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Fabulous Cruise on a Slightly Quirky Ship: Norwegian Breakaway Cruise Review by SeaMaverick
Overall Member Rating
Fabulous Cruise on a Slightly Quirky Ship
Destination: Bermuda
Embarkation: New York (Manhattan)
My wife and I have taken enough cruises now to know that no ship can be everything for everyone. Even the Breakaway, which is huge, new, clean and gorgeous, has its share of quirks. Some of these I, personally, found to be disappointing. But they certainly are not enough to merit rating the ship anything less than 5 stars. By far and away, More Norwegian's "Free Style" cruising is the best fit for our preferred style of vacation: relaxed, casual, unstructured and informal.
Before reviewing the ship I feel it is necessary to make a statement for the reader of this, or any of these other Cruise Critic reviews, to keep in mind. One must be mindful of the fact that NCL is a publicly traded company whose intent is to be profitable. When viewed through the lens of their business model, NCL increases their revenue in four main ways: 1) increasing the up front price in order to cover their fixed costs, 2) increasing the number of passengers each ship can carry, 3) increasing the number of venues or services which require those passengers to pay an additional fee, and 4) increasing the amount of these fees. Given the limited confines of a ship, the trade offs for these increases often manifest themselves in the form of smaller cabins, less public space and fewer complimentary activities. This is not unique for NCL, but is true of the cruise industry as a whole. The trick is to find the balancing point where a company can maximize profits without turning off its customers.
In the case of the Breakaway, NCL has come close to achieving balance between the needs of the business of the desires of the customers. Granted, NCL wants its passengers to spend money while on the ship, to purchase drinks, to go to the specialty restaurants, and to buy on-board packages. That's fine. It is a big ship, and even guests like myself who want to do little more than walk around in the fresh air, look at the ocean, enjoy the meals offered by the Main Dining Room and take in a nightly show can find a thousand ways to have fun. Passengers on Norwegian are truly free to do as much, or as little, as they want.
EMBARKATION: The New York piers are normally a madhouse, but Norwegian seems to have found a way to move things along quickly once you leave your luggage with one of the curbside porters. Please note, in an effort to reduce costs NCL no longer mails your luggage tags prior to the cruise. Instead, you are instructed to print your own. I strongly recommend that you take the extra precaution of reinforcing your tags with clear packing tape before folding and affixing them to your luggage to prevent them from being accidentally ripped off during handling. The extra ounce of prevention could help save you from asking about your luggage at Guest Services, as we saw numerous people doing.
We arrived at Pier 88 about 11:30 and in less than a half-hour had moved through security, checked-in, had our sail away photos taken, and were up the gangplank and onto the ship. It was a little disappointing that NCL was not using crew or cast members to greet the guests as they came aboard, as we have seen done on other ships, but it was nice that our cabins were already available by noon if we wanted to drop off our carry-on luggage. As a tip, the first person you meet on the ship will probably try to direct you up to the Garden Café for the buffet lunch. But note that both Taste and Savor, two of the Main Dining Rooms, are also open for a more refined, sit down lunch.
CABINS: By the time we finished lunch in Taste and went to our cabin, not only had our luggage arrived but our steward (Jairo) had already brought it into our room for us and set it on the bed. That was a nice touch. As noted in other reviews, the standard balcony cabins on the Breakaway are on the small side and the balconies themselves are smaller than on other ships we have sailed. (The balcony is the width of the room, but only about 3 ½ feet deep.) There is ample room in the cabin for a couple, however, with numerous shelves in the closet and several under the TV, to stow all of your clothing. There are no drawers, unless you count the two under the sofa, but they contained the bedding and pillows for the two extra berths which could be set up in this cabin. The bathroom has sufficient counter space and is roomy enough in which to more around without banging elbows or knees, though the shower is a little tight for two to share.
Here are a few of the quirks that others have mentioned. First, the cabins are designed to be energy efficient. That means that when you leave them, all of the electricity turns off. Upon entering the cabin there is a small device on the wall into which one must insert and leave either their keycard or any similarly shaped plastic card (we used a McDonald's card) in order to turn the electric on. It really isn't a big deal during the day in a balcony cabin as there is sufficient light in the room. It does become an issue at night, however, as the lights in the cabin will not turn on unless you leave a card inserted and the room is quite dark otherwise. Also, since the bathroom has no window, inserting a card into this device is critical. Leaving a card in the slot is also essential if you intend to charge any electronic devices while you are not in the cabin.
Second, the room safe in the closet is about half the size we have found on other ships. It was large enough to accommodate our wallet, purse, passports and jewelry – but not much more. On other ships I would sometimes lock my SLR camera in the safe. On the Breakaway, it would not even fit.
Third, the problem we had with the balconies was not that they were small, but that they are NOT private. And I do not mean that in the sense, as on all cruise ships, that if you lean forward you can look into the balcony to your left or right. Because of the design of the Waterfront on deck 8 of the Breakaway, and the lifeboat stations on deck 7, the balconies are all recessed inward from the exterior hull of the ship. This means that people strolling on decks 7 and 8 can look up at all of the balconies, and for some of the lower cabins can even look into the balconies. It is not a major deal, but if one likes to sit out on their balcony in their bathrobe, or less, this is not the ship on which to do it.
Since my SIL was along with us, I had a chance to check out her Solo cabin and the Lounge. The Solo cabin was certainly large enough for one person, offering all of the amenities of an inside cabin but in a smaller scale. The lounge area for solo travels was roomy, with plenty of space to hang out or meet other travelers. I would certainly think this space is a big plus for passengers traveling alone, or as an individual who is part of a larger group and not looking to share a cabin.
DINING ROOMS: The Breakaway has enough fee-based restaurants that a person can dine at a different venue every night of the cruise. But there really is no need to do so, unless you want to, as the three complimentary Main Dining Rooms offer a great choice of tasty meals. Other than the port days, in which we ate breakfast and lunch at the buffet in the Garden Café, we had all of our meals in one of the MDRs. Breakfast took about an hour, while Lunch took about 1 ½ hours, in an unhurried atmosphere in both Taste and Savor. All of our dinners were in the Manhattan Room, and usually took about 2+ hours. To some that might feel like the service was slow, but we were never in any rush and enjoyed the slower pace.
The two best features of the Manhattan Room are the live band and the dance floor. The Manhattan Room band provides live music during dinner, which helps to set the ambiance of the room. We enjoyed just sitting and listening to them between courses. And the dance floor, though never used by more than a handful of couples at any one time, gave a great opportunity for people watching. Also, on three nights when the Burn the Floor show is not performing in the theater, the cast members present a 30 minute show in the Manhattan Room during dinner. We absolutely loved these performances.
Although the Manhattan Room does fill up, and the waiting line to get in could exceed an hour, if you arrive when the MDR opens at 5:30, as we did each night, there was never a wait and we had no problem requesting a table adjacent to the dance floor, right near the band.
FOOD: Many would argue that the food onboard the Breakaway is typical cruise ship fare. The ship does serve the same fleet menu that is used on other NCL ships. But as my wife and I would reply, we did not have to go to the grocery store to buy it, we did not have to prepare it, we did not have to cook it, and we did not have to clean up after it. So it was WONDERFUL. And indeed, the variety and quality of the meals in the MDR was ample enough that we were never disappointed. Starting with the Surf-n-Turf the first night, during which I requested and received a second full lobster tail to accompany my steak, and proceeding through such nightly dinners as prime rib (perfectly prepared), salmon, mahi-mahi, shrimp risotto and New Orleans Style Shrimp, there was not a single starter, entree or dessert that missed the mark in regards to temperature or tastiness. All of the soups, and all of the salads, were equally enjoyable.
Breakfast and lunch, served in Taste and Savor, is not as varied as the dinner menu, but the food was hot and abundant. I would recommend the Salmon Eggs Benedict as a breakfast item, and the Vietnamese Spring Rolls as a lunch starter. Both were outrageously good.
It was a disappointment that the Garden Café was not open for a late night snack at midnight, as it closes at 11:30. But O'Sheehans is open 24 hours and is the spot to go for a pot of tea and a hot dog any time of the day, even in the early AM.
The Sabrett Hot Dog carts on the ship offer a nice touch of New York. They only operate for a few hours each afternoon, however, so one must plan accordingly. The cart on Deck 8 is open 12-3 and the cart in Spice H2O is open 3-5. Check the times in your daily planner. For our opinion, it was a nice treat to bite into one of these dogs, with the works, while standing by the railing watching the ocean slide past.
BARS and LOUNGES: We are not the type of cruiser who frequents any of the ship's bars, so I cannot comment on them other to say that from what I saw, they always seemed to have a good crowd. We did go to the Ice Bar one night, more so for the experience than for the drinks. It costs $20 per person, which includes 2 drinks. The room itself is a small deep freezer, kept at 17F, and sparsely decorated with some ice sculptures and blue lights. Although it was fun, and chilling, this is one aspect of the Breakaway that definitely could use a makeover. The actual appearance looks nothing like the artist concept images used to promote this room.
SHOWS – Several reviews have commented that the theatre is small, with no balcony seating. This is true. Part of the reason, once again, is NCL's business model. Remember – NCL is free style dining. There are no set seating times or restaurants. So, unlike a ship that splits its passengers into two seatings and needs to have a theatre that is large enough to accommodate half of the passengers in one show while the other half is at dinner, and then vice versa, the Breakaway needs to have more flexibility. That means a smaller theatre. The downside is that in order to manage potential crowd control, yet still allow every guest the opportunity to see each show, reservations are required even for the complimentary shows. And, each guest is only permitted to make one reservation per show per voyage. That is disappointing. But there is a silver lining. Ten minutes before each show starts the standby guests can enter the theatre if there are seats remaining. And, or so it appears, NCL seems to have built in a little leeway to accommodate these standby patrons even when a show is shown as "sold out".
The shows on the Breakaway are definitely worth seeing at least once, and more than once if it fits your schedule. Burn the Floor is a high energy, 60-minute performance by an ensemble of six dance couples. Although Jenna and Meaghan are perhaps the standout performers of the group, all of the couples are fabulous. We caught the Burn the Floor performance on three separate nights in the theater, plus the three 30-minute performances in the Manhattan Room. None of the shows disappointed.
Rock of Ages is a raunchy, raucous musical that helps glorify the sex, drugs and rock-and-roll era of the 80's. We loved it! We caught the performance on two separate nights in the theater and would have gone the third, but were at Jungle Fantasy that night. Be warned, Rock of Ages is not for children, or for easily offended, prudish adults for that matter. The daily newsletter, the Freestyle Daily, even advises guests that …"Adult themes, coarse language and sexually suggestive scenes are used throughout the show and therefore is not recommended for children". My recommendation for anyone who is not familiar with Rock of Ages but who is contemplating seeing it on the cruise is to rent the DVD of the movie and watch it before they sail. That will give you the basic premise of the show. Then realize, however, that the movie is a PG-13 version of the stage show. The movie has toned down the sexuality considerably. The show on the ship runs about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy is wild and phenomenal. The standard seating is, with a few exceptions, as good as the premiere seating. The show is a non-stop, 90 minute tour-de-force of juggling, acrobatics, and strangeness that is so captivating that one often forgets that they are eating during the performance. The food is a fixed menu consisting of a salad, a surf-and-turf plate (shrimp and tenderloin) with baked potato and vegetable, and a sampler dessert platter. Our tenderloin was like butter, and the entire meal was delicious. The portions are a little small, so a person might need to have either a light dinner before or after the show, but on a ship like the Breakaway that's no problem at all. We actually did the Manhattan room at 5:30, prior to the 9:00 Jungle Fantasy show, to have a soup, salad and dessert.
Michael Finney, the comic magician on our voyage, was hysterical. Finney's self-deprecating humor had most of the audience howling in laughter. Yes, there were some who did not "get it" or appreciate it, but you cannot please everyone. This was definitely a family crowd pleaser, with sufficient innuendo for the adults as well.
PROMENADE/WATERFRONT: Here in lies another quirkiness of the Breakaway. The Waterfront is beautiful and enjoyable to stroll, offering a view of both the ocean and the open air restaurants. But it does not wrap completely around the ship. In fact, it only goes maybe half way around either side and wraps around the stern. For walkers, that means having to cut through the ship on Deck 8 if you want to walk in a complete loop. The traditional promenade deck, where the lifeboats hang, is even less extensive – terminating at a bulkhead both fore and aft. Any expansive vistas of the ocean from this deck are blocked by the new-style gravity lifeboats which hang in front of you, rather than overhead as on so many other vessels. In essence, even something as simple as having a promenade deck that wraps completely around the ship for walkers was sacrificed by Norwegian in order to add more fee-based space. This was very disappointing. Yes, you can still walk to your heart's content, but you cannot do it anywhere on the ship as a continuous oval without either cutting through the ship, or doubling back and walking in a large U.
POOL/SPORTS COMPLEX: Although we were rarely on these decks during the day, there seemed to be ample space. The pools were usually full, and because of the dates of this cruise there were not many kids onboard. I can see these decks being much more crowded on cruises when school is out. The slides had a lot of activity and the ropes course was interesting to watch. We did not "walk the plank", but did partake in the zip line. It was a fun experience to try and I do recommend it to everyone. Miniature golf was also nice and usually quite empty.
One major flaw with these decks is that the jogging track is in the absolute worst possible spot. It goes down a narrow lane between the rock wall and the Uptown Grill. In the early morning hours this space is probably empty, but as the morning progresses and people start to head to the buffets, this area gets crowded. That leads to people walking here with food and drink at the same time joggers are trying to run. It is an accident waiting to happen. We even saw one of the ship's officers nearly get run down as he stepped onto the track without looking for oncoming "traffic".
PUBLIC AREAS –There is sufficient public space for a person to wander around and poke into the ship's various nooks. Because of the way the Breakaway is laid out though, with everything on decks 6-7-8, there is no grand atrium or foyer. Yes, there is a beautiful LED chandelier, with sweeping glass steps for these three decks. But that is the extent of the grandeur. There is no multi-deck, open atrium with soaring space and glass elevators. This was a trade off that was needed to maximize the amount of usable space, in order to have more cabins and more fee based restaurants. It was fine, but a disappointment compared to all others ships we have sailed on so far. It also means that elevators are only located fore and aft, not mid-ships, making them more crowded in the busiest times of the day. My advice is for anything two decks or less, take the stairs. It will be faster, and healthier, for you.
Spice H2O, in the stern of the ship, is another quirk of the ship in my opinion. There is limited access to this section of the ship, through a single, central hallway. By day, this section of the ship was usually crowded. By night, this was the party zone and equally crowded, not to mention noisy. Although many might like Spice H2O and how it is set apart from the rest of the deck as an "18 and over zone", in my opinion it simply adds to the feel that the ship is being compartmentalized based on the intended use and target audience for that space, without having a smooth, easy flow in and out of some areas. It is nothing to lower my score, but it was disappointing compared to what I was expecting.
Another disappointment was that the forward-most passenger access deck on the ship is split, with the port (left) half being public and the starboard (right) half being private. The Haven and Vibe, charging either a higher rate than a standard cabin or a fee to use, respectively, essentially took the view forward/starboard and made it private. This sense of exclusivity, of a ship-within-a-ship, is probably nice for the people who are willing to pay for it. But it takes away one of the prime locations in which most passengers like to congregate, especially when leaving or coming into a port. It also reduces the amount of public lounge space available to the guests by turning this side of the ship into fee-based private cabanas. From NCL's perspective it is undoubtedly a great idea and a money maker. From my perspective, it was a disappointing waste of prime real estate I would otherwise have liked to be able to stroll.
SHOPS: By and large, the shops were nice. They were what one would typically expect to find on a cruise ship, including a duty free shop, a jewelry store, a photo shop and a gift shop. On our cruise many items in the gift shop had been sold out on the previous inaugural sailings and not yet replenished. Sales clerks apologized that such items as sweatshirts and shot glasses were all sold out and the truck with new items had not arrived in time for this cruise. Even the duty free shop apologized that they were sold out of Gosling rum from the prior cruise. One nice thing the Breakaway does, however, is to organize the photo shop into "towers" with binders. The location of your binder is indicated on your key card. Throughout the cruise, as photographers take your picture, if you provide them with your cabin number they will key it in directly to their camera and your pictures will then be placed in your binder for you to review. In this manner they are all in one place, rather than spread all over the large display boards most ships use.
STAFF: Sean W. is the hotel manager for the Breakaway. He did such a fabulous job with the staff on the NCL Star last year that the Star garnered some of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the fleet. We were so satisfied with the housekeeping staff on our previous cruise to Bermuda last year that we knew having him onboard the Breakaway would be a definite plus. And we were correct; all of the staff was pleasant, courteous, polite and friendly. It was a pleasure to talk with many of the staff about their jobs, their homes and their families.
If only the same thing could have been said about some of the other passengers. I do not know what it is that brings out such a sense of entitlement in guests, but the rudeness of some of them towards the staff is embarrassing to watch. As my kids would say, they need to chillax!
Other stand out staff members on the Breakaway include Julie, the Cruise Director, who was everywhere. She was always upbeat, smiling and energetic. Kudos also go to the band leader of the Manhattan Room band. He was personable and great at maintaining the warm, casual atmosphere on the MDR.
MISCELLANEOUS: By way of a few miscellaneous notes, the fireworks start about 11:15, right after Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" and last for about 10 minutes. The best place to see them is port side (left) aft. Another tip to help you navigate the ship to find you cabin, or the gangway, is to check the floor. Here's the hint, the fish are swimming in the direction the ship is moving. Additionally, the mirrors on the staircases and in the elevators will help you establish your location fore or aft, as they are square in the bow and round in the stern. Or just use one of the many interactive screens throughout the ship. The touch sensitive screens can help you book a show, make a reservation, or find your way around. They are a great technological addition to the ship.
BERMUDA: On many cruises the ship is the destination, and any ports of call are just the frosting on top. Bermuda, however, is a jewel in its own right. Although this review is of the Breakaway and not Bermuda, here are a few quick tips. The transportation pass has gone up in price since last year, from $28 to $35 for a three day pass. It is still worth it, however, if you plan to take three or more buses or water shuttles per day. Transportation on the island is easy to figure out and was very accommodating to having so many tourists on the island, from both the Breakaway and the Celebrity Summit, at once. We noticed several times when they put on extra ferries during peak periods to handle the crowds so there was rarely much waiting.
The country itself has wonderful people, many of whom are friendly, courteous and British-proper. Strike up a conversation with any of them and you will see what I mean.
It is worth the trip over to St. George while in port, to visit some of the sites, the shops, the churches and to see the reenactment of the dunking of the nag.
Horseshoe Bay Beach is one of the top ten beaches in the world, but if you are not into the crowds and can do without the lifeguards, umbrellas and beer, then I recommend going about a mile to the east, starting with Warwick Long Bay Beach and Jobson Cove, and working your way back to the west towards Horseshoe Bay. Many of these beaches here are more secluded, empty, and drop dead beautiful.
DISEMBARKATION: What can I say about this other than "welcome back to NYC"? After a week of being spoiled and pampered by Sean's staff on the Breakaway, it is always a sobering experience to be back in the Big Apple. Self walk off was fast. We docked by about 7:30 and by 8:30 we had all of our luggage in tow and were heading off the ship into the cruise ship terminal. That's where we went from the friendly confines of the ship into the chaos of US Customs. The people who work there were constantly yelling to direct people, move them along, get them into a cattle stall, and shoot them out onto the streets of NYC. Granted it was relatively quick, but politeness is not something these folks will ever need to worry about. Also, note that passengers can no longer stay on the pier side of the street. That is reserved for buses only. The terminal agents will force you to cross 12th Avenue and wait for pickup on the opposite side. Here we waited in the noise, commotion, and turmoil that is New York. While waiting for our ride to arrive I even saw a NYPD officer flip the bird to a driver who was not following his orders fast enough. Amazing.
OVERALL: As I said at the beginning, it was a FABULOUS vacation. The Breakaway, despite some quirks, is a beautiful ship with a great, hard working staff and phenomenal entertainers. It is certain to create enjoyable memories for all of its passengers for many years to come. I highly recommend giving it a try, and give it 5-stars. Less
Published 06/11/13
Cabin review: BD10732 Balcony Stateroom
Great room for two people. Quiet. Balcony is on the small side (only about 3 feet deep) though, and not private. Guests walking on deck 7 can look up and see you, as can guests in balconies below you on decks 8 and 9, since those balconies extend out further than this cabin. Plenty of shelf space in the room. Bed is near the balcony, sofa if near the closet, making room seem larger and providing easy access to the closet. Room safe is small, will not hold an SLR camera. Bathroom is large enough to move around easily but shower is rather small; does not accommodate 2 people easily.Read All Balcony Stateroom (BD) Reviews >>
Read Cruise Critic's Norwegian Breakaway Review >>
Over all very disappointing!
Great Trip!
NYC to Bermuda 7/30/17
Over all very disappointing!
NYC to Bermuda 7/30/17
Better than expected
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Anniversary on the Booze Cruis...
Poor Planning & Execution
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Nyala restaurant closes up shop
Just as the venue gods giveth, the venue gods taketh away. Ethiopian restaurant/music hub Nyala is shutting its doors. For the past six years, the Main Street spot has delivered dinner music via a slew of traditional African outfits, as well as jazz, indie rock, and even the occasional hardcore act. Sadly, the enterprise closes its doors November 1 due to skyrocketing property values. "Rent has gone through the roof," owner-booker Assefa Kebede told the Straight. "We've reached a point where it became unaffordable. We're paying over $6,000 now."
While the venue's closing marks the end of an era, Kebede insist that he's already on the hunt for a new concert spot in a cheaper area of Vancouver. In the meantime, he'll be catching the groups he's befriended around town. "I miss my musicians; they're part of my family," he said, adding that he's hoping other restaurateurs will open their arms to local music while he's away.
1 Comments
we dont back the juiceman
Oct 28, 2011 at 12:18pm
This is terrible news but not surprising. The unabated march of empty-condos is moving all the way up Main St. past King Ed, pushing up land-values and pushing out venues such as the Nyala. Vision Vancouver (including the NPA) has no political will or desire to make this city affordable or guarantee that spaces such as the Nyala don't disappear altogether.
Last night Vision candidate Heather Deal at an all candidates debate in Mount Pleasant, stated herself: "we're at risk of becoming a city of the very rich and the very poor;" yet in the same breath she also stated that it's impossible to subsidize affordable housing or studio space in this city. This doesn't make any sense. Remember that a couple of days ago, Vision had just announced that they would pledge to give the VPD an extra $5 million dollars as part of their "Safe and Livable Neighbourhoods" platform. The same platform that says nothing about 'housing,' 'affordability' or actual 'livability' — instead, all Vision is doing is policing the crisis.
we dont back the juiceman - http://wedontbackthejuiceman.tumblr.com/

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About the Book
Céline & Simon, The Wedding !
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"Silent Spring" Essay Competition
Contributed by Marian Brown on 12/10/12
Fifty years ago, the world was rocked by the publication of a quiet tirade against the chemical industry. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring exposed the dangers and risks of everyday chemicals and commonplace practices; it launched the modern American environmental movements and also influenced similar movements all over the globe. In commemoration of fifty years of Silent Spring, the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society is soliciting essays from junior and senior scholars which analyze the impact and reception of Silent Spring as well as the legacy of Rachel Carson.
Submitted essays might address one or more of the following questions:
2. What elements of Silent Spring have had the greatest impact on environmental leaders? Policy makers? Anti-environmentalists?
3. How is Silent Spring still relevant to current environmental debates?
4. How has the relevance of Rachel Carson's writing changed over the decades since Silent Spring was published?
5. If Rachel Carson were alive today, what would she be writing about?
In the spirit of Carson's own writing, submissions are encouraged to address an interested public with an approachable and provocative style. The RCC will be awarding both a junior prize (for 1,000 words or less) and senior prize (for 2,000 words or less) for the most outstanding essays.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning entries. The junior prize is $1,000; the junior prize is open to students aged 13-18. The senior prize is $2,000; the senior prize is open to anyone aged 19 and above. Entrants should include a short biographical profile and indicate whether the essay is to be considered for the junior or senior prize.
In addition, the winning essays, as well as those which receive an honorable mention, will be published in a commemorative edition of the RCC Perspectives series, an occasional papers series available both in print and online.
The deadline for submissions is: March 15, 2013
This competition is sponsored by the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society in collaboration with the British Council, International Consortium of Environmental History Organizations, and the Consulate General of the United States, Munich, Germany.
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Country Whuppin' – George Strait vs. Dallas Smith
It's still good to be King for George Strait. George picked up a second win in the Country Whuppin' with his latest single, 'I Got A Car.' Can he continue to ride this wave that started at the CMA's, or will new artist, Dallas Smith takeover as champion.
Champion – George Strait "I Got A Car"
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Like many Boy Scouts, past and present, I was quite heartened to hear that the Boy Scouts of America was seriously considering rescinding its long-held ban on openly gay members. Consequently, I was rather disheartened to hear that the Council broke without reaching a decision, as they needed more time to research the subject.
I have to seriously wonder: what did they really need to research? Do they really need more evidence to show them that this ban is wrong? Or are they trying to find a way to tell the Scouts and Scoutmasters that are threatening to quit that their anger will not deter them from doing the right thing?
(NB: Everyone likes to talk about the ACLU did the right thing and defended Nazis in Illinois. No one wants to talk about how a lot of the ACLU turned in their cards and quit when they did. Doing the right thing stings, sometimes.)
In the face of this intransigence, a number of past and present Scouts are threatening to quit the organization if they DON'T rescind the ban, unwilling to bend in the face of what may be the great civil rights fight of our times.
This is kind of a tough one for me, being an Eagle Scout. I've seen the good that Scouting can do for people. I've also seen the bad, which is why I don't treasure being an Eagle as much as I could, or perhaps should.
But let's start with something that should be obvious: I do not agree with the Boy Scouts of America's ban on homosexuals. I think it's archaic and ridiculous, not to mention ignorant, mean-spirited, and downright rude.
I also think it runs counter to the Boy Scouts' mission, as it turns away young men that Scouting is in a unique position to help and guide. In a world where being who and what you are can bring out rudeness and violence in others, having an open and welcome hand from someone who cares about you, as a person and a young man, may make the difference between success or failure, life and death.
That goes for being a nerd or a weirdo, a geek or a dork. It applies to the straight-laced goody-goody and the kid who needs a kick in the pants. It's for the person so far ahead of the curve that school is a hindrance rather than a help, and someone who needs the kind of encouragement and positive attention that Scouting can provide.
Scouting tells young men that their lives are worth something. It tells them that they are unique creatures who can, if they put their hands together, create and maintain something greater than themselves. It gives them goals and motivates them to attain them. It teaches them important and fun things, and helps them discover what they can do, and what they might like to do, someday.
Does a gay boy not need that kind of encouragement? Does a gay boy not feel alone, or outcast? Can the gay heart not hunger for the kind of togetherness and cooperation that Scouting can provide?
Of course they do. We all do. And for that reason alone, gays should be openly welcomed at Scouting's table.
So why the ban, then?
In the old copy of the Scoutmasters Handbook, Homosexuality was considered a disease. It spoke of homosexuals looking to join and "recruit" confused boys. Scoutmasters had to try and be careful not to mistake harmless curiosity for predation, but if it turned out that a person was actually gay, and not just exploring, then they should be sent away to "get help," as though they had a heroin habit.
Curiosity? Of course. We don't come into this world with personalized instruction manuals. Being a young man is all about going through intense mental, psychological, and physical changes, each one seemingly more world-changing than the last. We are bound to be confused and have questions, and may need to turn to some older person, other than a parent, and ask questions in an atmosphere of trust.
And in that moment of vulnerability, when we really don't
know what we're doing, predators will prey upon the unwise and unwary -- turning
an innocent-seeming conversation into horrid abuse. It's a sad fact of life,
and, if you only consider that aspect of human sexuality, then the ban seems
practical -- even prudent.
But I think boys are in more danger of being sexually abused by fellow scouts
and supposedly "straight" adults -- especially their own family
members -- than genuine chickenhawks. After a period of laxity, and at least one
embarrassing sting by a "gotcha" news program, the BSA has been rather good about
checking sex offenders lists when non-parents show up and want to
So if we eliminate, or at least sharply lessen, the chances of adult predators taking advantage of confused young boys, then what remains? Only a fear of "sexual immorality," which Scouts are told to avoid, along with many other ills, by being "morally straight."
But what IS "immorality?" Is it that which is not "moral," or merely that which is not "normal? Is it not possible for a gay man to be moral, or are his yearnings somehow tainted with sin simply because he wants men instead of women? In the face of biological and psychological findings that reveal that gender identity is often sorted out in the womb, rather than the heart, one can only wonder at those who still call these inbuilt desires sinful.
(And, yes, if we let our inbuilt desires do all our thinking for us, then we'd be smashing rivals over the heads with rocks and taking their stuff. But the last time I checked there's a major difference between love and sex and theft and murder one.)
Boys will be boys, and boys turning into men will be boys
turning into men. As such, sex is going to happen. Curiosity is some of it,
actual gay or bi desire is another. And while such activity might not be
welcome at Scout functions, really should have more to do with what's going on
at that function, rather than a penalizing of sex, itself.
So I think I'd be in favor of a ban on sexual behavior at scout activities, period. That goes for sneaking off with the Camp leader's daughter or having it off in the showers with your BFF. You're not there to get your jimmy whacked, after all; Scouting calls us to something of a higher goal.
But when it comes to questions of sexual identity, I would want Scouting to reflect the reality of life in its teachings. We are not all binary creatures; our sexuality is somewhere on a sliding scale between male and female, and yes and no. To tell young men -- confused enough already -- that they can only choose one corner on that massive, complicated graph to dwell within is to deny one of the great truths of our small and finite lives, and to cut us off from one of the greater aspects of our existence -- the physical and spiritual joining that is love, itself.
Regardless of where we draw our fantasies from, and how we'd like to fulfill them, Scouting should be a voice for moderation, sensibility, and intelligent action in the otherwise-insane impulses that a young man's mind and soul have to deal with. They should be able to tell any young man that this is normal, and that they can persevere, and that a wondrous world will be waiting for them on the other side of all this growth, confusion, and hormones.
And that yes, even your desires -- gay, straight, or otherwise -- are as normal as they come. This knowledge should not only be the province of internet hipsters with youtube videos, created to keep kids from suicide. It should be on the lips of parents, teachers and preachers everywhere.
It should also be coming from Scoutmasters.
So I hope the BSA, when it meets again, reverses its policy. But if they decide not to, I'm not going to boycott the group, either. I got too much from it -- good and bad -- to turn my back on it, and I recognize that the good it does far outshadows this unfortunate bad.
But I will keep working, as an Eagle Scout, to get them to reverse a poor decision that limits young men from enjoying what the group has to offer based on outdated psychology and overblown fears. I would hope that other, brother Scouts would do the same.


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Tour Itinerary:
Santiago/ Carnota/ Muros/ O Pindo/ Finisterre/ Santiago
Departure from Santiago. We drive along the rugged coast passing many small fishing villages. In Muros we stop to walk around the old quarter and small fishing port. Continuing we stop to visit the Horreo (Granary) of Carnota which is one of the largest in Galicia. It was used to store corn now-a-day a cultural symbol of rural Galicia. To understand the natural beauty of this area we stop at a viewpoint to see a waterfall and the surroundings. Then we enjoy lunch in a coastal restaurant right on the beach of Finisterre. After lunch we visit Cabo Finisterre "Lands End" which for the Celts & Romans was the end of the known Earth. Pilgrimages have been made to this site for thousands of years. Driving back along the coast we stop in the Medieval village of Noia. Free time to walk the streets of the old quarter. Ending our day back in Santiago. Includes: (L).
Notes: Prices above are per person based on 6 people traveling. This tour is available for as little as 2 people. Please inquire for exact prices. When you book your vacation, an agreement is made between you, our company and others who provide services. Upon request we can provide you with our general terms and conditions governing the provision of these holidays. A non-refundable upfront initial deposit of € 200 Euros is due within 7 days of the initial booking request. Final payment is due 45 days before the tour departure. Within 45 day full payment is due upon booking request. All prices, itinerary etc. listed are subject to change without notice.
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A dance done by white people everywhere. It's easy: Just jerk and shake awkwardly from side to side.
by Trilly, Emzy Lou and Blondie February 06, 2006
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text:
"Looking for a job is a full-time job."
No, it's not.
I don't know why people say stuff like this. It's one of those simplistic cliches that have ended up getting repeated over and over without being true.
It's a great way to mislead job-seekers about what an effective job search is really about.
If anyone is really spending 40 hours a week on a job search, stop and regroup. Focus on the essentials instead: applying only for jobs that are truly a strong match, writing great cover letters, having a resume that focuses on your achievements rather than just responsibilities, and making sure you're tapping into your network.
Go for quality over quantity, and laugh at anyone who tells you it should be a full-time job.


text:
Mega Millions Winning Numbers California
March 24, 2012 by staff
Mega Millions Winning Numbers California, The numbers in tonight's multi-state Mega Millions draw are 6, 17, 19, 20, 21 and the Mega number is 20. The estimated jackpot is $290 million, the largest since March 25, 2011, when it was $319 million, a California Lottery official said.
The drawing was the 17th since the last time a ticket with all six numbers was sold. The odds of matching all five numbers and the Mega number is 1 in 175,711,536, according to the Mega Millions website. The overall chance of winning a prize is 1 in 40.
The Mega Millions game is played in 41 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Buying tickets at a store where winning tickets have been sold in the past will not increase a purchaser's chance of winning a jackpot, according to USC mathematics professor Ken Alexander.
"The chance that a given place will sell a winning lottery ticket is just related to how many tickets they sell," Alexander said.
However, players wanting a better chance of avoiding sharing the jackpot should choose numbers that aren't selected as often, Alexander said. Lottery players frequently choose the date of their birthdays as one of their numbers, so numbers higher than 31 would be played less, he said.
Please feel free to send if you have any questions regarding this post , you can contact on
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of U.S.S.POST.


text:
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text:
I am curious because I have 3 and I amazed at the amount of people that tell me they are dangerous dogs. Mine are the biggest sooks I have ever met - they love human contact and generally being involved in the day to day happenings of our house. They are absolutely fantastic with my 4yo ds.
I suppose I just feel like they get a bad rap. I don't think that a particular breed is dangerous, it is the owner that is.
Just wondering how others feel.
Edited by onlymeagain, 19 June 2008 - 05:50 PM.


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Saturday, August 19, 2017
Disney, 'Simpsons' Cels at Auction in Dallas
Heritage Auctions will be offering up a collection of beautiful cels from old and new classics in Dallas during an Animation Art Signature Auction on December 13 & 14. One outstanding ... Continue Reading →
Lost Disney Oswald Short Uncovered in London
A researcher working at the British Film Institute in London has found in its archives the only known copy of a long-lost Walt Disney film starring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit — Mickey ... Continue Reading →
Rare Golden Age Toons to Screen in Hollywood
A special program of Golden Age Cartoons will screen at 3 p.m. June 20 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, presented by the American Cinematheque and Animation Resources. Highlights ... Continue Reading →
Disney's Diamond Dogs: A New Release for 101 Dalmatians
Today marks the re-release on Blu-ray of one of Disney's most beloved animated classics, 101 Dalmatians, in a new Diamond Edition. The 1961 feature came at a key moment in the ... Continue Reading →
Lost Oswald Short Emerges in Norway
A long-lost short film created by Walt Disney back in 1927 has been uncovered in the National Library of Norway. Titled Empty Socks, the newly rediscovered toon features Oswald the ... Continue Reading →
Animation Collectible Auction Brings in $1.28 million
Cartoon collectibles are hot! Heritage Auctions, one of the top sellers of high-end entertainment collectibles, sold for more than $98,000 an unrestored production cel and master background ... Continue Reading →
Host Warburton, Presenters Set for Annie Awards
Patrick Warburton is set to host the 41st annual Annie Awards Feb. 1 at UCLA's Royce Hall. Joining him on stage will be a mix of animation luminaries, celebrity presenters and ... Continue Reading →
Disney Channel Celebrates Mickey's Birthday on Nov. 18
Disney Channel has planned a great way to celebrate Mickey Mouse's birthday on Monday, Nov. 18. The cabler will premiere the first-ever extended episode of the Emmy Award-winning ... Continue Reading →
Mickey Mouse to Star in New Disney 2D Shorts
Watch out all you young whippersnapper toons. Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks's 85-year-old character, Mickey Mouse, is coming back in a new short-form series of 2D cartoons. You can sample ... Continue Reading →
40th Annie Nominations Reveal Cluttered Field
The 40th Annie Award nominations were announced this morning (Dec. 3) and it looks like ASIFA voters decided to spread the wealth among many of this year's animated features and TV ... Continue Reading →


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Where and How To Grab The Kettlebell Handle
As I travel around the country, I find there is a lot of confusion about where to grab the kettlebell handle—in the middle or in the corner? It is understandable that people are confused. After all, kettlebell training is still reasonably new to the broader public and it IS a very unique training tool. I hope to


text:
YOU know that Christmas is near when Santa and his reindeer arrive in The Malls.
The animals had travelled all the way from Cairngorm in Scotland to Basingstoke, where they took part in an annual festive parade before meeting shoppers in The Malls.
Hamish and Oreo pulled Santa on his sleigh followed by the rest of the herd and various characters including a snowman, men on stilts and a Christmas tree, who were raising funds for Shopmobility Basingstoke.
Brownies from 11th St Michael's pack also took part in the festivities, providing singing entertainment throughout the day.
Fiona Smith, who accompanied the reindeer, said: "We have 150 reindeer that live naturally in the mountains."
The Cairngorm reindeer are Britain's only herd, and are found free ranging in the Scottish highlands, where visitors can go and see the herd.
Miss Smith said: "They are domesticated, and working with humans comes second nature. We are a tourist destination so they are used to being among people."
Children wrote letters to Father Christmas which they were able to give directly to him at the event, while Christmas tunes pumped out to get everyone in the festive spirit.
Sue Harris, property assistant at The Malls, said: "It's a traditional family day."


text:
Funny Christmas Cracker Jokes
'I don't like Brussels sprouts!'
Which playwright was terrified of Christmas?
Noël Coward.
What gets red wine out?
An alcoholic.
What's the best Christmas film?
There's Something About Mary.
What's another word for thesaurus?
What did one Christmas cracker say to the other Christmas cracker?
My POP is bigger than yours!
Two snowmen in a field, one turned to the other and said "I don't know about you but I can smell carrots."!
What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney?
What do you call Santa's little helpers?
Subordinate clauses!
Why did Santa's helper see the therapist?
Because he had a low "elf" esteem!
What happens if you eat too many Christmas decorations?
You get "Tinsel"-itis!
What's the best thing to give your parents for Christmas?
A list of everything you want!
What's the favourite Christmas Carol of new parents?
Silent Night!
What do reindeer hang on their Christmas trees?
Did you know that Santa's not allowed to go down chimneys this year? It was declared unsafe by the Elf and Safety Commission.
Funny Christmas Cracker Jokes


text:
Clue: Grapevine item?
We have 1 answer for the clue Grapevine item?. See the results below.
Possible Answers:
Related Clues:
- Kind of mill
- News bit from a supermarket tabloid
- It may be whispered
- Buzz
- It's heard on the grapevine
- Gossip's tidbit
- Reporter's starting point, perhaps
- One going around the office
- Hearsay
- Bit of dirt
Last Seen In:
- USA Today - November 14, 2011
Found an answer for the clue Grapevine item? that we don't have? Then please submit it to us so we can make the clue database even better!


text:
1-6 of 6 assisted living homes & extra care housing in Ipswich.
Handford Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2GD.
Extra care housing
"Booth Court, a development of 59 one and two bedroom apartments, is located on Handford Road in Ipswich. The development overlooks the Alderman Canal and Alderman Recreation Ground and Nature Reserve, providing a variety of walks and events..."
0800 3100 860
Email your enquiry
300 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 4BA.
51 Demoiselle Crescent, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9UE.
Retirement housing, Extra care housing
Shirley Close, Ipswich, Sufolk, IP1 6QB.
"Paddy Geere House in the ownership of Abbeyfield Orwell, with an Executive Committee provides 36 flats for the frail and elderly who require a minimum of 4 hours domiciliary care and support. Tenants have the security of their own private ..."
01473 747 495
31 Peppercorn Way, Wherstead Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8RT.
"The scheme caters for complex packages of care. The on-site care is provided by Heritage Care"
0845 111 0000
Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8SN.
back to directory of assisted living homes & extra care housing in the UK
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text:
The Hartwell clocks in at just over 3,500 square feet. It's a great room styled plan, with large, bright windows to chase away the gloomy Seattle days, and features a double sided fireplace that makes the indoors and outdoors a cozy place to gather and share good times. The gourmet kitchen has a huge island and is perfect for entertaining, and the master suites have been designed with escaping the hustle and bustle of life in mind.
Photos are intended as a general representation of home plans only and are typically of a past community's model home. Options and selections shown may no longer be available. We strive to bring you the very best in home design, therefore the design team may modify or change plans, features, specifications, finishes, and/or prices without notice. Window locations and sizes may vary per elevation. Standard and optional features may vary by community and homesite, so please see a community sales agent for complete details.


text:
Uncyclopedia:Pee Review/Spore Numero Due
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
edit Spore
took to consideration the last review, and did some fixes, however i am not sure how I feel about the quotes at the top. i am told that they are good, but I just don't like the quote template Pirate Lord__Sonic80 (Yell • Latest literary excretion) __ 02:35, 17 October 2008 (UTC)
| You come on too strong too early at times, and I do see some contradictions in the article. For example:
"The Galactic edition of Spore contains many, MANY more features (including the 100 or so pages missing from this guide ($10 per page) ), as well as the actual game itself. If you want to purchase the Galactic edition, please call or go online and opt to buy it for an easy payment of $129.99!"
How can it cost $129 for the manual, AND $10 per page for 100 pages? Also, its a bit crass at times. Generally, if you need to say "penis" or "gay" to be funny, your not being funny.
Additionally, try to avoid outlandish hyperbole, it
|Good concept, making fun of a computer game. Those type of articles are generally among the most easy to make funny in my opinion. The fake manual is a good idea, but I'd suggest you try to make it look more a manual or switch to a "generic layout". Its kind of an unhappy medium right now; it doesn't look like a normal article or a manual.
|Prose and formatting:
|I don't see any major errors. However, the page skipping in the headers is little annoying, especially since the article doesn't "look like" a series of extracts, i.e. it flows together well. I'd suggest you consider renaming the headers, maybe getting rid of the page numbers all together if you can't get them to work.
|First two images are funny. But what is with the last one? It looks like too random, and homo erectus in not funny in and off itself.
|Improvability score. This article should be fairly easy to improve.
|Final Score:
|Your have a good article that could use some more work.
|--Mnbvcxz 01:19, 21 November 2008 (UTC)
P.S. you might want to try turning it into a unbook, i.e. rename it "Unbooks:Spore Manual" then try to get if featured in the unbooks section, it might be easier than getting a real Highlight. Unfortunately, I don't know how its works, and it is inactive, but they did have a feature for this month.--Mnbvcxz 22:04, 21 November 2008 (UTC)


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Cape Town -
Government projects in the Western Cape to the value of almost R400 million have either been cancelled, halted or left in jeopardy after a controversial contracting company was forced to file for business rescue.
Filcon Projects made headlines in recent weeks after two major projects - a multimillion-rand contract to refurbish council homes in Manenberg and a R67m project to extend two primary schools in Atlantis - ran into difficulties and were terminated by the City of Cape Town and the provincial government.
Other projects handled by Filcon and labelled as "ongoing" or "current" on its website include:
- A R150m new engineering building at UCT.
- A R178m chemical science building at UWC.
- A R75m construction of the seven-storey luxury Vana Hotel in Buitenkant Street in the CBD.
- A R105m construction of two luxury apartment blocks, the Orangerie, in Gardens.
- A R210m 12-storey office block for a multinational telecoms company on Roggebaai Square on the Foreshore.
- A R78m luxury office block for a media company.
- A R40m development of 30 homes in Stonehurst Close near Steenberg.
- A R110m development of 93 apartments at Canal Quays near the V&A Waterfront.
- A R12m three-storey house in Camps Bay.
The chairman of Filcon is South African Saul Loggenberg, who was barred in the UK from being a company director until 2024 by the British Insolvency Service.
When contacted for comment, Loggenberg said Filcon had been forced to apply for business rescue after a slew of negative reports, complaints from sub-contractors and pending legal cases.
"We just don't have the capital to carry on… now we're trying to find a solution with the business rescue application," Loggenberg said.
Questions have been raised about how Filcon could have secured multiple government contracts in the Western Cape when there is such a cloud over the business.
Cameron Dugmore, special adviser in the Presidency under the Minister for National Planning, called for a forensic audit and a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe.
Loggenberg said the UK ban was because of "inaccurate record keeping" which was argued in court.
"This doesn't effect me being able to invest… or have any involvement in companies. I have invested over R31m into Filcon… and I continue to invest in other companies… I don't run these businesses," he added.
He said he was confident the company would win any case brought against them by contractors who alleged they had not been paid, declaring these allegations to be "false and inaccurate" and claiming he had proof of payment.
"No one in Atlantis has not been paid… there is no one who is due payment that has not been paid."
The provincial Department of Transport and Public Works earlier this month cancelled the Atlantis project due to alleged shoddy work.
In February, construction at the Manenberg site was halted after sub-contractors and labourers staged a protest amid claims they were owed more than R3m.
The City of Cape Town, meanwhile, has confirmed that the Manenberg, Hanover Park and Harmony Village contracts with Filcon have all been terminated and discussions are under way to agree on appointing a new contractor.
Manenberg residents, who had been housed in containers while the work was being done, this week spoke of their frustration.
Rugaya Gabriels, who lives with a family of four in a small container, said: "I don't know what is happening… we were told last week another contractor was coming to take over, but nothing has happened so far… We just want to go back home."
She said residents had been moved into the containers in January and were told it would take about six weeks, but now they faced an uncertain future.
She told how families of 12 were forced to sleep on the floor and feared the winter rains as some of the containers were leaking.
The Department of Transport and Public Works paid Filcon R35.2million for work at the Atlantis site, but the delay in appointing a new contractor will see an increase in costs and the schools hamstrung with overcrowded classrooms.
MEC for Transport and Public Works Robin Carlisle said the development would be set back by two to six weeks and 10 percent more would have to be spent.
"This is the first time we've had a contractor come here from another country who has been blacklisted…"
He explained that along with a grading within the Construction Industry Development Board, a delivery track record and six important checks were required for a company to get the contract.
But Carlisle said there were limits to finding out background information.
"We can't check every single employee. He (Loggenberg) must have joined the company or bought shares in it," Carlisle said. "But he is definitely not the reason why (Filcon) got this contract."
Carlisle also made it clear that when receiving a contract, the company would receive payment for work in stages to guarantee work was done timeously and met set standards.
"Checking the progress of these projects is very important. They will be paid on the basis of reports signed off by quantity surveyors. These surveyors check the work done against prescriptions and follow through," he said.
Senior manager of Education Facilities, Liam Thiel, confirmed that site visits would be conducted twice a week where inspections and approvals took place before progress payments were made.
With regard to their current projects being affected by the business rescue application, Loggenberg said the company was committed to completing these projects, but added that they would not be working with the public sector in future after issues surrounding a contract he claimed the city had not paid for.
Adding that he had been painted in a "vastly unfair" light, Loggenberg said this was simply untrue. "I am completely transparent… we conduct ourselves impeccably… but we've been grossly misrepresented by vindictive people."
Councillor Tandeka Gqada, mayoral committee member for human settlements, said: "In terms of Business Rescue, all processes including payments are stayed until the process is completed."
The city's implementing agents, who appointed Filcon, were following contractually-required procedures to address contracts that are in distress, Gqada added.
Thiel said the payment of sub-contractors was the responsibility of the main contractor.
Dugmore, who is number three on the ANC's list of nominations to the Western Cape legislature, said he had originally been approached by the main sub-contractor at the Manenberg development and made aware of allegations against Filcon.
Dugmore said the standstill at the Manenberg project was "much more than an inconvenience. It's criminal that the poor are suffering in a situation that appears to be incompetently handled."
"What is needed is both a forensic audit of Filcon and and an SIU investigation."
The business rescue application was postponed to June 9.


text:
A BOY has been left scarred for life after a holiday "Henna" tattoo went horribly wrong.
Liam Sayer, eight, had a temporary tattoo of his favourite Star Wars character, Darth Maul, painted on his shoulder at the end of a two-week holiday, at a Five-star hotel in Egypt.
But a week after arriving home, on his birthday, Liam woke to discover the tattoo had turned bright red, blistered and was swollen and weeping.
His horrified mum Sharon said: "I have never seen anything like it in my life.
"It was totally red raw. The only way I can describe it is it looked like when a cattle had been branded, it was all raised.
"The doctor said 'how on earth could you allow him to have it?
You could have come home without your son. It could have killed him, it could have poisoned him!' "I was horrified, I was mortified to think I had allowed it to happen.
"Since then, we have had so many doctors' appointments, a few at the hospital, sleepless nights and three tubes of steroid cream."
Sharon, 45, of Basildon, and her four-year-old daughter Lacy also had the tattoos, on July 7, which were advertised as Henna, however Liam's tattoo was carried out by a different artist.
Doctors told her it was one of the worst allergic reactions they had seen and Liam will have to stay out of the sun for the remainder of the summer holidays to avoid it flaring up again.
Sharon had no idea it could be so dangerous and has chosen to speak out to warn other parents of the dangers of the black ink, which is often called Henna, but is a cheap imitation of the reddish brown ink, which is safe.
She said: "It has been really terrible. It has ruined his sixweek holiday, it has been weeks, but he is only just allowed out to play with the neighbours. It has been horrible.
"The black ink is only legal to use in hair dye.
"The only country to make it illegal is Canada.
It should be illegal everywhere, especially for children.
"I want to make other parents aware of its consequences. If I'd have seen a warning there is no way I would have allowed it to be done."
The allergic reaction is slowly fading, but Liam has to be careful of going out in the sun and has been told the scars will never tan as he gets older.


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dI f@ ren shi eIt
transitive verb
definition 1: to perceive differences or distinctions between.
example: Some persons cannot differentiate blue and green.
example: For the exam in music, we had to differentiate the styles of various composers.
definition 2: to indicate or constitute a difference between.
example: The birds look quite similar, but markings on their heads differentiate them.
intransitive verb
definition: to become distinct or different from something else.
example: The turtles of this species differentiated as they evolved on two separate islands.
See full entry


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digital hummingbird straight skirt sewing pattern
The Hummingbird Straight Skirt is inspired by vintage and modern couture, translated into wearable separates. This pattern is for the Hummingbird woven skirt with no-gape panel pockets, back zipper and simple straight waistband.
Cake Patterns Digital Patterns
This style is provided as a digital pattern. It may be printed on home printers that use either 8 1/2" x 11" or A4 paper. When you complete your order, you will be provided with a unique code to instantly download the pattern. See our digital product policy for full details. When using Cake Patterns, first print the size gauge and measure it. Cake Patterns are tested and approved with up to 5% margin of error. Small variations may occur between printers.
The Hummingbird provides four distinct and interchangeable styles inspired by vintage and modern couture, and translated into wearable separates. This pattern is for the Hummingbird woven skirt with no-gape panel pockets, back zipper and simple straight waistband (~1" below natural waist). Optional back tailfeather flounce for a 1930s-style sewing challenge.
The skirt is suitable for a wide range of woven fabrics. The Orange View skirt is shorter and simpler, a workhorse wardrobe staple in twill, canvas, or denim. The Pink View skirt is a little fancier and suitable for non-bulky bottom weight fabrics with some drape.
Choose the Hummingbird Skirt by nearest full hip measurement. 2.5"-3" ease is built into the skirt, which is designed for size and ease customization at the side seams. Fit-check guidelines included in pattern. Waist customization is printed on the pattern for a range of 20 different waist measurements.
Pattern Details
See the envelope back for sizing, fabric requirements, and notions.
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London - Britain on Friday reminded North Korea that it has a responsibility to protect embassies and said it was "considering next steps", after Pyongyang said foreign diplomats should consider pulling out amid soaring nuclear tensions.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said that like Russia, Britain had been told by North Korean authorities that it may wish to evacuate its mission in Pyongyang.
"Their communication said that from April 10, the North Korean government would be unable to guarantee the safety of embassies and international organisations in the country in the event of conflict," the spokeswoman said.
"Our understanding is that the North Koreans were asking whether embassies are intending to leave, rather than advising them to leave."
She added: "The DPRK has responsibilities under the Vienna Convention to protect diplomatic missions and we believe they have taken this step as part of their country's rhetoric that the US poses a threat to them.
"We are considering next steps including a change to our travel advice."
The North Korean foreign ministry has suggested that Russian diplomats should "examine the question of evacuating employees", a Russian embassy spokesman told news agencies.
North Korea, incensed by UN sanctions and South Korea-US military drills, has issued a series of apocalyptic threats of nuclear war in recent weeks. - Sapa-AFP


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World's Best Banana Bread
World's Best Banana Bread | 0 Comments
St. Roch Market , Chef Jeff Henderson, Aired on Thu 6/16
banana bread
St. Roch Market , Chef Jeff Henderson, Aired on Thu 6/16
banana bread
The Back Story
Our friends at The Sweet Spot at The St. Roch Market in New Orleans, LA show us how to make the World's Best Banana Bread.
Meet the Guest Stars
Chef Jeff Henderson | @Chefjefflive
Chef Jeff Henderson rose from humble beginnings in South Central Los Angeles to become the first African-American executive chef at the Bellagio Hotel. He has gone on to become a successful TV host with a cable show on the Food Network, a nationally syndicated series called, Family Style with Chef Jeff and the host of Flip My Food. When he isn't cooking on TV he's a highly sought-after motivational speaker, sharing the secrets of realizing your potential at... (full profile)


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Product Spotlight
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Second Salmonella Strain Detected
Outbreak has sickened 365 people in five states.
PITTSBURGH -- State health investigators discovered a second strain of the salmonella bacteria that has sickened people in the outbreak linked to Sheetz convenience stores, Pennsylvania Department of Health spokesman Richard McGarvey said yesterday.
The Roma tomatoes linked to the still-growing salmonellosis outbreak that has sickened 365 people in five states were grown in the Southeast, and federal investigators are visiting suspected farms, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. The FDA would not identify the states or farms.
The Javiana strain has infected 362 confirmed cases in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland and Virginia -- which for the first time linked five cases to the outbreak yesterday. All ate at a Sheetz convenience store, officials said.
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture officials found another salmonella strain, Anatum, July 19, in an unopened bag of Roma tomatoes taken from a Sheetz store in Greencastle, Pa.
State officials learned earlier this week that three more people, including one who ate at the Greencastle Sheetz, developed salmonellosis caused by the Anatum strain that is a genetic match to that found on the tomatoes, McGarvey said. All 365 people were infected in early July, meaning that the contaminated food appears to be gone from the market.
McGarvey and Jennifer Morcone, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said it is not possible to know at this point if the tomatoes were contaminated at different times in the food chain or if one animal carried two strains of salmonella that tainted the food.
The state health department issued a statewide health alert to doctors and hospitals yesterday evening about the second strain, but it does not change the investigation. All strains of salmonellosis cause diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever, generally within 12 to 72 hours of infection. Symptoms last up to 10 days.
Officials in Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina said the FDA has not notified them that Roma tomatoes growers in those states are being investigated as would be required.
An official with Coronet Foods Inc., the Wheeling, W.Va.-based produce supplier to Sheetz at the time of the outbreak, initially said the tainted tomatoes were grown in Central Florida. It later said they had come from other parts of the Southeast as well. She declined to name the growers, but the company has provided that information to the FDA.


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Rather than fashioning a cumbersome drinks tray out of an actual record, why not plump for a set of these Record Coasters for your mugs and glasses? Just like the real thing, but smaller and less likely to make a nice noise on your turntable, these are great gifts for music lovers and tea lovers alike. There are four included, each one slightly different and ready for you to put your rock 'n' roll beverages on them, whatever they might be.
Please remember to add postal time (2-3 working days) to obtain a complete estimate of delivery to your door.
You will receive an email to confirm when your item has been sent.
You can also check the status of your order and individual items by accessing My Account details and following the prompts.
Please allow 10 working days from dispatch of your order before notifying us of any late deliveries.
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Date-Nut Yeast Bread Recipe
"For breakfast, this bread is delicious toasted, buttered and topped with cinnamon-sugar," writes Roseanne Farulli, Burgettstown, Pennsylvania.
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons water (70° to 80°)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3-1/4 cups bread flour
- 2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup chopped dates
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1. In bread machine pan, place the first six ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available. Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).
- 2. Just before the final kneading (your machine may audibly signal this), add dates and walnuts. Yield: 1 loaf (1-1/2 pounds).
Nutritional Facts
1 slice: 123 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 230mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.
Reviews for Date-Nut Yeast Bread
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© 2017 RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC


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The CNN analyst is appearing at Asia Society in New York on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
But Asia Society Bernard Schwartz Fellow Hassan Abbas warns "the battle against violence and extremism is by no means over."
Asia Society President Vishakha Desai says Barack Obama must "balance claims of victory with the pursuit of his administration's military and civilian strategy."
Asia Society Executive Vice President Jamie Metzl offers his initial thoughts on the killing of Osama bin Laden in a compound in Pakistan.
©2017 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | About AsiaSociety.org | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact
Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government. All views expressed in its publications and on its website are the sole responsibility of the author or authors.


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BARN Dance: Wolverton Village Hall is holding a barn dance for Midsummer's Day (Saturday), at 7pm. There will be a live band and caller. Tickets cost £15, and will include supper. Donations for the raffle are very welcome, as all the proceeds will be for the village hall. Contact Frances Langley on 01635 297125, or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
SEA Sunday: Christ Church, Ramsdell, is holding a Sea Sunday service this Sunday, at 9.30am, in aid of Missions to Seafarers. The rectors will be describing the work of the mission.
COFFEE Morning: Ramsdell Village Hall is holding a coffee morning next Wednesday, from 10.30am-11.30am. If you have any books you have finished with, please take them along for the book stall.
BAUGHURST Parish Council: Meets on Thursday, June 26, in Wolverton Village Hall at 7.30pm.
HAMPSHIRE County Council: Is reviewing its household waste recycling centre service and wants feedback on how it can continue to deliver a service that meets the needs of residents and represents good value for money. Visit 3.hants.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/hwrc consultation.htm or call 0845 603 5634.


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|as required
|Supply Ability:
|1000 Centimeter/Centimeters per Year
|Payment Terms:
Due to its hazardous nature, DG shipments are regulated under stringent rules and regulation throughout the entire transportation period.
Vessel owners, container liners, port authorities, international organizations, etc., all set various requirements concerning safe transport of DG. Information and knowledge need to be shared and a large amount of documents and certificates need to be granted and delivered among different parties. All of these requirements lead to complex and demanding operations.
There is no integrated solution for DG transportation thus far, though a few carriers maintain their own in-house systems; developed individually and isolated from their competitors. Subsequently, it has long been agreed that the best way of improving safety at sea is by developing international regulations that are followed by all shipping nations, as well as a number of treaties to be adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Today Dangerous Goods are divided into 9 main groups.
Class 1: Explosives
Class 2: Gases
Class 3: Flammable Liquids Class 4: Flammable Solids
Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides
Class 6: Toxic and Infectious Substances
Class 7: Radioactive Material
Class 8: Corrosive Substances
Class 9: Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances and Articles
Vita International Freight Company Ltd.(VITA)practices its own reliable Dangerous Goods Teams. Our three regions of the Americas, Europe and the Middle East and Asia Pacific, all have their own handling procedures for DG application and approval procedures.
In addition, VITA ensures safe transport by observing the relevant stowage and segregation requirements of dangerous goods. This gives additional safety to the cargo, the vessel, the crew, cargo handlers and the overall environment. VITA's DG teams are also available to discuss all issues with regard to the different international and domestic regulations and help customers find solutions for special arrangements and exemptions via our relations to the Coast Guard and marine authorities in countries around the world.
We appreciate your business, and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Vita International Freight Company Ltd.
Shenzhen Jia King Import & Export Co., Ltd.
Rm09K-J Taiyangdao Building,South Dongmen Rd.,Luohu District,Shenzhen China
TEl 86-755-82143281 FAX 86-755-82171925
TM cn1000438482 M 86-15013769752
Skype heruoxi1201 website www.szvif.com


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A 10 per cent cap on new student houses is coming into force across Worcester - in a bid to stop ghettoes springing up in the city.
The city council has finally revealed its plans to introduce hard-hitting rules for landlords looking to convert properties into houses of multiple occupation (HMOs) after months of preparation.
Under a new rule, a property could only be converted into a HMO if no more than 10 per cent of all the homes within a 100-metre radius have the same status.
The crackdown effectively rules out any more student homes in parts of St John's, such as the city's St Clement ward, where the current ratio is 12 per cent.
The policy also includes a rule that no more than two homes next to each other can be converted into HMOs, in an attempt to spread them out.
It follows years of gripes about late night noise, anti-social behaviour and parking problems as Worcester's student population has continued to grow.
The city council's Labour leadership agreed last year that HMOs, properties containing between three and six people in separate beds, need proper regulation.
Councillor Adrian Gregson, the leader, said: "This type of housing is some of the most popular in Worcester and we know it's vital for our local economy, often helping young people who are just starting their careers to affordably live in our great city.
"But a high concentration of HMOs in a single part of Worcester can change the character of that area, so our aim here is to ensure that HMOs are spread more evenly across the city."
It is likely to lead to more student housing, and accommodation for young workers, appearing in areas like St Peter's and Battenhall instead of west Worcester.
Although many people associate HMOs with students, a large proportion of multiple-occupation properties in the city are lived-in by young workers.
Councillor Richard Udall, who represents St John's, said: "We've taken more of our fair share, so for us it's a significant improvement.
"Some streets in St John's have 30, 40 or even 50 per cent student housing, it's changed beyond all recognition."
Brenda Wainwright, 71, of Abbey Road, St John's, said: "I like it but I'd go tougher than 10 per cent given the problems around this area.
"We need more family homes, not these student digs."
There are around 750 independently-owned student houses in Worcester.
The university has 1,200 rooms in halls of residence settings but around 10,000 students in total.
The policy will be discussed during a planning committee meeting on Thursday before it goes to the cabinet in February.
If accepted it will come into force by July.