text:
Upon entering T.A.R. (Tibet Autonomous Region) all foreigners are required to register watches, camera, lap-top etc. in their possession. These must be accounted for on leaving.
Art objects and antiques in Tibet fall under special restrictions forbidding their export. Anything made before 1959 is considered antique. Rugs, Pashminas are allowed to be bought and can be shipped in international standard services. In the Local markets the gift items and souvenirs are in ample and no subject to any export restrictions.
Trafficking any illicit drugs is an offence and the prospect of Chinese jail is very grim and not negotiable.
We recommend you purchase a Travel Insurance against sickness, emergency rescue, accident, hospitalization, cancellation etc., as we accept no responsibility or expenses which may arise from mishaps to persons or their belongings during these tours.
Inbound and outbound travelers must complete a customs declaration form listing the valuables or amount of foreign currency being brought into the country. A copy of the form will be collected upon exit. Except declaration to the customs, other declarations anytime and anywhere are invalid.
Travelers shall fill out their declaration forms. If they employ agents for filling, the agents should sign their names on the declaration forms. The agents must obey the Customs regulations and take related legal responsibilities.
Travelers should show valid inbound and outbound travel certificates, identity certificate, inbound and outbound goods certificates, commercial certificates and other documents concerned.
The copy of the Customs declaration form signed by the Customs should be preserved by travelers during valid time limit. Travelers should show it to the Customs when they pick up goods and make some other procedures.
Overseas travelers' luggage should be checked by the Customs when they leave China. At the same time, they should show luggage declaration form to the Customs. The goods (such as camera, video camera) that travelers take when entering China should be taken out of China on the departure. The goods that have been detained by the Customs should be taken out of China by themselves or by agents within 3 months. The goods that are not taken within the time limit will be disposed according to law. The owners of some luggage that has to be transported should go through relevant Customs procedures before leaving.
The inbound and outbound travelers who hold diplomatic or preferential visas should show visas to Customs forwardly.
There are two channels, red and green, in China Customs. You shall take the red one if you have something to declare, otherwise the green one. If you are uncertain which channel you should take, then you shall take the red one.
If you take the red channel, the Customs officer will check whether you have to pay duty, deposit the items at the Customs, or allow you to take them into China but take them out on your departure. If you take things such as computers, cameras, video cameras, gold and silver, printed or recorded materials, or anything more than you need during your travel in China, you have to fill in the "Customs Luggage Declaration Form". Similarly, if you are planning to leave any sort of significant item there, you should also fill out the form.
A copy of the form must be retained by the traveler and be submitted to the Customs when leaving the country. All the items declared on the form must be brought out of China or else import duty will be charged on them.
2 liters of alcoholic beverages
400 cigarettes
50g (2 ounces) of gold or silver
US$ less than 5,000
Chinese RMB with a total value less than 6,000
Reasonable amount of perfume
1 still camera and reasonable amount of film
Prohibited imports include: fresh fruit, arms, ammunition and explosives, printed matters, films or tapes "detrimental to China", narcotic drugs, animals and plants.
Remember: All the receipts of the valuable articles, such as jewelry, jade, gold and silver ornaments, handicrafts, artifacts, paintings and calligraphy, you bought in China should be kept for the exit check. Antiques are not permitted to leave China without the proper "Certificates for the Export of Cultural Relics" from the Chinese Authorities.
Travelers who take goods listed on the second, third and fourth kinds of Classifications of Travelers' Inbound and Outbound Luggage (excluding the limited cigarette and wine).
Non-resident travelers and resident travelers who hold re-entering visas and take more than one such articles as cameras, radio recorders, video cameras, portable video recorders, portable word processors and so on.
Travelers who take more than RMB6,000 or gold, silver goods with more than 50 grams.
Non-resident travelers who hold foreign cash currency that is more than US$5000.
Resident travelers who hold foreign cash currency that is more than US$1000.
Travelers who take some goods that are beyond the usage of themselves.
Travelers who take the animals, plants and products that are limited by China quarantine laws or some products that have to be checked.
Travelers who take some self-use products such as cameras, portable radio recorders, video cameras, portable video recorders and portable word processors. Moreover, these goods have to be taken back.
Travelers who fail to fetch goods that should be taken back or who haven't finished relevant Customs procedures.
Travelers who take foreign currency, gold, silver or concerned products that have no pass certificates or over the limit sum.
Travelers who hold more than RMB6,000 (cash).
Travelers who take cultural relics.
Travelers who take cargoes and samples of goods.
Travelers who take goods with values over the limited level.
Travelers who take the animals, plants and products that are limited by China quarantine laws or some products that have to be checked.
Classifications of Travelers' Inbound and Outbound Luggage
(Amended by the General Customs Administration of People's Republic of China on November 25, 1994)
Class 1: cloth, clothing, shoes, caps, handicraft articles and other daily necessities that are worth below RMB500 (including RMB500)
Class 2: tobacco, alcoholic beverage
Class 3: daily necessities that are worth above RMB1,000 and below RMB5,000 (including RMB5,000)
Class 4: daily necessities that are worth above RMB500 and below RMB1,000 (including RMB1,000)
The value of inbound goods on the form is according to the duty-paying value authorized by the Customs. The value of outbound goods is according to the prices on domestic legal commercial invoices.
The Customs shall levy duties according to law on goods permitted to be imported or exported and articles permitted to enter or leave the territory.


text:
Iran to export LNG to China, South Korea and Europe
The Managing Director of Iran's National Gas Export Company (NGEC), Roknoddin Javadi, announced that the country has agreed to export LNG to Europe and South Korea.
Regarding China, Javadi said that it has become the world's second major consumer of oil and that it could become the biggest consumer soon because of its overly heated economy, the English-language daily Tehran Times said on Wednesday.
According to the US $100 billion gas deal inked by Iran and China, Iran is to export 10 billion tons of LNG to China annually from 2009.
Asked about the level of cooperation between the two countries, Javadi said that the Chinese are expected to work only on upstream oil development in Iran. (menareport.com)
Top Headlines
- Will the Ukraine crisis give Qatar a chance to liberate Europe from Russian gas dependency? Maybe not, but it's certainly worth considering
- China, Iran ink major railroad deal
- Qatar signs LNG export deal with Taiwan
- Making it worthwhile: Iran's South Pars field exports gas, oil to 29 countries for $1.3 billion
- Qatar to Export 4.92m Tons of LNG to South Korea

subset: commoncrawl


text:
> Gerard Craft owner of Niche Restaurant, is expanding into the Central West End with Brasserie by Niche, a casual restaurant that is set to serve traditional French bistro fare. The Brasserie will open this month at 4580 Laclede Ave., where the venerable Chez Léon once stood. "I love the storefront facade that opens up in spring and summer," Craft enthuses. As the place where Craft proposed to wife Suzie (and where they held their rehearsal dinner), the spot has some important personal history. Expect French desserts by Niche pastry chef Mathew Rice.
> The Wedge is back open under the management of Marissa Boyland and will be serving sandwiches now (instead of pizza). It's located at 442 Bates St. in the Carondelet neighborhood.
> Look for another Drunken Fish opening in Kansas City, Mo. "This will be the first sushi restaurant on restaurant row in the Power & Light District," says owner Munsok So. So opened his first location in May of 2003 at Wesport Plaza and the CWE location in May 2004. Expect a January 2010 opening. So also owns Ice Kitchen at Westport Plaza.
> Eleven Eleven Mississippi and Vin de Set Rooftop Bar and Bistro are offering 'Pink Plate Specials' throughout October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. A portion of those sales will be donated to Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Last year the restaurants raised $1,924 in a similar effort, and the goal this year is to net a 10 percent increase. "Offering Pink Plate Specials in our restaurants is a way for us to do our part in the fight against breast cancer and support a program that is invaluable to our community," comments owner Wendy Hamilton.
> In another Breast Cancer Awareness initiative, the pink ribbon bagel has returned to Saint Louis Bread Co. Made with cherry chips, honey, brown sugar and dried cherries and cranberries, the ribbon-shaped bagels are not only tasty but benefit breast cancer research. A portion of their sales will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
> Since the school year started a few weeks ago at Lift For Life Academy, students have enjoyed gourmet breakfasts and lunches, made fresh each day by the charter school's own 'Chef Kenny' Hayden Jr. Located in Soulard, the nonprofit serves students in grades six through 10, with plans to expand through 12th grade by 2011. "We're actually saving money on our breakfast and lunch programs," notes Marshall Cohen, Academy executive director and founder. "In past years, we purchased a lot of prepared meals, which were faster to serve, but costlier to buy. With Chef Kenny on staff, we're buying fresh ingredients and he's turning them into healthy, delicious meals.We aren't just responsible for teaching these kids academics, we need to teach them how to eat for healthy lives."


text:
Grizzlies Split With Vegas; Fergie Jenkins Visits
Fresno, Calif. - The Fresno Grizzlies could not contain the Las Vegas 51s offense for a third straight night as the home team lost 8-5 on Friday at Chukchansi Park in front of 10,017 fans. The 51s combined for 15 hits in the win, led by three different hitters with three hits.
The 51s wasted little time establishing a lead as six of their first seven batters of the game reached base and scored three runs. Chris Woodward drove in two of the three runs with a double.
Las Vegas added a run in the second inning with a sacrifice fly by Eric Thames that made it 4-0.
Grizzlies starting pitcher Clayton Tanner allowed the four early runs. The left-hander only lasted three innings, surrendering nine hits while striking out two and walking two in the loss.
The Grizzlies erased the four-run lead all in the bottom of the second when Brett Pill hit a leadoff home run and Ryan Lollis trumped Pill with a three-run shot to right field.
As quickly as Fresno answered Fresno's four runs, Las Vegas regained the lead in the following inning. Mike McCoy hit a two-run double with two outs in the third to give the 51s a 6-4 advantage. McCoy was thrown out on the play as he tried to advance to third base.
Mark Sobolewski provided insurance for Las Vegas when he hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning. It provided the 51s with their second four-run lead of the night.
Nick Noonan helped the Grizzlies chip away at the deficit with an RBI single in the seventh that plated Lollis. The run capped the Grizzlies' scoring for the night, however.
Noonan was the only Fresno hitter with multiple hits as he went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Sean O'Sullivan earned the win for Las Vegas. The right-hander allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits in six innings.
Jerry Gil pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his eighth save of the season, five of which have come against the Grizzlies.
Fresno lost their starting second baseman during the game when Charlie Culberson was pulled in the bottom of the fourth and replaced by Brock Bond. Culberson was traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Marco Scutaro.
The Grizzlies will head to Colorado Springs to play a five-game series against the Sky Sox, the Colorado Rockies' Triple-A affiliate. Andrew Kown of Fresno will face Colorado Springs' Alex White in game one of the series.
Courtesy: Fresno Grizzlies


text:
I'm not sure hip hop was ever not cool. Oddisee, at least, has been impossibly cool for as long as I have been aware of him.
Oddisee has long been one of the most entertaining producers in 'underground' hip hop. He seems to be working constantly, with a bulging discography of soul-inflected, classic-sounding records. His Odd Seasons collection – four records, one for each season – is particularly good.
His 2009 album Mental Liberation has just been rereleased, along with rediscovered bonus material. The opening track, 'Hip Hop's Cool Again', is an early high point; the head-nodding beat is characteristically compulsive, and Oddisee sounds particularly lyrically at ease here.
Mental Liberation (which includes guest spots from Trek Life and MED, amongst others) is currently free to download from Bandcamp. You can get the LPs on import here.


text:
Australia's powerful legal profession is a few weeks away from successfully killing attempts to significantly improve consumer protection for clients of law firms ripped off by crooked solicitors.
When uniform national legislation to regulate the legal profession goes before the Council of Australian Governments next month the lawyers will be celebrating a victory of historic proportions. But it will be at the cost of the weakest and most vulnerable in the community.
It is ironic that those licensed to give advice on the legal framework for a civil society are against introducing tougher measures to protect those affected by white-collar crime.
This deplorable development is in keeping with the legal profession's track record of outmanoeuvring politicians intent on bringing in reforms that upset the cosy status quo favoured by self-perpetuating oligarchies. The industry, which self-regulates, has a well deserved reputation for going soft on its own.
Nevertheless, federal Attorney-General
The industry quietly swallowed some modest improvements to consumer protection but held onto all the worst aspects of the current system to the dismay of those affected by solicitor defalcations.
The crux of the consumer protection issue is the role of fidelity funds, which are supposed to be available to compensate clients for money stolen or misappropriated by solicitors. Fidelity funds are administered by professional associations in each state.
Under the COAG reforms, the state-based professional associations will keep their powers to determine whether claims against fidelity funds are payable. In every state except Victoria, claims against fidelity funds are heard by a committee of fellow lawyers. With the exception of Victoria, fidelity fund determinations are not an arm's length process and that contributes to the perceptions of lack of transparency and entrenched conflict of interests.
The legal profession was not compromised in Victoria by being forced to accept equal representation of lawyers and non-lawyers on its fidelity fund determination committee. So what is the big deal in NSW, South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania?
One wonders if McClelland and his fellow A-Gs have thought about the fact that if you sell products in banking, investment advisory, insurance, telecommunications or utilities, your customers have the right to seek financial compensation and have their complaints determined by an independent ombudsman.
What is so special about lawyers?
That question is pertinent because we know lawyers have a history of going soft on their own.
Remember the rampant tax evasion among barristers in NSW exposed by Paul Barry in The Sydney Morning Herald in 2001? The NSW Bar Association was spurred into action by the articles, which were a damning black mark against its professional standards. After the SMH story, the barrister's club gave a limp-wristed response.
The new national legal profession law does include the creation of a national legal services commissioner. But the reality is that local representatives of the commissioner will almost certainly delegate their functions to local professional associations, which takes us back to square one.
One area of fidelity funds that was crying out for reform but which will not happen is the exemption that excludes all claims relating to trust money held for investment purposes.
The lawyers convinced state governments to put this exemption into law about five years ago after fidelity funds in several states were wiped out by a series of mortgage scheme- related frauds by solicitors.
But since those scams, the Corporations Act has been amended to widen the licensing net for mortgage schemes to include solicitors. As well, legal associations have placed restrictions on lawyers taking money for investment purposes.
There is a strong argument for either a national fidelity fund under the responsibility of a national ombudsman or, at the very least, removing the exemption for money stolen by solicitors who breached the trust placed in them by innocent clients naively accepting advice.
The ageing of the population, growth in self-managed super and the tendency for vulnerable people to seek out riskier investments, plays into the hands of crooked solicitors wanting to steal trust account money.
If a solicitor steals a client's funds generated by a property sale or inheritance then that client will not be covered by a fidelity fund even if the money was held in a trust account.
Fidelity funds in several states are believed to have rejected claims from people who trusted their solicitor's advice and had their money stolen.
One glaring anomaly not included in the national reform is the rule in South Australia that the state's fidelity fund is a last-resort fund and can be accessed only if all other methods of recovery have been exhausted.
Several prominent victims of the legal profession were yesterday outraged that COAG was on the brink of letting the lawyers off the hook and snubbing consumers.
John Crane and Wendy Sifton, who lost money and participated in the limited consumer consultation phase of the national legal profession reform, say their disappointment at the weak-kneed reform is compounded by the failure of state governments to take white-collar crime seriously.
Crane lost about $200,000 in the $4.5 million theft of trust account money from former leading Adelaide- based law firm Magarey Farlam by a junior clerk, William Brenton Willoughby.
Willoughby, who had been stealing money for eight years to fund his gambling habit, was caught in 2006 but given a nine-year jail sentence only last Friday. His victims not only had to fund legal action to recover their funds, they were hit with tax bills for trust accounts that were not properly closed.
Crane's crusade for better protection for clients of solicitors was an enormous financial burden and caused immeasurable emotional strain.
One positive outcome directly attributable to him has been the inclusion in the law of a clause allowing the national legal services commissioner to appoint an external investigator to investigate "particular allegations or suspicions regarding trust money, trust property, trust accounts or any other aspect of the affairs of the law practice".
Sifton lost $200,000 in the $30 million Ponzi scheme run by solicitor John Bradfield over 15 years from his small legal practice in the semi-rural Sydney suburb of Dural.
Bradfield was caught in December 2008 when the money needed to pay interest on alleged mortgages ran out. He could not find new victims to fund payments to the old victims.
But it is truly extraordinary that more than two years after the scam was uncovered, Bradfield has not been charged. As well, the NSW Law Society has seen fit to only suspend Bradfield's practising certificate and not cancel it entirely as it should have.
However, the society's Fidelity Fund Management Committee has found time to reject 39 of the 130 claims on the fidelity fund in relation to Bradfield, including Sifton's claim for $200,000.
The NSW Law Society says it has no discretion in regard to claims because the statutory provisions relating to the fidelity fund changed on October 1, 2005. From that date claims for money received by a solicitor for the purpose of investment were not covered by the fund.
Sifton was extremely disappointed that the NSW Fraud Squad never contacted her. Instead she had to pursue them with a copy of a statement she prepared for her solicitor.
Even more extraordinary is that Bradfield has not been charged. NSW Attorney-General
Anecdotal evidence that state fraud squads are being starved of funds and are unable to pursue white-collar criminals with alacrity fits with the broader perspective provided by those with deep experience of the law.
Greg Smith, who is NSW shadow attorney-general and a certainty to replace Hatzistergos as A-G in March, says the powers available to fraud squads to gather evidence about complex matters perpetrated by extremely clever individuals operating ahead of the curve in terms of criminal activity is woefully inadeqate compared with the powers given to other specialist law enforcement agencies.
Smith, who worked as an instructing solicitor to the Stewart Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking, a senior adviser to the National Crime Authority, counsel assisting the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, and a Crown prosecutor, says it is clear white-collar crime is not a priority of Australian governments.
Nor, apparently, is consumer protection in the legal profession.
The Australian Financial Review


text:
I'm sure this has been mentioned in the past, but here's some info for you (especially non-US bakers that cant get bleached cake flour).
I was reading an article from a fantastic blog online and the lady there, Kate, did an experiment with flour (00 and plain flour). She microwaved it to mimic the bleaching effect and then replaced 2 T of the flour with cornflour for every cup she needed for her recipe. She claimed the results give you a cake worthy of any baked with low protein cake flour. She calls it Kate Flour (cute!)
OMG she's right!!! I baked a cake last night and even used some of the batter to make cupcakes. I'm sitting here eating one right now and its the best cupcake i've ever made. The crumb is perfect
If anyone is interested in more details I'll be happy to share.
I'd like more details, if you are happy to share! I would have thought adding cornflour would make the biggest difference to texture (like say in a shortbread biscuit compared to a sugar cookie)...not too sure about what effect heating flour in a microwave would have (??) so I am curious
Sounds interesting - i would like to know more also - please.
Hey Evoir
This is the link to the final results page for Kate's experiment
I've read the entire process where she came to these conclusions and it was very interesting. Basically she microwaves unbleached flour on a plate around 2cm deep until it reaches 130-135C (can be 3-6 minutes depending on the protein levels per 100g, I had to microwave for 6 minutes to get the flour quite hot and mine was AP 10mg protein/100g - I didnt have a thermometer).
This is supposed to mimic the bleaching process which normally takes place with cake flour in the US.
I didnt re-hydrate in the oven like she suggested because I had been pre-heating the oven so I let it sit for a while then sifted it, made the cornflour replacement, and made the vanilla buttermilk cake from smitten kitchen. It is perfect! I didnt even have xantham gum (which she also recommends at the end of her findings) but I might get some to try it too.
I always hated seeing Cake Flour in a recipe because I knew that AP just didnt match up, but now I'm going to try them all!!!!
Hope you find this useful Bluehue.
BTW - I love your signature. I smile every time I see it
Thank you eve81 for posting the link - kind of you...off to read now.
re my signiture line - lolll
A man who knows his heels and how good they look is a man with a good eye ..... and a large wallet.
Thankyou again.
ETA - Evoir - do you use cake flour in your recipes where possible?
Hi again girls
Thanks for that link Eve! (BTW, you're the first other Eve I have met on Cake Central ) I will look into it again, and see if I can do the experiments myself. The cornflour just reminded me of baking sponge cakes, where you do add cornflour (maize based, not wheat) and it provides the most divine light texture. I think the flour I use (a finer, lower protein cake flour) may be better in general to the AP flour (or what we call plain flour here) in terms of protein levels. Hmmm.
Bluehue - hey hon...yes, I do use a superfine cake flour for baking all my cakes, cupcakes, cookies etc. Then I buy bread flour (high protein) for things like bread (duh!) and sourdough, pizza bases etc. (and rye flour, spelt etc etc...I am quite fond of baking, LOL) I get my cake flour from a wholesale food distributer in 25kg bags now, LOL...sometimes I pick up an extra 10kg from a specialist food place nearer to me if I am in a hurry. I have found it makes a big difference using a good cake flour for my business stuff. I just get really reliable results. And its generally cheaper per kg.
I was going to pm you, actually Bluehue, just to give you a heads-up about a good supplier of cake stuff I came across in Perth last week via an internet search. The are wholesalers only so you need an ABN. Really excellent pricing!! Especially for cake boards, cutters and sprinkles/cachoux etc. They are called 'Statewide Food Distributors'....thought I'd let you know just in case you hadn't heard of them!
Yes, i use the cake floer also - i find it makes alot of differance.
Oh re the link - i have been using two other W/S's so very happy to see this one - thankyou so very much.
Would you believe it - been looking everywhere for Pink in these cases and nobody seems to have any stock left... then voula - i click on and there they are...they look great when after baking you slip into another say white case...or visa versa.
Different to your normal cupcases....have you used them?
Evoir - thankyou again - greatly appreciated.
Lovely to *chat* again - hope ll is well.
Okay forgive me but I think I'm missing something. Here in the states, if we don't have cake flour, we use 1 cup all purpose flour and subtract 2 TBSP flour, then sift. So I'm wondering what's the point of microwaving the flour?
Okay forgive me but I think I'm missing something. Here in the states, if we don't have cake flour, we use 1 cup all purpose flour and subtract 2 TBSP flour, then sift. So I'm wondering what's the point of microwaving the flour?
I'm not completely sure about the science in it really. I do know that I've used the AP flour here with the cornflour substitution, and although it helps the texture of the cake I've never gotten the "crumb" that I got by microwaving the flour first.
If I get a chance some evening this week I'll do a little baking and make an 8" round with AP and cornflour, then one microwaved and with cornflour and try to take pics of it cut. The difference is incredible!
Thanks for that link Eve! (BTW, you're the first other Eve I have met on Cake Central )
I'm actually Aoibheann which is an Irish gaelic name and is pronounced Eve-een, so I find it much easier online and in texts etc to shorten it to Eve
Plus my family call me Eves
Did you know:
1. a University of SYdney {AU} study in DEC2004 agreed that heat treatment resulted in changes to the starch properties of flour so that it parallels the properties of chlorinated cake flour. BUT When it's over heated, the starch becomes dextrinized ie it looses it's viscosity and strength. It performs worse ..
2. Heating the flour does not change the properties of the gluten. Heat affects the properties of the starch molecules - the ability to absorb liquid, fat and sugar.
Removing 1/8 cup flour, ie 12.5% of total amount, and replacing it with a gluten-free starch [potato or corn], effectively lowers it's protein level. Depends what you start with, but it ends up around 7-8%
3. As for xanthan gum, it is used in gluten free baking to provide the elasticity and structure of gluten in wheat-based baking. You are replacing the gluten "properties" that you just took out!
For normal GF baking it's recommended - 1/2 teaspoon per cup gluten-free flour [I use 3/4 ts per 250g]
As for Kate's recommendation of 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum, I wouldn't ..
4. Every country grows/produces different types of wheat .. AU flour is not like US UK or EU flour .. for all that they are flour, they are different ..
Did you know that loose flour spontaneously combusts ?? applying heat to loose flour ?
Thanks for the info Auzzi.
I'll forgo the xanthan gum (one less thing to buy, always good!)
You do have to be careful not to "toast" or overheat the flour. Mine worked perfectly thankfully.
I'm pleased that you've had good results with microwaved flour, eve81 Just to clarify a point raised earlier in this thread -
bobwonderbuns wondered: "Okay forgive me but I think I'm missing something. Here in the states, if we don't have cake flour, we use 1 cup all purpose flour and subtract 2 TBSP flour, then sift. So I'm wondering what's the point of microwaving the flour?"
In the States, AP flour is generally bleached. Here in the UK, AP flour is unbleached. The bleaching of flour makes the difference - if I was in the States using bleached AP flour, then I wouldn't worry about microwaving. Cornflour/cornstarch substitution will do fine. However, if you are starting with a flour that is unbleached, then microwaving will help to simulate the beneficial effects of bleaching on recipes that call for bleached AP or cake flour.
You can read further about this in my blog post: http://amerrierworld.com/2007/10/30/more-questions-of-flour/
HTH, Kate.
Hi Kate!
Thanks for coming on here to explain the process! lol
I hope you didnt mind me posting the link myself. I was so excited to be able to bake a cake recipe with cake flour that I had to share with the cake nuts on this site. Your blog is great and I'm grateful to you for your research
That formula is an old-fashioned recipe for turning all-purpose flour into cake flour, which has a lower content of the protein that turns into gluten when mixed or kneaded.
We have previously discussed this here on CC, but it's always nice to bring such subjects up again once in a while, for the benefit of the newbies.
Thanks for sharing this with us -
Hey again Bluehue...I am glad you have found use of the wholesaler tip! I have only used the brown paper cups, but those pink ones are fab
That place has so much cheap stuff, esp if you can call in personally to collect your order. I wish I could have someone shop for me there and send it via Australia Post to me way over in the east, because the company only use courier services In other words, I am jealous!
Auzzi - great post! The flammability of flour is a very good point.


text:
Combined Keloid Removal Treatments
Dear Doc, I am a 29 year old female, who has suffered from keloids since I was young. I have had a sternal keloid since I had chicken pox, 20... READ MORE
I Have a 7 Year Old Scar on my Leg and It's Gotten Larger and Not Gone Away-help?
When I was about 13 or 14 I had an accident while shaving.It resulted in a vampire like scar,two cuts on my leg, like a figure eight.Over the... READ MORE
Why is my keloid growing hair?
I recently got laser treatment for my scar and now it's growing hair! How is that possible? READ MORE
How can I treat a growing keloid scar?
I have infected by keloid since 1994. in starting .5 cm round scur. after one year scur growth appx. 2cm large as hyperbolic shape. i treated... READ MORE
A scar type of thing in groin area.. no pain but its growing more now. Any suggestions? (photos)
Hi, From the past few weeks I am noticing a 'scar' getting developed in my groin area. No pain is there at all but it seems it is growing now like its... READ MORE
Need suggestion regarding reddish scars on inner thighs? (photos)
I have reddish scars on my inner thigh/groin region which grow bigger day by day. These started appearing 5-6 months back. The skin on these scars is... READ MORE
Swelling after scar revision, should I be concerned?
I had a scar revision done 3 weeks ago and then it started swelling up and its been like this for about a week now. There was a hair growing out... READ MORE
Is it a keloid or hypertrophic scar? (photo)
I got an ear cartilage piercing a month ago and i just saw this now. It doesnt hurt and its dry i was wondering what is it and will it grow? READ MORE
What am I doing wrong? I want my scar to stop growing! (photos)
I've had a keloid scar revision on my chin on 1/23/17. Ever since it healed, I've been applying BioCorneum with SPF 30 at 2-3 times a day and... READ MORE
Scar wont stop growing. How do i stop it from growing further? Whats the best i can do? (photos)
I had an accident on my bicep which caused a widened scar. Got a scar excision done which resulted in even wider scar. (scar started getting wide soon... READ MORE


text:
Real Patriotism – Then And Now – Part III – Memorial Day
By Cindi Silva,Worldwidehippies – I was going to write this week about the decade 1980-1989 but I decided it was more important to acknowledge our first summer three day weekend the Memorial Day holiday. I'll cover 1980-1989 next week.
Woot! Woot! Memorial Day weekend has finally arrived! In the US it's typically celebrated with barbecues with friends and family, often parades, kicking off summer and remembering soldiers. Let's take a closer look at why we celebrate Memorial Day and who we have to thank for this extra day off work . . .
Memorial Day originally started as Decoration Day – I think I might like that name better. Over two dozen cities and towns across the Nation claim to be the originators of this legal holiday. Women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War. "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Neila L. Sweet dedicated this hymn published in 1867 "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead." In May 1966 President Lyndon Johnson officially declared Waterloo, New York the birthplace of Memorial Day. It seems to have many separate beginnings. The real patriots of each town and city that ever planned events to honor the war dead in the 1860's seem to have contributed to the growing movement that culminated in General Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868 to bring us together to celebrate the lives lost in the name of freedom and was first observed on May 30, 1868, by gathering to place flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at the Arlington National Cemetery. In 1873 New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday. By 1890 Memorial Day was recognized by all of the northern states. The South honored their lost soldiers on separate days until after World War 1 when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died in any war. Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal Holidays.
In 1915, inspired by the poem, "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her poem:
|We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
I've written a couple of my own poems for Memorial Day. The first one is a haiku I wrote on October 30, 2011 and posted on my blog:
". . . for a veteran I saw riding down the street in his hover chair. He had the look of enjoyment, freedom and at the same time sadness. Knowing it may be the last time he would be cruising the familiar ride. I know I did. I was thinking he sacrificed a lot for his country, can't we help him now. He must have been remembering a lot of things as he took that ride . . . he must have been wondering how he was going to get around after his chair was sold . . . how the $600 was really going to help him . . . one day at a time.
A sign pinned to his chest
$600 For Sale
The price for Freedom"
I leave you with I poem I wrote earlier this week honoring army Staff Sargeant Thomas Fogarty killed in Afghanistan, my cousin Richard and all the men and women who have lost their lives in war. I'll be back next week until then you know what to do — go out there, create joy and spread it around! Peace.
Goodbye To A War Hero – In Modern Times
(May 21, 2012)
Above my building
I heard a helicopter circling
It sounded like a warning
So loud
So close
As if the window was open
I would be able to reach out
and touch it
then it was gone
It came back again
this time I drew open
the blinds
and looked out to see
where it was going
it circled my building and
I watched it fly away
a few moments later
I heard it's persistent cry
Summonsing me outside
Was I under it's spell
outside the door
I kept my eyes fixed on the helicopter
in front of my office
as if it was waiting there for me
I watched it for several seconds
army green
the color of camouflage
army fatigues
It was so unsettling
I felt a wave of uneasiness
wash over me
a beacon of impending danger
filling the sky
a reminder of doom
could it be a modern day
Paul Revere
I posted on facebook
as it was happening
did anyone know
what was going on
in the Alameda sky
one friend thought there may be
an Oakland Occupy Protest going on
other friends made jokes
one friend made untoward comments
harassed and otherwise bullied
a friend of mine
causing me to block him
in the evening I
glanced at my wall
Mike McMahon
a trustee of the
Alameda Unified School District
and facebook friend of mine
had answered my call
it was a hero's farewell
a soldier from Alameda
had been killed in Afghanistan
the helicopter was part
of a ceremony held in his honor
at the Kofman Auditorium that day
I wanted to hear more
which led me to a google search
there were newspaper article blurbs
30-year-old Thomas Fogarty
an army staff sargeant
killed in Afghanistan
in a bomb blast while commanding a vehicle
a ceremony was held today
by his family and friends
honoring him at the Kofman Auditorium in Alameda
It took me back to my cousin Richard
killed in a landmine accident
during the Vietnam War
about two weeks before he was to be discharged
At his funeral there was a 21 gun salute
to honor his act of heroism
which led to the loss of his life
I wish when Richard came home again
we would have been able to hear him laughing
and hear his stories
I'm sure that must be how
Thomas Fogarty's
parents, family and friends feel now
To Staff Sargeant's Thomas Forgarty's
parents, friends and family
I'm so sorry for your loss
To us he was a local war hero
to you he was so much more
Cindi Silva's poetry and prose is published worldwide. She is a writer, artist and mindfulness teacher. "We are all scientists experimenting in the adventure of a lifetime. There are no fails just experiments that lead to new discoveries. All we have are moments to live. If you miss one that's okay another one is already here." Cindi Silva lives in San Francisco with her family..


text:
3 cheese spinach dip
Recipes / 3 cheese spinach dip (1000+)
Hot Cheese Spinach Dip
1344 views
Cheese Spinach Dip
Cheese Spinach Appetizers
684 views
Cheese Spinach Appetizers, ingredients: 4 x Eggpepper, fresh grnd, 1 dsh Cayenne pepper, 3
Baked Spinach Dip Mini Bread Bowls
409 views
spinach dip Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add spinach
Hot Beef Dip and Classic Spinach Dip
313 views
Dip~ 2- 8 oz packages cream cheeseSpinach Dip~ 1 pkg. (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach 3
French Breakfast Muffins, 3 Cheese Pasta Pie, and My New Favorite Chocolate Cake Recipe
1013 views
3 Cheese Pasta Pie with Sausage and Spinachthe pan. To unmold, dip the bottom of the cake
Warm Spinach Dip for a Crowd
356 views
Spinach Dip for a Crowd 4 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese
A Thanksgiving Feast
220 views
free. Hot Spinach Dip 1 package frozen chopped spinach 1/2 block cream cheese 3 oz. grated
Spinach Dip Chicken
770 views
15 oz.) Creamy Spinach Dip 1 cup uncooked rice shredded cheese French fried onions Preheat
Sausage, Bean and Spinach Dip
245 views
Spinach Dip
Delightfully Raw in St George Utah
263 views
3/Cheese on top of the crust. 2. Place the spinach dip on top of the mozzarella cheese
Groups / 3 cheese spinach dip (0)
Weir Having a Dinner Party - July Classes
4 members
Almonds and Goat Cheese, (2) Summer Vegetable Soup ith Mint Pesto, (3) Grilled Butterflied
The Cheese Lovers
16 members
The Cheese Lovers, For those who love cheese! , main ingredient: Cheese, cuisine: American
Sauces, Salads, Spreads and Dips
12 members
Sauces, Salads, Spreads and Dips, Sauces to cover foods, dips to enhance foods, spreads to
Roman Nights
122 members
how can I forget the cured meats and cheese! There's something about this cuisine and the
Traditional American Home
83 members
milk, meat, potatoes, macaroni, bread, cheese, and all things comforting are embraced
Themes / 3 cheese spinach dip (0)
Cheese focus
Cheese focus, Recipes that include cheese, not just as an ingredient but as a main
Melinda Winner's Six Layer Key Lime cake
Cream Cheese Icing and Toasted Coconut , Six-Layer Key Lime Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
Super Bowl Party!
Eastern food have lots of easy and tasty dips and snacks, and they go very well with
Made from scratch
from scratch, The joy of cooking your own cheese, baking your own bread, stiring your own
Trusted Results with 3 cheese spinach dip
Cooks.com - Recipes - Spinach Cheese Dip
Results 1 - 10 of 165 for spinach cheese dip. Result Page: 1 ... SPINACH ARTICHOKE 3-CHEESE DIP. In a skillet, sauté ... washed shreds of baby spinach and ...
Cooks.com - Recipes - Spinach Cream Cheese Dip
SPINACH ARTICHOKE 3-CHEESE DIP. In a skillet, ... shreds of baby ... In mixing bowl combine cheese, cream cheese, spinach, tomatoes, onions, ... in a ...
Cooks.com - Recipes - Spinach Dip
SPINACH ARTICHOKE 3-CHEESE DIP. In a skillet, sauté minced ... shreds of baby spinach and ... 3. SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP. Rub jalapenos with olive oil ... shred ...
Cooks.com - Recipes - Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip
Results 1 - 10 of 22 for cheese spinach artichoke dip. Result Page: 1 ... SPINACH ARTICHOKE 3-CHEESE DIP. In a skillet, sauté ... washed shreds ...
Cooks.com - Recipe - Spinach Artichoke 3-Cheese Dip
Home > Recipes > Dips Dressings > Spinach Artichoke 3-Cheese Dip " ... Add washed shreds of baby spinach and sauté only until wilted but still a bright green ...
Selection of recipes for spinach dips, including renditions with crab, artichoke, and in bread bowls.
Cooks.com - Recipes - Spinach Artichoke Dip
Results 1 - 10 of 26 for spinach artichoke dip. Result Page: 1 2 3 ... AND ARTICHOKE DIP. Sauté onions in butter, ... ingredients in this order: Spinach, Cream ...


text:
WordPress is a free blogging platform available to everyone. WordPress has two components, one is a free, Web-based blog-hosting service called WordPress.com. The other is WordPress.org, which provides users with software to run a more feature-rich version of the blogging tool on their own servers.
Both services offer a very easy way to blog, with administrative options to work collaboratively on one or several blogs using the same log-in. Bloggers can write their posts in a WYSIWYG editor, or switch over to a code view on the fly.
The service is best known for its community-created themes and plug-ins. A blog owner running WordPress on his or her own server can download these and deploy changes to the blog site instantly. WordPress.com users are limited to a smaller selection of these themes and features that come from the plug-ins, although many neat and useful Wordpress.org features make their way over to Wordpress.com just a few months after being released.
Winner: WordPress (WordPress.com)
Category: Publishing


text:
Sun 12.30, Live onSS4 Rangers v Celtic. If your player fails to score first but grabs the second, Boylesports will refund your bet.Goalscorer Refunds If Your Player Scores Second
Rangers v Celtic, Sun 24th Apr, 12.30, Skysports 4
Place a bet on the First Goalscorer market on this match, and if your player fails to score the first goal but scores the second goal Boylesports will refund your losing first goalscorer bet. Applies to Singles only.
Bet with Boylesports: New account holders: £40 free bet
Football Goals Special – Double & Treble Prices
Rangers v Celtic, Sun 24th Apr, 12.30, Skysports 4
If your player scores the first goal of the match and then goes on to score again, Betfred will double your first goalscorer price.
If your player scores the first goal of the match and then goes on to score a hat-trick, Betfred will treble your first goalscorer price
Bet with Betfred. New account holders: £50 free bet
Bet365, Sportingbet, Stan James, Ladbrokes, Victor Chandler, 888Sport, Blue Square and Youwin.com also have cashback offers on this game if the match ends 0-0, there's a late goal or a red card.
Check out all today's football moneyback specials


text:
LAKEPORT -- It's not unusual for a coach to take the blame for his team's loss, even if it's not deserved. On Tuesday night in Lakeport, Clear Lake High School's Scott De Leon accepted 100-percent of the blame ... and he meant it.
De Leon's decision to call a timeout he didn't have resulted in a two-shot technical foul in the final seconds, and Middletown's Nate Snodgrass made both free throws to seal a 69-65 victory over the Cardinals in North Central League I varsity boys' basketball action.
Trailing 67-65 with 12 seconds remaining, Clear Lake caught a huge break when Middletown's Anthonie Guzman had a wide-open layup in front of him but dribbled the ball off his foot and out of bounds. The turnover put the ball back into the Cardinals' hands at which point De Leon signaled for the timeout.
"It's my fault," De Leon said. "In the heat of the game I thought I had one left."
Snodgrass, who led the Mustangs with 19 points, stepped to the line and sank both shots to secure Middletown's fifth straight league win.
"What stings the most is that my kids played their butts off," De Leon said. "I could not ask for anything more from them. It really stings. I cost them a good opportunity to at least tie the game or win it like we did in the final seconds at Lower Lake (on Jan. 11 when Danny Partida's 3-pointer at the buzzer lifted the Cardinals to a 62-61 win)."
"When he called it, everyone kind of looked over at him," Middletown coach G.J. Rockwell said. "We were surprised. We couldn't believe it."
Clear Lake's performance was considerably improved from the first time these teams met, Middletown breezing to a 70-51 win last month at the Hoop Classic in Lower Lake.
Partida's 21 points led the Cardinals, who trailed 38-34 at halftime and 54-48 after three quarters. Adrian Perez added 17 points and Gabe Strong had 14.
Joining Snodgrass in double figures for Middletown (5-2, 13-5) were Blaine Amos with 16 points and Tyler Rockwell with 14.
In other boys' action Tues-day:
Lower Lake 47, Kelseyville 40
At Lower Lake, Jesse Meldrum scored a season-high 29 points to power the Lower Lake Trojans past the Kelseyville Knights in NCL I action.
Lower Lake (3-4, 8-11) led 21-6 after one quarter only to watch Kelseyville battle back to within two points later in the game.
"Kelseyville changed its defense up in the second quarter," Lower Lake coach Tim Biasotti said. "They did more double-teaming and trapping. He (Kelseyville coach Scott Conrad) had them really hustling tonight."
Meldrum also had a team-best 13 rebounds to go along with his 29 points.
"He played really hard for me as he always does," Biasotti said of the senior guard, who is averaging almost 17 points a game.
Mauricio Jauregui had eight points for the Trojans.
John-Mark Reagan's 15 points powered the Knights (0-7, 2-16).
St. Vincent 59, Upper Lake 38
At Upper Lake, Joey Valdez scored 13 points and Greg Gagnon added 10 as the Upper Lake Cougars fell to the St. Vincent Mustangs in NCL II action.
Dean Reimers had seven points for Upper Lake, now 4-5 in league and 7-12 overall.
St. Vincent led 35-17 at halftime.


text:
Snooki isolated on Jersey Shore set
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi admits she felt "lonely" while filming the last season of Jersey Shore.
The 24-year-old was accustomed to partying alongside castmates for episodes of the reality show.
However, during the programme's final season, Snooki found it hard to keep up with her friends due to the fact that she was in her third trimester.
"It was definitely a little lonely," Snooki lamented to People magazine.
"Everyone was still going out and staying up late and I just wanted to go to bed at 8 o'clock. I didn't want to do everything that everyone else was doing."
The Jersey Shore star and fiancé Jionni LaValle welcomed baby boy Lorenzo on August 26.
Though Snooki was thankful that castmates like Jenni "JWOWW" Farley and Deena Cortese supported her during her pregnancy, she's glad to be moving on from the series.
"Everything changed," Snooki mused. "The partying is long gone."
The final season of Jersey Shore premieres in October.
© Cover Media


text:
Attempt to level learning field
By Thomas Sass
In a capitalistic society, even education becomes competitive, and competition determines the "winners" and the "losers." Therefore, a system had to be devised in order to manipulate those outcomes.
But, in this arena, it has become an unfair zero-sum game whereby the "winners" are provided advantages and the "losers" are disadvantaged. This system is exacerbated by decision-makers who populate each category with whatever subgroups they decide are deserving versus those they decide are not. These outcomes are then reinforced by making students take the same standardized tests.
This current system, while unfair to certain subgroups predetermined to be less than those who are advantaged, is better than when only upper-class white males were similarly advantaged.
One problem is that some politicians, for political/social/economic leverage, have made two words associated with the situation in Iowa City into four-letter words to be wary of: busing and diversity. Neither of these relatively benign words is accepted as being worthy or necessary by at least one political faction and thereby help to inflame emotions in those with whom they hold sway. Even The Gazette, initially, framed this as a "busing" issue.
But those who seek to further divide us have, in my opinion, ulterior motives, foremost among them to ensure that the same levels of educational enlightenment are not available to all. Why else would anyone seek to continue an unlevel
educational learning field?
If we are to continue to live under a competitive system, then all students must have access to what they need to learn. If that means ensuring all teachers have minimal measurable knowledge about subjects they teach, that students are from various economic levels within each school/class, and that all schools have similar numbers of students, so be it. The current system is not fair.
To those who oppose what some in Iowa City are attempting to achieve: Imagine your kids deliberately placed into disadvantaged situations, knowing that others are placed into advantaged situations, and then watch as your kids are forced to take the same standardized tests. Would you not do everything within your power to get your child into a better learning environment?
Pay a little more now to achieve a semblance of fairness or suffer much more later.Thomas Sass of Iowa City, retired from Pearson, is a student of history and has authored a book about the treatment of blacks in this country. Comments: firstname.lastname@example.com email@example.com
|Maggie's Wood-Fired Pizza expands menu, ...
|What's needed for autonomous cars to com ...
|Cedar Rapids incentive program helping b ...


text:
Please select a to check availability, or to add this item to your Shopping Cart or Wish List.
The CJ-2 is a replacement Pinlock-ready face shield for Shoei J-Cruise Helmets.
THe J-Cruise's robust CJ-2 shield provides an incredibly large field of vision while its integrated air dam reduces wind turbulence and noise typical of flip-down open face shield design. Additionally, the CJ-2 shield protects againsts 99% of the sun's damaging UV rays. Shoei's 3D injection molding process ensures a distortion free view throughout the entire field of vision. Coupled with the J-Cruise exclusive QR-N base plate system, shield changes and base plate function have never been smoother.
Pinlock insert lens sold separately.
Note: Due to manufacturer restrictions, Shoei products can only be shipped to addresses within the United States.
|Product Style
|RevZilla Item #
|Manufacturer Product #
|In Stock: Ships within 24 hours
Orders $39.99 and over qualify for our fast free shipping offer. Click Here for FREE Shipping Terms and Conditions.
Please see our International Orders page for orders shipping outside the US.
We show real-time availability on this product page when you select the size/color item you want. Most items will ship the same business day an order is placed,however if an item requires additional processing time a message will be shown indicating such.
See our full Shipping Policy for further details.
If your order arrives and it is not right, we will we'll fix it, NO NONSENSE, we promise.
Doesn't fit or just not happy with it? You can return any new, unused and unaltered item within 30 business days of delivery receipt of your item. We will issue a full refund to your original payment method.
See our full Return Policy for all of the pertinent details.
Have a functionality, fit, or otherwise product-specific question about the Shoei CJ-2 Pinlock-Ready Face Shield? Ask it here! If you have a customer service or shipping question, please direct it to our Customer Service department.


text:
Kathy Lorraine (Gates) Ranum, a resident of Brainerd, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2013, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby, after a long battle with cancer.
Services were held Tuesday, May 14, at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.
Kathy is survived by Frank Ranum; her three children Jackie (Brett) Finch, Daniel Ranum and Tosha Ranum; mother, Amelia Gates Niesen; three brothers, David (Randy Reid) Gates, Gregory (Nancy) Gates and Marvin (Penny) Niesen; four sisters, Karen (Dave Thompson) Gates, Sharon (Terry) Seppelt, Dianna (Clifford) Johnson and Deloris (Greg) Aubol; five grandchildren Talis, Adrianna, Ashton, Adalyn and Graden and many nieces and nephews.
Kathy was preceded in death by her father, James Richard Gates; stepfather Kenneth Niesen; sister, Lynn Niesen; and grandparents, Merrill and Lorraine Wolvert and Seallum and Gladys Gates.


text:
The people in the picture on this page are all Denver musicians with at least twenty years' seniority. Every one of them played with guitarist Tom Butters, who died of an overdose last week at age 46. And they are just a handful of the players who show up for his official funeral at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Butters left behind two devastated widows--his ex-wife, Jo, and Sherry, to whom he'd been married for nineteen years--who describe themselves as cordial "wives-in-law." He left behind two daughters, Shauna and Page. On their way to Butters's grave, these four women are followed by more than a hundred carloads of Denver musicians. Although they are all wearing black--they usually do--they still look out of place. But in a setting such as this, who wants to fit right in?
In the moments before the service begins, people hug and quietly ask, "How are you, man?" In hushed tones, they are furious.
"That butthead!" someone whispers. "I mean, you're not surprised--"
"But still," someone breaks in, "I'm devastated. How could he?"
"One thing about Tom, one thing I loved about Tom--he was so whacked in his pursuit of pleasure. That butthead."
Having served in Vietnam, Butters is entitled to a military funeral, complete with uniformed attendants, the flag of the U.S. painstakingly folded, and Taps, to whose endless melancholy no one is immune, no matter how far removed from the armed forces. Through the crush, it's hard to tell whether it's Shauna or Page who breaks down sobbing, "Daddy." But there is no time for reflection. Another funeral is slated for the next half-hour slot this Friday morning, and the man from the mortuary respectfully asks that the crowd disperse.
"Taps," says Steve Wilson, the rockabilly singer Butters long ago christened Steve Son. "It should have been Hendrix."
It could have started with Hendrix and just taken off from there to hundreds of songs on hundreds of nights, but always with a bunch of musicians on stage in a bar.
An hour after the funeral, a bunch of musicians and other friends mill around Rose Whitlock's Arvada living room, eating the food people always bring to such gatherings. Steve Son has written a eulogy but can't seem to find the right time to present it. He keeps it folded in his pocket just in case.
"I met Tom almost twenty years ago," the handwritten page begins. "He put an ad in the paper for a lead singer and I went over to his house somewhere in Lakewood. He and his brother had a band and they had three or four singers there. I got to sing 'They Call Me the Breeze.' And I noticed how good he was. He called me back for a backyard jam session which was great except when the cops came right in the middle of 'Sympathy for the Devil' and shut us down."
Wilson and Butters played together, on and off, from that moment until just short of this one, weaving an enormous net of music contacts that grew to include most of Denver's Capitol Hill roots/rock community and bleeding over into jazz and country and--hey, there's nightclub singer Lannie Garrett, whose arranger used to be Randy Handley, who played with Son and Butters and now lives in Nashville plying his trade as a singer/songwriter.
"Tom Butters was important," Handley said by phone a few days before the funeral. "He knew everyone and played with everyone, and he was the kind of highly personal soloist you just don't hear so much anymore. He really did play from the heart. Every time I went to Denver, we got together and had more fun than two grown men could possibly have. He was charming and good-hearted, and he had a couple of major character flaws."
It would be hard to describe Butters without including the seeming contradictions.
That he was generous and big-hearted is indisputably true. He would do anything for you, everyone says--lend you his equipment, let you live in his basement, bring you home to dinner, disappoint you, piss you off, come back into your life a few weeks later and be absolutely charming.
Another indisputable fact: One of the things he embraced with that big heart was drugs. When he died, everyone was shocked. Sadly, few were surprised.
"I was pretty sure some day I would get that call," Handley admitted. "In Tom, it wasn't that classic self-destructive thing, but more like a race-car driver who has to push the speed thing all the time. And all he was looking to do was enjoy a good time and good music."
This he most certainly did.
"He was the most underrated wonderful musician," recalls blues harp player Mark Bell. "He was his own show. The rest of us on stage were just in the way. Tom and I drove thousands and thousands of miles together with a cribbage board taped on the dashboard, playing cribbage all the way, making it back from Jackson Hole before the Cricket [on the Hill] closed. We had such wild adventures together, and this is"--Bell stops long enough to realize how angry he is--"well, you know what this is."
Pianist Chuck Reeder's memories also center on the Cricket. "That's where he always played, and when it came time to solo, Tom could just talk with that instrument. He was such a kick in the pants, he was so fun, he was so self-destructive," Reeder says, all in one breath. "I'm lucky I play jazz; I'm lucky I'm not living the blues, partying till my eyes are on backwards." Reeder was one of the many musicians who relied on Butters's ability to hook him up with other players when his career hit a lull or when he'd been away and just needed an instant reintroduction to the scene. Why there is always an undercurrent of bad drugs in memories of those good times is--"But no," he decides. "This is very morose. The choices are there, and people make them. I'm not going to blame the music."
"I went to check him out at the Cricket and didn't leave for fifteen years," recalls bassist Dan Shore, who now plays in the house band for Always...Patsy Cline. "He was an electrifying blues genius, great fun to watch. He loved Jimi Hendrix but never copied him. Playing with him was glamorous and fun, but once you get to be 45 or 50, you'd better really love living the blues, because you run that risk of doing a Chet Baker. Or a Tom Butters, I guess."
"My dad bought him a guitar for Christmas when he was twelve," recalls Tom's brother Randy, who has flown in from Las Vegas and looks so much like Tom that people keep coming up and peering into his eyes. "Tom couldn't wait; he sneaked under the bed and found it. After that, he never put it down. A friend of his from the military told me that he and Tom went into an empty music store, and Tom tuned up a twelve-string and began to play, and he played until there was no room to stand in the store, so many people were listening. And then he said thank you, put down the guitar and left."
Which would make a nice end to the story--but in real life, Tom didn't put down his guitar for long.
"I used to hate that guitar," says Page. "I used to grab the neck and choke it and choke it, so he would stop holding it and hold me."
"Yes, yes," agrees Shauna. "It got so much attention."
"But as I got older, I figured out why it was so important," Page says. "I used to love it when he would sneak me in to hear him play. I loved to get up on stage and sing with him."
"He was so cool," agrees Shauna, who now lives in Utah with her husband and three kids. "He wasn't like some stodge-podge Mormon man. And he was off-the-wall goofy with my kids. And he called me last week to say he loved me and was proud of me and wanted to be a better granddaddy."
This makes Shauna cry. A minute later it makes her laugh--Butters, whose great love was music, had a secondary passion for lounging in a hot bath, and that's where he was during that last phone call.
"He didn't have his own bathtub," Shauna relates, "but a couple had just been kicked out of the apartment next door, and he had broken into their empty place just so he could take a bath. We used to talk on the phone a lot. It made me love him so much. It made me hope so much, you know, that he wasn't fucking himself up too much."
"My dad had a drug problem," Page says.
"He could have died of a heart attack," Shauna says. "We don't have the tests back yet--"
"It was heroin," Page insists. "He had a drug problem, just like I do." In fact, Page has spent the past two months in the residential Cenikor program, where, if all goes well, she will be for the next two to three years. "Which my daddy knew about and was proud of," she says, "because he knew I was just like him. He would never give me money, because he knew what I would do with it, but he gave me clothes and food, and I could talk to him about anything, anytime."
"It could have been a heart attack," Shauna repeats.
"It wasn't, though," Page tells her.
There is a pause.
"Daddy told me once why he loved to play so much," Page finally says. "He said, 'When I'm up there, I get to see that look in your eyes when you watch me play. You go there with me,' he said."
If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters.
You have successfully signed up for your selected newsletter(s) - please keep an eye on your mailbox, we're movin' in!
A few hours into the wake, Erica Brown, the singer in Butters's last band, stands up and sings an "Amazing Grace" so high and lonesome it raises the hair on the necks of dogs for miles around. Then she starts "Sweet Home Chicago," and pockets of singing break out around the room, especially on the "Baby, don't you want to go?"
"Let's have a big hand for the guitar player!" yells trombonist JD Kelly. "Mister Tom Butters!"
The ovation is loud and long, and the room is crowded. The people who go outside later to smoke can feel the cold front coming down from the mountains, and after that, night.


text:
Haven't joined yet? Join MYX |
On this episode of MYX Movie Date, get a rundown of movies to check out in theaters this week from VJ Ai and VJ Tippy! Plus, Tippy takes us to the special screening of Finding Dory and her MYXclusive interview with its Fil-Am animator Paul Abadilla!
We will also feature the thriller Standoff starring Thomas Jane and Laurence Fishburne plus a bit of Liam Hemsworth in Independence Day: Resurgence which is already out in cinemas! If you're excited about Disney's Moana starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, get a sneak peek of the animated film here!
Watch the latest edition of MYX Movie Date below!
Part 1 of 3
Part 2 of 3
Part 3 of 3
Catch all new episodes of MYX Movie Date every Monday at 6PM!


text:
Services on Demand
Related links
Ciência & Saúde Coletiva
On-line version ISSN 1678-4561Print version ISSN 1413-8123
ROZEMBERG, Brani. Rural sanitation in schistosomiasis endemic areas: experience and learning process. Ciênc. saúde coletiva [online]. 1998, vol.3, n.2, pp.125-141. ISSN 1678-4561. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-81231998000200012.
Drawing on data from 25 interviews for the evaluation of the video: "Snail disease" in schistosomiasis endemic areas, this article is concerned with reports of rural experiences with sanitation and sewerage disposals. Negative popular experiences with pit latrines were reported, highlighting a problem with which health professionals in endemic areas will have to learn to deal. What is known in most rural areas as "sewerage system", provides no treatment of sewerage at all, but instead, a connection to empty directly into the rivers. For most interviewees this system is considered the best one, for it is the only alternative known for pit latrines. The learning process of illiterates tends towards the concrete way of thinking. Thus, there are practical concrete evidences of the advantages of the "sewerage system", which demands no costs and efforts for its construction and mantainance. By relating sewage disposal in natura and schistosomiasis, the video "Snail Disease" evoked sanitation issues' discussion in half of the interviews, while the other half focused strictly on the prevention of water contact. Eventhough, the chances for the discussion of sanitation to arise at the video's follow-up debates, to be conducted in the field, are considerably high.
Keywords : Rural Sanitation; Schistosomiasis Transmission; Educational Video; Adults Learning Process.


text:
County Services for Older Adults, Just a Phone Call Away
Fairfax County's Aging, Disability and Caregiver Resource Line at
703-324-7948, TTY 703-449-1186, is staffed by experienced social workers,
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. They can answer quick
questions, such the location of the nearest senior centers, and provide
advice on more complicated issues such as finding the right services for
a frail, older adult.
To see services the County offers older adults, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dfs/olderadultservices. You'll note in the 'Services' column at the far left, a wide range of services, including Adult Day Health Care, Adult Protective Services, Care Management, Caregiver Support, Meals on Wheels and Medicare Counseling. The 'Recreation' column lists links to the county's varied recreational and prevention programs including senior centers, a chronic disease management program, Adult and Community Education and the library's event page. There is even a link to an online chair yoga video. The third column provides a listing of community engagement opportunities including boards, authorities, commissions and other policy-making and community development activities. It also lists Volunteer Solutions, a volunteer program that provides services to older adults such as Meals on Wheels.
In the final column to the far right, there is an appeal to Follow-us! Here you'll find links to the events calendar for caregiver and Medicare seminars, a speaker request page, and links to subscription pages for the monthly Fairfax 50+ E-News and the Golden Gazette print newspaper. You'll also see a link to three online resource guides. Worthy of special note is SeniorNavigator, a state-wide search engine where you'll find public and private services as well as excellent articles on staying healthy and caregiving.
Retired? Consider Joining the Life-Long Learning Institute
Affiliated with Northern Virginia Community College, the Lifetime Learning Institute of Northern Virginia (LLI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing continuing educational opportunities to older adults. LLI offers courses and special interest groups throughout the year, day and overnight trips, an overseas study/travel program, and local social events. Classes are scheduled throughout the year and are held on weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the NVCC Annandale campus and off-campus in churches, community centers, and public libraries. Courses offered vary each session. Examples include literature, history, health, science, religion, computer skills, art appreciation, genealogy, philosophy, yoga, and poetry. An open house and speaker forum is held once a month at the NVCC Annandale campus. For more information call the LLI office at 703-503-0600 or view the web site at http:/lli.nova.org. Annual membership is $110 per year.
Help Improve Transportation Services for Older Adults and People with Disabilities
Your answers to a brief survey will help the County improve
transportation services for older adults and people with disabilities.
The questionnaire consists of 27 mostly multiple-choice questions, taking
five to ten minutes to complete. Take the survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mobilityoptions
The survey is sponsored by the Fairfax Area Mobility and Transportation Committee, which reports jointly to the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board and the Fairfax Area Long Term Care Coordinating Council. If you require an alternate format of the survey, contact Jill Clark at 703-324-5874, TTY 703-449-1186.


text:
Doll Repair Home
We are currently accepting both walk-in and mail-in doll repairs. Due to a high-volume of repair orders awaiting completion, please be aware that there is a 3-4 month waiting period, however, if the condition of your particular doll repair warrants more time, please allow 12+ months for completion.
The Doll Hospital Management
We are proud to have been listed by Good Housekeeping Magazine as one of the NATION'S top ten restorer's of collectable and antique dolls.
You may have a beloved old doll that is dirty, or broken. It may be laying in a box --- in your basement or out in your garage --- all in shambles! We promise not to be shocked. If you have strong sentimental attachment, then restoration of a childhood doll (or maybe a doll that was treasured by your mother or grandmother) can be very gratifying. The Doll Hospital & Toy Soldier Shop has restored an estimated 250,000 dolls for grateful clients over the past 65 years. The Doll Hospital has a dedicated staff of 2 skilled artisans as restorers, and believe it or not, we have 100+ years of doll repair experience between us. As you can imagine, we've faced just about every imaginable type of doll repair. We look forward to giving your doll a new lease on life. While we have thousands of antique parts, they are used only in emergency. we prefer to work with the original body or head components, so as to keep everything as authentic as possible. Over the years we have invented a variety of techniques to bring dolls back to closely resemble their former selves. View our photo gallery for a sampling of patients we have brought back to life!
Sorry! We are unable to estimate repairs over the phone or Internet, because every situation is quite unique. We need to examine each doll closely to evaluate it's condition and note any pre-existing problems. From this first-hand assessment, the nature and cost of required repair or restoration work can be arrived at. For those who are within driving distance, we have at least one qualified estimator, on duty, at most times during business hours. Please note that while we are open on Sundays at various times of the year, we never have doll repair staff available on Sundays. Read more about arranging for repair here.


text:
One War You Gotta Love-A Pizza War! (audio)
This is going to be amazing! We're having a pizza war, and you're invited. In fact, we're looking for enlistments! It's a short stint- 1 nite only!!! I'm sure we'll find WMD's (weapons of mass digestion)–(ok, 'nuff said).We'll be back after a word from our sponsor
That's right. It's all going down at Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady on February 3rd.
There's nothing like a pizza. I can remember my father saying that once a week, no matter what, we're going out to dinner. Even if it's just the local "pizzeria", as he would call it.
"What do you mean-even if it's JUST the local pizza place?", I would say to myself. Those were the best meals. And what's great about ordering a whole pizza at a restaurant? It usually takes a long time to come out. That's a brilliant marketing move on the establishment's part. Because you build up such angst, such anticipation, such frustration that when it comes out, you don't even care what it tastes like–you just devour the darn thing!!!
Well, fear not. You won't have to wait that long when you come. You can taste quick samples from many different vendors! We're all psyched here at the station. Hopefully we'll see you there. You'll need a break after this storm!!! OK, troops–at ease!!! (and you will be if you come!!)


text:
December 16, 2016
There are many widely known and experienced perils to maintaining a Human planetary existence. However, they are not always acknowledged even when they are exposed. Most people would prefer to deny or ignore them, even though many people may not even be aware of their presence, but, just like Nuclear ionising radiations, they are Real, [...]Read More
August 25, 2014
Its been a while since I've felt the need or even inspiration to write a new Blog post but today I was inspired to do just that… Its actually been nearly 2 years since my last post. Thats because I decided only to post topics I believe to be of lasting interest. Ones that need [...]Read More
January 1, 2012
Welcome to year 2012 ! "…The vast majority of human beings on earth still lives in a deep slumber and in total neglect of the fact that they are immortal multidimensional beings and sovereign creators (masters) of their reality. They do not realize that they shape their destiny through their thoughts, emotions, and above all, [...]Read More
October 11, 2011
This article was prompted by the many thoughtful hours I can sometimes spend at abagond's site diligently responding to his written posts and other commentators on the subject of racism. One of his last posts, in particular, – The hearts of white people, part II – produced such an avalanche of comments that even abagond [...]Read More
August 25, 2011
The following extract is from one of my earlier web sites -2001. It was here that I first began exploring the new world of spirituality I'd found. It provides a fascinating description of the nature of personal reality. One that is rarely glimpsed or even comprehended in most peoples daily lives. What makes this so [...]Read More


text:
Deliciously Ella
When Ella Woodward was diagnosed with a rare health condition - Postural Tachycardia Syndrome - in 2011, she set about healing herself through food and after blogging for two years, the Deliciously Ella website came about and now we have this wonderful healthy recipe book.
Deliciously Ella embraces clean, healthy eating and has more than 100 new sugar free, gluten free and dairy free recipes to tickle and excite your taste buds. A reformed sugar monster Ella was inspired by her own health problems to write recipes that would improve her diet – the proof is in the pudding, the healthy pudding in this case.
Not only are there simple dishes to try but also food-on-the-go, delicious raw treats, exciting fresh dips and bowls of seasonal veggies – all of which will leave you with glowing skin, bundles of energy and better long term health. This book is a lifestyle choice, eating fresh foods that your body loves and gaining all the benefits back.
It worked for Ella, make it work for you – purchase Deliciously Ella and reap the benefits straight away. Buying as a gift? – you could be helping someone get their health back on track.
- Ella's philosophy is all about embracing the natural foods that your body loves
- From sumptuous desserts, to food on the go, delicious dips, raw treats and rainbow bowls of awesome veggies
- Create fresh, simple dishes which are easy to make and taste amazing
- Featuring more than 100 new sugar-free, gluten-free and dairy-free recipes to excite your taste buds
- This collection will inspire you to eat for better health, glowing skin and boundless energy
Dimensions: 24 x 18 x 2.4cmDimensions
- 2.4cm x 18.0cm x 24.0cm
Deliciously Ella Customer Reviews
Related products in Recipe Books
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have an un-answered question about this product? Simply ask us a question and we'll do our best to help.


text:
About Dideo Films
Dideo films is a boutique video studio that specializes in creating cinematic videos.
Our main focus is to ca... Read MoreRead More pture timeless footage with a modern and stylish approach.
As a Videographer/Editor, I have been working as a writer, director, producer and editor in the entertainment industry for over 10 years, working on everything from films, music videos, weddings, parties and corporate events, to text and website videos.
My partner, Danielle, and I shoot together, so we can offer double the manpower at no additional cost.
Our rates are affordable, and we can cover any event or production and do the editing.
Please contact us to discuss your event or project.


text:
A Few New Year's Eve Scheduling NotesPosted by on December 31, 2008 – 2:21 pm
With 2009 kicking off tomorrow, I just wanted to provide a quick update on the schedule for the blog over the next few days.
- Tomorrow, New Year's Day, is a genuine day off, with no updates unless something dramatic happens.
- Friday will be a light day, probably only a post or two (again, unless something dramatic happens).
- And then I'll be back Monday, to properly begin the offseason incarnation of the blog.
I'd also like to wish all of you a happy, healthy, and safe New Year's Eve. Thanks for taking the time this season to read this, to write to me, and to comment here. Here's to a better 2009 season, and hail to the Redskins. Read more »
Tags: scheduling
Posted in General | No Comments »
Next Year's OpponentsPosted by on December 29, 2008 – 3:14 pm
With the end of the regular season, the final two opponents for next year have been selected. The breakdown of home and away matchups for next year:
Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
So if you missed the Saints or the Rams at FedExField this year, consider this your second chance. Hopefully not with the same result, at least in the Rams game. Read more »
Tags: scheduling
Posted in General | No Comments »


text:
A new chapter covers
heat and enclosures including information on the creation of
heat in electronic devices and how it can be dissipated.
Beginning with the
basic principles of electrical logic, the author guides you
through each step in the design of a sequencing logic system,
including developing the schematic diagram, making a bill of
material, and designing component wiring diagram.
You will learn the
fundamentals of programmable logic controls (PLC's), including
number in systems, basic memory structure, system addressing
and the common instruction set.
The presentation
takes you step by step through solving problems that require
bailing circuits, sorting systems, and counting the relays,
including encoding and decoding.
The contrast between
digital and analog control systems is also fully examined.
Case histories illustrate the principles covered. as well
specific troubleshooting techniques.
See more Electrical Products


text:
Louis van Gaal has thanked his Manchester United bosses for bankrolling him rather than rollicking him.
United's response to a run of two defeats and two draws in the first four games under new manager Van Gaal has been a record-breaking spending spree – including Monday night's stunning loan capture of superstar striker Radamel Falcao from Monaco.
And that has come as a welcome surprise to Van Gaal, whose reward for a bad start when he was in charge at German giants Bayern Munich was a severe dressing-down from general manager Uli Hoeness.
The Dutchman, who has also seen the arrival of Angel Di Maria for a British record fee of £59million, said: "My start at Bayern was just as bad as my start with Manchester United.
"But the big difference was that at Bayern I had already been called in for a major showdown with Uli Hoeness, who wanted an explanation. And what have United done? They have just bought more players for me. They kept buying players.
"They are supporting me. That is a sign of trust in the manager. I feel that. I feel their trust and belief in my ability.
"It is not just a matter of believing in my football philosophy, but in me as a person too."
Despite his winless run, Van Gaal is confident he will bring success back to the Old Trafford giants after last season's seventh place finish under David Moyes.
"Do I get worried when I look at the league table now?" he said. "Come off it, that means nothing. We have only just started!
"And the facts are that I have never let any clubs down. I have won things. I have given those clubs success.
"And that is exactly what I will do here at United."


text:
MATT LAUER is "derogatory and dismissive" towards underlings at Today—insider.
As the TODAY Show's ratings continue to slide Lauer is still on a rampage with staffers and no one can escape his wrath, RadarOnline.com reports.
"The way Matt treats staffers at work is so derogatory and dismissive," a source close to the show said about the 25-year-veteran host.
"He is so demeaning to many people on the staff. He is cordial to his fellow hosts and the senior executives but to anyone below him they say he treats them like dirt."
After GMA trounced Today in the May Sweeps, beating them solidly, the show's failures were landing squarely at Matt's feet.
"For a while Matt was acting nicer to everyone, but now the staffers are afraid of him," the source said.
"They say that it is harder than ever to work with him."


text:
I placed an order at the start of June and paid £50 for guaranteed delivery - on the day of supposed delivery nothing turned up and I received no contact, only when I made a call was I then told that part of my order was not in stock. It is now 5 weeks later and I still haven't received the outstanding item on the order and am now being told that I will have to wait until August although they can't even confirm that!Customer services are completely uninterested in resolving this when given the opportunity to do so - I completely regret giving these clowns my money and would urge anyone to think twice before placing an order here
This is the worst company I have ever dealt with for customer service. The centre at Leigh had about 10 customers in it when I was there. All were unhappy EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED and vocally expressing their dissatisfaction for various reasons. It was like a little community of brassed off customers.
Essentially, Better Bathrooms will not refund under any circumstances. A guy next to me at the counter had waited over an hour for his goods (a long wait appears the norm). He kept getting fobbed off until he said he wanted to cancel the order. I was amazed when they wouldn't cancel even though he had not even had his goods. They had his money and they weren't giving it back!
I wanted to return an unused item I bought 3 days earlier for a refund. No chance - best they will do is a credit and keep quoting their ridiculous customer charter.
Their customer service department is even worse. They talk over you, do not listen and are rude. Don't ring them; it is like talking to a robot with attitude. You dont get anywhere other than a headache. DONT GIVE THIS COMPANY YOUR BUSINESS. There are other companies who know how to treat customer who deserve your business.
Dave, I wish Id listened to your advice when I decided to buy from better bathrooms. Stay away you told me but I didnt listen did I? Instead I popped in to their impressive looking showroom in Manchester and got lured in. What an impressive showroom I thought (and still do), what friendly and helpful showroom staff I thought (and still do), what great products I thought (but dont anymore), what great savings I thought (but dont anymore), what a great company I thought (but dont anymore).
So where did it all go wrong? Well it went wrong as soon as I decided to order my stuff from the showroom. For a start the minute you order from the showroom and they take your money there is zero possibility of getting the money back. All they will entertain is giving you a credit note. Even if you cancel within 5 minutes of tapping your pin into that card machine they will say "sorry governor, its gone into our system now, we cannot refund your money but heres a credit note". Does that sound alarm bells? It should do? Does this kind of behaviour take place at B&Q, wickes or any other company you know? Of course not. Its disgraceful and indicative of the general attitude of the people who run this place.
Anyway I placed my order and was given a delivery time of 3-5 days. I would get a phone call within 5 days they said. It is now day 12 and nobody has called me to give me an update on my order. After a couple of days I decided I wanted to change my bath taps from a mixer tap to a normal one which is £20 cheaper. It took me 3 calls before I got in touch with anyone from customer services. Each time I waited for 20 mins but gave up. I tried email but nobody responded. When I eventually got to speak to somebody was when I learnt about the "no refunds" rule. You can have a £20 credit note they told me even though the product had not been dispatched. Today I phoned them to remove my bath, panel and waste from the order. Total value is £275 which means I now have a credit note for £295 :-(
Why did I remove the bath from the order? 2 reasons. Firstly my partner got fed up waiting for the bath from better bathrooms and bought a new one that comes with a 25 year guarantee which brings me on to the second reason. Better bathrooms baths only have a 1 year guarantee. Do yourself a favour and check out baths on the internet and see what guarantees they come with. You will see that in general they have at least a 5 year guarantee. Others have 10, 15, 20 or 25 year guarantees. Wickes baths for example have a 10 year guarantee. Now that doesnt say much about the quality of better bathrooms baths does it?
Now how about the great savings at better bathrooms? Well I have come to the conclusion that it is not even that cheap. But how can that be you ask, given that there are 60% savings to be had in the sale. Well the 60% saving is 60% off the RRP and since most of the stuff at better bathrooms is made for them they can set whatever they want for the RRP and then say "oh look at us, we are giving it to you for 65% off the RRP". By way of example you can buy the better bathrooms 1700 x 750 duo bath in the "sale" for £169.95 or you can buy one from plumbworld http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/ceramica-1700-x-750-double-2851-23692. You will see that both baths have the same measurements and look the same. The bath at plumbworld is only £129 and comes with a 25 year guarantee. Better bathrooms baths on the other hand are only guaranteed for 1 year.
The racket is even greater for the little items like bath wastes. It is natural for people when buying a suite etc. to think they should buy the waste etc. as well. Of course better bathrooms promote that concept as wll. Well the waste that I bought cost 33.95 at better bathrooms in their 60% off sale. If you have a look on the internet you will see identical looking wastes from reputable companies (ones Ive heard of) for as little as £12. Heaven knows who makes the wastes for better bathrooms. Dont fall into the trap of thinking better bathrooms wastes must be better quality because they cost nearly 3 times as much. We know already from better bathrooms baths that a higher price doesnt guarantee a longer warranty dont we? Anyway it is now thursday and better bathrooms have said they will sort out delivery for this weekend. If my bad experiences continute I may well post another review.
There was no doubt about it, it simply had to go. I had put up with the avocado bathroom suite for over a year since moving into our house but the time came when I simply could look at it no longer - when did this colour ever look nice?! We decided that upstairs we would just put a simple cheap suite in as we wanted to reserve our budget for the shower room downstairs which I want to be special, so I scoured the internet for a reasonable priced bath suite and soon came across betterbathrooms.com.
~*~ The website ~*~
When I first clicked through to the site, I was met with a ton of Sale banners and these seem to have been there for as long as I have been looking on it (over four months now) so I can only assume they have some sort of permanent sale on with a variety of products in the same vane that DFS seem to have.
The website is easy to navigate as each component has its own tabs, for example if you just want taps you click on the Tap tab which opens a menu which shows all of the taps available - slightly disappointing that you can't put any of the products into price order as this would have made it a lot easier for me to use. I knew exactly what I was looking for so I was able to navigate directly to the right area of the site, but if you are unsure I can imagine that this could be a minefield as there are so many different package options available. There is everything on this site that you would need to complete your bathroom - suites, accessories, tiles, towel radiators, taps, showers - the whole package, but I do not think that many of the prices are that competitive once you start looking around. On this occasion I simply wanted a suite so I bought a separate bath and a toilet and pedestal sink combo.
Whilst I was making my choice, I noticed a live chat option which I used to ask a simple question. The answer came back after about five minutes so I think that the question answerer actually went out to the showroom to check that the correct answer would be given. I think that this is a good idea as potentially you could be spending a lot of money on this site without actually seeing what you are buying and even though there is a lot of description included with each product, occasionally there is just something extra that you need to know. If you want to call the showroom, it is open until 10pm. There is an information section at the bottom of the site which tells you all about delivery, returns (not accepted unless faulty), contact information and everything else that you should need to know.
The site seems to be high speed and processing my order was simple. I put my items in my virtual trolley and headed for the checkout where I put in my details, confirmed terms and conditions and placed my order smarting slightly at the £35 delivery charge. I paid directly with my card and was taken via a secure site and I felt confident and happy with my order. I immediately got an email saying that my order was being processed. The next day I got an email saying that my order was being picked in the warehouse, then shortly after it was released. My order turned up on a pallet within a week where it was delivered directly into my garage with no hassle whatsoever. So far so good - good website, happy with my product choice and very pleased with the communication but it was all about to go horribly wrong.
~*~ The Products and Customer Service ~*~
I should have known better - I thought a bath was a bath and you can't go too far wrong with a standard white bath can you? Yes. This bath is quite thin and even compared to the forty year old avocado one that we pulled out, the quality is not good. My main issue with it is that it is dead flat so whenever the plug is pulled, there is always a puddle of water that doesn't want to go down the hole - a slight slant would have solved this problem and I believe that this is standard in most baths so why not mine!
The sink is fine, although it seemed to take forever to get it to line up nicely on the pedestal and even now it does not feel entirely secure, but far and away my biggest problem has been the toilet. Firstly, the bolts are plastic so it was difficult to get them completely water tight as we didn't want to put too much pressure on them as we simply didn't trust that they wouldn't break. With a hideous amount of sealant later we put the toilet in place, but it didn't look right - we spent ages moving it about and checking the floor level until we had a eureka moment and realised that the cistern was wonky. There was a 1.5cm difference from one side to the other so it looked hideous against the level grout line behind it and no matter what we did, we couldn't fix this so I took a photo and emailed it to betterbathrooms - this was easy enough to do via the website and the next day I got the same emails again - Processed, picked, dispatched. When the new cistern arrived I took it in without checking it which was stupid because it was exactly the same.
Another email and this one got ignored. After ten days and four phone calls of a promise to call me back I had had enough and asked to be put though to a manager, I was put on hold again and promptly disconnected. Fuming is not the word. I got through in the end, had my say and funnily enough a perfect cistern turned up the next day but this is not enough to make me use this company ever again and I would never recommend them. The attitude of the manager was appalling and there was not a single apology in sight - I asked what I was meant to do with the two faulty cisterns and she advised me to take them to the tip - My local refuse centre charge for disposal of hardcore since all of these wonderful government cuts so is Betterbathrooms going to reimburse me? Of course not! "it's in the terms and conditions" she spouts, but I have had a good look through them and I can find no reference to this policy at all. We are lucky in that we have fitted it ourselves but if we had employed a plumber, we would have had to call them back at our own expense because of Betterbathrooms shoddy products.
So in conclusion my experience has not been a good one and you probably get what you pay for - poor products from this company. If it had been local I would have gone into the store and made a fuss but here you are at the mercy of call centre staff who couldn't give a toss that you've got no toilet or that you are going to be out of pocket. I certainly won't be using this company again and I wouldn't consider recommending them.