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Loved the TATL; Celebrity was typical cruiseline, : Celebrity Equinox Cruise Review by CrispyRice
Overall Member Rating
Loved the TATL; Celebrity was typical cruiseline,
Destination: Transatlantic
Embarkation: Barcelona
1) The itinerary. We LOVED doing a TATL. We loved the ports in Spain and Portugal - More every one of them (Malaga, Cadiz, Cartagena and Lisbon) were easy to walk off and explore a cute little town, full of history and character. (Tenerife is the exception as a port - not really anything to see or do there without taking a tour of some sort.) The sea days were great. We love sea days, which is why decided to try a TATL. If anything, there were too many activities, and I often felt like I was missing out if I just wanted to sit and read. Finally, there is something particularly cool about looking at the globe and thinking, "I am here!" in the middle of nowhere.
2) Our balcony cabin was one of the largest we've had among several lines, and the layout was great. Very clever design in terms of storage. It was a nice, pleasant cabin. We also had one with an oversized balcony, so that was particularly nice, too. I will give a thumbs-down to the bed, though, as my back started to hurt after a few days.
3) The main headlining shows were top-notch and very well done. We had an Elton John impersonator, a couple comedians, a good singer, a classical pianist, and the normal theater-type shows by the ship's cast. Some of them came back in the afternoons on the sea days to do encore performances. Particular kudos to Brooks Aehron, the classical pianist, who was amazing, did two separate encores and packed the house each time.
4) Interesting speakers. The port talk guy (when he wasn't scheduled during our dinner time) was informative. The enrichment series speakers were all extremely interesting. One had DNA as his specialty, and he gave talks ranging from TV shows to criminal case studies to the Romanovs to ancient Egypt. He definitely cut into my "free time" time. ;)
5) Our room attendant, waiter and assistant waiters were all so nice. The word that comes to mind is gracious, and kind, thoughtful and efficient. We felt very well taken care of by the staff. The waiters in the Oceanview were likewise friendly and always willing to help.
6) The no smoking policy. It's great to know we can go anywhere and not be swamped with people smoking. That said, the smokers were shunted down to an entire half of deck 5, and while I don't begrudge them having somewhere to go, that happens to be one deck which I would particularly enjoy using. Ah well.
7) The pushiness of selling isn't too bad. They generally take a "no thank you" for an answer and let you move on. I've been on cruises where it felt much more like you were doing something wrong for not buying photos or ordering drinks at every turn.
CONS, which Celebrity can control:
Celebrity advertises their company as "modern luxury." Luxury means making my life easy. It means providing things I didn't even realize I needed. It means taking care of details. Instead, I often felt vexed, and I felt like management was either incompetent or just didn't care. There were times when I honestly wondered if these people had ever run a cruise ship before.
1) Condescending attitude from management. As an example, the scones included raisins every single day. Some days, our other snack choices were raisin pound cake and raisin cookies. Not being a raisin fan, I finally asked a manager about it, and he gave me the distinct impression that I was not classy enough to realize that "All scones have raisins! Take away the raisins and you don't have a scone at all. Celebrity only offers raisin scones." I know that Celebrity actually does offer non-raisin scones, I know that non-raisin scones are available throughout the world, and mostly I don't appreciate the attitude. He couldn't even bother to pretend to care - I was just wrong for what I wanted. Indeed, although the waiters and room attendants and staff were warm and truly caring, every time I asked a question of someone at a managerial level, the ultimate answer was - "That's how it is."
2) Although the headliner shows were terrific, the bands for the evenings in the lounges were bad. Le Chic Duo and Sean the guitarist merit particular mention as being groups I could not even be in the same room with. The Spitfires were ok, as long as you wanted something loud and danceable. Elaine Abras was great when she was doing Portuguese and Spanish, but awful in English. One night, we were excited to hear decent music coming from the Sky Lounge! We went in only to discover they were playing a tape. I equate "luxury" with a quiet piano bar, a string quartet, or a quiet jazz combo. This was not to be found anywhere, and I felt like I had nowhere to go in the evenings.
3) In a similar vein, I was looking forward to seven straight sea days to sit quietly, read, and do some puzzles. The ship is so over-scheduled with activities, though, that is it nigh-on-impossible to find a QUIET spot. There's the solarium, if you don't mind the heat and humidity and if you can get a seat. There's the library, with its limited seating and noise from all the different levels. We found ourselves in the Sky Lounge whenever possible, but were frequently chased out by one activity or another. Sure, there was our balcony. But, if I'd wanted to stay in my room for a week, I could have stayed home, too.
4) Lunch in the Oceanview is cleared at 2:30. This is too early for those of us with late seating at 8:30. I was generally hungry after 3:00, and my choices were salad, (really bad) pizza, pasta, or burgers. Every day. Would it not be possible to leave even soup or one hot station with a bit more selection open 'til 3:30 maybe?
5) The pizza, as mentioned, was bad. I'd read glowing reviews of it on Cruise Critic, but we were severely disappointed. The bread products, too, were hit-and-miss. It was as though they would bake 3 days' worth of croissants, then you'd have fresh ones one day and stale ones for a couple days. Food in the MDR was pretty good, but nothing to write home about.
6) Background music throughout the ship was played too loud, and frankly too repetitive. Also, the day after Thanksgiving, it switched to 100% Christmas music. This stopped after 3 days; I can only assume enough people complained?
7) Background music was also left to play while the Beyond the Podium speakers tried to give their presentation. Twice. Another time, a speaker was scheduled while a live band played right outside the door.
8) After one of the afternoon concerts, they took up a collection to support the Philippines relief efforts. However, there was no one upstairs outside the balcony, nor were they prepared just to take some cash. It was an absolute mess with everyone trying to get to a little table where they were passing out sheets of paper to add money to your onboard account.
9) There were typos and mistakes in the daily program, which ranged from egregious (Anne Frank wrote her diary while hiding inside the fortress walls of Cadiz?) to merely annoying (its vs. it's, incorrect start times for speakers, and spelling mistakes that a spellchecker should have caught.) Also, each and every piece paper looked like 1st grader had folded it. For a multinational corporation not to do some simple proof-reading or editing is inexcusable.
As I said, mostly nothing there to ruin a trip. But, "luxury" is about the details, and Celebrity isn't paying attention there.
CONS, which are not specific to any particular cruise:
1) People sitting in the buffet area, reading a book or playing games while others are searching for tables. Perhaps the nature of a TATL lends itself more to this, as people are looking for somewhere to hang out with their friends. (Or to read quietly!) But the upshot still is that it was difficult to get a seat in the Oceanview during prime times because people had commandeered tables for games.
2) People talking to each other loudly and incessantly during the show. This is sadly happening everywhere, and cruise-ship theaters are no exception.
3) No full-around promenade deck. I knew going in that we wouldn't have one, but I didn't realize just how much I'd miss it. I think we are at the point where we may start choosing our cruises based on (or at least giving much heavier weight to) the ship having a promenade deck which truly does go all the way around.
All in all, we would do another TATL in a heartbeat. We loved being on the ship with all those sea days. We'll sail with Celebrity again if they have the best deal on an itinerary we want, but they gave us no reason to seek them out, either. Less
Published 12/23/13
Cabin review:
Read Cruise Critic's Celebrity Equinox Review >>
Wheelchair Access Notes - Exce...
Not a Vacation
Highly disappointed
Hated, loathed and despised th...
First time Celebrity guests wi...
2nd Time on Equinox, 3rd time ...
Hated, loathed and despised th...
Good experience on the Infinit...
To Bermuda 8/6-8/13
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At the tail end you see a small glimmer of simulated gaming on two devices before the caveman smashes them to bits. Hope they had insurance on those. Judging by the small little description of the game and that brief moment of an image, we would say it looks like it will be along the same lines as Ice Age Village. Rovio states;
The Croods will Hunt & Gather their way through spectacular new landscapes as they tame fantastic and never-seen-before creatures. Help The Croods survive the wild…and each other!
It should be an interesting new title to compliment the movie. The game is schedule for release on March 14th.
Just for good measure, here is one of the official trailers for the movie. I pretty much love grandma.
Source: Rovio

subset: commoncrawl


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|Related Products
|A DNA sequence encoding the human IZUMO1 (AAH34769.1) (Met1-Arg292) was expressed with a polyhistidine tag at the C-terminus.
|Human Cells
|In general, recombinant proteins are provided as lyophilized powder which are shipped at ambient temperature.
Bulk packages of recombinant proteins are provided as frozen liquid. They are shipped out with blue ice unless customers require otherwise.
|> 95 % as determined by SDS-PAGE
|< 1.0 EU per μg of the protein as determined by the LAL method
|Samples are stable for up to twelve months from date of receipt at -70℃
|Cys 22
|The recombinant human IZUMO1 consists of 282 amino acids and predicts a molecular mass of 32.1 KDa. It migrates as an approximately 43 KDa band in SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions.
|Lyophilized from sterile PBS, pH 7.4
1. Normally 5 % - 8 % trehalose, mannitol and 0.01% Tween80 are added as protectants before lyophilization. Specific concentrations are included in the hardcopy of COA.
2. Please contact us for any concerns or special requirements.
|Store it under sterile conditions at -20℃ to -80℃. It is recommended that the protein be aliquoted for optimal storage. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
|A hardcopy of COA with reconstitution instruction is sent along with the products. Please refer to it for detailed information.
Izumo is a sperm membrane protein which plays a key role in the fusion in the mouse. It has an Immunoglobulin (Ig) domain and an N-terminal domain for which neither the functions nor homologous sequences are known. Up to now, there four members has an N-terminal domain with significant homology to the N-terminal domain of Izumo. We call this domain Izumo domain. The four proteins are Izumo 1, 2, 3, and 4. Izumo domain possesses the ability to form dimers, whereas the transmembrane domain or the cytoplasmic domain or both of Izumo 1 are required for the formation of multimers of higher order. Izumo 1-3 are transmembrane proteins expressed specifically in the testis, and Izumo 4 is a soluble protein expressed in the testis and in other tissues. Izumo 1, 3, and 4 formed protein complexes on sperm, Izumo 1 forming several larger complexes and Izumo 3 and 4 forming a single larger complex. Izumo1 is essential for sperm-egg plasma membrane binding and fusion.
|Product name
|Product name


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The George S. Bishop, second member of the firm of Case, Bishop & Heron, was born in Butler County, Ohio. He was a soldier in the United States Army; enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1871 he came to Jewell County, Kan., and was elected County Surveyor of Jewell County; was elected to the Kansas State Legislature for three terms.
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Schreinemakers Analysis - Problem #4
Dexter Perkins,
University of North DakotaAuthor Profile
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Collection
Resources in this top level collection a) must have scored Exemplary or Very Good in all five review categories, and must also rate as "Exemplary" in at least three of the five categories. The five categories included in the peer review process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.
This page first made public: Aug 22, 2007
Used this activity? Share your experiences and modifications
This is a straightforward Schreinemakers analysis involving two invariant points.
I use this in my Petrology class as an in-class activity.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Students must understand the phase rule, the basics of Schreinemakers analysis, and they must be able to derive and balance reactions.
How the activity is situated in the course
I use this as a group activity. It is the first Schreinemakers problem the students do.
Content/concepts goals for this activity
The goal is for them to be able to do basic Schreinemakers analyses. This is not a very complicated problem.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Other skills goals for this activity
Description of the activity/assignment
Students start with three reaction curves and determine which intersections are invariant points. Then they derive the other two missing reactions and draw them on the PT diagram in the correct places. Finally, they identify the parts of the curves that are stable and metastable.
Determining whether students have met the goals
We discuss this after all students have completed it. There is only one correct topology, but the slopes of the curves are not constrained so all students will not get identical results.More information about assessment tools and techniques.
Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (Microsoft Word 10.3MB Aug22 07)
- Solution Set (Microsoft Word 10.3MB Aug22 07)


text:
More than 220 items worth $5m (£2.7m) - including jewellery and religious icons - were stolen over several years from the world-famous St Petersburg museum.
An enquiry revealed the museum had not carried out an inventory for decades.
Mr Putin ordered the government to set up a commission to conduct the audit by 1 September.
First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, quoted by Itar-Tass news agency, said Mr Putin had told the interior ministry, culture ministry, Federal Security Service (FSB), prosecutor-general's office and other executive bodies to take part in the commission's work.
Three people have been arrested in connection with the thefts at the Hermitage, including the son and husband of a dead curator.
The Hermitage, one of the world's most famous art museums, has more than 2.5 million works of art, housed in more than 1,000 rooms.
Art experts say Russian museums, galleries and archives have been suffering from lax security, poor record-keeping and lack of funding for years.
Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now.";


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Residents living in the South Ward section of Tamaqua were surprised to see and hear a large helicopter fly over the town late Friday afternoon. The oddly-shaped helicopter, a Sikorsky S-61N, had to make an emergency landing at the soccer practive field behind the Tamaqua High School due to minor technical issues, according to one of the crewmen on the ground. The helicopter was joined by an identical helicopter a short while later. Both eventually took off later in the evening. Information online shows that the first helicopter that landed was out of Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.
The majority of Sikorsky S-61's and S-61N's were built in the late 50's and 60's. The S-61N was subsequently updated to Mk II standard, which included a more powerful CT58-110 engine - giving better hot and high performance, vibration damping and other detail refinements. Many civilian and government agencies still use these helicopters.
Information online states the length of these helicopters as 58 feet 11 inches; much longer than the more common Sikorsky S-61. Other information online states that they can carry upto 30 passengers and have a maximum takeoff weight of 19,000 pounds, contain two turboshaft engines, have a maximum speed of 166 mph and can climb 1,310 to 2,220 feet per minute.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was also known to travel this way.


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Greek Lamb Burgers
READY IN: 40mins
Recipe by PetsRus
You can serve the burgers on buns instead of using the pita bread.
Top Review by NurseJaney
I love lamb -- and DH will NOT try it !! Tonight, he made Bison Burgers for himself, and I had a pound of ground lamb in the freezer ! Only made the burgers, not the sauce -- but the taste was everything I think of with lamb and the proper herbs and spices ! Thanks for posting, Pets !!
Ingredients Nutrition
- 1 lb ground lamb
- 1 garlic clove, crushed
- 2 teaspoons dried mint or 2 tablespoons chopped of fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3⁄4 cup feta, finely crumbled
- ground black pepper
- 8 -10 kalamata olives or 8 -10 black olives, pitted and finely chopped
- 3 tomatoes, skinned and chopped
- 2 cups cucumbers, peeled, seeds removed and chopped
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 pita breads (2 large pita's cut in half to make pockets, or 4 small pita's cut open at the top)
- 1 cup plain low-fat yogurt
Directions See How It's Made
- In a bowl mix together, lamb, garlic, mint, oregano, feta, black pepper and the olives.
- Form into 4 patties and set aside.
- In another bowl mix together the tomatoes, cucumber and onion.
- Make a dressing of the lime juice, lemon juice, cumin and olive oil, mix in with the tomato mixture.
- Grill or fry the burgers 4 to 5 minutes on each side, try to keep them slightly pink in the middle.
- Serve the burgers in the pita pockets together with the tomato mixture and topped with yogurt.


text: E-Mail This Article to a Friend >>BOSTON ( TheStreet) -- A so-called Chinese Wall is supposed to exist between investment banks' research and asset-management divisions, but recent calls, especially coming from subprime-securites proponent Goldman Sachs ( GS), warrant further scrutiny. Goldman helped to catalyze the recent commodity sell-off as its researchers expected little upside when the economy hit a soft patch. Crude oil tumbled beneath $100 on that report. Then, two days ago, with few fundamental changes in the demand outlook, Goldman reversed its stance, advising clients to buy. This flip-flopping from Wall Street's most closely followed researcher is being perceived by some as client-fleecing since the bank is able to trade in proprietary accounts before it releases research and the markets react, as they often do to Goldman's calls. Similarly, many sell-side researchers award stocks "buy" or "overweight" ratings even as their internal asset-management units unload shares, presenting a conflict of interest and ethical dilemma. Goldman's most famous front-runs to date were the Abacus transactions, through which the bank allegedly postured for high ratings for its mortgage-backed CDOs, sold them to clients and then shorted them. News broke yesterday, or rather, a blogger pulled data yesterday to show that Goldman dumped 1,260,802 shares of Apple ( AAPL) during the first quarter, even as its research division rated the stock "buy" and maintained its lofty $470 target. Little due diligence is done in the journalism community on the interplay between asset-management and research units. To check up on the bank's activities, we tracked its 58 Conviction Buy List stocks, which are the equities that the bank claims that it is most optimistic about to clients, to see if it sold any during the quarter. The results are intriguing. Of the 58 so-called Conviction Buy stocks that Goldman recommended to clients during the first quarter, it sold 31, or more than half, according to its 13-F filing.


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Action puzzler Dungeon of Legends now available
BBG Entertainment (Einstein Brain Trainer) have announced that their latest casual puzzler, Dungeon of Legends is now available for iOS and Android.
Elements of jump and run, adventure, puzzle and action combined with atmospheric music, 3D graphics and 3 different environments create an immersive environment.
The aim of the game is to beat the Tower of Eternity by passing through numerous rooms (over 75 in total) that are jam-packed with puzzles that test your skill and logic. Players dodge spikes, activate mechanisms and jump from platform to platform in order to progress through each level.
Now available worldwide for iOS and Android (from Amazon, Google Play will be made available later this year) for £1.99 for iPhone, iPad and Android and £4.99 for Mac.


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JNF Wire: Israel Ride 2015 - Cycling, Sustainability, and CoExistence
November 6, 2015
Adam H. Brill, Director of Communications
212-879-9305 x222
By: Megan Turner
Israel Ride cyclists gather for a group photo (courtesy of Israel Ride).
Perhaps you've been to Israel and seen the gorgeous landmarks by bus, by foot, and possibly, even by camel, but it's likely that you haven't done it by bike. One hundred and sixty two people dared to change the way that they've experienced Israel on the 13th annual Israel Ride that began October 27th and ended November 3rd. This unique event is a combination tour and fundraiser – riders must enlist donors to sponsor their five-day ride from Jerusalem through the Negev to Eilat.
Two very worthwhile organizations benefit from this effort, Hazon, an organization striving to build a more sustainable Jewish community, and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, a Jewish National Fund (JNF) partner and leading environmental and academic institution that brings Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians, and other international students together to promote regional cooperation and sustainability.
Team JNF made up a sizable portion of this year's participants, bringing 42 riders from JNF boards and organizations around the globe and raising more than $200,000. David Eisenberg, who serves on JNF's New England Executive Board of Directors, has been riding in the event for the past ten years and donned an Israeli flag inscribed with his donor's names on the back of his riding jersey. He promised to donate a tree in honor of each one of his donors so that they could "really leave a piece of themselves behind."
For Eisenberg, the connection between JNF and the event is clear: "JNF is huge and very diverse – it's not just about development and planting trees, but about sustainable development." He also spoke of excitement and optimism for the future because of the work of Arava's diverse student population that this event directly supports.
Carl Jacobs, also from Team JNF and a member of the Board of Directors for the Arava Institute, is continually impressed with what these students do to "push forward the State of Israel." He also added that each one of the organizations involved in the Israel Ride simply enhances each other's work and goals.
The third day of the ride found participants winding their way through the Negev to Sde Boker and the National Memorial to Israel's first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. Stuart Diamant Cohen, JNF's regional director in Washington D.C., said he dreamt of the moment, "we come gliding into Eilat."
Event participants can choose which group to join, with less experienced riders averaging 30-35 miles a day, more experienced riders biking 50-55 miles a day, and very experienced riders pedaling 70-75 miles a day. The event's support of Hazon and Arava shows a "smart attitude" towards the development of the Negev and something that is "doing good for everyone," Diamant Cohen said.
Many riders are very passionate about their personal experience and the investment they are able to make to the worthwhile organizations that they return year after year. Eisenberg spoke of coming on this ride with different people each year and leaving with "friends from every single ride that I'm still in touch with."
Jack Platt, another member of Team JNF, came to Israel for the first time on this ride four years ago, and this year, in spite of being on dialysis and weighed down with medical machinery, he is determined to complete as many miles as possible. "It's worth it to come and support the Arava Institute," he said.
Early registration is already open for next year's Israel Ride which will take place from November 7-14th, 2016. For more details, visit the event's website at https://israelride.org.
# # #
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND (JNF) began in 1901 as a dream and vision to reestablish a homeland in Israel for Jewish people everywhere. Jews the world over collected coins in iconic JNF Blue Boxes, purchasing land and planting trees until ultimately, their dream of a Jewish homeland was a reality. JNF gives all generations of Jews a unique voice in building a prosperous future for the land of Israel and its people.
JNF embodies both heart and action; our work is varied in scope but singular in benefit. We strive to bring an enhanced quality of life to all of Israel's residents, and translate these advancements to the world beyond. JNF is greening the desert with millions of trees, building thousands of parks, creating new communities and cities for generations of Israelis to call home, bolstering Israel's water supply, helping develop innovative arid-agriculture techniques, and educating both young and old about the founding and importance of Israel and Zionism.
JNF is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and United Nations NGO, which continuously earns top ratings from charity overseers.
For more information on JNF, call 888-JNF-0099 or visit www.jnf.org.
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In Israel the most precious commodity is water and it is at risk. Find out how you can help.


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Councilman Todd Klein Discusses Plans For Water Rate Stabilization [AUDIO]
On Thursday's edition of Lubbock's First News, District 3 Councilman Todd Klein talked with Tom Collins and Laura Mac about his plans for water rate stabilization.
At tonight's city council meeting, Klein will present his plan to overhaul the water rate system for the city of Lubbock. He explained that the current average winter consumption (AWC) measure for water rates is not transparent and confusing for many citizens. He said that he would like to, instead, do away with the AWC for good, and separate residential water rates from commercial.
"It's confusing, it's not very transparent at all, and it has an arbitrary and capricious aspect in that whatever your average is during those winter months, that becomes your base for Block 1…I think if you can make that more transparent and also consistent, where everybody knows what they're paying, I think it's a lot easier. And it should be done in a way that's revenue neutral."
Klein also spoke briefly about storm water rates and his plan for a citizens action committee.
Listen to the full interview with Todd Klein here:
Mobile Download: KFYOLFN_klein_082213
Be sure and tune in to Lubbock's First News with Tom Collins and Laura Mac weekday morning from 6 AM to 8:30 AM on NewsTalk 790 KFYO and online at KFYO.com.


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Black Girls Blogs
A blog for black women and girls interested in filmmaking as well as taking control of our image in.. the media and the world.
Owner: bwwm
Listed in: Entertainment
Other Tags: black women, media, black women filmmaking, filmmaking
Black girls are one of the upcoming black dating websites that proffers interracial dating.. opportunities to men.
Owner: pauleastman007
Listed in: Dating
Other Tags: dating services, sex dating, friend clubs, singles speed dating
Hottest black celebrities gossip, news and fashion sites on the net to spit the beans on the young,.. black, rich and fabulous celebrities.
Owner: ilookfly
Listed in: Entertainment
Other Tags: Celebrity Black Gossip Online, Black Girls Gossip, Black Celeb, Celebrity Famous, Rich Black Celeb


text:
Firefighters were called to tackle a fire in a car workshop on Friday night.
The unit in Dobbs Weir Road, Roydon was twenty percent alight when crews arrived at around 7pm.
According to the incident commander the fire involved acetylene cylinders which store gas used when welding or cutting metal.
The fire in the small workshop was out by 8.15pm but a 200m hazard zone was established at the scene while cylinders were being cooled.


text:
Wests Tigers boss Grant Mayer has moved to quell increasing speculation over the future of coach Mick Potter with a passionate letter to members of the NRL club.
Eight rounds out from the end of the NRL regular season Potter remains unsigned for next year.
The Tigers started the 2014 season well with impressive wins over Manly and South Sydney stamping them as legitimate finals contenders but after a tough middle third of the season they have slumped to 10th position, two points outside the eight.
The joint venture's inconsistent efforts have again led some to point the spotlight on Potter's future.
The former Super League coach of the year struggled in his first year in charge of the Tigers in 2013, when his injury-hit outfit finished second last amid reports he might not see out his two-year contract.
Potter was kept on for this season, but with Wayne Bennett last week signalling his exit from Newcastle at the end of the year, Potter's future has become further muddied.
This week assistant coach Todd Payten has also been linked to the Tigers' top job.
But Mayer urged calm and said a decision based largely on an independent assessment of the club's coaching staff by former NRL coach Brian Smith would not be rushed.
"Over the past week there has been much speculation about the future of Mick Potter at the Wests Tigers," Mayer's letter began.
"First and foremost I have no desire to enter a public debate on the topic. Opinion and unnamed sources does nothing but jeopardise the team's focus on making the NRL finals.
"It's unhelpful and distracting at a time that we all need to be single minded about achieving a well publicised goal about making the top eight."
The letter appears to indicate Potter's hope of having his tenure continued at Concord depends on him getting the Tigers to the finals.
"Running concurrent to the club's finals push is the board's decision on our coaching structure and head coach for 2015," Mayer continued.
"We've had independent input to this process and a number of players and staff have been consulted.
"The results of this review have highlighted many areas to address and we will do so privately and without comment.
"These decisions will not be rushed and will be made in the best interests of Wests Tigers."


text:
The Freshman basketball team will meet a five composed of managers in an informal game tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock.
On Monday the 1933 five will see action against the Boston Boys Club quintet.
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text:
AUSTRALIANS are being arrested and jailed in the United States, Asia and the United Arab Emirates in growing numbers, as our love affair with overseas travel soars.
Foreign Affairs and Trade Department figures show 90 Australians were arrested or in jail in the US on the last day of 2012.
China, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates were the next most likely to have Aussies behind bars.
A total of 572 Australians were arrested or in jail overseas on December 31.
Some of the most common crimes included overstaying visas, working illegally, drink driving and assault.
With Australians taking a record 8.5 million trips overseas last financial year, DFAT assistant secretary for consular policy Paula Ganly said demand for consular services was increasing and warned people to be aware of the laws of the country they were travelling to.
"A lot of people get arrested overseas for the same kind of things they would be arrested for in Australia, but the punishment may be different in other countries," she said.
"They get arrested for domestic violence, common assault, child abuse, burglary, black market activity such as money laundering and tax evasion.
"We have Australians imprisoned for just about everything across the world, but there are some things in other countries that are crimes you wouldn't think about.
"We had a case of someone who was arrested in India because they were in possession of a satellite phone and that was prohibited in that country."
Ms Ganly said the US was one of the most popular destinations for Australian travellers, thanks in part to the strong Australian dollar, and visa breaches were common there.
"People go to the US and they want to stay and find work and they don't have the right kind of visa and get caught," she said.
"We have people arrested in Thailand for the same kind of thing, people thinking: `I'm just going to pick up this job for a few days' but it has serious implications if they ever want to return to that country."
While a British couple was arrested for having sex on the beach in Dubai a few years ago, Ms Ganly said she wasn't aware of any Australians being arrested for inappropriate behaviour, such as hand holding, in the United Arab Emirates.
Dubai is set to become a hot stopover destination for Australian travellers when Qantas and Emirates' new partnership kicks off at the end of the month.
"It's a very safe country as a rule. Crime levels are low, but they have strict laws that change in the different emirates," she said.
"It's possible that it could happen, but in a lot of these countries warnings are given first.
"Attitude is a lot of the problem... people take offence and think: `Too bad I'm going to do it anyway' and that's where things go wrong."
The number of Australians arrested overseas increased from 970 in 2007-2008 to 1181 in 2011-2012, DFAT records show.
During the same period, the number of imprisoned Australians overseas increased 55 per cent.
A total of 202,723 Australians sought consular assistance while overseas, up from 184,992.


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Construction Web Design
In the construction industry it is often necessary or prudent of clients to seek out quotes from multiple construction companies to find competitive pricing. Though often times this means having to look up a number in the phone book, phoning in, and receiving verbal estimates of quotes. This entire process can be extradited through the use of online forms where customers detail out project specifications which allow your company to provide more accurate quotes more quickly with less hassle from the client.
Anything that simplifies the ways in which customers communicate with your business will increase the amount of jobs being capitalized on. Having a web page that gives customers a first impression and a glance into your business is of course one of the ways to simplify that communication. Any company in the construction industry could certainly benefit from the addition of a website to their advertising strategy. SCV HomeTown Web is your one stop shop for the creation of just that website.


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Suzanne accepts Cash or Check. Her rate is $150 for a one hour session.
What she does is called psychometry. This means she holds a personal article - a watch, a ring, car keys; something that is uniquely yours. She then sees pictures which she likens to watching a dream about you and reports to you what she sees. Suzanne does not use any other tools or devices; no crystal balls, tarot cards, angels, guides or anything else.
Suzanne begins the session by telling you about yourself, without asking you any questions. This lasts for 5 or 10 minutes. She then checks in with you to either discuss the information that came up in the first few minutes or to address any of your questions. You may ask her anything that you would like. Because of the quality and quantity of information, you are also welcome to bring a digital recording device or your smartphone downloaded with a recording App. Sessions are strictly private and confidential due to their highly personal nature.
Clients come to her for most everything: relationships, careers, family, business, if they are grappling with a decision or struggling to move on after a loss. She offers clients clarity. Clarity and specificity in her answers which help you examine your choices and experiences from a different perspective. This perspective helps you more clearly see your options and possibilities.
Suzanne is considered highly accurate, but she sees possibilities and likelihoods, not definitive outcomes. That is up to you.
Suzanne does work with missing persons with no fees involved. However, she will, without exception, only work with close family members, search and rescue or law enforcement.
Readings are in person with Suzanne for any client who lives in the state of Oregon. She does offer phone readings to out of state (or country) clients. A photograph of the client takes the place of the personal object.


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2 Recommendations
laurasweet's recommendation
okay, it's still in the concept phases, but what a great idea...I hope it goes into production! The Chill n' Charge tent is solar powered, has a wireless hub and even has 'glo-cation', a way to locate the tent via a mobile device.
My Collections:
siamese4life's recommendation
Added to my Shopping Guide Wish List


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- June 16, 2007, 5:50 AM
To help pilots and controllers meet new ICAO language proficiency requirements taking effect next March, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has introduced an aviation English program at its main campus in Daytona Beach, Florida. The course involves Web-based and classroom instruction developed by Embry-Riddle and partner Aviation English Services of New Zealand. ICAO developed the new set of required English proficiency standards for its 189 contracting countries in response to growing concern about communication errors in a number of high-profile accidents. English is the official language of aviation worldwide.


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Common name: Calendula
Scientific name: Calendula officinalis
Family: Compositae
Uses: Medicinal, culinary, decorative, cosmetic.Culinary: Flowers can be dried and ground and used as a good substitute for the color saffron provides in soups, stews, and poultry. Flowers can also be used for a culinary dye in butters and custards. Decorative: Dry flowers can be used in arrangements. Calendula also makes a pale yellow dye for fabrics. Cosmetic: Add to skin cream and also use in herbal bath mix to stimulates the body. Calendula is said to have some medicinal uses. Avoid use during pregnancy.
History: Also known as Pot marigold, the ancient Romans named this plant after they saw it bloom the first day or "calends" of every month. For centuries this plant was associated with the sun and believed to open with the sunrise and close with the sunset.
Description: Calendula has erect angular branched stems with fine hairs. Flowers are rays in solitary terminal heads 1.5 to 4 inches across, yellow to orange in color and close up at night. Leaves have grey-green margins and are alternate, spatulate or oblanceolate with smooth to widely spaced teeth. Leaves are also hairy and are 2.75 inches long. The fruit are achenes.
Plant type: Annual
Hardiness: Hardiness zone 3-9.
Height: 18 - 20 inches
Width: 10 inches
Light: Full sun; average
Soil: well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
Pests: Slugs, snails, aphids, whiteflies, nematodes, beetles, thrips, leafhoppers, caterpillars; mildew,leaf blight, stem rot, smut, blister
Cultivation: Sow seeds in spring, plant 12-18 inches apart. Deadhead for continuous flowering. Calendula will self seed.
Companion planting:
Propagation: Seeds.
Flowering period: June to September
Flower color: yellow to orange
Harvesting: Pick flowers when open and dry at low
temperatures to preserve color, or macerate the petals in oil. Pick leaves when
young. Dry petals on paper and in the shade to prevent
Garden notes:


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JERUSALEM (Dec. 19)
Premier David Ben Gurion said today that Israel would never agree, under any conditions that the Egyptian invader return to the Gaza Strip. The Premier's forthright declaration came in the Knesset when he replied to an intervention referring to statements that Israel does not seek to retain the Gaza region. He said bluntly that no one was authorized to speak for Israel with regard to the Gaza Strip who did not make this position clear.
(In an interview yesterday with Hanson W. Baldwin of the New York Times. Mr. Ben Gurion said that under no conditions can the Egyptians come back to the Gaza Strip. "We will not let them come back," he was quoted as saying. He indicated his belief that "there should be a United Nations High Commissioner in Gaza."
(The correspondent also quoted Mr. Ben Gurion as advocating demilitarization of the Sinai Peninsula and internationalization of the Strait of Tiran which leads into the Gulf of Akaba.)


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Our attention to service and quality has made us an industry leader. At our company, the customer always comes first, and we constantly strive to exceed your expectations.
Want to know more about our business and the services we offer? Use our website to get detailed information about us and meet our dedicated staff members. We're looking forward to working with you.
Terinex International Ltd. was established in 1976 primarily to service the smaller plastic processor located in Québec. Since then, we have grown to become suppliers, not only to small companies, but also to companies of international stature located primarily in Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes and throughout the rest of Canada and parts of the US. The range of raw materials offered by Terinex is as follows: HDPE, LDPE, Copo & Homo PP, PS, HIPS, ABS, NYLON, PC, Acrylic, Acetal. Prime, Off-grade, Wide spec, Recycled, Reprocessed, Compounded-Engineering type plastics Color Concentrates, powders PVC compounds Polyurethanes Purging compounds


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The biggest names in music have made their way to New York City for tonight's MTV Video Music Awards! Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus were some of the first stars to hit the red carpet outside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, followed by fellow nominees and real-life BFFs Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez. Click through to see all the pictures from the red carpet.
Image Source: Getty


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Link development is one of the most overlooked components of a successful SEO (define) campaign. Web site owners can put all the keywords they wish on a page and develop a search-engine friendly navigation scheme. But without a well-planned link-development campaign, search engine visibility is short term.
Today, some tips and guidelines on creating and maintaining a successful link-development campaign.
What's Link Popularity?
Link popularity is the number and quality of links pointing to a single URL. A site's home page usually has the highest link popularity because site owners tend to link to home pages rather than deeper content.
Click-through popularity used to a measure the number of clicks to a URL and how long a visitor stayed on a site after she clicked from an SERP (define). If she clicked on an SERP link and continued to view the site, she found the information she searched for and didn't need to return to the SERP to view other Web sites. However, if she clicked on an SERP link and quickly returned to the SERP, she didn't find the information she searched.
Due to the rise in click fraud, click-through popularity is now a less important factor in determining a page's relevancy. Now, when a search engine marketer (SEM) refers to link popularity, he means the number and quality of links pointing to a URL, not click-through popularity.
Why Link Development Is Important
As I wrote previously, the building blocks of a successful SEO program are:
- Text component: Using words and phrases your target audience types into search queries.
- Link component: Giving search engines and end users easy access to those keyword phrases.
- Popularity component: The number and quality of links pointing to a Web site.
Copywriting, site design, and information architecture are easily imitated. Often, imitation is a copyright violation and technically illegal. That hasn't stopped a number of search engine marketing firms from doing it. Cloaking (define) often hides copyright infringement.
Enter Google. The company adds another component to the SEO puzzle: link development. Now, not only must Web site owners place keyword phrases on their pages and allow search engine spiders access to that text, end users must actually find the information on the site to be useful and helpful.
What I particularly like about the link development concept is sites of all sizes have difficulty maintaining search engine visibility unless they're useful. In reality, no one searches for ads.
When other site owners link to your site, they consider your content important. Likewise, search engines will consider your content important because human beings, not software programs, link to your site's content.
Rise of Free-for-All Link Farms
Link development can be very difficult to imitate. Sure, a resourceful software engineer can create artificial links and imitate them many times over. Getting multiple, identical links from a reputable news source is difficult.
And if link development is identical, or nearly identical, on two unrelated sites? That's often a red flag, indicating the link popularity stems from link farms.
Unethical SEMs purchase keyword-rich domains for the sole purpose of developing link farms. They often cloak the domains' content to hide the gibberish from their unknowing clients. They also purchase expired domains that already have link development, hoping human directory editors (at Yahoo, Open Directory, etc.) won't notice.
Unfortunately, sometimes link spam works. Directory editors are overwhelmed with the number of sites they must maintain in their categories. Savvy but unethical SEMs realize a site won't be penalized for the links pointing to it (no one controls how other sites link to you). So SEMs create link farms and ensure clients don't link to the farm sites.
Search engine software engineers always look for spam tactics. When a new company purchases a domain name, Google automatically resets the PageRank to zero. In addition, when a software engineer discovers a link farm, all the domains in the link farm are banned. Result? Link popularity vanishes.
Link Development Tips
Link development is essential to a successful SEO campaign. The main disadvantage is it takes time, whereas paid search advertising (in Google, Overture, FindWhat, etc.) results are nearly instantaneous.
Link development's main advantage is dynamic, cumulative, and difficult to imitate. Many sites maintain search engine visibility and the resulting qualified traffic because of successful link development, not just based on the number of keywords on a page.
Some link development tactics we commonly use:
- Choose quality over quantity. Link quality carries more weight than quantity. Spend time getting the highest quality links pointing to your site. One of search engine spammers' biggest sales pitches is, "Get millions of links to your site." Don't fall for that arcane, useless pitch.
- Begin with Web directories. Yahoo Directory and Business.com are two reliable places for high-quality links. Both require annual submission fees. If their links don't positively affect your site's link development, don't renew.
- Harness online publicity. How-to tips, helpful articles, even useful press releases often garner links from other Web sites. Publicity is usually part of a company's overall marketing plan, so harnessing these resources for link development can be a simple task.
- Use blogs and forums wisely. Blogs and forums can call attention to useful information on your own site.
- Use search engines to research link development. Look at competitors' sites to determine their link development strategy. It can help you with your own. What newspapers and media outlets do they use for online publicity? What Web directories link to their sites? No link popularity checker ("link:domain.com" in Google, "linkdomain:domain.com" in Yahoo) can substitute for doing the research yourself.
Want more search information? ClickZ SEM Archives contain all our search columns, organized by topic.
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What does voice search mean for your local SEO strategy?
The popularity of virtual assistants means voice search is on the rise. But what does it means for businesses that rely on local search traffic, and how can they ensure they aren't left behind?
Three reasons for companies to consider using .brand TLDs
On February 28, 2017, ClickZ presented the webinar 'Still using .com? Here's why 50% of all Fortune 500 companies are about to use .brand' in association with Neustar.
Brand TLDs vs .com (part two): How can brands benefit from a .brand TLD?
In part one a few weeks ago, we discussed what brand TLDs (top level domains) are, which brands are applying for them and why they might be important. Today, we'll take an in-depth look at the potential benefits for brands, and explore the challenges brand TLDs could help solve.


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|#1 (permalink)
Brand New Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1
Insight To London Some Of The Minor Details
For a person who has time to look around London and get to know the place better these facts are interesting. Most visitors to London just get to see the famous spots of London and hardly get to see the real London. London is so full of history that if you want to know London you have to spend some time there. Some lesser known details of London are listed for people who love to get the real feel of the city, wander around the place and see the real London.
If you are healthy and don't mind climbing steps you should visit the Monument. It is a fantastic view from the top of the Monument. Take a deep breath when you reach the top and you will be really happy you made the effort and climbed. The view is breath taking to say the least. The whole of London is before you, it is kind of an aerial view only difference is that this is clearer. One of the best views in London, no doubt, is from the top of the Monument – it's 202 feet high because it is 202 feet from the site of the baker's house in Pudding Lane. It is a historical location too. This is where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. There are 311 stairs to climb but you do get a certificate to say you've done it! Salt the certificate because when you grow older no one will believe you when you say you have climbed to the top of the Monument.
The bright lights of Piccadilly Circus are famous through-out the world. So when in London take a night trip and enjoy the beautiful view.
Another interesting place to visit is the Statue of Eros. Look closely and you'll see that Eros isn't really a statue but a fountain on which a small figure rests, commemorating the philanthropic Earl of Shaftesbury. Some say that the figure is really a pun on Shaftesbury's name as the bow doesn't have an arrow in it and is pointing downwards as if the arrow (or shaft) has already been shot and is "buried" in the ground.
Nearby visit the Trafalgar Square, famous for Nelson's column. This place is the point from where London distances are measured. The actual point is on the corner of Strand and Charing Cross Road, near the statue of Charles 1. Take a look at the plaque on the wall confirming this.
And after looking around and you feel tired rest your legs and relax at a Restaurant London has so thoughtfully located for you. You could have a hot cup of exotic tea and watch the busy bees passing by. Enjoy the thought that you can relax.
Last edited by bernhard; 11-07-2007 at 06:59 AM.
|#2 (permalink)
Junior Member
it is kind of you to introduce the London in your view to us. i really hope that one day i will have the chance to go to London to see those scenery you memtioned before.
|#4 (permalink)
thank you very much for this information
i think it would be great to picture london sights through writing, may be you can describe one of its sights every time, the way that you can feel as if you are in london and see these things by your eyes.
sincerely wael elbaz, head of Translation department at ELC Group
you can visit the Group site and see the latest conference of Satellites....duties and rights
*ÇáãÌãæÚÉ ÇáÚáãíÉ ááÏÑÇÓÇÊ ÇáÞÇäæäíÉ
|#5 (permalink)
One good guy!
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Houston, Texas but my heart is in Espana & Italia!
Posts: 484
We love London and the people!
I cannot beleive others have not tagged on to this great topic!?
The only experience I have of Great Britain is from the "Tele" shows we see here in the US on weekends. I have been watching these wonderful shows for years! I apologize if I stray from the subject but when I was younger we always listened to and bought numerous British music recordings. I have so many fav's I cannot name them all. I once had a boss that was from near London and I loved her accent. I imagine its like any other country some people may have a stronger accent then the other side of the country.
One of my old fav shows is The East Ender's. It has been on the air for years and the coincidence is that I am an East Ender from here in Texas! Ha ha!
Anyway I love your country to and must visit one day. I love history and architecture so you are on my list! Cheers from Texas!
Every man and every woman is a star!
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This Week in Food Blogs: Masters of Meat and the Problem with Corn Smut
A breakfast croissant at Boomtown Coffee, this week's pick from the Houston Press Flickr pool.
Photo by Gary R. Wise
Eater Houston: I love useful maps, and Eater Houston's recent "heat map" of the city's best brunch destinations is just that. Old favorites such as Fountain View Cafe and Hugo's mingle with newer hot spots like Boomtown Coffee.
CultureMap: Equally useful is Sarah Rufca's map at CultureMap of the 10 hottest restaurants for November. "Where to eat right now" features everything from food trucks (Breakfast Burritos Anonymous) to icehouses (Cottonwood), coffee shops (Southside Espresso) to temples of haute cuisine (Triniti).
29-95: Meat lovers rejoiced earlier this week when it was announced that Ronnie Killen of Killen's Steakhouse and Ricky Craig of Hubcap Grill are teaming up to open their own steakhouse together. Alison Cook reports that CK's Steakhouse will open on 19th Street in the Heights -- not far from the second location of Hubcap Grill -- after Killen's original plan to take over Stella Sola fell through.
Dude, You Going to Eat That?: What do you make with an ingredient that's delicious but terribly ugly -- or even downright disgusting -- to look at? That's the topic of Dr. Ricky's most recent post, in which he contemplates the many ways to mask huitlacoche (a.k.a. corn smut).
Jack Around: In honor of the Day of the Dead, Jack Highberger compiled a list of the best beers to feature a dead guy on the label. And although Dia de los Muertos has now passed us by, you can still enjoy these beers year-round.
The Woodlands Eats: Finally, TWE checks out a new Tex-Mex restaurant in a part of town that's not lacking for chips and queso. "With nearly 40 Mexican Style Restaurants in The Woodlands, it can take a long time to get around to all of them," TWE writes. Los Arcos, however, was not a standout, with TWE calling it "exceedingly mediocre."
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Handmaidens (California) is a faith formation group for single women between the ages of 18 and 35, dedicated to cultivating a deeper relationship with our Lord, as well as a greater understanding and appreciation of the dignity of their vocation as women. Formation and living holiness in the world is supported and nurtured through adoration, prayer and conferences given by the Carmelite Sisters and chosen laity.
This years theme is:
"For Greater Things You Were Born"
Spiritual gems from Venerable Mother Luisita
Handmaidens in California
Upcoming Events
- September 17, 2016
- October 23, 2016
- November 19, 2016
- December 17, 2016
- January 28, 2017
- February 18, 2017
- March 25, 2017
- April 23, 2017
Movie & Game Night
(Potluck dinner, conference, "For Greater Glory" movie/ game night)
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Evening Prayer at Sacred Heart Retreat House; the rest of the evening will be spent at St. Joseph Campus (Sacred Heart and Nazareth Rooms)
Topic: This year marks Venerable Mother Luisita 150th anniversary of birth! Her life is no ordinary story. It is a story filled with that complete trust in God which makes life a daring adventure, the kind of adventure one encounters when one dares to love God above all things and to place one's life completely in His hands. As we prepare to spend this year gleaning insights from her wisdom and experience, we will learn more about her life and the challenging circumstances which God used to help her grow in union with Him.
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Sacred Heart Retreat House
11:30 Mass with the sisters and the weekend retreatants
12:30 Lunch picnic style- bring your own sack lunch
1:00 – 3:30 Boutique Bake-a-thon
4:00 – 5:00 Adoration and Evening Prayer with the Sisters
Come help us take over the Sacred Heart Retreat House kitchen and prepare for our annual Boutique. Donning hair nets and aprons, we'll make fudge, mix soups and bake lots of sweet treats. A beautiful Sunday Holy Hour will conclude the afternoon. Don't miss out on this fun afternoon!
"God, Your Soul and Eternity"
(Evening Prayer at St. Joseph Chapel, Potluck dinner, Conference, Adoration, Dessert, and Discussion)
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Santa Teresita- Madonna Hall and Main Chapel
Topic: "God, Your Soul and Eternity" Mother Luisita invites each of us to maintain the proper perspective on life's joys and sorrows. She asks: "What about your soul? Is it taking little steps toward heaven or is it flying there?' She encourages us to "be very united with Our Lord so that your prayer may be continual, and at the same time, full of confidence in God."
Handmaidens' Day of Prayer
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: St. Joseph Campus / Sacred Heart Retreat House
10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Handmaidens' Day of Prayer (SJC)
Conference topics:
Finding Peace: Full of maternal solicitude for her daughters, Mother Lusitia offers us tender counsel about how to maintain peace of soul when we are faced with struggles. She says, "If there is any tempest going on in your soul, don't pay any attention to it. You know very well where it is all coming from, so don't be afraid. Run to Our Lord and full of confidence in Him ask Him to help you. Invoke our Blessed Mother praying to her with fervor."
Trusting in God's Providence: Mother Luisita's life gives witness to extraordinary faith and trust in God. In the midst of severe religious persecution she courageously tells us: "How good our God is, always watching over His children! We should rest entirely in His hands, understanding that His eyes are always upon us, that He will see to it that we lack nothing and grant us anything that we need, if it is for our own good. Let Our Lord do with you whatever He wants. Let Him mold your soul in whatever way is pleasing to Him."
4:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Las Posadas (SJC); Dinner and Christmas Caroling in the neighborhood (SHRH) Cost: $25 for the Day of Prayer
"Your Prayer Life"
(Evening Prayer, Potluck dinner, Conference, Adoration, Dessert, and Discussion)
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Santa Teresita- Main Chapel and Villa
Topic: "Your Prayer Life" Are you looking for some advice on how to deepen your prayer life? Mother Luisita shares very practical insights on how to cooperate with God's grace. She teaches us: "Your prayer should be continual by uplifting your soul to God. May His love be the driving force urging you on in everything you do. My child, reminding yourself of God's presence within you will lead you into contemplation."
"Carrying Your Cross"
(Visiting the residents, Evening Prayer, Potluck dinner, Conference, Adoration, Dessert, and Discussion)
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Marycrest Manor, Culver City
Topic: "Carrying Your Cross" As we enter into the holy season of Lent, Mother Luisita invites us to become very united to Jesus through our acceptance of suffering. She says, "According to the love that God has for us and the place He's destined in heaven for us, He provides us with the means to beautify our souls. Oh, my child, let us love the cross! Let's embrace it and see it as the proof of the love of a crucified God. Our Lord Himself will be your reward."
"Growing in Holiness"
(Evening Prayer, Potluck dinner, Conference, Adoration, Dessert, and Discussion)
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Evening Prayer at Sacred Heart Retreat House; the rest of the evening will be spent at St. Joseph Campus (Sacred Heart and Nazareth Rooms)
Topic: "Growing in Holiness" Throughout her letters, Mother Luisita repeatedly challenges us: "Be what you are supposed to be- a saint!" She encourages us to have magnanimous souls and to strive for holiness for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of souls. She prays, "May we all acquire solid virtue through the ordinary duties of daily life. Without being puffed-up in any way, let us be humble and observant. Rejoice in being little, humble and simple. Oh, yes, my child. May Divine Love consume your soul. After all, that's the reason why we are in the world. All the rest is nothing more than a puff of smoke!"
Beach Trip
Time: 3:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Location: Meet at Sacred Heart Retreat House to carpool OR meet us at Point Vincente Interpretive Center- 31501 Palos Verdes Dr W, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Activity: Join many of our sisters as well as our Come and See guests for a beautiful evening at the beach! Dinner, Evening prayer, wonderful company, great music and breathtaking scenery!


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A Chinese national has been jailed for four months for money laundering after being handed two bags containing more than $800,000 in cash outside North Sydney railway station.
County Court judge Claire Quin said Chun Wa Wong and a co-accused had flown from Melbourne to Sydney on February 25 this year before catching a taxi to North Sydney for the money exchange.
The pair met an unknown third person outside the railway station who handed over the money after Wong's co-accused had provided a password.
Wong and the co-accused flew back to Melbourne later that day.
Judge Quin said the pair had the two bags containing $800,080 in cash in their car and were driving from the airport to Box Hill before police intercepted them on Elgar Road.
Wong, 29, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of money laundering.
Judge Quin said Wong had been working for the Bank of China in Hong Kong before becoming involved with the money-laundering syndicate.
She was working for a bakery in Melbourne on a temporary working visa when she agreed to travel with her co-accused to Sydney to pick up the money.
''It was conceded by the prosecution that you were a lesser player in this offence than your co-accused ... and other unidentified third parties involved in the scheme,'' the judge told Wong.
''I was referred to portions of the depositions where it was clear that you reported to others above you in the hierarchy and followed their directions.
''You did not receive or anticipate receiving any financial reward for your involvement.''
Wong expected to be deported once she had served her jail sentence.
The judge said Wong had spent her early childhood with her parents in Hong Kong before being sent to live with her grandparents in Guangzhou, China. She then moved back to Hong Kong to complete her secondary education.
''Your father passed away in 2007 and you have since been working to support your mother and extended family,'' the judge said.


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Don't Miss the 2010 Tigard Festival of Balloons: June 25, 26, 27
If you are staying with us weekend of June 25-27, you are in for a special treat! Make sure you save some time to check out the Tigard Festival of Balloons in Cook Park happening all weekend. There will be hot air balloons and so much more.
Plan to arrive VERY EARLY in the a.m. to Cook Park to experience the spectacular hot air balloons as they launch. Balloons launch from the field on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Ascensions are between 5:45 AM – 6:15 AM. After that, a few balloons will be tethering until approximately 8:00 AM each day (weather and winds permitting).
Other events include: Pacific NW BBQ Association Cook-Off, Festival of Cars (Sunday); Northwest Natural Night Glow on Friday & Saturday nights; the Rogue Beer Garden, live music on the Comcast Stage; Funtastic carnival fun center, magicians, cotton candy, and a whole lot more! Be sure to visit their site to see full details.
Did you know that the Festival of Balloons is a non-profit organization raising funds for many non-profit groups in Tigard while providing a premier family event for the entire community? You can buy a 3 day-weekend pass at the gate for $7 OR you can purchase in advance a 3 day-weekend pass for $5 online at www.tigardballoon.org. This ticket is good for unlimited access to the Festival for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Kids 6 and under are free. Festival parking is available on the Tigard High School field for $5 .
Driving directions to Cook Park from The Grand Hotel in Bridgeport (via Google Maps)
2.2 mi – about 7 mins
1. Head north on SW Hazelfern Rd 102 ft
2. Turn right to stay on SW Hazelfern Rd 167 ft
3. Turn left at Lower Boones Ferry Rd 0.1 mi
4. Continue onto SW 72nd Ave 0.2 mi
5. Turn left at SW Durham Rd 1.3 mi
6. Turn left at SW 92nd Ave 0.5 mi


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Terracotta Powder - Now comes in 8 gorgeous shades and sleeker compacts to suit all skin tone. I've always been a fan of this cult product and was super thrilled! 8 shades!
Terracotta Skin - A clever hybrid foundation of powder, cream and gel to give you a veil of colour that is instantly real and velvety. Definitely handy in my work for when you want to create a tan without having to deal with self tanners.
Terracotta Jambes De Gazelle - Definitely caught my attention straightaway! It's a gorgeous bronzing gel for legs to give you a shine and tan to rival any of those rich WAGs that can be washed off with soap and water. Most importantly it will not rub off on your clothes! Another kit staple for instant but washable effects!
All the above available nationwide 27th March 2011.
Terra Inca Summer 2011
Here's the makeup range for the summer-loving lady! I am sure you'd have read about it by now so I shall only pick out what I see myself loving!
Star Powder - A beautiful warming compact powder encased in the most luxurious wooden shallow bowl with a twist-off magnetic lid! I nearly screamed like a girl at the thought of how amazing it would look on my dressing table if I had one!
Terre Indigo - An Incan mosaic of orange, blue, 2 shades of brown held together with pale gold. Tried on my hand, the colours are rich, intense and gorgeous with a finish of sun-baked soil in an exotic location!
Kôhl Kajal - The cult pointy-tipped black crayon makes a return! Personally I think best used for the sultry smudged effect.
Ombre Fusion literally made me and companion squeal in excitement. Imagine 3 shades of Pink, Bronze and Copper in a cream that depending on technique, can go from sheerest sheen to molten liquid metal! I'm so using that on my next shoot! Apparently long lasting and budge proof as well but undeniably magnificent!
Terracotta Gloss comes in 3 shimmer-free pure syrup shades of Salsa (Fuchsia), Mambo (Coral) and Tango (Red).
The Terra Inca Summer Collection is out nationwide 5th June 2011.
The last offering courtesy of Guerlain is Rouge Automatique.
25 shades categorised under Unforgettable Beiges, Passionate Red, Flamboyant Oranges and Loving Pinks.
The clever gold square barrel boasts the ingenious button that you push to reveal the lipstick bullet, all using only one hand! I suppose that's handy for the woman on the go.
The Rouge Automatique is exclusive to Selfridges 3rd April and nationwide 1st May 2011.
Yves Saint Laurent
I am greeted with 6 palettes of the new Pure Chromatics Eyeshadows which are just pure joy of colour! With the option of using wet or dry, the finish is pure luxurious colour when applied dry and intense metallic opulence when applied wet. I tried both and love the wet application which gives you a finish like an expensive sports car caught in the rain. Dark and intense and very very expensive!
Now what got me very very excited were the new Long-Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil. It comes in 5 shades that are waterproof once it sets. There's a 30ish second play-time that allows you to blend and smudge and then it sets to non-budge intense colour. I love working with wet textures as they usually give you an intensity that dry textures don't really give you. So it's perfect that these gave me that intensity and yet sets to a waterproof finish! No more smudging! I can see this being a staple with doing my celebs for events for minimal retouching. Have a look at the shades on my hand, I am afraid my photography skills did not do it justice.
The collection is exclusive to Selfridges 3rd March and goes nationwide mid-March.
Before I left for the day, I managed to grab hold of a quick look of the upcoming Eyes To Kill collection that should be out soon. New heavily-pigmented shadows that are pressed into the jar. It took me awhile to get it but it's loose intense pigment that's gently pressed into a pot. I got to play with a lab sample so it might change when it comes out. Dark intense midnight bruise with flecks of blood rubies! Wooo I can think of all the possibilities of this colour for work already! So here you go, have a look!
So there you have it. My 2 days off! That's the life of a makeup artist. Even when I'm not shooting or working with a celebrity, it's rare that I actually don't come in contact with makeup in whatever form. I love it though and wouldn't change anything about it. I apologise for the long post but hope you enjoy seeing what I got to see!


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STAGE TUBE: On This Day 10/20- Jerry Orbach
Welcome to BWW's THIS DAY Series celebrating theatrical birthdays, openings and special events that took place on this day in theatre history!
Happy Birthday Jerry Orbach! Jerry Orbach, best known for his starring role as wisecracking Detective Lennie Briscoe in the long-running television series "Law & Order," was also an accomplished Tony Award-winning Broadway and Off-Broadway actor. His theatre career began in 1960 as El Gallo in the original Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks. He later went on to star on Broadway in such musicals as 42nd Street, Chicago (Tony Award nomination), Guys and Dolls (Tony Award nomination) and Promises, Promises which earned him the 1969 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
In celebration of this day, we bring you 'The Lullaby of Broadway' as performed at the 1981 Tony Awards. Click below to check it out!
Click Here to Watch the Video!


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Colchicine and methotrexate reduce leukocyte adherence and emigration in rat mesenteric venules
Colchicine and methotrexate are commonly used in the treatment of gout and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively; however the mechanism(s) of action of these drugs remain(s) unknown. The objective of this study was to determine whether colchicine and methotrexate can modify the adhesion and emigration of leukocytes in postcapillary venules that are exposed to inflammatory mediators such as platelet-activating factor (PAF) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). The rat mesentery was prepared for in vivo microscopic observation. Venules with internal diameters ranging between 25 and 35μn were selected for study. Erythrocyte velocity, vessel diameter, leukocyte rolling velocity, and the number of adherent (stationary for ≥30 sec) and emigrated leukocytes were measured during superfusion of the mesentery with bicarbonate-buffered saline (BBS). Repeat measurements of adhesive and hemodynamic parameters were obtained. between 50 and 60 min of superfusion with either 100 nM PAF or 20 nM LTB4 added to the superfusate. In some experiments, 1μM of either colchicine or methotrexate was added to the superfusate containing either PAF or LTB4. Both PAF and LTB4 caused increases in leukocyte adherence and emigration and reductions in leukocyte rolling velocity and venular shear rate. Colchicine effectively prevented all of the adhesive and hemodynamic alterations induced by both inflammatory mediators, while methotrexate was largely effective in preventing the responses elicited by PAF, but not LTB4. These results indicate that the therapeutic actions of colchicine and methotrexate may result from the ability of these agents to interfere with the adhesion and emigration of leukocytes from postcapillary venules.
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Hi All, The family is on the move. We're moving this weekend and likely will be with out internet access or free time for the majority of the weekend. We'll be back in full … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2007
Why your adjustable interest rate mortgage isn't helped by rate cuts
In a Bloomberg article about the ongoing credit crunch yesterday the news firm reports that the one-month LIBOR is at its highest point since the Federal Reserve rate cut in … [Read more...]
Mortgage Shoppers: Shopping for Advocates or Salesmen?
For a mortgage advocacy website, this has to hit home, right??? One of the major issues I face as an originator is people who seem to want a salesman and not an advocate. I am … [Read more...]
Getting Consumer Trust Back
So, how dare I insinuate a loan officer may be even a little bit responsible for putting his/her borrowers in a suicide loan? It was fascinating to get that firsr dose of … [Read more...]
Uncle Angelo Ruined by TheStreet.com
Big hat tip to Keith at Housing Panic, if you're not reading that every day you're missing a major part of the story. This is hilarious. The fact that it was created by … [Read more...]
Higher mortgage rates, part of the solution
Here is Shawn's first article - I'm publishing it for him since he emailed it to me but expect to hear more from him soon. By Shawn E. Wolcott I have been saying to my associates … [Read more...]
More contributors – more fun!
Hey gang, I'd like to announce a few more contributors that are going to be sharing their thoughts with us here on Blown Mortgage. They are Ricardo, Shawn and Graeme. I'll let … [Read more...]
Ohhh..You Mean it's Not Just a Subprime Problem??
Go figure. From the way you would read it in the media these days the only problems on main street have to do with people with "those subprime mortgages." It seems that the words … [Read more...]
A busy day…Some News and Notes
Sorry folks, a busy day over here for yours truly. But lots of important news and notes to catch you up on. Enjoy the link love and check back soon for a more substantial … [Read more...]
Let's shift the blame to the underwriters!
What Underwriting Guidelines Would Make a Difference? Fannie and Freddie's lack of a disposable income test is one reason why we find ourselves in the mess that we're in. Their … [Read more...]
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For a good few years, this blog was all about food. I had lots of restaurant reviews and foodie pics and experiments like making sausages. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, I haven't done much in that area for a long time. Whilst I've eaten lots of lovely food since then, I haven't had much that was truly memorable. Until Friday night.
My parents were down for a visit and we planned to go to The Poacher's Inn with them and big sis, but when we went to book we were told the Tapas night was starting at 8pm and it was only a very limited menu before that. As we hate to eat late, we decided to go to Bandon's other superb restaurant, Chapel Steps. We figured it wouldn't be too busy around 6.30pm and we didn't bother book a table. Boy were we wrong. They were jammed and didn't have a table free when we arrived. Whilst it was a disappointment for us, I was thrilled for Siobhan and the team. They've got an absolute winner on their hands now.
So back to Poacher's and not only did they have a table, they were happy to give us the Tapas menu early. I was chuffed! We ordered a clatter of plates for sharing. We knew we had to be out by 8pm and were relieved when the plates started coming thick and fast.
Not a single dud. Not one. Everything was gorgeous and lots of it was surprising. The tempura oysters with pepper sauce were a revelation. The sauce on the whole prawns was completely addictive. I could go on and on about the tastes but I think a few pictures are called for. Apologies for the rubbish picture quality. It was quite dark and I couldn't find the option to turn on the flash as a light in the camera app on the phone.
Superb olives:
Local cheeses and meats (that pickled cauliflower was a thing of joy):
My favourite share plate. Everything on this was perfect:
Biggest surprise for those who thought they didn't like oysters:
The incredible sauce. I need that recipe!
Beautiful brill with patatas bravas (best pickled artichoke ever):
By 7.30pm I think we'd tried everything on the menu. And then we had the desserts. That thing with the granita was the nicest sweet I've had in years. Seriously.
The others raved about this dessert too:
Rory told us that it was just a one-off experiment but can I implore Poacher's to do this regularly? I know it had 5 chefs flat-out all night Friday so maybe once a month? And have it all night rather than the big-bang at 8pm? We haven't eaten out much recently and it's food like this that will get us out the door regularly.
When we first moved to Bandon, we were told that there were no good restaurants here because it was too close to Cork. So everyone went to Cork or Kinsale to eat. But Urru, Poacher's and Chapel Steps have proven that was bullcrap and was just an excuse for mediocrity in the past.
If we get another couple of places of this quality in the town, it will become a serious foodie destination and rightly call itself the new gourmet capital of Cork.


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Get all 4 Josh Hoke releases available on Bandcamp.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Peace on Earth, Free As a Bird EP, Wait for Me EP, and Ghosts and Glory. , and , .
Josh Hoke Portland, Oregon
Josh Hoke is a Midwestern man of origin, son of a preacher, a student of adventure and singer of soul. His travels brought him to his eventual home of Portland, Oregon, where he currently makes melodies that satisfy like sweet tea on a Sunday afternoon. His voice invites you into a rustic space of tired hope where confident honesty is acquainted with grief in songs of good life and luster. ... more
Streaming and Download help


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Shaping Youth was pinged for a Thinking Blogger Award by FrugalMom, as one of those 'blog tag' viral games where you name your five faves and link to significant influencers in your blogosphere. This is a perfect example of digital media AND marketing, so I'll bite, and pass around a few little nibbles to nosh on.
I splash around in numerous puddles, from nonpartisans to nonprofits, and though my picks are not exclusively 'children and media' based, these blogs orbit my world of influence and eventually hit the kidsphere.
I should add that FrugalMom already tagged two foodies, so I've disqualified myself from including the Mouth Revolution blog or any food sites like Appetite for Profit, so I'll choose more peripheral picks for broad-based topicality.
Digital Destiny: A blend of Washington insider and digerati, Jeff Chester reports on the latest media issues with a keen eye for conflict of interest, and a filtered lens that sifts out the rhetoric to get to the real story.
Have Fun, Do Good: Britt Bravo's blog inspires, informs, and enlightens me to cool people that should be on my radar, either professionally or personally. She also runs a helpful 'blog tip' site for those of us that are newbies.
Edge: I stumbled upon this to send to my NextNow collaboratory/think tank crew and must say, it's not quite a 'blog' but the random musings light up my synapses in all quadrants, and truly bring meaning to the concept of sites "that make you think."
Tie: Two industry pros: Away With Words: Nancy is a wordsmith colleague and pal who keeps me on my toes when I've used too many puns or slide into cliché. Her blog is as sharp as her wit, and her column runs on the Virtual Thesaurus site which is a fab tool for writer geeks like me. AND Clemans on Marketing: Laurie is a thought leader, creative cohort, and one of "the good guys" in advertising with a conscience, (who's also in my NextNow thinktank crew, so she's smart as a whip.) Her entrepreneurial spirit translates seamlessly into high profile design, and her industry blog banter keeps me amused and on top of it all.
Tie: Two Shaping Youth Advisors: Sky's Blog, Dalai Lama Foundation: Don't let the DL Zen-style do-gooder title fool you, Sky is our CTO, (DL's too) and he's a strategic thinker with media insights in technology far beyond the teen scene and Project Happiness. Brad Reddersen of Stranova (our podcast guru) has some of the most insightful interviews from thought leaders throughout the globe found on multiple aggregators and of course, itunes! He's absolutely amazing, and his partner's new launch, Offerings Publications, is one to watch too.
There ya have it! My worthy picks, for "bloggers who make you think!" Tag. You're it. Pass it on, link back!


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It's taken some time (two trips two years apart), but it was well worth the wait. Aaron Ross versus The Bakery!
"Odyssey BMX pro Aaron Ross rolls from Austin to Chicago to lay down a Baker's Dozen of some crazy moves at both Bakery locations. Like he does with every one of his video parts, Aaron did some super progressive tricks and lines and even tackled the park with a freecoaster on his bike.
If you like this video, leave a comment and subscribe to get all of The Bakery's videos the second they drop!
Subscribe to The Bakery on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c…
Like The Bakery on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidethebakery
Follow The Bakery on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insidetheba…
Follow The Bakery on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/insidethebakery"


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7 Recommendations
chrismohney's recommendation
Really, these things have been cool so long, they're almost a cliche. Normally I need something much smaller for pocket storage, but twice I've bought Moleskine notebooks, and twice lost them while traveling. I'm hoping the next one chooses to remain with me.
My Collections:
mrakula's recommendation
I bought one of these for everyone on the technical team at my work. They are not cheap, but are very well made. I still like to take notes on paper during meetings and these notebooks are the best you can buy.
slavito's recommendation
Moleskine notebooks (available in various sizes) have excellent paper, hard cover and a convenient pocket in the back. Perfect for sketching, jutting down notes and ideas.
rmatosoliveira's recommendation
Escrita aos pedaços..
jblair10's recommendation
Little sketchbook/notepad to keep all your ideas/thoughts/designs in
crystallyn's recommendation
Can't live without my molekskines. I love the feel of the paper, the way they lie flat when open and the sturdy construction is a must have.
My Collections:
xefiro's recommendation
The perfect notebook. I love the soft cover 196 page pocket sized ones. Never leave home without it. This humble black notebook just wants to make you write, and sketch, and fill it. for some reason.


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Irvine Holds Its Restaurant Week Starting Jan. 14, Runs Till Jan. 20
A drink and an appetizer at Zov's Bistro, one of the participating restaurants
Edwin Goei
Costa Mesa is currently doing a Restaurant Month, and later this month, Newport Beach will hold its "weeklong" restaurant roundup Jan. 21-27.
But Irvine's is just before that. It actually starts this Friday and does not have that many restaurants participating.
Though the website optimistically phrases it as "nearly a dozen restaurants," I count exactly nine.
They are:
- 6ix Park Grill
- Andrei's
- Waterfalls at The Atrium Hotel
- Elements 102
- Kimera
- Meritage
- Zov's
- The Melting Pot
- Il Fornaio
Upcoming Events
Taco Tuesday
Tue., Oct. 17, 5:00pm
Taco Tuesday
Tue., Oct. 24, 5:00pm
Taco Tuesday
TicketsTue., Oct. 31, 5:00pm
Taco Tuesday
TicketsTue., Nov. 7, 5:00pm
But remember what I praised the Costa Mesa Restaurant Month for? Ease of use? Information on the prix-fixe lunch or dinner menus at a flick of the fingertips on the main page, where one can find it?
No such luck here. Every restaurant on Irvine's restaurant-week site has a link that opens up a separate PDF with the menus. Oh, well, at least there aren't that many of them to begin with.
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TicketsTue., Sep. 26, 5:00pm
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Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare -- part of the Children's Miracle Network. Gillette, based in St. Paul and with a clinic in Baxter, serves children with disabilities and chronic conditions.
Starting Monday, Sept. 29, you can also invite your friends and family to "Like" Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union's Facebook page. For every new "Like" we receive, we will donate $1 to Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. We will share stories from children and families who have received care from Gillette to show why this is such a worthy fundraiser.
MMFCU staff have also been greatly supportive of this cause -- if you stop in to one of our locations on a Monday and see them wearing jeans, make sure to give them a pat on the back! Each employee who donates $2 to Gillette can wear jeans to work the following Monday. The more employees you see wearing jeans, the better!
Stop by any MMFCU branch to learn more about Miracle Mondays and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, to make a contribution and to show your support. In turn, MMFCU will match up to $5,000 in donation dollars raised. Together, we have the potential to raise a great deal of money for a wonderful cause.
Stay tuned to our Facebook page and be sure to spread the word about our efforts. Every dollar raised will make a world of difference!