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North Aurora Hotel Inn and Suites
North Aurora Hotel has 120 comfortable, convenient guest rooms including King, Queen, Double and King Suites. Complimentary continental breakfast from 7 - 10 am every day. 24-hour front desk welcome center. Kitchenettes, free WiFi access and cable TV. Spacious free parking for up to 250 cars. Conveniently located right off I-88, Exit 117 at Rt. 31. Minutes from Chicago Premium Outlets, Hollywood Casino Aurora and the Aurora Transportation Center.
CITY:North Aurora
Relax Inn
Recently renovated and locally owned, the Relax Inn features rooms with wood floors and flat screen TV's , microwaves and refrigerators are also available. This pet-friendly hotel is located within 20 miles of four state parks.
Kinder's No Wake Inn
Located on the Mississippi River on the southern tip of Calhoun County, Kinder's No Wake Inn is the perfect spot for a panoramic view of the river. Serene beauty is what you will experience in your visit to the Inn. Uniquely decorated rooms will add some delight to your stay. Each room has its own outside seating and a large patio with terraced landscaping. Rooms have coffee pots, microwaves and refrigerators.
CITY:Golden Eagle
Wingate by Wyndham - Joliet
Conveniently located near I-55 and I-80, Wingate by Wyndham welcomes business, groups, sports and leisure travelers. Serving hot complimentary breakfast daily.
Relax Inn - Streator
Recently renovated and locally owned, the Relax Inn features rooms with wood floors and flat screen TV's, microwaves and refrigerators are also available. This pet-friendly hotel is located within 20 miles of four state parks.
Althoff Motel
We are locally owned since 1985. We pride ourselves in having a quiet setting, clean comfortable rooms at reasonable rates. We are minutes away from, restaurants, shopping, Quincy University, and Interstate I-72. We also provide affordable fax and copy service.
Howard Johnson - Lansing
Newly renovated in 2003 with 135 guestrooms featuring free HBO, free local calls, complimentary continental breakfast plus exceptional guest service and hospitality.
Sleep Inn - Rockford
The Sleep Inn® hotel is conveniently located near the intersection of US Highway Business 20 and Interstate 90. This Rockford hotel provides superior amenities, including a free deluxe continental breakfast, free weekday newspaper, free local calls, fresh baked cookies in the evening and a fitness center. Business travelers will find free high-speed Internet access, oversized work desks and access to copy and fax services. There is also a meeting room available to accommodate most events and business functions. Celebration Suites feature whirlpools, fireplaces, sofa sleepers, microwaves and refrigerators. All rooms come equipped with free HBO, coffee makers and more.
Sleep Inn - Tinley Park
Newly remodeled, corporate and family friendly, free WiFi, complimentary continental breakfast, fitness center, & restaurants within walking distance.
CITY:Tinley Park
Super 8 Chiago O'Hare
Super 8 O'Hare is located on the northwest corner of the O'Hare International Airport (ORD). We offer Free Shuttle to and from O'Hare International Airport, CTA Blue Line train station, Allstate Arena, and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Super 8 has newly renovated rooms with a focus on cleanliness and customer service. Dedicated, reliable complimentary high speed internet. 24 hour O'Hare shuttle service. HD television service. 6 miles to Woodfield and access to downtown. King, Queen, Jacuzzi suites as well as business king, and separate group floors available.
CITY:Elk Grove Village
Hampton Inn & Suites - Libertyville
Located just minutes north of downtown Chicago, five minutes from Lake Michigan and Six Flags Great America, this hotel in Libertyville puts you convenient to the museums, sports arenas, shopping, theaters and attractions that make Chicagoland special. Settle into one of the 96 spacious and comfortable rooms or suites with the amenities you expect, plus a few extras including an indoor pool, exercise room, 24-hour business center, high-speed internet in every room and enjoy your favorite programs on the 32 inch flat-panel TV. Each morning, we offer a complimentary On the House® hot breakfast to get your day started or take a healthy breakfast bag to go Monday-Friday.
Quality Inn & Suites O'Hare - Chicago/ Elk Grove Village
The Quality Inn & Suites Elk Grove Village is just 5 miles away from Woodfield Mall. The hotel is convenient to O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Rosemont Convention Center, Allstate Arena, Akoo Theater, CTA Train station, and Schaumburg Convention Center, and is twenty minutes from downtown Chicago. Hotel features include: Sealy Posturepedic sleep experience, TV with cable and Nintendo Wii at lobby introducing Mario Kart, telephone with voicemail and data port, iron/ironing board; hair dryer; coffee maker, alarm clock with radio, complimentary coffee and tea 24 hours in the lobby, reliable complimentary WiFi, Daily Newspaper. Facilities and services: A meeting room with theater seating, up to 25, non-smoking and accessible rooms available, safe-deposit boxes in all rooms, coin-operated laundry service, complimentary parking, exercise room available, Choice Reward enrollment and start earning points. Park & Fly available.
CITY:Elk Grove Village
Town House Motel Freeport
Located on the west side of the city, this is a 30 room motel with ground floor rooms, suites; non-smoking rooms; cable TV; movie channels; wireless internet; in room phones; nearby restaurants and shopping; pets welcome with manager's approval; senior citizen; truckers, government employees and multiple night discounts. One meeting room with a maximum capacity of 25. Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa.
Extended Stay America
We offer studio suites at a great price to accomodate your needs. All of our rooms come with a well-equipped kichen, including a full-sized refrigerator.
Comfort Suites Elgin
Offering spacious suites, meeting space, hot breakfast buffet, wireless/wired internet, indoor pool and weekly guest reception. Over (9) restaurants within walking distance which makes us the ideal destination for both corporate and leisure travelers.
Extended StayAmerica Chicago - Rolling Meadows
Welcome to Extended StayAmerica Chicago - Rolling Meadows - Schaumburg Convention Center. Our hotel is designed especially for longer stays with studios featuring fully-equipped kitchens and plenty of work space, as well as amenities you won't find in a typical room.
CITY:Rolling Meadows
Fairfield Inn - Tinley Park
Our guest rooms include a complimentary continental breakfast, hair dryers, coffee makers, high speed wireless internet, indoor swimming pool and spa. Discounted for AAA and seniors.
CITY:Tinley Park
Miami Motel - Oak Lawn
New look, low rates, friendly service, great location! Lots of restaurants in the surrounding area.
CITY:Oak Lawn
Candlewood Suites - Libertyville
Big and built for comfort these comfortable studio and one bedroom suites feature a full kitchen complete with microwave, stove and full size refrigerator. Work efficiently at the oversized executive desk with two separate phone lines and complimentary high-speed Internet. Relax in the over stuffed recliner while enjoying the CD player and VCR. Borrow a favorite from the free video and CD library or work off some stress in the fitness center. Visit the convenient store, Candlewood Cupboard, where meals and snacks can be purchased. On-site laundry facilities are also available.
Starway Inn - Lansing
Furnished with micro-fridge, wireless Internet, Cable TV, three minutes away from shopping malls and movie theaters. Semi-truck parking available.
Hampton Inn - Carol Stream
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Change can be a good thing! Enjoy our entirely upgraded hotel in 2012 featuring new guest rooms with internet ready flat screen TVs, new Perfect Mix lobby/breakfast area, and more. Nearby are lush golf courses and a variety of shopping and dining options.
CITY:Carol Stream
Holiday Inn – Mount Prospect
139 rooms. Newly renovated property offering guests the utmost in comfort and convenience, including free shuttle service to O'Hare International Airport. Flexible meeting space, free Wi-Fi Internet access and a Business Center are also available
CITY:Mount Prospect
Inn at Water's Edge
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Guests will discover the comforts of a world-class boutique hotel in this six-room operation on the College of DuPage campus. The Inn's eco-friendly design includes French doors overlooking a lavishly manicured landscape and floor-to-ceiling windows.
CITY:Glen Ellyn
Extended Stay Deluxe Lombard
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - Welcome to Extended Stay Deluxe Lombard. Our hotel is designed especially for longer stays with large studios featuring fully-equipped kitchens and plenty of work space - amenities you won't find in a typical hotel room.
Comfort Suites Grayslake
Beautiful all-suite hotel featuring spacious rooms with separate living and sleeping areas, microwaves, refrigerators and free high-speed Internet access. Enjoy our free hot breakfast, indoor pool, spa, exercise room and game room. This hotel is close to local points of interest like the Six Flags Great America, Gurnee Mills Mall, Grayslake Historical Society & Museum, Lake County Fairgrounds, Jelly Belly Center candy factory and Lake Michigan which offers a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities like hiking, biking, fishing and boating. There are a number of entertainment venues, retailers, specialty stores, restaurants, cocktail lounges and coffee shops in the surrounding area. Pets are welcome with a deposit.
Hampton Inn - McHenry
Newest Hampton Inn in the greater Chicago area (opened in March 2003). This 77-room property is located at the McHenry Corporate Center. Hotel features a spacious lobby.
Super 8 Motel/ Hampshire
Microwaves, mini-refrigerators and jaccuzi's in select rooms. Adjoining rooms, roll-away beds and cribs available.
Sheraton Suites Chicago - Elk Grove
All suites property on 12 acres. 255 two-room suites with Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds and queen-size comfortable sleeper sofas. Free parking. 5600 square feet of function space, 8 function rooms, 1st floor contiguous access The Link@Sheraton free to over night guest internet access. Lobby lounge level. Indoor/Outdoor pools. Full workout facility. Massage/Spa treatment available. Exceptional restaurant and Lobby bar, "Junipers" with private dining for 40.
CITY:Elk Grove Village
Elgin Inn
With a complimentary continental breakfast each morning, indoor pool, pay-per-view movies and a caring staff, we will make your stay enjoyable.
Motel 6
Newly Renovated Hotel Property, Outdoor Pool, Free High Speed Wireless Internet, Free Coffee, Pets Are Welcome, 3 Miles From Six Flags Great America, The Great Lakes Naval Training Center And Gurnee Mills Mall.
LaQuinta Inn & Suites - Matteson
108 guest rooms - in-room coffee maker with complimentary coffee, ironing boards, hairdryers, free continental breakfast and a complimentary copy of the Southtown.
Motel 6 - Chicago/Elk Grove
All rooms recently renovated. Outstanding location near the intersection of Oakton Street and Higgins Road. O'Hare Airport - 8 miles. Allstate Arena - 5 miles. Complimentary morning coffee. WiFi available in all rooms. Motel 6 offers clean comfortable rooms and great service at the lowest price of any national chain.
CITY:Elk Grove Village
Hampton Inn - Elgin
No. 1 rated for service in the State of Illinois. The staff is committed 100% to providing you with a great experience.
New Relax Inn
This property has 31 guest rooms and 1 suite. Amenities include free parking, WiFi, microwave & refriferator availability, non-smoking rooms and rollaway beds.
Elk Grove Hotel
Full service hotel with 165 rooms and suites. Located 5 miles from O'Hare Airport, we offer free airport transportation. We also have a great indoor pool for your enjoyment. Our staff is committed to making your stay comfortable and enjoyable.
CITY:Elk Grove Village
Quality Inn & Conference Center - Burr Ridge
122 room hotel. Indoor pool/whirlpool, exercise room, restaurant, lounge, guest laundry, local/airport shuttle & 7000 sq. ft. meeting/banquet space. Amenities: in-room coffee, iron/ironing board, hair dryer, voicemail/dataport phones & VCR.
CITY:Burr Ridge
Rodeway Inn
Located in Skokie, just blocks from the Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center, this hotel serves a complimentary hot buffet-style breakfast each morning. The 134 guest rooms are accessible via interior corridors and are outfitted with complimentary high speed Internet access. Guests can enjoy an indoor heated pool, a spa tub, a sauna and an exercise room.
Holiday Inn North Shore
Located in Skokie, the Holiday Inn Chicago North Shore is just 12 miles from downtown Chicago. The 245 guest rooms include a microwave, coffeemaker and refrigerator and free morning paper. A fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool are on-site, alone with Bar Louie, an outpost of the regional restaurant group.
Hampton Inn - Mount Prospect
Check-in and park your vehicle in our private underground garage. Refresh in one of our 120 guest rooms and suites. Each room is equipped with comfortable king- or queen-sized beds, free high-speed internet access and a 37-inch flat-screen television with a premium movie channel. Plan tomorrow's activities while reclining on your bed using our convenient lap desk or at the built-in work desk. Upgrade to a Studio Suite for options such as a walk-out balcony, sofa bed, wet bar, microwave oven and mini-refrigerator. Enjoy the comforts of home and friendly service at our Mt. Prospect, IL hotel.
CITY:Mount Prospect
Holiday Inn & Suites Carol Stream
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - 193 rooms with pillowtop mattresses (44 upgraded two-room suites), complimentary high speed wireless internet, indoor pool, fitness room & business center. Banquets for up to 400. The Italian themed Alberto's Restaurant offers breakfast, lunch & dinner.
CITY:Carol Stream
Ramada Inn Bolingbrook
The staff at the Ramada Bolingbrook is committed to providing guests a level of service that is still old-fashioned and personal. Whether your travel plans take you across the country or across the street, you will feel at home.
La Quinta Inn - Chicago/O'Hare Airport
The La Quinta Inn Chicago O'Hare Airport is just minutes northwest of O'Hare International Airport (ORD). We are the perfect destination for business visitors to United Airlines Training Center (2 mi), Elk Grove Village Industrial Business Park, Allstate Arena (3 mi).
CITY:Elk Grove Village
Howard Johnson - Manteno
54 guest rooms with complimentary continental breakfast, indoor pool, and free high-speed internet. Packages are available.
Inn Of Sterling
Large renovated guest rooms, refrigerators in all rooms. Spacious suites with full kitchettes. Coin laundry on site, also long term units available.
Quality Inn
The Quality Inn is ideally located one mile from historic downtown Sycamore. Your free continental breakfast is the perfect way to start your day! After along day, enjoy a refreshing swim in their indoor heated pool and a relaxing soak in the hot tub. Business travelers will welcome additional conveniences like free high-speed internet access to copy and fax services. The meeting facilities are capable of handling up to 25 people for events and banquets. Amenities include: Fitness Center, Indoor Pool with Spa/Hot Tub, Free Continental Breakfast, Handicapped Accessible, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Lake Zurich/Barrington
The brand new Holiday Inn Express is conveniently located off Hwy. 12 and State Route 22. In the heart of Lake County, visitors will find our hotel ideally situated to enjoy the many recreational activities of the area including Kemper Golf Course, Six Flags Great America, Deer Park Town Center Mall and Historic Long Grove. Guests will enjoy a complimentary expanded Smart Start breakfast, indoor pool, fitness center and 24-hour business center. All rooms are 100% smoke-free and equipped with wired and wireless internet, refrigerators and microwaves. An on-site 750 sq. ft. meeting room is also available.
CITY:Lake Zurich
Gateway Motel & Inn
Family owned-operated, affordable, high speed internet, HBO, ESPN. Clean, air-conditioned rooms with kitchenettes available. Near restaurants, shopping centers and Midway Airport.
CITY:Oak Lawn
Midway Inn & Suites
This property was completely renovated under new ownership & opened its doors in August of 2010. Located just minutes from Midway Airport in Oak Lawn, IL, the Inn offers comfortably appointed rooms at affordable prices. Midway Inn & Suites is a perfect choice for travelers to Midway Airport, weekend getaways, family gatherings, and visits to the Chicago area. Our Inn offers spacious rooms and suites with double beds, king-size beds, and jacuzzi suites. We also offer amenities to make your stay comfortable including free high speed wireless Internet and complimentary continental breakfast.
CITY:Oak Lawn
Courtyard by Marriott, Chicago Waukegan/Gurnee
This newly renovated, hotel located in the Fountain Square Plaza, is near the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Abbott and Cardinal Health and minutes from Six Flags. Relax and get ready for the day in one of 137 spacious guest rooms or 12 suites. Enjoy high-speed Internet access, premium pay movies and free in-room coffee - plus an indoor heated pool and hot tub. Start the day at the Courtyard Café with a hot breakfast buffet or grab a snack from "The Market" which offers a variety of food and beverages 24/7. Use the business center to charge your phone, plug in a laptop or fax/print documents. The 1,284 sq ft of meeting space is available for small meetings and social events. Hotel offers shuttles to Navy Graduation.
Ramada Inn and Conference Center
Conveniently located to all of Peoria's business locations and leisure attractions, the Ramada Inn Peoria provides each guest with all of the comforts and amenities to ensure complete satisfaction.
Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Fountains Conference Center
Shopping, dining, entertainment and more are at your fingertips when you stay at Four Points by Sheraton Fairview Heights. All guest rooms feature contemporary furniture, complimentary High Speed Internet access, and much more. Enjoy room service or breakfast, lunch, and dinner in our Fountains Café. Adjacent to the hotel, the Fountains Conference Center offers over 10,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space. Full-service catering prepared by our award-winning chef, a dedicated banquet staff, versatile meeting space, and High Speed Internet Access will help ensure the success of your special event. Come and experience why business and leisure travelers alike make Four Points by Sheraton Fairview Heights their first choice when visiting Southwestern Illinois!
CITY:Fairview Heights
Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Southland - Matteson
On the southern edge of the broad-shouldered city, the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Southland calls Matteson home. The quiet suburban village provides visitors quick access to the shores of Lake Michigan and an easy commute to the big-city thrills of Downtown Chicago.
Holiday Inn Chicago Oak Brook
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - 227 beautiful spacious guestrooms, executive suites, newly remodeled banquet & meeting space, fitness room, indoor pool, business center and Wi-fi, shuttle service, Bar Louie, room service available.
CITY:Oakbrook Terrace
La Quinta Inn Chicago/Oakbrook Terrace
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - 150 gold-medal rooms with 25" TV, in-room coffee, iron/ironing board, voicemail, dataport phones, complimentary continental breakfast, and on-site workout room.
CITY:Oakbrook Terrace
Hampton Inn & Suites - St. Charles
92 guest rooms; 350 sq. ft. of meeting space. Business Center; complimentary continental breakfast; indoor pool, whirlpool & exercise room; In-room coffee makers & hair dryers; 2 phones w/voicemail; Free high-speed internet. Suites feature 32" TV & CD music systems.
CITY:St. Charles
Comfort Suites - Lansing
Luxury, 100% nonsmoking, all suite hotel in south suburbs of Chicago. Complimentary amenities: Microwave/Refrigerator, Indoor Pool, internet, fitness center & hot breakfast buffet. Half hour from Chicago.
Holland Inn & Suites
Holland Inn & Suites is easily accessible from I-94, I-80 and I-294 and only 20 minutes from downtown Chicago. Free truck and motor coach parking. Cable TV with radio. Affordable rates.
CITY:South Holland
Georgios Banquets & Comfort Inn & Conference Centre
The Georgios Ballroom accommodates up to 1,200 persons. Ideal setting for your special event. Again, voted #1 banquet facility 2014 in the Chicago Southland previous 10 years. Voted The Knot Best of Wedding, 2014, 2013 & 2011!
CITY:Orland Park
Hampton Inn & Suites
In the heart of Southwestern Illinois...Welcome to the Hampton Inn & Suites Edwardsville-Glen Carbon. Guests to the Hampton Inn & Suites® hotel in St. Louis-Edwardsville-Glen Carbon will find plenty to do in our area. Our hotel in Edwardsville-Glen Carbon blends the perfect mix of big city style and comfortable small-town charm. While you're here, you'll be near gorgeous homes, 85 miles of beautiful biking trails and the fun of sporting venues such as the GCS Ballpark home of the Gateway Grizzles. Check out fun and quirky spots like the World's Largest Catsup Bottle, less than nine miles from our hotel. Or head to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a mere three miles from our front door.
CITY:Glen Carbon
Quality Inn - Schaumburg
Located one block from shopping, complimentary hot breakfast buffet, evening beverages, and high-speed internet access. All rooms with microwaves and refrigerators.
Super 8 Motel - McHenry
Conveniently located with clean, comfortable rooms, friendly, courteous staff and affordable rates. Private hot tub rooms available. Children 12 and under are free.
Residence Inn by Marriott- O'Hare/ Rosemont
The Residence Inn- O'Hare/ Rosemont is a 192 all suite property located 1½ mi. north of O'Hare Airport. Each suite includes fully equipped kitchens. O'Hare shuttle service is complimentary.
Wingate by Wyndham
At the beautiful Wingate by Wyndham, we know you mean business. Our upscale hotel is proud to offer a host of valuable amenities at no extra cost to you. Our all-inclusive pricing model gives you access to services and benefits you won't find at other hotel chains, all free of charge.
CITY:Tinley Park
Hampton Inn & Suites - Chicago North Shore
Guests staying in one of the 225 rooms will enjoy a complimentary hot breakfast and free high speed internet. Leisure facilities include a pool, whirlpool, sauna, and exercise room. Complimentary shuttle within 3-mile radius. The hotel received a the 2012 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award.
Motel 6 - Bridgeview
Newly Renovated Hotel! Offers complimentary breakfast, wireless internet, business center, fitness center, local calls, and USA Today newspaper to all guests! Call now and book your stay!
Cloud 9 Motel
This 22-room property has whirlpool suites available and free cable TV. Conviently located in the South Suburbs, this motel makes it easy to get to all area attractions via the highway. This is a great property for corporate guests and families.
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
A five star hotel located about 20 minutes from O'Hare Airport and 40 minutes from downtown Chicago. Joseph's Lounge and Bennigans Restaurant located within the facility.
Holiday Inn Express - Riverwoods
Country Inn and Suites has a charming, home-like atmosphere with a hardwood lobby and fireplace.
Carmi Motel
Offering Daily and weekly rates plus Western Union.
Quality Inn - Cairo
Daily or weekly rates. Kids under 14 free. Continental breakfast. Pets welcome.
Red Roof Inn - Lansing
25 miles south of the Chicago Loop, Red Roof Chicago/Lansing is located close to the Horseshoe Casino & the River Oaks Mall. This hotel features free Wi-Fi & complimentary local & long distance calls within the Continental U.S.
La Quinta Inn - Hoffman Estates
A great place to unwind. Rooms have enhanced lighting and expanded bathrooms. King plus rooms offer recliners. Free local calls. Children uner 18 free in parent's room.
CITY:Hoffman Estates
Star Motel
Affordable rooms.
Super 8 Motel - Salem
Clean, neat, quiet and close to I-57 with complimentary continental breakfast in the morning.
Super 8 Motel - Elgin
Begin at Super 8 Motel with free continental breakfast, and 24 hour coffee. Also enjoy free local calls and remote control TV with HBO, ESPN, CNN, Discovery and The Family Channel.
Magnuson Camelot Inn
55 rooms, indoor pool, whirlpool, pets allowed, complimentary breakfast, wireless internet
CITY:Pontoon Beach
Holiday Inn Express-Crestwood
The Holiday Inn Express, Crestwood, is conveniently located just south of Interstate 294 and surrounded by a variety of restaurants & shopping. We are located only a few miles from Midway Airport & close to downtown Chicago.
Colonial Lodge Motel
Oldest motel in Elgin.
Heritage Inn
A family oriented motel. "Spend the night and not a fortune."
Motel 6
At Motel 6, they welcome their guests 24 hours a day with a comfortable, pet friendly environment at the lowest rates of any national chain. Relax and enjoy all that Motel 6 has to offer like a free continental breakfast, kids stay for free, conference rooms for up to 10 people, and more! Amenities include: Fitness Center, Handicapped Accessible, Pet Friendly, Wi-Fi Access, Business Center, Guest Laundry
Hilton Garden Inn - Hoffman Estates
Hilton Garden Inn hotels offer spacious guest rooms full of thoughtful amenities complemented by friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere. 184 guest rooms, breakfast cafe, pavilion lounge, 24-hour pavilion pantry convenience mart. 2,000 sq ft of meeting space
CITY:Hoffman Estates
Terrace Motel
This property has 35 guest rooms and 3 suites. Other amenities include free parking, Wi-Fi access and non-smoking rooms.
CITY:Oak Forest
Country Inn & Suites by Carlson - O'Hare/Northwest
Looking for great hotel rooms near Chicago O'Hare Airport? Our Country Inn & Suites hotel in Mt. Prospect, IL, features 94 spacious guest rooms and suites decorated in cozy, country-style décor and equipped with all the comforts of home. Our guest rooms and suites are designed with your comfort and convenience in mind, so come and relax at the Country Inn & Suites.
CITY:Mount Prospect
Motel 6 - Harvey
This 22-room property is conveniently located near the I-94 exit, offering clean & comfortable rooms. Free parking is offered during your stay.
Hyatt Place Chicago/Itasca
Contemporary decor with stylish furnishings including divided living and sleeping areas, two double plush Hyatt Grand Beds™, state-of-the-art media and work center with a 42" flat-panel high-definition television that easily integrates with laptops and other electronic devices, an over-sized Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper, wet/dry bar and bathroom vanity with granite counter tops. Enjoy complimentary hotel-wide WiFi and continental breakfast buffet.
Courtyard by Marriott - St. Charles
121 rooms, indoor pool, exercise facility. Restaurant open for breakfast only, lounge serving beer and wine.
CITY:St. Charles
Extended Stay America - Skokie
The hotel, conveniently located off I-94, is designed for America's "Road Warriors" and available for overnight or long-term visitors. Rooms are approximately 300 square feet with room to spread out. Accommodations include well-equipped kitchens.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lombard
DuPage County, Chicago's Western Suburbs - 125-room new, moderately priced all suite hotel by Marriott designed for travelers who will be away from home for a week or months at a time.
Econo Lodge - Effingham
EconoLodge features standard amenities. In addition to standard amenities, all rooms include refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, and cable television. Free continental breakfast, high speed internet, and coffee are also available.
The Star Motel
This 27-room property offers budget lodging conveniently located near many restaurants, a laundry center, gas stations, grocery stores and a wide variety of shops. Free parking is offered during your stay.
CITY:Chicago Heights
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Marion
Marion's newest hotel, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, is conveniently located off I-57 and IL Route 13 adjacent to Rent One Park. The hotel location is minutes away from the Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) and within 15 minutes of Southern Illinois University. Leisure travelers can explore the local culture with area wineries, Marion Civic Center, The Pavilion of the City of Marion & the Illinois Star Centre Mall. Catch a Minor League Baseball game at Rent One Park, home of the Southern Illinois Miners! As a hotel guest in Marion, Illinois, you have access to modern amenities such as wired and wireless Internet access, refrigerators and microwaves, hot breakfast and a 24 hour business center. After work or play, our indoor heated pool (open in July) and fitness center are a great way to unwind.
Holiday Inn Express Rolling Meadows - Schaumburg
Complimentary local shuttle, full hot breafast buffet, outdoor pool, fitness center, business center, complimentary wireless high-speed Internet.
CITY:Rolling Meadows
Super 8 - Richmond
Free Superstart Breakfast, High Speed Internet. Close to Bike and Snowmobile Trail, Fishing, Boating, Skiing, Golf Course and Richmond Historic District. King or Double Beds, Expanded Cable, HBO, ESPN, CNN, Fridge-Micro In Some Rooms. Pets Accepted - 10.00 per day.
Budget Inn
Recently remodeled, clean, comfortable rooms at economical rates. Low: daily, weekly & monthly, rates available. Cable TV, non-smoking rooms available, restaurant on premises. For reservations call .
Best Western - Romeoville
Free Hot Breakfast Free WIFI Free local calls and HBO Channels. Indoor heated pool and fitness center. All rooms have refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, iron and ironing boards.
Motel 6 - Chicago/Rolling Meadows
Located just off Highway 53 North in the hear of the Rolling Meadows business district. Arlington Park Racecourse - 1 mile, Woodfield Mall - 5 miles. Complimentary morning coffee, swimming pool. WiFi available in all rooms. Motel 6 offers clean comfortable rooms and great service at the lowest price of any national chain.
CITY:Rolling Meadows


text:
jGuru Forums
Posted By:
Posted On:
Tuesday, October 16, 2001 08:31 AM
I have discovered how good is jGuru about a week ago. Thank you guys for site. It's cool that it is place where is possible to get answer some times in minutes(about Servlets/JSP).
I guess it's uncommercial project. Interesting, do u earn some moneys by making site?
Imho black line below the logo with describing current location needs redesign.
Re: Thank u jGuru!
Posted By:
Posted On:
Sunday, October 21, 2001 06:36 PM

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Mealtime Minutes
Mealtime Minutes are a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that provide real solutions to common family mealtime challenges. The 30-second PSAs help families create effective strategies to address these challenges and create quality shared time together. The PSAs are broadcast nationwide and reach 10s of millions of homes.
The Mealtime Minutes are funded by The Pampered Chef®. Since 2000, The Pampered Chef® has supported the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2006, Doris Kelley Christopher Hall opened at the University of Illinois to house the Family Resiliency Center.
Mealtime Minutes Public Service Announcements
Cooking With Kids
Adults who develop cooking skills tend to enjoy cooking more. Children who learn cooking skills are more likely to increase their consumption of more nutritious foods, including fruits and vegetables. Cooking together helps create family traditions and provides opportunities to share family stories.
Mealtime Minutes: Cooking With Kids (PDF)
Many parents report that meal preparation is stressful. Planning ahead can help reduce feelings of stress and fatigue and lead to a better overall experience.
Mealtime Minutes: Plan Ahead (PDF)
Pester Power
Children between 2 and 11 years of age view over 12 food advertisements daily on television, more than 70% of which are for unhealthy food. A recent national survey reported that parents believe that the media has a negative influence on their children's eating habits. This can in turn lead to making grocery shopping a frustrating experience as over half of children's requests for food while shopping are for sweets and snacks. Parents yield to this pestering because they don't know what to do.
Mealtime Minutes: Pester Power (PDF)
Picky Eater
Picky eating behaviors have been identified as a major barrier to having shared family mealtimes. Parents serve as important role models in helping children develop healthy eating habits, which is especially important as food preferences are formed early and remain stable throughout childhood.
Mealtime Minutes: Picky Eating (PDF)
The average 8- to 10-year-old spends nearly 8 hours a day using some type of screen media, and teenagers are reported use screen media for more than 11 hours per day. Excessive screen media has been associated with an increased risk for obesity and poor sleep habits. Limiting the amount of screen-time entertainment can lead to healthier habits.
Mealtime Minutes: Screen Time and Mealtime (PDF)
Work/Life Stress
Managing work/life stress has become an increasing challenge for parents. All too often, stress from the work day spills over into family time and this can adversely impact the physical and emotional health of family members. Parents report that not being able to balance work/life stress is a major barrier to shared family mealtimes.
Mealtime Minutes: Work/Life Stress (PDF)
Sibling Conflict
While it is expected that siblings have some sort of disagreement up to 4 times an hour, families frequently identify this as a real barrier to family mealtimes. The solutions provided draw from the research work of Dr. Laurie Kramer's More Fun with Sisters and Brothers Program
Managing Strong Emotions
Cranky children at the table rarely begins the moment the child(ren) sits down. Parents can start to recognize how they can change the patterns that set the stage for these unwanted behaviors.
Parents and families will have access to real solutions to better manage common mealtime challenges.
- Mealtime Minutes videos:
- Come Together for Family Meals (Flyer)
- Mealtime Minutes Conversation Cards
- Mealtime Minutes Tip Cards
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Read the entire story here …
What if Obama turns America into Europe?
Obama won the election. However, a full half, or more Americans either did not vote or voted for someone other than Obama. When Obama says that, and I quote:
"I didn't come here to do the same thing we've been doing or to take small steps forward," Mr. Obama said in his weekly address. "I came to provide the sweeping change that this country demanded when it went to the polls in November. That is the change this budget starts to make, and that is the change I'll be fighting for in the weeks ahead."
He is not speaking for America! He isn't even speaking for 100% of those who voted for him. Therefore, he is doing what HE wants, when HE wants and how HE wants.
Obama is a danger to our country, our constitution and our future! He must be stopped by every legal means available. God damn Obama.
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Keep beer fresher for longer - students helping Lincolnshire firm find solution
Posted: April 05, 2014|
A Lincolnshire firm is leading the way in discovering how to keep beer fresher for longer.
Stamford-based Cambridge Scientific Solutions are working with biomedical science undergraduates Raquel Rossiter and Daniel Perfitt, of Coventry University, are working with with a Lincolnshire science and technology firm on a solution to a problem faced by pubs and bars across the world.
Biomedical science undergraduates Raquel Rossiter and Daniel Perfitt are on placement with to help refine its new technology which extends the life of beer and preserves its taste.
The BeerSaver system – originally developed by CSS director Ian Lee – uses a lightweight coil inside the beer lines which carries a harmless, low-frequency current to stimulate the solids in the fluid and stop them being deposited on the pipes' inner surfaces.
The build-up of solids, which stick to surfaces and to each other and are usually made up of beer-spoiling microorganisms such as pediococcus and saccharomyces, can be sources of contamination.
Mr Lee, director of Cambridge Scientific Solutions, said: "We knew our BeerSaver technology was effectiveand did what it said on the tin, but to fully understand how we could develop the idea and expand it into other market sectors where it could make a real difference, we were keen to tap into the expertise at a university."


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On Saturday, May 8th Ballet West and Farasha boutique hosted Couture in Motion which was a fundraising fashion show event to benefit Ballet West. A select group of stunning Ballet West dancers strutted the runway modeling gorgeous clothing by designers from around the world from bathing suits to couture gowns. The event was held at the new St. Regis property located in Park City, Utah. This was the 2nd annual Fashion Show for the ballet and the evening included the Shoe In Art Auction, Fantasy Tutu and an opportunity drawing with six fantastic prizes. Thank you to Vanessa Di Palma Wright and Eddie Collins of Farasha, the fashion show committee, our event sponsors and attendees for making this another stunning event.
Photos by Ryan Galbraith
For Ashlee Christofferson


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Tagged: treaty
Cartoon for the next 2 months
Setback in bid to keep US air base on Okinawa
Mayor Inamine [center] and his supporters celebrate re-election
Efforts to relocate a US base on Japan's Okinawa appeared to suffer a new setback Sunday, 17 years after they began, with the reported electoral victory of an opponent of the project.
The mayor of the town of Nago on the east coast of Okinawa has won re-election, according to the TBS news station after the majority of votes were counted.
Susumu Inamine, supported by several leftist parties, is a strong opponent of the joint project by the US and Japanese governments to move the US Marines' Futenma Air Station, sited in an urban area in the south of Okinawa, to Nago bay.
Understand, the mayor wants the base off the island altogether!
Last month, more than 17 years after Washington and Tokyo agreed to move the base from the densely populated urban area, the Okinawa government finally consented to a landfill that will enable new facilities to be built on the coast at Nago.
The issue had been deadlocked for years, with huge opposition to any new base among Okinawans fed up with playing host to an outsized share of the US military presence in Japan…
The mayor of Nago does not have the right to overthrow plans to relocate the base but could refuse to approve the use of roads and other facilities necessary for building works…
Okinawa's Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, long a thorn in the central government's side, gave the plan his approval after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised Okinawa financial aid of at least $2.9 billion every year until fiscal 2021.
A bribe of $8,000 per resident per year.
Opponents support the removal of the US base from the town of Ginowan but want it relocated out of Okinawa altogether.
Let me insert an educated guess here. Founded on over a half-century of watching our Cold Warriors in action. I guarantee there is a secret treaty stashed in the GOUSA that specifies US troops will leave Okinawa and Japan ONLY when the United States says so – a treaty signed after Japan's unconditional surrender in 1945.
Japan has even elected national governments on this issue and then rec'd an unpublished phone call from the White House – most recently from Obama in his first term – and then announced they wouldn't be able to close the US Base in Okinawa. No further discussion allowed. So much for transparency, enlightened democracy.
The United States promised we'd never spy on the Brits — we lied!
The National Security Agency is authorized to spy on the citizens of America's closest allies, including Britain, even though those English-speaking countries have long had an official non-spying pact, according to a newly disclosed memorandum.
The classified N.S.A. document, which appears to be a draft and is dated January 2005, states that under specific circumstances, the American intelligence agency may spy on citizens of Britain without that country's consent or knowledge. The memo, provided by the former N.S.A. contractor Edward J. Snowden, is labeled secret and "NOFORN," indicating that it may not be shared with any foreign country…
The memo was provided by Mr. Snowden to The Guardian, which shared it with The New York Times. The N.S.A. also declined to say whether the memorandum merely codified longstanding American practice or was breaking new ground…blah, blah, blah, the agency said in a written reply to questions…
One paragraph, marked secret, appears to suggest that the preferred option is to gain permission from the country whose citizens are to be spied upon. But the very next paragraph, marked secret and NOFORN, indicates that the N.S.A. can go it alone if permission is not forthcoming — or if United States chooses not to ask.
Sounds like the country we've all come to know and revere for its respect for constitutional democracy and citizens' right to privacy. Just not in the last five or six decades.
What you didn't know about the Chemical Weapons Convention
The 16-year-old Chemical Weapons Convention has been in the spotlight since Syria decided to join in an apparent bid to avoid US-led military intervention over the government's alleged use of chemical weapons. But here are some lesser known facts about the origins of the treaty, whom it covers, what it covers – and who has complied with its obligations…
Between April 1997, when the convention came into force, and July 2013, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons – which polices the convention – conducted more than 5,000 inspections in 86 out of the 189 countries that are party to the convention. But the OPCW can't do much to enforce compliance, outside recommending measures to states or referring matters to the UN General Assembly or Security Council.
Seven state parties have declared chemical weapons stockpiles totalling over 70,000 tonnes, and so far some 80% of this has been destroyed…But only three countries – Albania, India and a third party widely believed to be South Korea – have destroyed all their stockpiles.
The countries with the biggest declared stockpiles, the United States and Russia, failed to meet deadlines for their total destruction in April 2007 and April 2012. The deadlines have now been extended once again…
The US currently has a stockpile of some 3,000 tonnes of chemical agents – three times the amount Western powers say Syria possesses.
There are some contentious exclusions from the CWC, such as white phosphorus – which if used as smoke (to camouflage movement) is not considered a chemical weapon despite its potential toxic effects. Napalm and dynamite are excluded because their primary destructive effects are considered to be incendiary and not chemical.
The CWC's remit also does not include biological weapons – weaponisable bio-agents such as bacteria, viruses or fungi – which is covered by the Biological Weapons Convention.
Because of foot-dragging by the US and the Soviet Union, it took a couple decades for the proposed treaty to make it to reality in 1997. All the breast-beating we still hear from our elected officials about the plastic halo they think we deserve for starting to destroy our chemical weapons, we remain responsible for most of the nuclear arsenal remaining in the world, a significant chunk of land mines.
Los Alamos National Labs avoided most of the effects of the sequester stupidity because they – and the nuclear welfare program at Pantex in Amarillo, Texas – are busy upgrading the triggers on our nuclear stockpile of death and destruction.
Obama should return Guantanamo to Cuba
That's right – it's called an invasion!
U.S. President Barack Obama should return the naval base at Guantanamo Bay to Cuba, and some detainees could stay on at a U.S.-run jail there, a former U.S. envoy to Cuba said.
Obama, by negotiating a deal with Cuban leader Raul Castro about the base on the communist island, could build a long-term relationship with its people, said Michael Parmly, head of the U.S. interests section in Havana from 2005-2008…
The U.S. base is a "historic anomaly" even though the two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 1961, Parmly wrote.
"The current partisan tensions on the (Capitol) Hill ensure that it would be an uphill climb, but it is the thesis of this paper that a similar bold step, akin to the Panama Canal, is called for regarding Guantanamo," he said, citing that 1977 U.S. return of the waterway to Panama as a precedent.
The 26-page paper by the retired diplomat, obtained by Reuters, is to appear shortly in the Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, published by the Fletcher School in Massachusetts.
"Guantanamo Bay Naval Base is not U.S. territory. Cuba is the ultimate owner," Parmly said.
Like Panama, Guatanamo is the creation of US military and economic interests. The needs of a sovereign nation never entered the equation in the past. How likely are Congressional thugs to decide to face the requirements of sovereignty or international law?
Time for Bob Dole to leave the Republican Party behind
Bob Dole is probably mad as hell right now. And he has every right to be. In fact, he should leave the Republican Party in protest!
Dole, a lifelong Republican politician who was disabled during World War II, made an extraordinary appearance on the Senate floor Tuesday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a United Nations treaty on the rights of the disabled.
Dole, now 89, frail and in a wheelchair (and just six days out of the hospital), hoped his presence would sway his party to approve the treaty, which is modeled after the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act that he pushed through Congress in 1990.
But his party, now controlled by the hard right, rejected it. With 38 Republicans casting "no" votes, the 61-38 vote fell five short of the two-thirds majority needed to ratify a treaty.
Opponents like Tea Party favorite Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) argued that the treaty by its very nature threatened U.S. sovereignty and could lead to the state, rather than parents, determining what was in the best interest of disabled children in such areas as home schooling…
An instance where just a fraction of the reactionaries in charge of Republican ideology were able to translate their paranoia, xenophobia, idiocy into party policy.
The treaty, already signed by 155 nations and ratified by 126 countries, including Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, was negotiated by the George W. Bush administration and signed by President Barack Obama in 2009.
"This is one of the saddest days I've seen in almost 28 years in the Senate and it needs to be a wakeup call about a broken institution that's letting down the American people," Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said in a statement after the vote. He continued:
"We need to fix this place because what happens and doesn't happen here affects millions of lives. Today the dysfunction hurt veterans and the disabled and that's unacceptable. This treaty was supported by every veterans group in America and Bob Dole made an inspiring and courageous personal journey back to the Senate to fight for it. It had bipartisan support, and it had the facts on its side, and yet for one ugly vote, none of that seemed to matter."
So this is what the Republican Party has become since Dole left office.
The article rolls on about the emotional difficulties facing Dole if he considers leaving the party he served all his political life.
Sorry, Bob – I offer the same unnecessary "sorry" to anyone else who thinks this is difficult. I have one family member who left what the Republican Party became under George W. Bush. He didn't need to wait for the crass cowardice of party leaders since the advent of the Tea Party.
That the party he supported for 50 years discovered a "mandate" to invade two countries and lay the deficit for those wars on the shoulders of following administrations on the basis of neo-con ideology, after taking office with a losing popular vote – was contemptible. Crap not worth justifying by any stretch of self-deceit.
What has followed through Republican opposition to the Obama presidency solely on the basis of losing control of the White House to a Black intellectual – is something lower than contemptible. Only human beings are capable of conjuring up such rationales for self-destruction.
"If Internet governance ain't broke, don't fix it!"
The best solution to improving oversight of the Internet may be to do nothing at all, a senior U.S. official said…while briefing reporters on a conference…that could decide to consolidate control within a U.N. body.
The International Telecommunication Union, the U.N. body convening the conference, has said there is broad consensus that the treaty governing the way international voice, data and video traffic is handled needs to be updated after 24 years.
With the rapid spread of the Internet around the world, the 178 signatories have decided to look into ways of increasing collaboration, using telecoms to drive economic development, and making the rules more relevant and responsive to the fast-evolving industry.
However, doing nothing "would not be a terrible outcome at all", said U.S. Ambassador Terry Kramer, who will head the U.S. delegation at the World Conference on International Telecommunications, which will be held in Dubai.
"The natural path we're on is pretty good," he told reporters in Geneva.
"Does that mean there aren't things that could improve? Absolutely there are things that could improve. But the best thing to do, if you could pick two options, one is to get prescriptive and get into a lot of things versus leaving things open, we're much better by leaving things open…"
Between ideologues who have nanny state-remits the size of a biblical epoch and political hacks living off the corporate dole I wonder sometimes how much longer Netizens will enjoy the comparative freedom we've had, so far. Yes, I know that varies from culture to culture. Cripes, I've been online since 1983.
The battle closest to my heart remains the confrontation between Web generations still intoxicated by the level of free speech afforded by the Web – and puritans, hucksters for rules and regulations committed as thoroughly to preventing thought as restricting dissent and freethought.
Senate Republicans want US shipping classed as privateers
Republican flag
When U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), both vice presidential hopefuls, recently declared their opposition to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, they virtually guaranteed that it would be dead on arrival if it were sent to the Senate. A group of 34 senators, including Ayotte and Portman and led by Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), is now on the record promising to vote against UNCLOS, which is enough to make getting the two-thirds majority necessary for ratification impossible.
UNCLOS was first negotiated 30 years ago. But back then, U.S. President Ronald Reagan objected to it because, he argued, it would jeopardize U.S. national and business interests, most notably with respect to seabed mining. A major renegotiation in 1994 addressed his concerns, and the United States signed. Now, the U.S. Navy and business community are among UNCLOS' strongest supporters. So, too, was the George W. Bush administration, which tried to get the treaty ratified in 2007 but failed due to Republican opposition in the Senate.
Today's Republicans continue their march backwards against history, against the best interests of American commerce. Their rejection of treaty law, multilateral treaties, guarantees outlaw status for American shipping.
All of Mexico's highly-enriched uranium removed to United States
Rachel Maddow reports exclusively the breaking news that all of Mexico's highly enriched uranium has been removed to the United States, and talks with Sarah Dickerson, National Nuclear Security Administration threat reduction director, and Anthony Wayne, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, about the distribution of nuclear material around the world by the U.S. and how the deal was made with Mexico to take their nuclear material off their hands.
That's the intro to several videos released last night as a special on MSNBC. About a month ago Rachel Maddow traveled with NSA specialists supervising the removal of highly-enriched uranium from Mexico's research reactors – to be brought back to the United States. The program was interesting in more than one way.
Regulars here know that one function of this, my personal blog, is to offer for reflection some of the few remaining bits and pieces of professional journalism I can find. It's a diminishing skill for a number of reasons – the biggest being the transformation of "news" into "entertainment".
Rachel Maddow is part of an even smaller percentage of journalists who carries job skills from print to video. As a news junkie I watch a lot more news than most. I watch news programs and explode often over incompetent journalists who haven't yet learned to ask leading questions – instead of stupid questions.
For this reason, I suggest you watch the linked videos available at the MSNBC site, Rachel's Maddow's blog. She and they may someday release these to easier access on YouTube or somewhere. Not yet. So, I'm not going to jump through all the technical hoops needed today – to host this at this site. But, I highly recommend watching, learning, thinking about the questioning both casual and critical. We don't get very much of this.
Click on the photo to go to the video site. After the bloody commercial and the intro segment, I'd suggest watching the videos in sequence. There's a menu on the left side of the screen.
Merkel and Sarkozy ask European Treaty to require nations to substitute legitimate accounting for lies
Haven't we been here before?
Under the pressure of financial crisis and with the euro currency at stake, the two key leaders of the euro zone said Monday that they would together push to remake the European Union into a more integrated political and economic federation, with tight legal restraints on how much debt national parliaments can issue.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, meeting here at the start of a crucial week that will end with a European Union summit meeting on Thursday and Friday, called for amendments to European treaties that would include centralized oversight over budgets and automatic sanctions against countries that violate firmer rules on deficits…
The automatic sanctions – or threat of – are the most Neverland part of the proposals, of course. Who expects a country unable to pay sufficient bills to pay a fine for not paying those bills?
"We want to make sure that the imbalances that led to the situation in the euro zone today cannot happen again," Mr. Sarkozy told a joint news conference. "Therefore we want a new treaty, to make clear to the peoples of Europe that things cannot continue as they are."
Mrs. Merkel, warmly embracing the French president despite their often testy relationship, insisted that the euro zone must be effectively reestablished under a different set of rules. "We want structural changes that go beyond agreements. We need binding debt brakes," she said…
The two leaders are aiming to develop a clear consensus among the other members of the euro zone that they will push ahead with a new treaty. They appear to be calculating that such a signal of solidarity will be enough to persuade the European Central Bank, the only institution in Europe with enough financial firepower to defend the ability of member states to raise money on bond markets, that it has enough political cover to move more aggressively to protect vulnerable countries like Italy and Spain.
RTFA for the details, anecdotal hogwash, hopeful analysis – all of which ignores the fact that standards meant nothing for the several nations brought into the EU in the first place though they didn't really meet standards. Creative analysis, voodoo economics were used to justify including countries like Greece into the club although they were miles and years away from realistic qualification.


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Longtime video game fans speak fondly of the "Disney magic" that made for great platformers throughout the '80s and '90s. As recent efforts demonstrate, however, licensing is only a small part of the equation. The reality is that many memorable platformers – including DuckTales, Rescue Rangers, and yes, Castle of Illusion – took severe liberties with Disney's characters and canon, leading to unexpected innovation. This approach may not sit well with brand managers today, but it made for great video games.
Modern-day developers of Disney platformers often lean heavily on the license in the hopes of repeating previous successes, but their attempts have come up short. 2012's Epic Mickey: The Power of Illusion for the Nintendo 3DS cited direct inspiration from Sega's 16-bit classic, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, but its gameplay was burdened with endless dialogue and ill-fitting Disney cameos. More recently, DuckTales: Remastered attempted to add more character to Capcom's beloved classic with frequent cutscenes, trampling the perfect pacing of the original game.
Sega's HD update of Castle of Illusion throws the failings of Disney's recent platformers into sharp relief, exposing the pitfalls of brand-driven remakes while demonstrating a love and reverence for its source material. Castle of Illusion is both a great remake and a showcase for the key elements that make up a successful platformer.
Gallery | 5 Photos
Castle of Illusion (E3 2013)
Similar to the approach GRIN took with its excellent Bionic Commando Rearmed, Castle of Illusion's remake downplays or strips out elements from the original game that didn't quite work out, while focusing on components that were particularly effective.
Castle of Illusion's basic mechanics remain mostly untouched, for example. Mickey's primary method of attack is a classic among platforming heroes: the butt-bounce. The attack has been tweaked slightly for the remake of Castle of Illusion, removing the need for an additional button press before impact. It's a solid change, and helps to make the game more immediately accessible.
Mickey is also equipped with a limited supply of throwable weapons, which can be used to take out faraway enemies. The butt-bounce is still preferable in many cases (and often necessary, in order to reach overhead platforms), but long-range attacks give Mickey capabilities beyond what you might expect from the genre.
Castle of Illusion's initial forest level showcases Sega Studios Australia's canny ability to reinterpret and improve upon 16-bit level designs. At first, Sega's remake greatly resembles the 16-bit version, pitting Mickey against slow-moving enemies and simple platforming challenges. Immediately afterward, the Genesis version of Castle of Illusion ramps up its difficulty in a level that takes place atop a canopy of spiderwebs, challenging players to complete several precise jumps over a bottomless pit.
In the remake, however, this sequence is reduced to an optional bonus area, rewarding skilled players with special collectibles upon completion. Failing this segment simply boots Mickey to the second half of the forest level, rather than taking away a life and forcing the player to repeat the stage. It's a subtle but smart change, retaining a memorable sequence from the original game while ensuring that it doesn't bog down players with a spike in difficulty.
Later in the forest level, Mickey must run away from a gigantic rolling apple in a brief but iconic action sequence. In its remake, Sega shifted this scene to a forward-scrolling perspective, evoking nostalgia for the chase levels from the 16-bit Mickey Mania and Virgin's The Lion King (minus the extreme difficulty of either game, thankfully).
Sega Studios Australia makes deft alterations to Castle of Illusion's formula throughout. Its 2.5D presentation and sweeping camera channels Namco's Klonoa and the more recent Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, and does a great job of showcasing the lush backdrops while interfering little with the foreground action.
Recent reviews
Many of the remade boss battles use this 3D perspective to some degree, but it works quite well in these cases. Castle of Illusion contrasts the too-long boss battles in DuckTales: Remastered with fights that are challenging, yet well-paced. The toy world's clown boss, for instance, benefits from the shift to 3D by giving players a greater range of movement to dodge his attacks. During the counterattack phase, the game briefly shifts back to 2D for precision's sake, giving the battle a good, clear sense of back-and-forth action.
Unfortunately, Castle of Illusion's boss battles are preceded by cutscenes that can't be skipped. Most of these are brief, but the lengthy cinematic sequence before the final boss fight will try your patience.
Boss encounters aside, Castle of Illusion is surprisingly light on cutscenes. A fully-voiced narrator introduces each level and provides commentary throughout the adventure, but the player retains control throughout, keeping the pacing consistent. Better still, the narration can be disabled entirely – an option that was sorely missing from the overly chatty DuckTales: Remastered.
While Castle of Illusion features many additions and changes to the original, one area in which it differs very little is its length. Castle of Illusion's remake is quite short, and can be completed in just a couple of hours. Sega Studios Australia lengthens the quest with hidden collectibles sprinkled throughout each stage, and the leaderboard-driven Time Attack mode should give speedrunners an excuse to tackle multiple playthroughs. If you're neither a completionist nor a competitive type, though, the game's short length could be a disappointment.
Length and occasional control issues aside, Castle of Illusion is a very successful remake. It captures the original's unique style while expanding on it in a meaningful way, without burdening the experience with unnecessary additions or other concessions to the Disney license. Castle of Illusion is blessed with a magic that transcends licensing, and 20 years after its initial release, it's still a damn fine platformer.
This review is based on an XBLA download Castle of Illusion, provided by Sega. Castle of Illusion launches today on PSN and September 4 on XBLA and Steam.
Joystiq's review scores are based on a scale of whether the game in question is worth your time -- a five-star being a definitive "yes," and a one-star being a definitive "no." Read here for more information on our ratings guidelines.
Buy from $300
- Key specs
- Reviews • 18
- Prices
- Discussions
- Game format Optical disc, Downloadable
- Online features Multiplayer, Voice chat, Video chat, Store, Browser
- Drive capacity 250 GB
- Controller type Wired, Wireless
- Motion controls Accelerometer, Gyroscopic
- Video outputs HDMI (v1.3), RCA / composite
- Released 2012-09-25
Microsoft Xbox One


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Olympic road race route video released (+ video)
Speeded-up film takes you through towns and villages, leafy country lanes and up and down Box Hill
Previous News
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With 100 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the XXX Olympiad, Surrey County Council has released a video of the route that will be tackled the following day by Mark Cavendish and others hopeful of winning the first gold medal on offer at London 2012, with the women's race following 24 hours' later.
The short video manages to cram into a few minutes what will take the peloton considerably longer, the speeded up film showing the route from the moment it crosses the boundary from Greater London into Surrey just after Hampton Court Palace.
From there, the riders head out past Esher, Weybridge, Woking and Guildford before turning towards Dorking and the Box Hill circuit, lapped nine times in the men's race and twice in the women's version, before turning back via Leatherhead and Esher towards Hampton Court, and after that, the finish on The Mall.
If you watch a lot of cycling on TV, you can probably switch on a random video and quickly work out which country a race is in and even perhaps the region, and the film from Surrey is no exception, with the towns and villages and leafy country lanes typical of the Home Counties.
Further information on the Olympic road races and time trials can be found on the Go Surrey website, while a map of the route of the road race is below.
|London 2012 road race route.pdf
Pity the aspect ratio gets wrongly squished at around 5 minutes.
two wheels good; four wheels bad
posted by cat1commuter [1448 posts]
19th April 2012 - 9:26
posted by leortp [70 posts]
19th April 2012 - 11:44
posted by nowasps [352 posts]
19th April 2012 - 15:00
If that were me I'd have edited out the bits where I was breaking the speed limit.
posted by farrell [1946 posts]
20th April 2012 - 1:03
Not sure I would bother putting this on the site, poor video, far too fast, next to useless for seeing route.
posted by Grumpyoldbiker [16 posts]
22nd April 2012 - 19:23
posted by albanb [19 posts]
23rd April 2012 - 15:26


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Having earned a reputation for well constructed, high-powered range hoods, Zephyr set its sight on redefining the industry by focusing on style and design. Zephyr has seized on the idea that everything in the home is an opportunity for personal expression and elevates the hood to its rightful place: no longer an afterthought, the hood stands above all, as distinctive in its performance as it is in its beauty.
•36" Width
•6" Round Vertical Ducting
•3 Speed Levels
•Dual-Level Halogen Lighting
•All Stainless Steel
•Aluminum Mesh Filters
•Electronic LED Controls
•Standard telescopic duct cover up to 9.5'
•Optional Duct Cover Extension For Up To A 12' Ceiling
•Internal Blower - Vertical Duct: 6"
•Internal Blower - Horizontal Duct: N/A
•AC Input: 120V - 60Hz
•Mounting Height: 26" - 34"


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The Associated Press
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, R-Nev., gestures during a news conference Tuesday on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Nevada Senator Harry Reid Thursday discussed a new report showing that on top of ending Medicare, the budget released this week by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) would cut $6.9 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Nevada.
According to Reid, by shifting this enormous financial burden to the state, Carson City would either have to raise taxes to make up for the shortfall or dramatically slash health care benefits for at least 136,000 Nevadans, including seniors, families and nursing home residents.
This radical proposal comes as the number of seniors in Nevada is expected to skyrocket from 12.3 percent to 18.6 percent over the next two decades.
"This extreme Republican budget proposal has its priorities upside down -- protecting tax breaks for billionaires and government giveaways for oil companies at the expense of middle-class Nevadans struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table," said Reid. "Not only does this reckless proposal dismantle Medicare, but it slashes health care for more than 130,000 Nevadans. We need to cut wasteful spending and excess such as taxpayer subsidies for corporations that ship American jobs overseas, not the benefits that Nevada's seniors, families and nursing home residents rely on."
Specifically, the extreme GOP budget plan would:
· Force at least 136,000 Nevadans off Medicaid;
· Shift the burden of providing up to $6.9 billion in health benefits to Nevadans to the state, which already faces an enormous budget crisis;
· Reduce federal investment in Medicaid, meaning any increases in enrollment and health care costs would have to be covered by the state.
Below is the full report:
The Republican budget ends Medicare as we know it - and their plan to cut $1.4 trillion in health care services through Medicaid would put an end to vital services that seniors depend on like nursing home care and home health aides. If Republicans get their way, Nevada residents would lose $6.9 billion in health benefits, and 136,563 could see their coverage cut entirely.
GOP Plan Could Force At Least 136,563 Nevada Residents Off Medicaid. Medicaid currently provides health coverage to roughly 263,600 Nevada residents, with the federal government picking up 50.2% of Nevada's Medicaid costs. At a minimum, the Ryan Plan could remove at least 136,563 Nevada residents from the program. [Kaiser Commission on Medicaid, 2/2011; Kaiser Commission on Medicaid, 5/2010; Kaiser State Health Facts, accessed on 4/1/2011]
Block Grant System Could Shift Cost to State Government, Slashing Health Benefits in Nevada By Up to $6.9 Billion When the State Already Faces a Budget Crisis. House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan's proposal could slash $6.9 billion in health benefits from Nevada over the next ten years, including $2.9 billion in federal investments and $4 billion to expand eligibility in the state. Nevada is already facing a $1.5 billion budget shortfall in Fiscal Year 2012, and a block grant system would force the state and local governments to either slash benefits or raise taxes to cover the shortfall. [Congressional Budget Office, 11/17/10; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/9/11; Kaiser State Health Facts, accessed 4/5/11]
Nevada Would Receive Far Less Federal Investment Than Other States Under Republican Block Grant Plan. Nevada Medicaid expenditure levels are relatively low ($4,586 per enrollee) compared to the US average ($5,153 per enrollee). Because the block grant funding levels are based on current state Medicaid spending, Nevada would receive less block grant funding than other states. Under the Republican block grant proposal, Nevada would likely have to cover unanticipated cost increases resulting from increases in enrollment or health care costs. [Kaiser State Health Facts, accessed on 3/29/2011]
Elderly Population in Nevada is Expected to Skyrocket from 12.3% to 18.6% by 2030. In Nevada, 61,900 seniors and people with disabilities rely on Medicaid to get the health care services they need. In 2030, 18.6% of the total population of Nevada is expected to be 65 years old or older, up from 12.3% in 2010. For aging and elderly populations, Medicaid covers services that other programs, including Medicare, do not cover, like nursing home care. The Ryan plan would require larger and larger Medicaid cuts over time, just as more seniors require Medicaid and health care costs continue to rise. [U.S. Census Bureau, State Interim Population Projections by Age and Sex: 2004 – 2030; Kaiser Commission on Medicaid, 2/2011]
FLASHBACK: Under '95 Block Grant Plan, Nevada Would Have Faced $68 Million Cut to Health Benefits in the First Year Alone. In 1995, House Republicans proposed a Medicaid block grant plan similar to the plans offered today. If the 1995 block grant plan had become law, Nevada would have received $68 million less in federal health benefits – a 15% cut – in just the first year of the new system. [Lambrew, 1/26/05]


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We offer discount to nonprofits, government agencies, and federal contractors
Recently the handling of civil immigration detainers by local law departments has been heavily scrutinized.
AILA Doc No. 12061661 | Dated June 15, 2012 | File Size: 645 KDownload the Document
White House transcript of 6/15/12 remarks by President Barack Obama on deferred action and that certain young people who were brought to the country as children will be eligible to receive deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal.
[[To print the PDF on this page please use the print function in the PDF reader.]]
Cite as AILA Doc. No. 12061661.Open the Document
American Immigration Lawyers Association
1331 G Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Copyright © 1993-2015
American Immigration Lawyers Association.


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- Musician's Friend Best Selection, Price & Service. Guaranteed.
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A single tap shifts to bypass for silent tuning. The 21-segment LED meter has High-Brightness settings for...
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9 patterns and 24 beat variations--plus combos and styles and tap tempo. Headphone jack.
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Whether you're a guitarist who needs a new tuner or a drummer who wants to practice with a metronome, you've definitely come to the right place. Since 1973, Boss has been specializing in a wide range of accessories to help musicians be the best they can be, and their tuners and metronomes are considered by many pros to be the finest. After all, practice really does make perfect, and any one of the tuners or metronomes in this catalog is more than capable of making your performance sound better than ever.
With so many tuners and metronomes to choose from, you might be wondering what's right for you. Honestly, that will depend on your own needs and preferences. For example, if you want a tuner that clips right on to your guitar, go with the TU-10 chromatic tuner. Boasting a stylish design, along with many features derived from other Boss tuners like Accu-Pitch and even a Stream mode, the TU-10 Clip-On tuner will make you sound flawless night after night.
Of course, we couldn't talk about Boss tuners without mentioning the legendary TU-3. A new and improved version of the TU-2 (one of the top-selling stage tuners ever), the TU-3 has a smooth 21-segment LED meter with a High-Brightness mode that can be seen on the darkest stages. From 7-string guitars to 6-string basses, the TU-3 will have you in tune quickly and accurately.
Now if it's a metronome that you're after, check out the DB-90 Dr. Beat. Loaded with quality sounds, varied drum patterns, and learning tools, this metronome is ideal for any serious percussionist. In fact, the DB-90 has a note mixing function that lets you create a variety of beats instantly by adjusting the levels of 5 different note values. Combined with an onboard microphone, input for your instrument and MIDI and much more, the DB-90 is just what you need to bring your percussion skills to the next level.
And Boss's tuner and metronome choices don't stop there. You'll even find models that contain both tuner and metronome capabilities, so be sure to explore the entire selection. Whatever you're looking for when it comes to tuners and metronomes, you'll have no problem finding it courtesy of Boss.
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About Great Rate DJs
Great Rate DJs Specializes in Affordable Disc Jockey's for ANY Event! Don't spend more money than you have to! Let Great Rate DJs help you save money by finding the best price on a DJ for your event by working with our large network of affordable entertainers!
Contact us anytime with questions or to get a quote at 1-877-888-9933. Be sure to also visit our website at www.GreatRateDJs.com. Thank you.


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Georgia Says
The Times, Gainesville, Ga., on some hits and misses under Gold Dome:
When the Georgia General Assembly was gaveled into action in January, hope was that a lightning-quick session would focus on high-priority legislation and fewer of the usual "hey look at me" proposals that often clog progress under the Gold Dome.
For the most part, that's been the case. The most important bill signed so far is one that was expected: The move of the state primary from July to May 20 to match the federal primary date.
With the primary date set, lawmakers are in a hurry to breeze through the 40-day session so they can start campaigning. State law prohibits them from raising money during the session, so they won't be spiking the ball to stop the clock very often.
It's inevitable some bills of lesser importance will be pushed along to get the attention of voters and certain special interests.
We wonder, for instance, why lawmakers continue to focus on a bill addressing where Georgians can legally carry firearms.
We agree knee-jerk moves to tighten gun laws after such tragedies are closing the barn door too late, aimed at preventing crimes rather than punishing lawbreakers, and mostly wishful thinking.
Yet there's also no hue and cry to make more guns available more places by the public at-large. So why are lawmakers preoccupied with guns instead of more important priorities? Two likely reasons. One, the gun lobby is powerful and influential, and lawmakers seek its money and support. And two, it's an election year, when officeholders play to voters with those "hey look at me" hot-button issues aimed more at gaining political attention than solving real problems.
For the most part, we're glad to see the legislative session conducted at a brisk pace with a focus on worthwhile issues. Let's hope they don't take up any more time than they already have and derail efforts to pass a short list — a very short list — of meaningful reforms to address real problems.


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($65) Bright ruby-red. Very ripe nose shows an almost Margaux-like floral lift to its aromas of boysenberry, licorice and mint. Sweet and elegantly styled, with very suave, nicely delineated flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and violet. Finishes with broad, fine tannins and lovely juicy persistence. Less dense and perhaps lower in extract than the 2004 but brighter and more ethereal. This may well merit an even higher score with three to five years of additional bottle aging.Author: Stephen Tanzer
Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio
535 bottles owned by 119 collectors.
Since its founding in 2003, Vinfolio has brought the rarest and highest-quality wines to the collector market. Located in San Francisco and Napa, we are a company of wine experts who understand and value the importance of wine provenance. Our premium supplier relationships and first-in-class technology help us protect your wine from sourcing through shipping with extraordinary care that only we can provide. Don't trust your fine wine with anything less!Learn More


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According to Tony Pauline of SI.com and TFY Draft Preview, the Seahawks have Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith very high on their draft board. We hear these kinds of rumors all the time, and most of them should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt, but Pauline is pretty dialed in. While other teams have removed Smith from their boards for character concerns, Pauline writes that Seattle has Smith ranked highly enough to consider taking him in the first round.
The Seahawks currently have the 25th overall pick, which would take them out of the running for the two elite cornerbacks in this draft class, Patrick Peterson of LSU and Nebraska's Prince Amukamara. And below Smith, there are a few potential starters who might be grabbed in the second round like Miami's Brandon Harris, Aaron Williams of Texas (who may project better as a free safety), Texas' Curtis Brown, and UCLA safety Rahim Moore, who this writer believes could be one of the NFL's best nickel cornerbacks in the right system.
But if the Seahawks want a first-round talent at the cornerback position, and they're willing to take the character gamble to get a bargain with the 25th overall pick, Smith would be a very intriguing option for a pass defense that finished 29th in Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings, allowed 7.2 yards per passing attempt, intercepted just 12 passes (tied for fourth-lowest in the league), gave up 31 touchdowns (tied for second-worst in the league), and 60 passes of 20 yards or more (only Denver was worse). With Marcus Trufant getting up there in age and Kelly Jennings still a question mark, it wouldn't be surprising if Pete Carroll and John Schneider considered the cornerback position to be just as important on their first-round board as any other.
In 47 games for the Buffaloes, Smith put up three interceptions, 18 passes defensed, 164 tackles (129 solo), and three tackles for loss. As is the case with many elite cornerbacks (think of it as the "Nnamdi Asomugha Rule"), stats don't always reflect performance on the field — the best pass defenders aren't often targeted enough to put up wild numbers. What does the tape tell us?
Pros: Tall, angular build (6-foot-2, 205 pounds), and he has good trail speed and agility in space. In press man coverage, Smith locks on well from the snap with a jolt within 5 yards and the ability to tightly follow different routes. Takes slants and crosses well and doesn't lose ground. Comes down hard on screen and swing passes to tackle and doesn't get misdirected.
Good eye for sitting in zones and sensing where passes are going based on route concepts. A willing and physical tackler when he's not blocked out of a play, and he's very quick to diagnose run when he's playing off-man or off-zone. Has the recovery speed and diagnostic skill to jump comeback routes. Boxes wideouts in well on nickel sets and has a good sense of what's going around him in zones.
Cons: Not always an accurate tackler when bouncing off blocks, takes on blocks with a high-stance and can be "out-leveraged" fairly easily. His eagerness to play the run can lead to a tendency to bite on playfakes. Misses interception opportunities by batting the ball away at times. Can be a bit stiff in hip turn in shorter routes, but that's typical of taller cornerbacks and it isn't an enormous issue in his case.
Conclusion: Smith has been behind two big names at his position through the pre-draft process — LSU's Patrick Peterson and Nebraska's Prince Amukamara. He's kind of the middleman in that equation — not yet a true potential NFL shutdown corner prospect like Peterson, nor an interesting hybrid player who may project better to safety like Amukamara. As a result, Smith's is a name you'll be hearing more and more as draft analysts catch up to him from a tape-watching perspective, but scouts and teams certainly know what he's capable of. A strong combine performance may bump him up a little bit, but he's a very safe mid-first-round draft pick for any NFL team needing a bigger cornerback who can play man and zone and tackle well. Spreads out well against motion from run support to wide coverage.
The Cromartie comparison speaks to Smith's height, weight, and basic athletic skill set, but he seems to be less boom-and-bust — we'll just have to see if he can take that to the NFL (picking up a few more interceptions along the way). If he can do that, Jimmy Smith could wind up as one of the best first-round values of the 2011 draft.
NFL Comparison: Antonio Cromartie, New York Jets
Tags: Aaron Williams, Brandon Harris, Buffaloes, cornerback position, Cornerbacks, Curtis Brown, Draft Board, draft class, Football Outsiders, Grain Of Salt, Jimmy Smith, John Schneider, Kelly Jennings, Marcus Trufant, Patrick Peterson, Pete Carroll, Prince Amukamara, Tony Pauline
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text: snoboard91503 5pts The 2 best things in my life are 1) Angus Mackenzie and 2) Google Maps Street View. Mr. Mackenzie, you not only know how to write a good article, but know how to vividly describe a place I now urgently want to see. So instead of waiting to visit Utah, I went on Google maps to look for Hell's Backbone. I was however disappointed they didn't have a street view for that, but they did for Rt. 261. WOW. Incredible. My stomach had butterflies from the breathtaking views to the winding roads. A hour later my senses came back to me when I realized coffee was burning in the break room. Back to work! However, now I know life is worth every minute knowing all of the beautiful places and roads I plan to experience in my car.


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Mini Paris Cupcakes
- 3/4 cup self-rising flour
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 drop red food coloring
- 34 cups confectioners' sugar
PreparationFor cupcakes
Line 12 mini muffin tins with mini muffin papers. In a small bowl, combine flours. In another bowl, cream the butter and sugar together, beating until fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add half flour mixture and beat well, then add milk and vanilla and beat again. Add remaining flour mixture and beat until completely incorporated. Fill muffin papers about 3/4 full. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove cupcakes from oven and let cool.
For frosting
Place butter, milk, vanilla, food coloring, and 2 cups of the confectioners' sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Gradually add remaining sugar until light and fluffy.
Ice tops of cupcakes with pink frosting. Serve on a beautiful tray or tiered cake plate.
Source Information
Reprinted with permission from Party Confidential by Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison. © 2006 Bulfinch Press
Epicurious.com © Condé Nast Digital, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Best Textured Websites For your Inspiration
Posted on by bmackler in Inspiration
One of the hardest and most important things for a designer to do when creating a website is to give it depth, character and distinction. You don't want the site to look flat and 1 dimensional on the screen (even though it is…). There are some sure fire ways of making your site stand out from the crowd but the use and blending of textures is a great way to add interest to your site.
Textures can add a great deal of character and will go a long way to finish off an already good design. Whether it is subtle or more extensive use, textures are a consistently popular design style used in web development. Even subtle textures can have a big impact. You will find them used in various areas of the layout including, the header, footer, behind the navigation or even he whole page as a background.
Today lets take a look at these versatile, beautiful and stylish textured websites for your inspiration.
Villa Dario
2 Responses to "Best Textured Websites For your Inspiration"
13. May, 2011
I love the feel of these websites, I had never considered adding a textured background to my site but these look great!
02. Nov, 2011
Look great! Can you post some designs for ecommerce sites too?? I am getting traffic, but the design is so poor, no one is buying


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Nail Polish Collection 2013
Hi my fellow polish-aholics!
I FINALLY filmed my collection of nail polish, and added some of my favorite NOTD photos from over the last year to keep the video more "engaging" so-to-speak, haha!
I don't have a huge collection by ANY means of the word, but I think that it's a carefully considered bunch;) [...]
Best Red Nail Polish – Feb 2012
Hi everyone!
I've been so inspired lately from seeing so many beautiful Valentine's day nail art tutorials as well as pins on my Pinterest account (btw Pinterest is crazy addicting but SO fun!!) that I just wanted to blab about the signature color of LOVE… and STYLE;)
So, when it comes to [...]
New Nail Polish Trends 2012
Hi everyone!
Ok, so before we drool over all the beautiful new nail polish trends for spring 2012, I just thought I'd quickly show you a swatch of what I painted my nails with tonight: China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint. Isn't it pretty? I have to say that it was a bit of a challenge to get [...]
Cupcake Nail Art: step-by-step!
Hi everyone!
So I decided I'd try a cupcake nail art tutorial. It was definitely one of the most challenging, but others make it look so easy!! haha! Anyway, I hope you like it!
Step-by-step Instructions, and products I used!
Apply a base coat if you want. I used Seche Crystal clear [...]
OPI Best of the Best: Review & Swatches
Hi everyone!
Over the holidays one of my best friends surprised me with an amazing X-mas gift, and doesn't she know me well… ;)
It's the OPI Best of the Best limited edition mini nail lacquer collection.
And personally, I really do agree that it comes with 10 of the best shades by OPI.
The [...]
Candy Cane Nails!
Step 1:
Apply 1 coat of red polish to all nails. For this I used OPI's Wocka Wocka! from "The Muppets" Collection.
Step 2:
With a steady hand, draw 2 diagonal lies to create the candy cane stripes across all fingers, and 3 across both thumbs. It's important to use a [...]
Silver & Snowflakes Nails
Step 1:
Apply 2 coats of silver polish to all nails except ring fingers. For this I used OPI "Kyoto Pearl".
Step 2:
Apply 1 coat of navy blue polish to ring fingers only. For this I used Rimmel London "Mignight Blue".
Step 3:
Draw snowflake at base of ring finger. [...]
OPI Nail Polish Colors – The Muppets
Hi you OPI and Muppets lov-er!
With the highly anticipated release of the newest movie "The Muppets" scheduled just days away from today, there's been even MORE talk about the new O.P.I. Muppets nail polish collection within the makeup & beauty industry…
Us girls have been Tweeting about it, blogging, sharing on Facebook etc. and [...]
~ Follow me on Facebook ~
~ GlossAndGlitz on Instagram ~
Spring 2012 Nail Polish – My current FAVORITES!
~ Top Comments ~
~ Blast from the Past ~


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Aimee Brodeur
Photos by Aimee Brodeur.
Photos by Aimee Brodeur.
Yum Yum Yum! I love the light leakage and the muted colours.
Simply beautiful. I wonder what equipment she uses?
good but seems identical to hanaah and landon
It seems identical to Hannah and Landon because she photographs them, you see them in a lot of her photos. They're friends.
nice shots. these are inspiring. =)


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Flourishing Families
Project Aims
Researcher Qualifications
Research Team
The Interview Process
Contact Us
About Us
Main Page
Related Links
This study seeks to better understand family life. We think that family life matters, but in the scientific world, our understanding of family life is actually quite limited. This study can help improve our understanding of how families help children do well as they become young adults. We also want to know about children who struggle. The Flourishing Families study can help us answer some of these important questions.
Copyright 2012 - All rights reserved


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Try this Deep Fried Poblano recipe, or contribute your own. "Corn" and "Fixed" are two tags used to describe Deep Fried Poblano.
Roast peppers over direct flame till balckened. Cool and rub off charred skin. Slit open and remove seeds. Stuff a hunk of velveeta inside it and roll in corn starch. Pop in the freezer for 1/2 hour. Dip frozen peppers in scrambled egg and coat well in bread crumbs. Drop into hot grease and fry till very crispy. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes and enjoy. Busted by Christopher E. Eaves
|My private notes
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Welcome to the Orioles Nation Mailbag. If you have future questions, you can submit them here:
All major league questions answered by Alex Conway.
All minor league questions answered by Tucker Blair.
Can you try to explain the discrepancy that MLB analysts think the O's could win 93 games, but projection systems think closer to 79-80?
Projection systems and MLB analysts really are not that different when it comes down to it. Both sides take in information and try to guess what the record will be based upon that information. The analyst side is certainly less exact and less mathematically inclined, but often that does not mean it is any less accurate. Analysts have flaws in their own biases and knowledge base. Projection systems have flaws in that they are based off of past performance meaning they are unable to typically predict when a player will progress or regress, projection systems can make incorrect playing time allotments based off of injuries, and a myriad of other problems that lie in trying to simply the complicated. Lastly, both analysts and projections systems cannot account for luck, or random statistical variance, reducing the value of any prediction. — Alex
What are your thoughts on the Baysox team so far? Especially Michael Ohlman
Through the first series, the Bowie Baysox have looked tremendous against the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals). Strong pitching performances by Tyler Wilson and Tim Berry, along with Eduardo Rodriguez's pure talent. The bullpen has also been solid, with Juan Morillo and Fabio Castillo touching upper 90's with their fastball. Overall, the pitching has been terrific. On the offensive side, they have been knocking the cover off the ball, along with having some great AB's. This team does not have a ton of prospects on the offensive side, and mostly consists of a minor-league veteran-heavy lineup.
Michael Ohlman has looked great at the plate, showing that his plate approach will carry over to the next level. I wrote a report on Ohlman a few weeks ago, and not much has really changed. I truly think he can hit at the MLB level. The defense has been up and down at Bowie so far. The footwork is still an issue, and has effected a few of opportunities to block wild pitches. It is early in, but the defense is easily his main concern at this point. — Tucker
First time through the rotation, what are your thoughts?
First and foremost, it is only one time through the rotation so nothing is set in stone quite yet. That being said, the Orioles' starters have not inspired much confidence. They are not quite this bad, but they are pitching up in the zone too much and throwing too many pitches. Even Tillman was up all game long, he just was not burned as bad as the others. The short outings are beginning to tax the bullpen already and the same problems as last year are beginning to creep up. Judgments should wait to be levied until at least another couple of starts. However, if the rotation does not turn around this team will be plagued once again by the same problems it had last season — Alex
Any concern that Josh Hart is batting .000 so far?
No, it has been three games. Mike Trout will have a stretch where he doesn't get a hit in three games. Baseball is hard, and Hart is a raw bat with plenty of adjustments and growth needed at the Low-A level still. Relax, at least wait a month before getting worried. — Tucker


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hey guys!
so i have been saving my butt off recently to build myself a new computer from the ground up. 4 x 3,0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, Geforce GTX 460 and a 1 TB HDD should be sufficient, i think.
One of the main reasons was video editing, and i know how it works in theory, i just dont get files from vdub that i can work with. They either have terrible qualitiy or cant be used in vegas because the preview stutters like hell.
So what settings do you guys exactly use to render your videos? i mean both for vdub and vegas.
On a side note: Most of my videos (when rendering with vegas) take anout a minute to not render at all. The function works, but the preview shows nothing and i just get a 2 MB file without any video data. I guess that happens when the source files are too big, so what size should i go for (again, bot for the first avi and the final movie)?
I'm not new to video editing, but this cl_avidemo, then rendering gives me massive headache right now.
Hope someone can help me with this
Edit: Oh, and i tried to find a tutorial, either for rendering itself or for quake specifically, but all i found said "then render your movie" without any real hints at codecs, quality or size....