answer
A:It's difficult to give an estimate, as the amount needed can vary greatly depending on how dry the skin is, etc, but I find that I can get at least a good 5-6 absolute full body coatings per pot!Answered on 4/25/2012 by Megan from LUSH
Q:What other LUSH products smell like this one? Particularly, hoping to find one of the solid perfumes or lotions that has a similiar or exact same scent. I cannot get enough of Ro's Argan's smell!Asked on 2/24/2012 by Gossy from Rochester, NY
4 answers
A:There's a limited edition shower gel called Rose Jam that you can only get online that has the exact same scent as this. There's also a bath bomb with the Rose Jam scent. I use the Turkish Delight shower smoothie and it doesn't smell quite like Ro's; it's a lighter, more floral scent (Ro's has more citrus hints to it, whereas Turkish Delight doesn't have that at all).Answered on 9/26/2013 by Rose from New York
A:I think the turkish delight which is a shower smoothie smells very much like rose!Answered on 11/16/2012 by Annie from Washington DC
A:Rose Jam bubbleroon shares the same fragrance, and there is a limited edition Rose Jam perfume in the same scent available only while supplies last.Answered on 2/27/2012 by Megan from LUSH
A:American Cream is pretty similar.Answered on 3/27/2012 by Nicky from Orlando
Q:can you use this product, ro's argan, in your hair as a conditioner? Just curious.Asked on 2/3/2012 by Anonymous from rockford, il
3 answers
A:No, Ro's Argan Body Conditioner is not meant for use in the hair. It's best just used as intended as an in-shower body moisturizer.Answered on 2/16/2012 by Megan from LUSH
A:I wouldn't recommend it. It's a bit to oily and not solid enough to use as a conditioner. Water washes it away instantly.Answered on 2/18/2012 by Sarita from Glendale, CA
A:I am so with you! After putting this one my skin I am dying to see what it will do for my hair. But sadly, I have spoken to a few workers at Lush that say no. I wish they would come out with a version for our hair!Answered on 4/18/2012 by Susie from Ohio


text:
- About Us
- FAQ about IMS
- Virtual Tours
- Current News
- Working and Volunteering
- Diversity
- Mission and Values
- Board of Directors
- Annual Report
- Contact Us
- Mailing List
- Directions
- Meditation Retreats
- Schedules
- New to Meditation?
- FAQ about Retreats
- Food and Accommodations
- Retreat Center
- Forest Refuge
- Work Retreats
- Pay Your Balance
- Teachers
- Generosity
- Resources
Getting Here
IMS's location
Ride share
By car
By van
By air & van
By bus or train, then taxi
Local accommodations
IMS's location
IMS's Retreat Center and Forest Refuge facilities are both located in central Massachusetts, a little over 2 miles north of the town of Barre. This is about 50 minutes (by car) west of Worcester, MA, 2 hours west of Boston and 3.5–4.5 hours north-east of New York City. There is no public transportation service directly to Barre.
The Retreat Center and the Forest Refuge are in different locations on IMS's property, about 0.9 miles apart via road.
Retreat Center
1230 Pleasant St, Barre MA 01005
Forest Refuge
97 Lockwood Rd, Barre MA 01005
For a Retreat Center course, please arrive between 3:00–5:00pm on the opening day. For a retreat at the Forest Refuge, please arrive between 2:00–5:00pm.
Ride share
This is a wonderful way to connect with fellow IMS retreatants while also saving money and lessening the impact on environmental resources. If you can offer a ride to or from IMS, or are seeking a ride, please visit our Ride share page, available to anyone confirmed for an IMS or BCBS retreat. You are welcome to preview rides needed or offered. However, if you'd like to post a ride, you will need a password. Please call our office for this at 978-355-4378, or check your registration materials.
The Ride share can also be used to coordinate group van sharing arrangements with the limousine services shown below.
By car
From Worcester
Take Route 122 north to Barre (approximately 22 miles). Then see "From Barre Town Commons" below for directions.
From Boston
Take Route 2 west to Gardner (exit 22). At traffic circle, take Route 68 south to Route 62 (approximately 9 miles). Then take Route 62 west to Barre (approximately 7 miles). Then see "From Barre Town Commons" below for directions.
Take I-90 (Mass Pike) to Auburn (exit 10). Take Route 12 south, then Route 20 west, then Route 56 north. Turn off at Route 122 north (left) to Barre. Then see "From Barre Town Commons" below for directions.
From New York / western Massachusetts
Take I-91 to I-90 (Mass Pike) east to Palmer (exit 8). Take Route 32 north to Barre (approximately 25 miles). Then see "From Barre Town Commons" below for directions.
From Vermont and northwestern Massachusetts
Take Route 2 east (exit 27 off I-91) to Route 122 south (exit 15). Follow 122 south to Barre Center (about 18 miles). As you approach the Barre Town Commons, turn left onto Pleasant Street where Route 122 makes a sharp right. Don't take this right turn. Then see "From Barre Town Commons" below for directions.
From Barre Town Commons to the Retreat Center (located at 1230 Pleasant Street)
Follow Route 122/32 north through the Barre town commons and past Barre Library on your left. Just after this, continue straight onto Pleasant Street. You will be leaving Route 122/32 at this point – it bears sharply to the left at a sign saying "Petersham/Athol." Proceed 2.2 miles along Pleasant Street. The IMS Retreat Center is on your right – a large, red brick building with white columns. Please park in the lot on the far (north) side of the building.
From Barre Town Commons to the Forest Refuge (located at 97 Lockwood Road)
Follow Route 122/32 north through the Barre town commons and past Barre Library on your left. Just after this, continue straight onto Pleasant Street. You will be leaving Route 122/32 at this point – it bears sharply to the left at a sign saying "Petersham/Athol." Proceed 2 miles along Pleasant Street until you reach Lockwood Road on the right. You will see a large stone on the corner of this street with the letters 'BCBS' engraved on it. (The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies is at the end of Lockwood Road.)
Turn right at Lockwood Road, and then take your first left at the sign for the Forest Refuge. Proceed up the hill. Take the first right at the top of the hill and park outside the Administration building where you can unload your luggage and register, or find your welcome packet and room assignment. Once unloaded, please park your car in the designated retreatant parking area.
By van (from/to New York City and New England)
Insight Shuttle offers a direct service between New York City and IMS at the beginning and end of all Retreat Center courses. Travel to and from other points throughout New England and New York is available at other times by private reservation. Rates, reservations and additional information is available here.
By air and van (from/to Boston, Logan Airport)
Major airlines fly into Boston's Logan International Airport, the most convenient location for onward transportation to IMS.
If you would like to share a van service to IMS with other retreat participants, you can coordinate this on our Ride share page first. Then book a service at a group rate to decrease costs.
Worcester Airport Limousine provides van and limo service to IMS. Please check online or call 800-660-0992 for rates and information. Rates vary according to the number of passengers and are cheaper when booked online than by phone.
Knights Airport Limousine Service provides a similar service to IMS. (Note: If you are coming to the Forest Refuge, for example, and sharing a van with someone traveling to the Retreat Center, make sure Knights knows that you are both coming simply to IMS. Even though each location technically has a different street address, you should be charged a shared rate.) Knights also offers a discount for AAA members and senior citizens. Call 800-822-5456 or book online.
By bus or train, then taxi (from/to Worcester)
Take a bus or train to Worcester, MA with any of the following services:
Peter Pan
Then take a taxi to IMS with Worcester Yellow Cab. They provide a 24-hour service from Worcester to IMS. Call them at 508-754-3211.
Local accommodations
View list (pdf)
Explore, discover, learn


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Insect Sting Allergy
About Insect Sting Allergy
For a child who is allergic, insect stings can cause serious and sometimes even deadly reactions.
Insects that can trigger allergic reactions include honeybees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and fire ants. When they sting, they inject venom into the skin.
Allergic reactions to stings usually don't occur when a child is stung for the first time. The reaction usually occurs when the child is stung for a second time, or even later.
If your child has been diagnosed with an insect sting allergy, keep injectable epinephrine on hand in case of a severe reaction. This is a medicine that your doctor can prescribe. Share emergency plans with anyone who cares for your child, including relatives and school officials. Also consider having your child wear a medical alert bracelet.
Talk with your child's doctor about seeing an allergy specialist to discuss the possibility of allergy shots. These shots can help the body react less to insect venom, which can make a serious reaction less likely.
If you think that your child might have had an allergic reaction to an insect sting, check with your doctor. He or she can test your child for an insect sting allergy and help you understand the difference between a typical reaction to an insect sting and an allergic reaction. The doctor also can determine if an insect sting site is infected, which requires different treatment than an allergic reaction.
What Happens in an Insect Sting Allergy
When someone is allergic to insect stings, the body's immune system, which normally fights infections, overreacts to proteins in the insect's venom. When stung, the body sees these proteins as harmful invaders.
The immune system responds by working very hard to fend off the invader. This causes an allergic reaction, in which chemicals like histamine are released in the body. The release of these chemicals can cause someone to have these symptoms:
- wheezing
- trouble breathing
- coughing
- hoarseness
- throat tightness
- stomachache
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
- hives
- red spots
- swelling
- a drop in blood pressure, causing lightheadedness or loss of consciousness
Anaphylaxis Is a Life-Threatening Reaction
Insect sting allergies can cause a severe reaction called anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis can begin with some of the same symptoms as a less severe reaction, but then can quickly worsen, leading someone to have trouble breathing or to pass out. If it is not treated, anaphylaxis can be life threatening.
If your child starts having serious allergic symptoms, like swelling of the mouth or throat or difficulty breathing, give the epinephrine auto-injector right away. Every second counts in an allergic reaction. Then call 911 or take the child to the emergency room. Your child needs to be under medical supervision because, even if the worst seems to have passed, it's common for a second wave of serious symptoms to occur.
An epinephrine auto-injector is a prescription medicine that comes in an easy-to-carry container about the size of a large marker. It's simple to use. Your doctor will show you how to use it. Kids who are old enough can be taught how to give themselves the injection.
Staff at your child's school should know that your son or daughter has an insect sting allergy. You should agree upon a plan in case of a serious reaction and the injectable epinephrine must be available at all times. If your child is old enough to carry his or her own epinephrine, it should not be in a locker, but in a purse or backpack that's with your child at all times.
Your child's allergy plan also could include giving an over-the-counter antihistamine for milder allergy symptoms. But the antihistamine should be given after the epinephrine in the case of a serious, life-threatening reaction.
If a stinger remains in the skin, use your fingernail or a credit card to scrape the stinger from the skin. Removing the stinger quickly can help prevent more venom from going into the body. Don't use tweezers because they can cause more venom to be released.
Insect Sting Allergy Safety Tips
The best way to prevent allergic reactions to insect stings is to avoid getting stung in the first place. Teach your child to:
- Avoid walking barefoot while on the grass.
- Avoid playing in areas where insects like to be, such as flower beds.
- Avoid drinking from open soda or juice cans and keep food covered when eating outside. Check for insects in drink cups and straws when outside.
- Remain calm and quiet around stinging insects. Move slowly to back away without any arm-waving or swatting.
- Never disturb an insect nest. Have an exterminator get rid of nests near your home.
- When in wooded areas, keep as covered up as possible. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and closed-toe shoes can help keep the bugs away. (Loose clothing can allow insects to get between the clothes and skin.)
- Avoid perfumes, scented body products, and brightly colored and flowered clothing because they all attract insects.
Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: September 2012


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Sean Leather spotted a new Gmail feature that checks if the PGP signature attached to a message is valid.
"A major benefit of public key cryptography is that it provides a method for employing digital signatures. Digital signatures enable the recipient of information to verify the authenticity of the information's origin, and also verify that the information is intact," explains PGP's documentation.
Gmail's code reveals that Google uses a Java applet to perform verification. Here are some excerpts from the code:
function zOb(a){var b=a[dd](/(-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----(.|\r?\n)*?-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----)/); ... var DOb="PGPApplet",EOb="exp/799/pgpapplet_0.jar";OZ[k].wbc=function $aRa(){var a=document[Qi](M);d(a,WNb({code:"com/google/caribou/pgp/PGPApplet.class",name:DOb,archive:EOb})); ... kOb="Click to verify PGP signature in this message.",lOb="Verify signature",RZ="vPzQab",mOb="Info",nOb="No valid PGP signature found.",oOb="Warning!",pOb="Invalid key entered.",qOb="Applet not loaded. Is Java enabled?",rOb="wrClmc",sOb="Success!",tOb="Your message was verified successfully!",uOb="Verify again",vOb="The signature was incorrect! This message may not be authentic!"
The new feature quickly vanished from Sean's account, so it's safe to assume that it's not ready to be publicly released yet. PGP signature verification is the perfect candidate to be the next Gmail Labs experiment.
Update: Expect to see this feature in Gmail Labs. Look for this image:
Workin' In A Cocktail Bar
4 hours ago


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Google Calendar is a good product, but it could become a great product if it becomes more accessible to the users. For the moment, no search box in Google Calendar has an action URL set in HTML, they are accessible only via JavaScript and the output is made for Ajax.
PROBLEM: I have to show the sport events of my softball team to my mom.
SOLUTION: Users should have a permanent address like http://calendar.google.com/username/calendarname that displays public events in a human-readable form (like PHP iCalendar does). You could share this URL to people that don't use Google Calendar.
PROBLEM: I've created a calendar of great cultural events in New York. How can the visitors of my site grab the calendar to their accounts without copy-paste?
SOLUTION: Google should provide an address like http://calendar.google.com/addcalendar?url=calendar_address you can put on a site, so visitors can easily add your calendar.
PROBLEM: You like to search events with Google Toolbar or you don't want to log in to Google Calendar just to search next week's program of the Met.
SOLUTION: You should search public calendars using a simple link like http://calendar.google.com/search?q=query and output the results as a new calendar.
PROBLEM: I want to copy Italy's matches from FIFA World Cup 2006 Calendar to my calendar.
SOLUTION: There should be an easy way to mark certain events in a calendar for copying or deletion.
PROBLEM: I want to use my favourite feed reader to check today's agenda.
SOLUTION: The feeds should have parameters to sort the events by date, to show only the current events, to restrict the events to an interval. If the feed would show only the current events, you could use it the same way you check mail with Gmail feed.
Popular Google Calendars
Google Calendar module for Personalized Homepage
Google Calendar plugin for Google Desktop
Answer: Identify these three insects
30 minutes ago


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One of the prime reasons that I own Camera+ is the stabilization feature. It works great. If both the accelerometer and gyro are used in conjunction with one another, this should provide for even better still photos as well as that awful shaking that you see in amateur videographers. (You know who you are. :D)
Apple files patent to use accelerometer and gyroscope for video stabilization
Apple has filed a patent to use the accelerometer and gyroscope in conjunction with the video camera of your device to improve image stabilization. The three core features could work together to hugely improve the look of your videos.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for video processes that selectively control the operation of motion stabilization processes. According to the present invention, motion sensor data indicative of motion of a mobile device may be received and processed. A determination may be made by comparing processed motion sensor data to a threshold. Based on the determination, motion stabilization may be suspended on select portions of a captured video sequence.
There are already software based video stabilization techniques that are widely used. The problem with software based solutions is the resources they use on the device; this can seriously reduce battery life. Not a great compromise on a portable device. Also the results can be very erratic.
Apple does point out within the filing that even this hardware method can produce far from perfect results. I guess the only real solutions to the shaky video problem is a tripod or to work on those arm muscles!
Source: Apple Insider
Have something to say about this story? Leave a comment! Need help with something else? Ask in our forums!
Reader comments
Apple files patent to use accelerometer and gyroscope for video stabilization
Oh boy... Another lawsuit to come over pre existing tech
They need to implement this technology into a DSLR for videos. I am a film maker and that would make it so much easier to get steady shots instead of the steadicam and vest.
A concept patent should at least be non obvious and novel. This is neither.
Image stabilisation systems that use a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes have been used for years in stills and video camera platforms for model helicopters. Most of this solid state technology was developed specifically for RC flight.


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Fall Career Fair
September 17, 2015 Noon - 5pm
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5 UAlbany students as they document their successes, struggles and growth. Read personal advice about choosing a major, picking a grad school, making yourself marketable, and so much more. Read the Blog
Check out the Job and Internship Blog
Come back frequently to see great job and internship postings!
Don't Delay - Start Today
Get connected to Career Services so you don't miss opportunities for jobs, internships, and career development.
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|City Clerk
|Agendas and Minutes
About Anaheim City Council Meetings:
Anaheim City Council Meetings are held in City Hall Council Chambers, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd., 1st floor. Public session commences at 5:00 pm unless noted otherwise. The meetings are broadcasted on local cable, Channel 3 and can also be viewed live online at www.anaheim.net
City Council Agendas:
The City Council agenda and related materials are available online by 3:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the scheduled meeting. The materials are also available for public review at the Office of the City Clerk and the Central Library.
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Weather for Mobile Smartphones & Tablets
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Madison Avenue reveals more of its Super Bowl playbookSTUART ELLIOTT
The New York Times | January 28,2013AP PHOTO
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will take the field next Sunday with the Baltimore Ravens for Super Bowl XLVII. Getting almost as much hype as the big game itself is Super Bowl advertising, which will take center stage this week with several sneak peaks from major advertisers.Super Bowl XLVII is now only a week away, and the closer the game draws, the more information Super Bowl sponsors are sharing about their plans.
What follows is the most recent news about nine marketers that are buying commercial time during the game, which will be broadcast by CBS on Feb. 3.
Anheuser-Busch InBev: The Anheuser-Busch division of Anheuser-Busch InBev is to release a teaser clip today to promote a Super Bowl commercial for a new beer, Beck's Sapphire. After several days of teasing on Facebook and YouTube, the full commercial will get a preview on YouTube on Feb. 1 and 2 before it runs during the game.
The commercial, by the ad agency Mother, will feature an animated goldfish — black, the same color as the Beck's Sapphire bottle — singing a version of the hip-hop hit "No Diggity" by an Australian musician, Chet Faker.
Anheuser-Busch also plans a sneak peek in full of a second commercial, for Budweiser, beginning Wednesday. The company's four other planned commercials — two for Bud Light and two for another new beer, Budweiser Black Crown — will be the subjects of teaser clips but will not be shared in full before they run during the game.
E-Trade Group: The E-Trade "talking" baby will return for another Super Bowl, the company said Friday. The 30-second spot, in the third quarter, is being created by Grey New York, part of the Grey unit of the Grey Group, a WPP agency.
Go Daddy Group: The company posted online Friday one of the two commercials it plans to run during the game. The 30-second spot promotes registering .com domain names with godaddy.com and features a cameo by longtime Go Daddy endorser Danica Patrick.
Both Go Daddy commercials are being created by Deutsch, part of the Lowe & Partners unit of the Interpublic Group of Cos.
Hyundai Motor Group: The company's Kia brand will offer moviegoers an advance look at one of its two Super Bowl commercials. A 60-second spot for the Kia Sorento titled "Space Babies" will begin to be shown Friday in movie theaters that offer the FirstLook preshow program from NCM Media Networks.
Milk Processor Education Program: For its first Super Bowl commercial — a 30-second spot to run in the second quarter of the game — the national organization that encourages milk consumption signed Dwayne Johnson, the actor known as the Rock, for a humorous look at how far a father will go to get milk for his children's breakfast.
A report about the commercial is scheduled to appear on "CBS This Morning" on Thursday, during which the spot is to run in full. A 60-second version will then be posted on websites like Facebook, milkmustache.com and YouTube. Deutsch is creating the milk commercial as well as the commercials for GoDaddy.
The previews of the milk spot will help it get wider viewership, said Vivien Godfrey, chief executive of the organization, known as MilkPEP. "We want to reach as many people as we can."
The Super Bowl spot is the centerpiece of a $10 million campaign, Godfrey said, that will include promotions, social media, print ads, in-store marketing and a tie-in with a program called Fuel Up to Play 60, sponsored by the National Football League and the National Dairy Council.
Mondelez International: The company began sharing additional information Friday about a commercial for Oreo cookies that it plans to run during the first half of the game.
The 30-second commercial will focus on the longtime argument among Oreo devotees over which part they prefer, the cookie or the cream filling, known in Oreo parlance as "creme." Brand fans will be directed to Instagram to continue the dispute. The spot is being created by Wieden & Kennedy.
PepsiCo: The PepsiCo Beverages unit of PepsiCo is disclosing details about one of the two commercials it will run during the game, for Pepsi Next. (The other, for Pepsi-Cola, will promote the Beyonce halftime show being sponsored by that brand.)
At the end of the 30-second Pepsi Next commercial, viewers will be directed to a website to apply to receive a coupon for a free 2-liter bottle of Pepsi Next. The plans call for giving away 1 million coupons. TBWA/Chiat/Day, part of the TBWA Worldwide unit of the Omnicom Group, is creating the Pepsi Next spot.
Research in Motion: The company said Friday that it would buy a commercial in Super Bowl XLVII to promote the new BlackBerry 10; it had not disclosed that previously.
The spot, which will run 30 seconds, will come four days after the official start of an extensive introductory campaign for the BlackBerry 10. The spot is being created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, part of the BBDO Worldwide unit of Omnicom.
Unilever: The company plans to release in full Monday morning its first Super Bowl commercial for Axe products. The 30-second spot, called "Lifeguard," is being created by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, part of Publicis Groupe.MORE IN National / World BusinessWASHINGTON U.S. Full StoryGroup recognizes Full StoryNEW YORK Stocks ended the day mostly flat on Thursday, recovering from broad losses earlier in... Full Story
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- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day 1739, 'Richard Palmer' identified in prison at York Castle as the notorious outlaw DICK TURPIN; IN 1836, Battle of the Alamo begins near San Antonio de Bexar, Texas; 1896, the Tootsie Roll invented by LEO HIRSCHFELD.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1472, Orkney, Shetland islands put up as collateral by Norway to Scotland in lieu of dowry for MARGARET OF DENMARK on her marriage with JAMES III, king of Scotland; 1962, JOHN GLENN first American to orbit Earth.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: City mayoral candidates debate campaign issues; Hartford, Conn., woman still missing; Neal Goswami reports attempts to legislate suicide; local woman loses 100 pounds through TOPS program.
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1878, JOHN TUNSTALL murdered near Lincoln, New Mexico, by the outlaw JESSE EVANS; in 1930, ELM FARM OLLIE first cow to fly in aircraft, first to be milked airborne; 1955, nuke test WASP; '79, snow in Sahara.
- TOMORROW'S HEADLINES TODAY: Rutland Herald News Editor Alan J. Keays and staff writer Gordon Dritschilo discuss stories planned for the February 18, 2015, edition of the newspaper: Winter budgets maxed, legal marijuana, Springfield bank job, USPS slowdown
- RICHARD'S POOR ALMANACK: On this day in 1249 AD, ANDRE of LONGJUMEAU is dispatched by LOUIS IX of France to meet the KHAGAN, ruler of the Mongol Empire; in 1804, during 1st Barbary War, STEPHEN DECATUR scuttles the pirate-held USS Philadelphia in Tripoli.


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You might not think much of a tree or why some would want to plant them but at A&M, someone has found a way to show their sense of giving back through trees.
In 1990, an Aggie named Scott Hantman wanted to give back to the community by planting trees. His reasoning behind this was the fact that so many trees were tore down to help build bonfire. He thought that it would be a good idea to replace the trees that they were taking. Like many traditions at A&M, Aggie Replant is rooted in deep in tradition.
23 years later Aggie Replant has grown tremendously. Not only is it a committee in the Student Government Association, but it's an official Aggie tradition recognized by the Traditions Council.
This year, Aggie Replant is teaming up with Bastrop State Park to help replant the trees that were lost during the forest fires in 2011. Aggies will be volunteering on four different days – Feb. 16, 17, 23, and 24.
Aggie Replant has stretched its boundaries far beyond the Bryan-College Station area. It's events like this that show the Aggie spirit in a whole new form. Students and faculty see a need in Bastrop and are willing to volunteer their time for a higher need.
Registration has already filled up, but there are still ways to give back. You can donate money to Aggie Replant by clicking here.
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Temple Beth Shalom, our neighbourhood synagogue, was a second home to our family. Not only did we walk through those large double doors twice a week for religious and Hebrew school and once a week – if not twice – for Shabbat and holiday services, but the synagogue also played a huge role in our family's social life, from youth group throughout junior and senior high, spaghetti dinners and cinema nights, activities to raise money for charity to so many Purim carnivals, Hanukkah parties and meals under the Sukkah. My parents were as active, if not more so, than we; dad and mom were both heartily involved in the Brotherhood and Sisterhood respectively, mom was on the bowling team and dad ran Thursday night Bingo – including baking huge sheet cakes to bring along with him. Mom was, for many years, the principal of the religious school and if a handyman was needed for anything at all, they were sure to call dad. And that was only the start. For as long as I can remember, they were involved, in one way or another, in almost every activity, every decision at that synagogue. And we kids weren't far behind.
As the Jewish High Holidays approach, I can't but help thinking of the Synagogue. My memories of those long days at children's services are stronger and sweeter than the ones of holiday meals at home. The High Holidays, Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), were spent in the tiny stretch of six classrooms behind the Temple's main building. There were old, clunky accordion walls separating each class space from the next, and during High Holiday services, those walls would be pushed open to create one long room where we grade school kids would spend most of the day. A shortened religious service with explanations would be followed by games and songs, stories and, yes, lunch. Metal folding tables would be set up and laden with a cold buffet; all dressed in our holiday best, we would fill flimsy paper plates with fresh bagels and lox, tuna salad and fruit drinks, cakes and cookies and snuggle into a chilly metal chair, one of those folding chairs with a desktop attached, and happily dig in. And more flimsy paper plates would be passed around piled high with apple slices surrounding a gooey, sticky puddle of shimmering, golden honey. Little fingers scooping up a slippery apple slice and, over prayers for a "round, sweet year" we would dip the slice into the honey and, as fast as we could, push the sweet, juicy apple into our mouths before the honey could slither and drip down onto our laps.
We loved those days, those holidays with our friends at the Synagogue, coming out feeling jubilant, excited for the new start, energized by the significance of the day, the weight and joy of the services. And maybe afterwards going to spend the rest of the afternoon and the ceremonial meal at the home of one or another of our family friend's. We would pop home to change out of our good clothes then join the others for more food, more apples and honey, more singing and more laughter. There was something so special about those hot Florida September days. A day off from school when all the others had to attend; special meals, special foods with special symbolic meaning: honey, the most well-known customary food eaten as is or baked into Honey cakes galore, symbolizing sweetness, eaten over prayers asking that the year ahead be sweet; new fruits, such as pomegranate, a fruit of the new, approaching season that we haven't yet eaten this year, in order to thank God for bringing us to this new season; fish, the symbol of fertility and abundance; and apples. Apples and honey to be eaten together; apples for their roundness and honey for its sweetness, eaten together as we ask God to grant us a sweet year circling round from beginning to end. And Challah. Oh, yes, Challah, the same golden, slightly sweet egg-enriched braided bread that is served every Friday night! But for Rosh Hashanah, the dough is braided and shaped into a round loaf. Round…. And then symbolically, as is everything on the Jewish holiday table, dipped in honey to be eaten in the hope of a round, sweet year.
Raising my own sons, as there was no local synagogue, or there wasn't always one, and no family close by, I had to create our own ceremonies and traditions. I would pull out each of my Jewish cookbooks, my Jewish catalogue and all the old books I owned when I was a kid that have, over the years, made the long voyage from Florida to France. And over the years and across the miles we have bought Yarmulkas and Seder plates, Kiddush cups and candleholders, Menorahs and even Hannukah cookie cutters, everything we could possibly need to celebrate each and every holiday. And as each holiday approached, the excitement grew as we began deciding how to celebrate, what to do, making lists of what needed to be purchased. And as a special meal and particular symbolic foods are the center of almost every Jewish holiday, our little family celebration focused almost completely on those meals.
The Jewish New Year always meant a glorious, joyful holiday meal. The boys and I would pull out all the stops to create the perfect celebration: white linen tablecloth and napkins, beautiful table settings, candles placed carefully in their candlesticks, all of my best, prettiest serving platters pulled out and dusted off. Wine and appetizers and a full meal. And of course, Rosh Hashanah meant something sweet or something tangy: either a North African holiday specialty of Lamb Tagine with prunes, almonds and honey or maybe Fish Balls in a Tangy Tomato Sauce. And a special Challah. Once we moved back to France, I had taken the habit of making two homemade Challahs – the tradition – every Friday for our Shabbat dinner. But Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, called out, nay, deserved something even more spectacular! And so I began the tradition of making Jayne Cohen's Round Almond Challah.
This truly is a Challah special enough to see in the New Year with. As Jayne writes in her wonderful cookbook The Gefilte Variations, long my Rosh Hashanah companion, "this sumptuous, fragrant Challah, a gift from my friend, artist and playwright Linda Rathkopf, is extra-luscious with sweet ground almonds, which stand in for some of the flour." I fell in love with this beautiful, delicate, rich loaf the first time I baked it all those years ago, and still do. With only a little preparation and the heating of the milk and butter, it is so easy to put together and so worth it! This is our family's Rosh Hashanah tradition, helping us to ring in the new, sweet year.
I want to share this with Susan of Wild Yeast for her weekly all things yeast Yeastspotting!
I made a few slight changes from Jayne Cohen's recipe in The Gefilte Variations; and I made mine by hand rather than with a food processor as Jayne suggests.
2 ¾ oz (78 g) finely ground almonds (or you can grind whole blanched almonds yourself)
½ cup (100 g) sugar
2 tsps salt
1 cup (250 ml) whole milk
½ oz (2 envelopes ¼ oz each)(15 g) active dry yeast
4 large egg yolks
5 cups (approximately 650 g) bread flour (I used French all-purpose flour), lightly spooned into the measuring cup and levelled off
16 Tbs (225 g) unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tsp milk, for egg wash
About 2 Tbs sesame seeds or slivered blanched almonds
Whisk the ground almonds, sugar and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Add the yeast to the bowl, without mixing into the almond mixture.
Gently heat the milk to 100° - 110°F, warm to skin temperature, not hot. Pour the warm milk over the yeast and allow it to dissolve and proof until frothy, about 15 – 20 minutes.
Add the egg yolks and whisk to blend. Whisk in the tepid melted butter. Add 4 ½ cups of the flour, one cup at a time, whisking or stirring until blended after each addition (I used a whisk for the first 2 cups flour then used a wooden spoon). Pour the remaining ½ cup onto the work surface and scrape the dough out onto the flour. Knead quickly just to incorporate the ½ cup flour and the dough is smooth and no longer sticky.
Shape the dough into a ball and place in a clean, well-greased bowl, turning to coat the dough with the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap then a kitchen towel and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 3 – 4 hours.
Punch the dough down and divide it into 3 pieces, as equal in size and weight as possible. Press and roll each piece into a long rope, making sure that the three ropes are equal in length. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a large baking sheet and place the three dough ropes side by side on the parchement. Braid the ropes – start in the middle and braid one end out, then switch sides and, starting back in the middle, braid the other half out and towards you. Carefully form the braided dough into as tight a circle as possible, tucking under the six ends.
Cover once again with plastic wrap and allow to double in bulk, about 1 ½ hours.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Prepare the egg wash and brush the wash all over the dough, even down the sides and inside the folds. Sprinkle with the slivered almonds or the sesame seeds.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes until a deep golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool.


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|Branson, Mo.
|High School:
|Branson HS
2011 - Helsel made his presence known early on as the freshman started in 48 of the 49 games he played in ... he finished fifth on the team with a .309 batting average ... He had 33 runs scored, 50 hits and 23 RBIs with five dobules and four home runs ... Helsel had a game to remember when he had the third-most at bats in a game (7) against Pittsburg State ... In that game he scored three times and drove in five with a double and a home run ... He also had a 4-4 game with a pair of RBIs and a run scored against Nebraska-Omaha later in the season.
In High School- Four-year starter at shortstop and third base at Branson HS. Received a multitude of accolades including all-state honors in football and basketball and all-area and all-conference in baseball. Also exceled in national competition, hitting .338 with 40 RBI. He also smacked 16 doubles and stole 11 bases at the National Junior Championships leading his team to a 4th place finish.
Personal- Born on September 7, 1991 in Branson, Mo. Tee is the son of John and Trisha Helsel. His uncle Heath Helsel played football for the Lions. Tee is an education major at MSSU.


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The Seder Plate
The placement and symbolism of the items on the seder plate.
By Rabbi Jill Jacobs
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The Passover Haggadah demands that each person see him or herself as having personally come forth out of Egypt. Accordingly, the seder is one of the most sensory-heavy rituals of the Jewish year. During the seder, we don't just tell the story of the Exodus, we see, smell, feel, and taste liberation.
Many of the elements of this sensory experience appear on the seder plate (k'arah), which serves as the centerpiece of the seder table. The seder plate traditionally holds five or six items, each of which symbolizes a part (or multiple parts) of the Passover story:
Karpas–a green vegetable, most often parsley. Karpas represents the initial flourishing of the Israelites during the first years in Egypt. At the end of the biblical book of Genesis, Joseph moves his family to Egypt, where he becomes the second-in-command to Pharaoh. Protected by Joseph's exalted status, the family lives safely for several generations and proliferate greatly, becoming a great nation. The size of this growing population frightens the new Pharaoh, who enslaves the Israelites, lest they make war on Egypt. Even under slave conditions, the Israelites continue to reproduce, and Pharaoh eventually decrees that all baby boys be killed. In the course of the seder, we dip the karpas in salt water (Ashkenazi custom) or vinegar (Sephardi custom) in order to taste both the hope of new birth and the tears that the Israelite slaves shed over their condition.
Karpas also symbolizes the new spring. One of the names for Passover is Hag Ha-Aviv or the "holiday of spring." Right around Passover the first buds emerge, and we look forward to the warmth and sense of possibility that accompany the beginning of spring.
Some Ashkenazi Jews use a potato for karpas, as green vegetables were not readily available in Eastern Europe.
Haroset–This mix of fruits, wine or honey, and nuts symbolizes the mortar that the Israelite slaves used to construct buildings for Pharaoh. The name itself comes from the Hebrew word cheres or clay. Ashkenazi Jews generally include apples in haroset, a nod to the midrashic tradition that the Israelite women would go into the fields and seduce their husbands under the apple trees, in defiance of the Egyptian attempts to prevent reproduction by separating men and women.
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