text:
"....I must say that i really loved the experience of flying with indigo from Mumbai to Muscat. Your staff is really friendly and the aircraft was really clean and nice. . ..."
"....Dear Sir / Madam, I had the pleasure of interacting with Mr. Tarun Sethi, your Customer Service Officer at the call center today. I was a victim of a technical glitch that would have caused me to bear rebooking charges for no fault of mine. Mr. Sethi was polite, considerate and sensitive to my concerns and displayed good judgment in contacting his line management to obtain waiver and rectify a booking error. I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation of Mr Sethi's service. I wish him well.. ..."
"....I am an army officer and I travelled in your flight from Guwahati to New Delhi on 27 Dec. I would like to bring to your notice the good work done by one of your employees. On that day, I had got stuck in heavy traffic jam and reached the airport barely in time. By the time I cleared my luggage from Security and reached the counter, it was almost closed. However, your employee at the counter, by the name of Ms. Manprit Kaur understood my problem and entertained me. She not only got me the boarding pass but also helped in my clearing of luggage at the earliest and then move through final security check. I was totally touched by her involvement and dedication. These small gestures go a long way in projecting the image of the company and the ethos which they have imbibed. I would like her to be appreciated at some right forum so that others also get motivated to emulate this.. ..."
"....Good Morning. I was a passenger booked to fly to Chandigarh from Mumbai on the 30th of Dec. by the 07.25 am flight. Due to poor visibility the flight was rescheduled twice within a span of the next two hours and eventually cancelled. The reasons may have genuinely been low visibility or low passenger nos. even after clubbing 2-3 flights. We could see that your ground staff, Mr. Vinit in particular was engaged in giving out information at the gate no.9. and also working out rescheduling of interested passengers on the next available flight to Delhi. During the entire process the nos. fizzled down, resulting in forced cancellation of any flight that day to Chandigarh perhaps for both the above reasons. As a passenger who had already made holiday plans for the year end in Chandigarh returning home was not an option at all. I chose the only option - of taking the next available flight to Delhi. We were put on the 11.35 am flight to Delhi and from there a Volvo bus took care of our journey from Delhi to Chandigarh. I reached Chandigarh at 09.00 pm that night. All this was handled and expenses borne by the airlines. Not just this, they also took care of water and snacks both at the airport and during the bus ride. The airline officials at Delhi put us on the bus and left only after ensuring that we were all comfortable and had been served water, tea and snacks. At Mumbai airport also, there were frayed tempers, distraught passengers who had to alter plans, some even cancel, so their irritation and not so civil behaviour with your staff was understandable. In the face of all this I found that Mr. Vinit held himself very well, tried very much to keep his cool and offer and provide solutions, by no means an easy task as the hours went by. From 06.45 am to perhaps well past 12.00 he was still handling the irate passengers.. ..."
"....Hi, I recently travelled from Hyderabad to Bangalore and received an excellent service from the air hostess specifically from Upma Sharma and Raman. I am an international traveller and I really get to see really good inflight service.Hence the special mention.. ..."
"....It was the 5th Jan 2013, my 21st wedding anniversary. I had been to kochi for new year celebration and had arranged a family and friends party in Pune on 5th Jan evening. I had booked tickets for 6 persons, from that time I came close to IndiGo too much. The booking was done mistakenly by me and then I called the indigo helpline, the person on the other side helped me and made my booking correct. This is my First Thanks to IndiGo. My Second Thanks to all the airport staff of kochi for helping me and my family to be on board which was impossible for any other flying service because as per the rules I should be there at least 45 minutes before departure but that day I couldn't reach the airport due to heavy traffic jam from alleppy to airport. Anyhow, I had started at 9am from alleppy, this sounds strange because 9 am to 3 pm, 6 hours for 140 km or for 2 hours journey, me and my family were fully tensed as we were going to miss the flight 6E 406 that day. I was praying to god please let me be in the flight as we had to plan many more things on 5th in Pune... hush...we reached the airport at 3 pm, the counters were closed. I started sweating and tears rolling from my eyes. My elder daughter said DAD pray the IndiGo not god! They will allow us to board and it happened that one lady and one male IndiGo personality came out as god for me and made arrangements for us to board the flight 20 minutes before the departure. One IndiGo staff with specs requested the security check in officers for doing it on priority for us which was impossible as there was a huge line of other passengers but he did it and we were on board 5 minutes before departure. Third Thanks again for the kochi staff who send my luggage to Pune on 6th by the same flight. Fourth Thanks to the Pune IndiGo official Trupti madam who supported us by all means on 5th and 6th in Pune to get our luggage back and my FIFTH BIG THANKS for all the support and help to INDIGO AIRLINES for giving me such a big amazing service.. ..."
Ranjith.K, 09-01-2013..Excellent service and hospitality shown by your check in counter employee (Ms.Rohini).
"....This is to convey my happiness with respect to the express check in service, I have availed today from Bangalore airport .It was nice meeting and talking to Ms. Rohini at your express check in counter. She was so polite and humble moreover very pro-active to ensure to tag my luggages with ""Fast Forward "" service Tag. Many Thanks to Indigo !! Well done Rohini and Team.. ..."
"....This is to record my appreciation on the best work done by MR. IRFAN at HYDERABAD AIRPORT. I took Hyderabad-Chennai flight. When i was approaching check in counter, Mr. IRFAN came to me politely and offered to do self check-in for me and within less than a minute, he gave me the printed boarding pass. With his proactive, polite and excellent service with utmost swiftness, there was no need for me to wait at check in counter queue.. ..."
"....Hi, This is just an appreciation note for Iram Fatima (lucknow airport, Indigo Counter) for being god send and saving our family holiday by being very co-operative and adjusting our flights for Lucknow-Mumbai-Goa due to delays at the Lucknow Airport because of fog. She was very polite and very understanding and rescheduled our flights promptly to ensure we reached Goa and enjoyed our vacation. This is just a small note of thanks to her and also to the airlines for being supportive and customer friendly which is a rear sighting especially since Indigo is a no frills budget airlines.. ..."
"....Hello, I am Vibhu Tripathi. I had taken an indigo flight from Singapore to Mumbai on 22nd Jan 2012. Upon arrival to Mumbai I found some of my luggage (especially some expensive sports equipment) to be totally wet, I guess due to inconsiderate material handling at Singapore airport. To resolve the matter, I met with Mr. Pranay, Assistant Manager Customer Service (Emp Id IGA1587) who stepped in and helped me in a big way to ensure all my complaints and grievances were taken seriously. He handled the situation in a very calm and composed manner even though when I was in a bit of angry mode. To add on to this I would also like to appreciate the entire team working with Mr. Pranay for all the help and follow-ups. I would like to take this opportunity to truly appreciate initiatives of such dedicated staff members of Indigo. Acts like this actually brings about the real customer delight that companies promise about.. ..."
"....This is to appreciate Mr. Chitranjan that he is really helpful and provided an excellent customer service which i have received from any of the service provider. He definitely receives an increment. Great job Chitranjan Keep it up!!!!. ..."
"....We enjoyed the flight very much. Like clock work. Outstanding performance by "" Leading Lady"" named Seerat and the "" Girl Power"" Keep up the good work.. ..."
".... The help and support given by by Mr. Himanshu Dohroo for rescheduling my flight was really great. I appreciate the amount of time and the effort he put in for explaining everything to me. Will travel Indigo again only because of this experience, thanks to him.. ..."
"...."Hi, This is advocate Agnihotri from Mumbai. I called the toll free number to enquire fares for Mumbai Nagpur sector and was assisted by super agent Mr. Praful , who assisted me step by step and helped me make the payment. I had my set of apprehensiveness to use my Credit card online, but Mr. Praful helped me to complete the transactions. Thanks a lot.. ..."
"....Hello Team Indigo Every time I travel on business I make sure I fly Indigo. You guys are always on time and the services are also fantastic. But what you guys did for me today is something I will remember for a long time. I am getting married in February and I planned to spend my honey moon in Goa. I got a package deal from Make My Trip and as always I chose Indigo to fly me and my wife to Goa. Out of excitement and joy I entered the name of my wife incorrectly. When I realized my mistake I immediately called your customer care. Your customer care executive Mrityunjay Kumar took my call and he went out of his way to help me. He spoke to his supervisor and made the necessary corrections in my wife's name in the tickets. He confirmed the change and I checked online and saw that the changes were made. Mrityunjay gave me my wedding gift on a half an hour call. He saved my honeymoon! On the same night I also spoke to Muhammad Adeel as I had to make the corrections in the return flight tickets as well. These two executives, specially Mrityunjay Kumar touched my life in a way which only I will know. It is people like Mrityunjay and Md. Adeel who make Indigo such a delightful airline to fly. I thank these two gentlemen from the bottom of my heart and wish them a very bright and promising future. Thank you once again!!. ..."
"....I would like to put on record my pleasant experience when we had to abandon our journey at Lucknow while travelling with Indigo airlines. I was travelling with my wife Parween Ahmad on flight no. 6E 342 from Mumbai to Patna on January 7, 2013 via Lucknow. Due to bad weather our flight could not take off for Patna and we were asked to disembark at Lucknow itself after waiting in the plane for more than two hours. We decide to stay in Lucknow and take the next day flight for Patna. I would like to put on record our appreciation for the help, courtesy and support provided by one of Indigo staff at Lucknow, Mr. Shabbir. He did all that was possible to make our unscheduled stop at Lucknow a pleasant experience, which otherwise could have been a painful one in the very cold weather at Lucknow. We could take the flight from Lucknow to Patna on January 8, 2013. We would like to thank Mr. Shabbir for all his help and support and may there be more men like him in IndiGo airline, which is becoming the fastest growing airlines in the world.. ..."
"....I would like to make a special mention of the helpfulness and outstanding services of one of your Executive Staff at Guwahati LGBI Airport. Indigo should be proud to have a person like him working for them. His name is Mr. Sandy D Ch Marak. My daughter Vanessa Beddoe,a minor was flying by Indigo Airlines on the 14th January 2013 from Guwahati to Kolkata and had inadvertently forgotten her jacket in the Security area at Guwahati Airport. She realised it as soon as she sat in the aircraft but the crew did not allow her to go back to get it. I somehow immediately managed to get in touch with your ground executive, Mr. Sandy D Ch Marak on his mobile and he then informed me that the jacket which was by then in the custody of the Airport Terminal Manager(ATM) will not be given to him unless the traveller's boarding pass and an authorisation letter was furnished. Days passed and we were just not given this jacket, but your Executive Sandy D Ch Marak was very concerned as we were IndiGo passengers. He persisted and tried all he could and then 6 days later, he is handed the jacket by the ATM. I happily want everyone at Indigo to know about the dedication to duty of this young man. I wish him success always. He will always do IndiGo proud.. ..."
"....I take this opportunity to congratulate you on the excellent service that Indigo is offering nowadays. I travel regularly on IndiGo. Recently I had an opportunity to be 'under stress' as Indigo flight from Chandigarh to Delhi was delayed and I had a connecting flight from Delhi to Trivandrum in another airline without much gap. Due to the delay, I had to cancel the Indigo ticket for taking another flight from Chandigarh to Delhi. I commend the excellent service showered on me by your staff on duty Ms. Banita Lama in helping with this whole process. I felt at home with her professional service executed with lots of heart! She took a lot of pain and effort in making me feel peaceful. With people like Ms.Banita working with Indigo. I am sure your airline will soar higher and higher.. ..."
"....I am Dr. Vithanage from Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt Ltd, Sri Lanka. Last 17th I was travelling to India from Dubai by Indigo Airline. I had to travel to Sri Lanka by Sri Lankan airline on same day. But I faced a problem with VISA at the Chennai Airport. So I had to wait around 5 hours in the transit. Mr.Abdul Rahman personally involved to my issue and solved it. At the same time he concerned much about me even my breakfast. He helped me a lot to solve the issue without any irritation. He understood my stress at that time. I would like to use this opportunity to thank Mr.Abdul Rahman and his friend Mr. Maniraj for the excellent support and efforts. Thank you once again... ..."
"....Dear Ms. Priya / Mr. Ghosh, I have been travelling in your Airlines since its beginning in India. Before that I have travelled in many other Low-cost Airlines but the service you provide to the disabled is really noteworthy. Today in the Tweeter I replied on the Republic Day tableau calls disabled 'powerless' on a TOI report and I have written the following lines in online comments in TOI : Truly it is a 'department of the powerless' Disabled do not get any or much help from this Department. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh still use the word apang (crippled). There is no disabled friendly Ramp in may Railway Stations. Disabled are a harassed lot while boarding an aircraft except in "IndiGo".. ..."
"....Hi, I am a frequent flyer with Indigo and had to change a flight booking. I would like to pass on a note of appreciation to Mr. Jatin Ajwani, the customer service representative who assisted me in making the necessary changes without any hassles. He was very process oriented, clear in his communication and has complete knowledge of the systems. He understands his customers very well. He went that extra mile to ensure that the change is done at a lowest possible cost difference. Kudos to him and his team. Kudos to Indigo Airlines, my experience has been great with you folks thus far. A true potential to become world class. Go Indigo...Go !!!. ..."
"....This is to inform you that on 29th Jan 2013 an officer of the Indian Armed Forces achieved martyrdom fighting for his country, against the militants in the state of J&K. The body had to be transported on an URGENT basis to his native place for the last rites on 30 Jan 2013. This would not have been possible, with such a short notice, but for your organization and the following staff who went out of the way to help us. 1. Mrs Ashia Bashir ( Manager Airport) 2. Mr Gurmeet Singh (Agent Customer Care) 3. Mr Khursheed (Agent Cargo) 4. Mr Amrit Pal Singh (Agent Security) We are thankful for the help extended and the timely response by your staff who made sure that body of the brave soldier is not only transported but also given due respect during the handling. Thanking you once again. ..."
"....Hello, I just landed some 30mins back from Bangalore via 6E 426 to Bombay and forgot my iPad in the flight. I did rush back to the airport with little worry and no hope of actually getting it back. However, I spoke to Ms. Pooja Sawant on the Bombay airport indigo old reservation counter and all she did was make one call. Surprisingly she informed me that you guys have found it and Mr. Yogendra from Security is getting it. I have it in my hands. This is world class service! So guys definitely stay true to your customer-first promise. A big hug to these guys. They have made me a IndiGo loyalist.. ..."


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Today, August 13, 2015, Hercules Offshore, Inc. and 14 of its affiliates filed a prepackaged chapter 11 bankruptcy case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Hercules and its affiates are, according to the petition, providers of shallow-water drilling and marine services to the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry globally. The cases have been assigned to the Honorable Kevin J. Carey and are docketed as case no. 15-11685.
The Debtors' senior vice president and CFO, Troy L. Carson, filed an affidavit in suport of the prepack. According to Mr. Carson, the prepack will convert approximately $1.2 billion in debt to equity, raise approximately $450 million of new capital, and provide an opportunity for existing equity holders to receive a distribution (despite them being $500 million out of the money). Mr. Carson says that that debtors have sufficient unencumbered assets to complete the restructuring without need for a DIP loan.
Mr. Carson notes that 99% of the debtors' key stake holders - the Class 3 Senior Note Claims - voted in favor of the proposed plan.
As part of their various requests for first-day relief, the debtors are seeking authority to pay various general unsecured creditors in the ordinary course of business.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chris McKhool, Scarlett Jane, & more
- A little boy who grew up playing violin in Ottawa and who was regularly in attendance at the orchestra has made a career out of those memories...though they weren't all golden: CHRIS MCKHOOL recalls looking out his bedroom window while he practised violin and seeing other kids playing basketball in the park. I guess it paid off in the end as after eight albums and countless tours he's definitely made a career of his music solo and with his band SULTANS OF STRING.
- I'll also chat with Chris's Mom and Dad in a new feature I'm debuting called MEET THE PARENTS.
- My Sprinterview with the ladies of SCARLETT JANE accidentally turned into a band intervention when I asked from whom they most like to get a hug...and they began to discuss why they should hug more often in their two-woman band!
- Plus tunes from THE GERTRUDES and BROCK ZEMAN as well as a poignant one from LEE HARVEY OSMOND's contribution to The Kennedy Suite.
- Don't forget you still have a chance to enter CBC MUSIC's SONG QUEST for the next great Canadian hockey song.
See you on the radio!
Air Times
|Radio One
|Saturdays 5:05 to 6:00 p.m.


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|Scivias II.1: Creation,
Fall, & Redemption.
Rupertsberg MS, fol. 41v.
|V. O vis eternitatis
que omnia ordinasti in
corde tuo,
per Verbum tuum omnia
creata sunt
sicut voluisti,
et ipsum Verbum tuum
induit carnem
in formatione illa
que educta est de Adam.
R. Et sic indumenta ipsius
a maximo dolore
abstersa sunt.
|V. O strength within Eternity:
All things you held in order
in your heart,
and through your Word were
all created
according to your will.
And then your very Word
was clothed within
that form of flesh
from Adam born.
R. And so his garments
were washed and cleansed
from greatest suffering.


text:
Communication chip maker Qualcomm is hoping to get the chance to supply chips for Apple's iPhone, and apparently the both companies have discussed the possibility. Paul Jacobs, Qualcomm's CEO, confirmed the the two companies have talked at least casually about whether or not there's a fit, according to Bloomberg, but there isn't any indication that the discussions have been serious on any level.
"We continue to discuss it, but haven't made it yet. Hopefully, in the future, we will have the opportunity," Mr. Jacobs said.
Landing an iPhone chip deal with Apple would add a nice feather to Qualcomm's cap considering how popular the combination iPod and smartphone is.
Apple is always tight lipped about unannounced products, so it doesn't seem likely that any word about future iPhone specs will be leaking out of Cupertino any time soon. Mr. Jacobs didn't do much to make it sound like his company is doing anything more than hoping its chips eventually find their way into the iPhone, either.
"We talk to everybody in the industry," he said.


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Celebrity chef Mai Pham brought the flavors of Southeast Asia to UNC Pembroke February 4.
Cooking – Mai Pham demonstrates the construction of a salad roll.
It was an adventure in Thai and Vietnamese cuisine that appealed to a wide variety of palates. There were four dishes on the menu: rice paper wrapped salad rolls, vegetarian Pho noodle soup, pad Thai noodle stir fry with shrimp and Thai green curry with chicken.
Author of several cookbooks and owner of several restaurants, Pham visited UNCP's campus courtesy of Sodexo Food Services.
Her dishes were appreciated by a variety of palates.
Mike 'Mook' Williams, a sophomore from New Jersey, said he was going to try every dish.
"I'm a wrestler, and we have to make weight so this is just right," Williams said. "It has a zesty flavor to it; not too hot, good!"
Boreum Kim, an international student from South Korea, caught a feeling of home.
"I'm not really familiar with this, but it's more familiar to me than American food," Kim said. "Really good! I'm glad to be eating this kind of food."
Food - Rice paper wrapped salad rolls
Symphony Oxendine, associate director of Student Life, and Chris Blackburn, director of Greek Life, gave the food two thumbs up.
"Phenomenal!" Blackburn said. "I didn't think the sauce was hot, just right."
"Excuse me," Oxendine said. "I'm going for seconds of the curried chicken."
Cookbook in hand, SGA President Arjay Quizon, who is from the Philippines, said he would attempt a Mai Pham recipe this weekend.
"This is a very nice opportunity for students to be introduced to something different," Quizon said. "It's very nice to have Mai Pham here to share her cooking."
Bon Apetit! – 'Mook' Williams said "savory" and "zesty"
There was a cooking demonstration, a class for Sodexo's chefs and food available for all the students, said Mike Nance, Sodexo's general manager. He said Pham's recipes will be served in the Cafeteria throughout the spring semester.
"The students were really very excited about this event," Nance said. "This is her first visit to southeastern North Carolina.
"It's an opportunity to bring the flavors of the world to Pembroke," he continued. "I think it's good for the students, and this has been a successful day."
Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Mai Pham discussed her life, saying she "grew up in a home where food was the center of the universe."
The family fled their home as the war wound down and cooking brings the family together.
"We cooked out of longing for Vietnam," she said.
Enjoy! - Boreum Kim, a Korean exchange student enjoying the fare
Fast forward to the 21st century, Pham is able to go home, and each visit is a culinary tour of Vietnam and its street vendors.
"It re-energizes me and inspires me," she said. "Street food is soul food and it welcomes me back home."
Like most great cuisine, Vietnamese food is influenced by both European and Asian styles. But the Vietnamese and Thai herbs and spices give it flavor and make it unique.
"Fresh herbs are the core of Vietnamese cooking," Pham said.
And there are secrets.
"The thing you can't do without in this dish is mint," she said about curried chicken. "It's very, very lovely; you'll love it this way."
Mai Pham is the chef and owner of the nationally acclaimed Lemon Grass Restaurant and Lemon Grass Asian Grill and Noodle Bar.
She is the author of "Pleasures of the Vietnamese Table" and "The Best of Vietnamese and Thai Cooking." Pham is also a guest chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of America and a food columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle.


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In my recent travel post, I raved about Annmarie Skincare's GetAway kit that contains sample sizes of eight different products.
And guess what…I have one to give away! Even better, this giveaway is open to everyone, not just U.S residents.
There are two ways to enter. Feel free to do both…it will increase your chances of winning.
The first way is to scroll down to the bottom of this post and leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win this awesome kit.
The second way is to follow me on Instagram @resnickelizabeth. Look for the video announcing the giveaway. It looks very much like the pic above…that should make it easy to spot. Tag a friend and leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win. The more friends you tag the more chances to win. So tag away!
You have until Friday, March 17 at midnight EST to enter. A winner will be chosen at random from all the entries.
So what's in this kit I've been raving about? So much great stuff! Aloe Herb Cleanser, Neroli Toner, Repair Serum, Ayurvedic Scrub, Dead Sea Facial Scrub, Purifying Mud Mask, Herbal Facial Oil and Coconut Body Oil. I have reviewed many of these products in previous posts.
I love them all…the repair serum might be my favorite. The name has recently been changed to Citrus Stem Cell Serum, and it is designed to tone, firm and brighten the skin. I might like this one even more than the Anti Aging Serum!
The cleanser, toner and serum make a great skincare routine. I was never that big on toners, but recently learned that active ingredients absorb best when your skin is already moist. So spraying with the neroli toner right before you apply the repair serum actually makes the serum even more effective!
If you just need to dig into this kit right away, no prob! It's only $20 and shipping is free anywhere in the world. Yeah, the world. Plus you get a coupon code for $10 off your next purchase. You can't lose! Here's a link:
So remember…two ways to enter:
Scroll down and leave a comment below this post telling me why you'd like to win.
Head over to Instagram @resnickelizabeth and find the video for this giveaway. It looks very much like the pic at the top of this post. Tag one (or several) of your happy, healthy and hot friends and leave a comment telling me why you'd like to win.
So, can this GetAway kit from Annmarie Skincare help you feel happy, healthy and hot? I think you know the answer!
You will be happy getting a fun package in the mail (whether you win it or buy it!) These products are made from the purest ingredients and are incredibly healthy for your skin. And once you have cleansed, toned and treated, you will be gorgeous and glowing…very hot!
The GetAway Sample Kit (free shipping anywhere in the world and $10 off your next purchase)


text:
A team of construction giants was chosen on Wednesday to build Palm Beach County`s proposed energy-from-garbage plant, but three competitors will be kept in the wings in case contract negotiations fail.
Members of the county`s Solid Waste Authority were unanimous in their selection of Babcock and Wilcox Inc. and the Bechtel Corp. to build the huge plant, but were sharply divided on which of three other companies should be the runner-up.
The firms, with National Ecological Corp. as a subcontractor, submitted the second-lowest bid for construction of the plant at $172.7 million, but the lowest operating cost, $10.56 per ton of refuse processed in the plant.
Facing a July 1 deadline to have a contract completed because of bonds to finance the plant, authority members said they must remain flexible in getting the best contract possible in that time.
The three runners-up, Combustion Engineering of Windsor, Conn.; Foster- Wheeler Energy Resources of Livingston, N.J.; and General Electric Co. of Schenectady, N.Y., were ranked in that order by a screening committee, said authority attorney James Adams.
There was no consensus among authority members on the ranking, Adams said, but each firm had special qualifications.
``They have used every discipline possible (to determine a runner-up), with the possible exception of a fortune teller,`` said longtime authority member, Belle Glade Mayor Tom Altman.
Most authority members agreed that, because the Babcock and Wilcox-Bechtel team was the clear-cut front-runner, staff negotiators should keep in touch with the other three firms should they be unable to reach a contract agreement.
``We are very lucky to have a clear first place,`` said Boca Raton Mayor Bill Konrad. ``If we had a clear second place, then simultaneous negotiations would be the way to go.``


text:
From the very beginning, Decléor has sourced effective ingredients from the world of nature and the brand's accumulated expertise in essences has elevated it to a leading position in the field of aromatherapy. DECLÉOR blends its essential oils with painstaking precision to provide a tailored response to each of the skin's specific needs. From the start, DECLÉOR has always understood that, beyond cosmetic results, women are seeking comfort and well-being. Each treatment is designed to visibly improve the skin's radiance while at the same time creating a unique sensory experience. This explains why Decléor is a brand trusted by the best beauty professionals. Their expert hands stimulate the senses and care for the skin using natural and exclusively manual techniques.
DECLÉOR, essential oils for beautiful skin.


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A Trip to the Maker's Mark Distillery
Last week, Sophia, my fellow Chew on That blogger, wrote about Maker's Mark Bourbon. Little did she know that last summer, I actually visited the Distillery in Kentucky! Follow me to take a little tour of this fun tourist spot.
You might think that a major distillery like this is situated in a major urban metropolis. This couldn't be further from the truth. The Maker's Mark Distillery is located amongst the serene rolling hills and streams of Loretto, KY. The distillery itself was charming, like an old farm. It had an old-timey firehouse with an antique fire engine, and there was even a stream called "Whiskey Creek."
My friends and I started off by taking a brief tour of the distillery and learning how Maker's Mark was made. Here's a photo of the sour mash fermenting in the fermenting room:
We then made our way over to the gift shop and tasting area, where we were given 2 free samples of whiskey. One was of the unfinished grain whiskey (I don't know if that's the correct term) and the other was of the finished product. I'm not a fan of whiskey, so I had a small sip of each and let my friends finish them! Here we are at the tasting bar:
Finally, we went to the area of the gift shop where you could pay to dip your own bottle into the famous red wax that is used to seal each and every bottle. Two of my friends decided to do this. As you can see, you have to wear lots of protective gear to handle the wax-dipped bottles. The end result was beautiful!
Dipping a bottle is a unique experience that you can't find anywhere else. Even though I'm not a whiskey kinda gal, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent at the Maker's Mark Distillery. It was fun, the grounds were beautiful, we got a free tour and free samples, and it was a very "Kentucky" thing to do.
For more information about touring the distillery, click here.
While you're at it, why not try these bourbon-based recipes?
Bourbon Chicken
Bourbon Marinated Steak
Bourbon Hot Dogs
Bourbon Baked Beans
Bourbon Pecan Bread
Read Sophia's article to learn even more about Maker's Mark!
Related Posts
Tags: bourbon recipes, dipping maker's mark bottle, maker's mark bottles, maker's mark bourbon, maker's mark bourbon whisky, maker's mark distillery, maker's mark distillery kentucky, maker's mark kentucky, maker's mark red wax, maker's mark tasting, maker's mark whiskey, maker's mark whisky, marker's mark bourbon whiskey, red wax maker's mark, tour of maker's mark distillery, whiskey recipes, whisky recipes


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Recreation & activities offered by Pullman São Paulo Ibirapuera
A space dedicated to staying in shape whether recuperating from jet lag or to staying on top of one's performance. The Pullman Fitness Lounge offers the latest-generation cardio and weight-lifting equipment.
Services and equipment
- Treadmill
- Exercise bikes
- Rowing machines
- Fitness equipment with instant calculation displays
- Cardio vascular equipment & training machines
- Fitness machines with individual screens
- Lounge area


text:
Long-term Constipation Cures: The best way to Get Aid
Regardless of who you happen to be, continual constipation can be quite troublesome. It interferes along with your general well-being and will impact not just one's body, but your mindset at the same time. Following all, it is hard to emphasis on other things if you are constipated! Fortunately, there are various persistent constipation cures that you can try out in order to get things back again on target again in no time! - constipation remedies
First, it's important to comprehend what precisely brings about constipation. Essentially, constipation is the inappropriate functioning from the digestive technique that impedes regular bowel actions. Being a consequence, stools turn into challenging and tough to pass. This may be brought on by very poor diet regime, treatment aspect results, insufficient hydration, or deficiency of workout. So let's initial analyze medications as chronic constipation cures.
They are possibly essentially the most generally employed cures for constipation. They can be readily available in drug merchants and department shops, and they are generally recognized to get efficient. However, they might not be a great choice for managing chronic constipation simply because your body can build up a dependence around the these laxatives in order to possess a bowel movement. This classification involves:
Stimulant laxatives: These products stimulate a contraction inside the muscle tissues on the intestines, which assists the entire process of elimination start up once more. They're effective chronic constipation cures, but can even be very severe on the physique.
Saline laxatives: These laxatives draw extra drinking water into the intestines that soften the stools therefore producing it less difficult to possess a bowel movement.
Bulking laxatives: Often known as "bulk-forming" laxatives, these products are extremely rich in fibre. They help the body to soak up massive quantities of h2o while in the intestine, which softens the stool and makes it simpler to go. To make sure these products tend not to in fact have a very binding effect instead of a laxative one particular, be sure you take bulk-forming laxatives with a good amount of water. Normally, the trouble could possibly be exacerbated.
At-Home Continual Constipation Cures
Honey several be utilised as a all-natural laxative. To utilize, mixed a few tablespoon of honey into heat water and sip it. For ideal results repeat this method a few instances every day. For a fair more successful result, mix equivalent elements honey and apple cider vinegar. This combination shouldn't be taken more than once each day.
Lemon is another alternative that is readily available in many kitchens. Reduce a new lemon in fifty percent and squeeze the juice right into a glass of warm, not very hot, water. To this mixture, include a teaspoon of normal desk salt. Consume this combination as soon as day-to-day, preferably 1st issue in the morning.
If you endure from continual constipation, consider one particular or several of such persistent constipation cures to discover what performs to suit your needs. If you do not know the underlying trigger of your respective continual constipation, make sure you talk to your medical doctor mainly because it could be an indication of something critical. - constipation remedies


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Lily Allen's Winehouse 'honour'
Lily Allen's Winehouse 'honour'
Lily Allen would be "honoured" to play at an Amy Winehouse tribute concert.
The 'Smile' hitmaker - who has retired from the music business and is concentrating on raising her two-month-old baby Ethel with her husband, Sam, in Gloucestershire - would be keen to take part in the show, which is being set up by the late singer's father Mitch.
Respond to a tweet about the possibility of her coming out of retirement for the gig, she said: "wow, first I've heard of it . Would be honoured though.(sic)"
Singers including her close friend Mark Ronson and Florence Welch are also in line to appear at the concert, which would raise funds for the Amy Winehouse Foundation, set up by Mitch to help young people in distress.
A source said recently: "Mitch first mentioned hosting a concert last summer but now the wheels are in motion. Florence, Lily Allen, Jessie J and Mark Ronson are being linked to the gig, but nothing is set in stone yet."
Mitch is also believed to be in talks with Amy's former local authority in Camden about the possibility of erecting a statue in her honour.


text: Crew Cuts' Final Cut By Ad Published on January 01, 2005. In what appears to be a fairly revolutionary move, editing house Crew Cuts is saying goodbye to its Avids and changing over to Apple's Final Cut Pro. "We went to NAB in April and we were blown away by all the changes Apple made to go after the professional market," explains editor/partner Sherri Margulies. "We were buying new Avids at the time, so it was totally out of the blue." Since July, the shop has slowly introduced the program to all its editors, who participated in workshops and were given dual platforms to work with. Going into 2005, every Crew Cuts editor has worked at least one full-up job on the system, and save for a couple of lingering Avid projects, the shop is now all Final Cut Pro. Citing features like fluidity through FCP's compatibility with other programs, from Photoshop to Motion and Shake; a more user-friendly interface; as well as a new shared storage system, the editors seem thoroughly convinced they're on the right path. In fact, they sound, strangely enough, like one of those Apple "Switch" commercials. "FCP's very organic to work with," notes Margulies. "I happen to paint and sculpt in real life as hobbies and it's much more like that." Adds fellow partner/editor Clayton Hemmert, "We tested the system out for four months and threw everything we could at it, and we found you can do everything on this and more." Most Popular In this article: The Buzz


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Lodge Kerrigan began his career as a filmmaker at approximately the same time as indie-film standard-bearers Quentin Tarantino and Kevin Smith, but never quite achieved their level of success; testament to this is the sad fact that his debut, the indelible, disturbing Clean, Shaven failed to garner attention from either critics or audiences - not to mention few reading this recognize his name now. Hopefully, his latest work Keane will change all that.
Keane stars Damian Lewis (HBO's Band of Brothers) as William Keane, a schizophrenic who relives on a daily basis the abduction of his daughter. Eking out a passable living as a self-medicating, functional alcoholic, Keane wanders through his days and nights in a stupor of constant self-actualization; as he performs the daily tasks that we take for granted, he offers a constant running commentary of thoughts and feelings, stopping only long enough to load up again on drugs and alcohol. But when a mother (Amy Ryan) and daughter (Abigail Breslin) take up residence at the hotel where he makes his home, Keane discovers a new opportunity to find happiness; the only question is whether his newfound friends will calm his mental instability, or exacerbate it with memories of his lost wife and child.
Much like Keane, Kerrigan's film Clean, Shaven also followed a character who was mentally ill; but his new film finds catharsis where none existed for its predecessor. Unlike other filmmakers who might diagnose or decipher the behavior of a character like Keane, Kerrigan offers no explanations, justifications or rationalizations for him. Instead, he simply documents the poor man's life, unflinchingly capturing his eccentric and self-destructive behavior, and offers one of the most incisive portraits of mental illness ever committed to film. The camera, which constantly occupies the exact same space as Keane (and no one else), seems to be peering directly into his soul, and allows the audience to witness his fluctuations of coherence and competence in real-time vignettes.
So attached are Keane and his omniscient observer that the only times that we are not privy to his thoughts are those when even he isn't. The easy distinction to make with Keane is that the film exhibits many of the same qualities as the main character - that is, that it frequently takes too much time on moments that should come and go in a matter of seconds. But without those delays and departures from typical narrative momentum, the film itself could not work.
After Keane befriends the mother and daughter, he generously agrees to take care of the girl while her Mom works at a local diner; in so doing, he takes her to McDonalds, and during the meal retires to the bathroom. Knowing that his daily routine serves as a constant reminder of the loss he sustained (and which may have been his fault), the audience sits watching Keane calmly wash his hands, terrified at the prospect that his new daughter-figure will similarly disappear. Part of such a scene's success depends on a more conventional approach to filmmaking- the feeling that every step in a story must necessarily have a more dramatic purpose - but Kerrigan inverts our expectations and offers an exhilarating, nail-biting moment of suspense in which nothing much happens.
Like other films of this type - One Hour Photo, The Pledge, and The Woodsman all serve similarly dyspeptic audiences - the lead actor's performance cements believability of the character's plight, if not his entire universe. Lewis, who made an everyman a leading man in Band of Brothers, doesn't play Keane as an affectation or outright imitation of mental illness; he embodies the character from the inside out, and avoids the vain, archly dramatic portrayals that lesser actors attach to their purported 'serious' roles. We feel sympathy, fear and revulsion for Keane- often at the same time - and it's to Lewis' credit that the subtle build of Keane minimalist plot adopts such weight and depth by the final, devastating scene.
Kerrigan's gift, unfortunately for an industry that thrives on high-profile personalities, is his unobtrusiveness as a filmmaker; so effective is his approach to accurately, claustrophobically documenting Keane's inescapable over-intellectualization that we need no more than minimal dialogue, and little if any semblance of a story. Ultimately, Keane is a remarkable achievement made more captivating - and one hopes lasting - because of its utter disinterest in drawing attention to itself, and a film so specific in its approach and masterful in its execution that it can't be recommended on any mass scale.
But with that said, Keane marks a true turning point in the year's migration towards stories of substance, and revives the very definition of independent filmmaking: to tell stories that must be told, at any cost, because they are personally significant but universally identifiable. So add Keane to 2005's roster of genuinely great films, and with any luck one name will finally land on the ears of audiences across America.
Score: 9 out of 10
The Video
Keane is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) preserving the aspect ratio of the film's theatrical exhibition. Because the film was shot (necessarily) on the cheap using HD cameras, the film's look is often grainy and inconsistently exposed. This, however, adds to the tangible emotional connection the audience shares with the main character, not to mention the fact that it fully satisfies the original quality of the source material. Like, say, Steven Soderbergh's recent indie effort Bubble, this is a movie whose inexpensive production became a virtue in rendering the world realistically, and Kerrigan makes the absolute most of his technique and directorial style given the no doubt considerable monetary limitations.
Score: 8 out of 10
The Audio
Kerrigan's Clean, Shaven will always rank as one of the few films I remember specifically because of its sound design, and this film's construction is decidedly more haphazard but no less effective. Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound offers enveloping, palpable atmosphere for the story, whether Keane is in a bus station, his hotel room or McDonalds. Dialogue is almost exclusively concentrated in the center channel, while the ambient noise - whether it was created either on location or artificially - feels completely authentic. In fact, this is a film that functions far better on the small screen, because home-theater viewing offers an immediacy to the locations that an expansive theatrical set-up cannot provide.
Spanish subtitles are also provided for the hearing impaired and multilingual audience members, but given the terrific audio presentation, this film speaks volumes without having to utter a single word in any language.
Score: 9 out of 10
Extras and Packaging
Keane comes in a standard Amaray case with a paper insert featuring a ploy synopsis, a list of bonus materials and technical information about the disc. The only "extra," however, is an alternate cut of the film produced by no less that Steven Soderbergh himself. Offering a disclaimer that he wanted to create a dialogue between "editing and intent," he rearranges the existing footage into an alternate but not strikingly different interpretation of Keane's travails.
The difference in approach is more of a study in editorial subjectivity than directorial "intent:" in Kerrigan's theatrical version, Keane's world is completely rendered (and the audience is completely put inside his head) long before a "surrogate" wife and child enter his life; in Soderbergh's cut, the story crosscuts between his "episodes," his normal efforts to live and work, and his monitoring of this woman and her child. Kerrigan creates a story dramatically compelling but decidedly less sensationalistic (an overstatement, perhaps, but apropos of Soderbergh's "editing and intent" coda), while his executive producer may well have created a version that would have sold better to audiences; in fact, if you tire quickly of the first-person cinematography of Kerrigan's version, the Soderbergh cut might be a better entry point into Keane's fractured world.
Score: 7 out of 10


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Baobab Foods is featuring the nutrient-packed baobab superfruit—in 100 percent pure Fruit Powder and in the new Fruit Cube forms—at the SupplySide West global exposition and conference, booth #24042, on Nov. 7 to 8 in Las Vegas. With its exceptional nutritional value and tangy taste, baobab is well positioned as a growing ingredient in RTD juices and teas, cereals, smoothies and nutrition bars. On display for the first time is the company's newest Fruit Cube flavor—pomegranate.
Baobab Foods' newest product is its Fruit Cubes, available for purchase this month. Baobab Fruit Cubes deliver bite-size nutrition in four delicious flavors: mango, strawberry, raspberry and now pomegranate. These chewy morsels are chock full of antioxidants, dietary fiber and essential nutrients. And at only 81 calories per serving and no added sugar, these fun-to-eat Fruit Cubes are the healthiest dried fruit around. Compared to dried blueberries, Baobab Fruit Cubes have 10 grams less sugar, twice as much fiber and roughly nine times the amount of antioxidants per 40 gram serving.
Leading retailers and food manufacturers are in the process of testing baobab Fruit Cubes as a featured ingredient in numerous products—as stand-alone Fruit Cube snacks, in trail mixes and panned in chocolate. These organizations recognize the exceptional nutritional value of baobab, including electrolytes, antioxidants, fiber and essential vitamins.
The Baobab Fruit Powder, an organic, gluten-free, whole food, can be blended into juices, smoothies and yogurt, and mixed into the batter of cookies, pancakes and muffins. It consists of 50 percent fiber by weight, of which 75 percent is soluble. These levels of fiber combined with more antioxidants than pomegranate, blueberries and acai help maintain a healthy digestive system.
The baobab superfruit, in its pure Fruit Powder form, also delivers:
- Potassium—more than bananas or coconut water
- Magnesium—one of the highest levels of any fruit.
- Calcium—gram for gram, more calcium than milk
- Vitamin C—six times more than orange juice.
The sustainable harvest of baobab benefits the women of southern Africa and their communities. Rural families can double their income by harvesting and selling natural products, like baobab. With this yearly income, these women are empowered to invest in their communities, purchasing healthcare services or funding education for children.
Donnie Malherbe, technical director at Baobab Foods partner, Afriplex, a leading international supplier of plant extracts, will also attend SupplySide West. Donnie leads the development and production of baobab and numerous cutting-edge plant extracts from southern Africa, and will be available to answer questions during the show.
About Baobab Foods
Baobab Foods is dedicated to introducing Americans and Canadians to the baobab superfruit, dubbed "The Vitamin Tree" by National Geographic and "The King of Superfruits" by other national publications. The company is the exclusive North American importer of baobab products from Afriplex of South Africa, a leading international supplier of wellness products and solutions. Baobab Foods markets its own line of baobab consumer products as well as Baobest baobab powder to food, beverage and supplement manufacturers for use in their own product lines. Learn more at baobabfoods.com, facebook.com/baobabfoods, twitter.com/baobabfoods, email [email protected] or call 800-682-0221.


text: How many hidden messages are hidden away inside The Phantom Pain's subtext? Is there a new metanarrative once again? Friend of the site, Flying Fox, has analyzed the game's story to find many fascinating examples that he believes can redeem and elevate the controversial, seemingly unfinished story. Originally this article was published here on a site called MetalGearSolid.be, in French. Thankfully the author has painstakingly translated his enormous commentary into English and given our site the honor of presenting it to my English-reading readers, who I suspect are thirsty for answers exactly like these. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did, and find many observations that you hadn't even considered before.


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2.Ministry to be responsible, in place of county councils, for future provision and maintenance of courthouses.
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10.Provisions for the charging of capital expenditure on courthouses.
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When art met home economics, the result was the Art Cook Book.
"The National Art Honor Society and the home economics cooking department at the high school put it together," said Beth Jarriel, president of the art honor society at Aiken High School.
The cookbook was completed toward the end of last year, and efforts to sell the cookbook have been increased this year, she said.
The book features a variety of recipes and is filled with the art of not only Aiken High students but those from Schofield Middle and other area schools.
The cookbooks cost $15 and are available at Pastel on Richland, 312 Richland Ave.; the Artists Parlor, 126 Laurens St. N.W.; and Tea Garden Gifts, 126 Laurens St. S.W.
Proceeds from the cookbook will go toward art-related field trips for the students, Ms. Jarriel said.
"We take field trips to art galleries and museums" such as the High Museum in Atlanta and the Gibbes Museum in Charleston, S.C., she said. "We have three annual trips."
For more information, call (803) 641-2500.
Reach Charmain Brackett at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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If you're experiencing drug shortages, report it in our drug shortage survey.
ASA offers access to standards, guidelines, statements and practice parameters that are based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence.
ASA offers resources to help you navigate MACRA.
Simulation anesthesia education in a virtual online environment anytime, anywhere. New: Anesthesia SimSTAT – Robotic Surgery.
This year's program is expected to sell out quickly, secure your seat today!
Impact of the Choice of Risk Model for Identifying Low-risk Patients Using the 2014 ACC/AHA Perioperative Guidelines
ASA offers convenient group invoicing for membership renewals as well as marketing, education and quality improvement solutions.
On Monday, January 22, Congressional leaders reached a short-term funding compromise, allowing the federal government to reopen after three days of a shutdown. This short-term solution will fund the government through February 8.
In the compromise, Senate leaders agreed to consider immigration legislation in February, and also extended the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for six years. Additionally, Senate leaders committed to fund community health centers and include additional funds for efforts to combat the opioid abuse epidemic in a larger spending bill.
Also included in the bill are provisions that delay the implementation of three ACA-related taxes – the medical device tax, the Cadillac tax, and the health insurance tax.
ASA will continue to monitor these negotiations and developments.
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270.320 Global Change and Human Health
George Fisher, Jonathan Patz, Hugh Ellis
Earth Systems Science
Course Size:
The course begins by focusing on the dynamics of Earth's physical systems and the impacts of increasing human population on those systems, and concludes by examining several critical health issues in light of our understanding of how the Earth systems work.
Course Context:
The course, offered in the winter of 2001, was a collaboration between faculty drawn from the Schools of Public Health, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering. The class had 2 lecture sessions per week.
Course Goals:
This course is designed to:
- explore the connections between disease and Earth's environment
- consider the implications of those links for human health in a changing environment
- examine the problems of making health policy decisions without a complete understanding of the connections.
Course Content:
This course covers issues such as atmospheric and oceanic systems, ecology, epidemiology, population, air pollution, established and emerging diseases and agriculture. The class finishes the term by conducting a Mini-Kyoto Conference to experience the complexity of these issues in a political sense.
Teaching Materials:
There are two required texts for this course.
- Aron, Joan L. and Jonathan A. Patz, Eds. (2001). Ecosystem Change and Public Health: A Global Perspective, Johns Hopkins University Press (in press).
- McMichael, A. J. (1993). Planetary Overload: Global Environmental Change and The Health of the Human Species; Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., 352 p.
The course website contains the class schedule.
Grades will be based on homework, the mid-term and final exams, and presentations at the Mini-Kyoto Conference in the proportions:
Final Exam - 40%
Mid-term Exam - 25%
Homework - 15%
Mini-Kyoto presentations - 20%


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YAKIMA - Make it four-for-four for Grandview tennis player Kevin Floyd.
The senior advanced to his fourth consecutive State tennis tournament in singles play during the Regional tourney held this past weekend.
Floyd defended last year's Regional crown by again capturing the individual title this year, winning all of his matches in straight sets.
In play last Friday at Regionals, Floyd quickly dispatched Deer Park's Ben Graise 6-1, 6-0. He followed that up with an even more convincing 6-0, 6-0 win over Cascade of Leavenworth's C. Hudson.
In Saturday's semi-final, Floyd cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Matt Stewart of Omak.
That set up the 2A Regional final, which proved to be Floyd's closest match of the season.
Floyd prevailed 6-3, 6-4 over Tyson McGuffin of Chelan to take the crown, but it was not without a fight, said Grandview tennis coach Jaime Morales.
"This kid (McGuffin) could get the ball back and he had a strong serve," said Morales. "Kevin was not at his best, but he was facing a tougher opponent."
Grandview nearly qualified a second boys player, Marco Diaz, for State.
After winning his first match at Regionals, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 over Ephrata's Leon Rubaclava, Diaz was defeated 6-4, 6-1 by Max Nelson of Medical Lake.
That set up a consolation quarterfinal match later on Friday for Diaz, with the winner advancing to State and the loser done for the season.
Diaz lost the first set 6-2 to Ethan Reynolds of Toppenish and looked done for the year in the second, down 5-1.
Diaz battled back to win the second set 7-5 but then lost the third and deciding set 7-6 in a tiebreaker.
"I'm proud of Marco," said Morales. "He showed more heart than I've ever seen from him."
In girls competition, Grandview's lone player at Regionals was Miranda Shreeve, a 6-0, 6-3 first-round loser to S. Casper of Cascade of Leavenworth. Casper went on to take second at Regionals and advance to State.
Floyd, the only Grandview player to advance to the State 2A tourney this coming weekend in Yakima, will be looking on his previous State appearances which earned him no worse than a fourth-place trophy each time out.
"He'll have a tough match or two, but I expect him to win it all," Morales said of his ace.
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When we let conspiracy theory masquerade as news, we fall prey to much more than deception.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Seven years ago, I was walking on the road from Jerusalem to Bethlehem with a Catholic priest, an American who served a Palestinian parish in the area. We got to talking about the ongoing political crisis among the Palestinians. The priest said the most confounding thing about Palestinian politics was the power of rumor and conspiracy theory over the people.
"Last week after Mass, my parishioners were telling me that Arafat is really a Jew," the priest said. "This is what they'd heard, and they believed it completely."
Yasser Arafat a Jew? Really, they believe that?
Yes, said the priest -- and next week, he said, they'll have heard the complete opposite and will believe that just as fervently. The priest reflected sadly that the susceptibility of the Palestinians -- Christians and Muslims both -- to rumor made it appallingly easy for corrupt politicians to exploit the common people. I thought about that story recently as I peered into a window of an Istanbul bookstore and saw on display a title purporting to explain how the leader of Turkey's ruling Islamist party is really a "son of Moses" -- that is, a Jew. As preposterous as that sounds -- as preposterous as that is -- there are plenty of people in Turkey prepared to believe it.
Given Turkey's current political struggle between Islamists on one side and military-backed secularists and nationalists on the other, rumors that take on the weight of fact can tip the balance of power.
Read the entire article on the Dallas Morning News website (new window will open).


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We had a very fun and exciting weekend. It started out with us finding a Quinny stroller for Owen on sale for $100 off at Babies R Us. No rain checks on this deal - thank goodness we live just down the street. So I booked it on down there and picked one up. I really could rant and rave on and on about our Graco travel system. For months now my legs are covered in bruises, so many that I actually went for blood work not realizing it was the stroller and seat that were doing it to me. Well, this Quinny stroller is light & compact and eases my mind completely from the worries I had about traveling up to the cottage (our Graco takes up the entire trunk!). Not only that, it's a real looker!
We walk up and down the canal, sometimes 3 times a day, so swapping out strollers was the right choice for us.
We walked the Rankin Run with Owen Saturday morning. Here's my two cuties!
Then the rest of the weekend was spent by the pool swimming in the backyard.
Owen just got this baby float and he loves it. I wasn't sure he was enjoying swim class since he always appears a little skiddish and not his normal energetic self while in the pool. Now that he's in the backyard pool he's full of life kicking and smiling. I'm so happy it's not the water that made him uncomfortable, it's probably the ancient, stinky, echoey with squeals of children and babies crying West Park Pool that he's not into.
Lastly, I have to blog about my limited food prep this weekend. I only made Mexican Ice Cream Sundaes with Cinnamon-Chocolate Sauce. This recipe is as good as buying a sundae out. I think the added touch of toasted coconut and cinnamon that does it. I can firmly say that a $7 pint of Haagen Dazs Dulce De Lece ice cream wasn't. I'll never again buy Haagen Dazs, but I would make this sundae again.
This recipe was only disappointing because of a couple issues with the execution. You can tell by the photo that the ice cream melted fast in the heat along with the addition of the warm chocolate sauce. Another issue I had was having the chocolate sauce split and not knowing how to fix it. Turns out you must beat it into submission. These two issues didn't affect the taste in anyway so I feel it's fair to say this recipe was a winner.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
mexican ice cream sundaes with cinnamon-chocolate sauce
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text: It seems I have found myself in the middle of an unexpected break for the week. My current situation requires some time away to rest and recover. I plan to be back by the end of the week if all goes well. Thank you for all of the shares and comments I have missed! For those of you that I currently have an ongoing correspondence with for future features or reviews copies, I hope to reply to emails by the end of the week. Take care ❤


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Fast FO's
Hey, Knitterati!
When I read the many blogs extolling how easy and quick the Shetland Triangle was, I didn't believe it - but here's mine, 7 days start-to-finish knitting, including 2 additional repeats! It's a crappy pic, but the specs are more important anyway:
RYC Cashcotton 4-ply/197 yds, just under 2 skeins; size 6 circulars; again, a 7 day knit; cold water immersion blocked with wires and pinning, an extra two full days. I bought a sweater/lace blocking wire set by Fiber Fantasy (ech, I ended up pinning it for two days, so there ya go - maybe I need more practice). This will definitely be a go-to pattern for holiday gift giving - in fact, this was a gift and the recipient absolutely loved it! The yarn is wonderful to knit with - it's mostly cotton so it doesn't like to be stretched a lot but it holds blocking well, and the added angora and cashmere give it a nice touch and subtle sheen.
The second FO I completed almost a year ago, but this is a great pattern that's never been posted here and I encourage all of you who have Wrap Style to check out the Shoulder cozy:
I've actually made 2 of these; the first one was a gift to someone who didn't bother to send a thank you (we know the type, don't we?) after I agonized for months over the yarn, color, and button - I'll admit that the knit itself only took 12 days including blocking. It's a beautiful mini-cape and I was irked by the non-response to say the least, so I made one for myself (that'll teach her!) in 9 days. The specs: Knitpicks Sierra/110 yds, a little less than 4 skeins; size 11 circulars; an 8-day knit and 1 day blocking; big ol' thrift store button, about fiddy cents. This is so stylish and quick, and it really does keep the shoulders cozy. It truly makes a great gift - especially the one you give yourself!
Labels: Shetland Triangle, Shoulder Cozy


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Palm Beach County residents would have a right to know about their potential exposure to hazardous substances under a proposed ordinance that moved a step closer to becoming law Tuesday.
``This is a simple ordinance,`` said proponent Sol Silverman, urging the County Commission to agree to a first reading. ``All it says is people have the right to know what (chemical) dangers exist in the area where they live or work.``
``For the life of me, I can`t see why anyone would be against it,`` said Silverman, a member of the Florida Consumers Federation, which helped form the proposal.
The commission approved, 3-0, the first reading of the county`s ``right-to- know`` ordinance and set a public hearing May 20.
Commissioners Jerry Owens, the proposal`s sponsor, and Ken Spillias and Dorothy Wilken voted. Commission Chairwoman Karen Marcus and Commissioner Ken Adams left commission chambers before the vote was taken.
``We`re very glad we`re at the home stretch,`` said Karen Clarke, director of the consumers federation, which spent seven months in talks with the county`s Health Department before agreeing on the final draft in February.
The proposal was designed to help enforce a state statute that took effect last October. The state statute requires employers to notify workers if any of 1,376 hazardous substances are used.
Under the county ordinance, the Health Department would issue an annual report identifying cases in which toxic materials have been used, citing any problems and their resolutions.
This would make county residents the only Floridians with the right to know whether businesses they work for or live near post the state-mandated lists on hazardous substances.


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Incredible no fee studio in a luxury high-rise in the Financial District.
The apartment newly renovated apartment features dishwasher, microwave, hardwood floors, high ceilings, renovated, stainless steel appliances, ample closet space.
Building amenities include full time doorman and concierge services, fitness center, valet, housekeeping, sky lounge and terrace, rooftop grills, free WiFi, elevator, garage, laundry,
Steps away from main Subway lines (1, 3, 4, 5, 6) and surrounded by Citi Bike Stations.
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Enthusiasm for men behaving badly on 'Curb' ('Bored' and 'Crash,' not so much)
The second episode of the new season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (9 p.m. Central Sunday, HBO; three and a half stars) put me in a bind — in a good way.
One of the story lines revolves around something that cannot be discussed in a family newspaper. But those who find something amusing about creator Larry David's cranky worldview should make sure the kids are far away from the TV on Sept. 27 and prepare to laugh themselves silly.
The seventh season of "Curb" is getting a lot of attention for the faux "Seinfeld" reunion that will take place over several episodes of the show (David was an executive producer, co-creator and writer of that long-running NBC comedy). Just as a semifictional version of David anchors this confrontational comedy, semifictional versions of the "Seinfeld" stars — who play themselves — turn up in the third episode.
The actors think a "Seinfeld" reunion is a terrible idea, but David cajoles them into it, thinking it will somehow draw him closer to his estranged wife, Cheryl (Cheryl Hines). But the reunion has its problems: David can't keep himself from insulting a network executive and otherwise alienating almost everyone he encounters.
Almost? What am I, dense? Of course he manages to alienate everyone.
Yet the David of "Curb" is so scathingly direct that he's also quite funny; half the time he's just saying things that the rest of us are too polite or repressed to say. And what redeems "Curb" is that David's despair over the stupidity of the world is balanced by a healthy amount of self-loathing — he may think everyone else is a moron, but quite often thinks he's an idiot too."Bored to Death" (8:30 p.m. Central Sunday, HBO; two stars) features another man old enough to know better who nevertheless does whatever he wants. In this arch, mannered comedy, Ted Danson plays George Christopher, a magazine editor who never met a trend, a party or a drug he didn't want to try.
Danson is so typically deft that he makes Christopher's raging egotism and arrested development engaging. Zach Galifianakis gives a similarly nuanced performance as the put-upon best friend of magazine writer and would-be detective Jonathan Ames (Jason Schwatzman).
Danson and Galifianakis, however, can't quite make up for the fact that Ames and his various pursuits are juvenile and predictable. The show does have a good premise: After a messy breakup, Ames put an ad on Craigslist advertising himself as an unlicensed detective, but this leads to "adventures" that end up being, for the most part, tedious.
Speaking of men of a certain age behaving badly, Dennis Hopper returns to the tube in the second season of "Crash" (9 p.m. Central Friday, Starz; one and a half stars).
The actor has dialed down his performance a couple of notches this season, and as it happens, he's the best thing about this otherwise leaden drama. It's hard to establish how the many characters in this sprawling show about modern-day Los Angeles relate to each other. But given that much of the show is dour and uninteresting -- so much so that I almost found myself enjoying the hambone acting of new cast member Eric Roberts -- it's pretty hard to care.


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Fox News has announced that it has secured copies of thousands of new texts between disgraceful FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page that the Bureau has claimed were accidentally deleted but were recovered.
Strzok is the Deputy Director of Counterintelligence for the Bureau and Page is a legal counsel who worked closely with Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. Both agents were also involved with the Robert Mueller witch hunt targeting President Trump.
Prior texts have clearly depicted the pair, who were adulterous lovers, as being insanely anti-Trump. Their messages described Trump as an "awful human being", an "idiot" and a "douche".
The new texts add to the picture of Strzok and Page as key players in a secret society within the FBI planning to delegitimize and topple President Trump.
The first text of interest is one sent by Page to Strzok on Sept. 2, 2016, suggesting that Comey be briefed on an undisclosed topic because "potus wants to know everything we're doing."
In a September 2016 text, Page wrote to Strzok about preparing talking points for then-FBI Director James Comey because, "potus wants to know everything we're doing."https://t.co/lLSpVM2hoS
— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) February 7, 2018
This is significant because it would be the first bit of proof that Obama not only knew what the Bureau was up to but wanted to be kept in the loop. Up until this text, Obama had escaped any direct association with the Deep State.
BOMBSHELL: New Strzok Texts Now Implicate Obama https://t.co/SrlAbsdYRd #MAGA #TrumpTrain
— TruthFeed News (@TruthFeedNews) February 7, 2018
In previous texts, the two agents referenced an "insurance policy" and a "secret society" against Trump. A new text from Page, days after the election, once again raises the spectre of a Deep State-run Bureau:
"God, being here makes me angry. Lots of high fallutin' national security talk. Meanwhile we have OUR task ahead of us."
NEW texts from FBI 💘lovers' to #Comey
Obama wants "to know everything we're doing."
Sure #Obama hasn't fled the country now?#Strzok#LisaPage#Lynch#ValerieJarrett#Hillary#ObamaGate
🆘@POTUS This is FAR worse than Watergate🤬 https://t.co/wM6CFUg6A3 pic.twitter.com/F7wwW4GyBc
— AMERICA♥HAS💙SPOKEN🎙 (@ChooseToBFree) February 7, 2018
The texts also reaffirm the suspicion that Comey had sat on news of classified emails from Hillary Clinton being found on the laptop of disgraced pervert Anthony Weiner, husband of Hillary aide Huma Abedin.
Strzok texts on September 28, 2016 that he was informed by McCabe about the located emails, but Comey did not tell Congress about them until October 28, a full month later.
Strzok's liberal elitism has been outed previously with his text about being able to "smell" Trump supporters at a local WalMart. It has surfaced again in a new text referencing Virginia voters who voted against Andrew McCabe's wife, Jill, who was running for a seat in the State Senate. Her loss has Strzok opining:
"Disappointing, but look at the district map. Loudon is being gentrified, but it's still largely ignorant hillbillys. Good for her for running, but curious if she's energized or never again."
Then there is this text from Page to Strzok on June 23, 2017:
"Please don't ever text me again."
Fox News writes that it is unclear if the adulterers were breaking up "or if she suddenly became aware that they, and their thousands of texts, had been discovered."
What do you think? Do the new texts spell bad news for Obama and Comey?
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Since we first ran this race two years ago, it has more than doubled in size. This year 520 runners finished the Bunny Run 5k, the City of Concord's annual Easter race. Despite the name, which reminds me as much of an Easter egg hunt as it does a road race, it's a well organized race and is a lot of fun. The race used to be run on neighborhood streets along with a trip up the greenway, ending at the other park (I don't remember the name of it) about a mile away. That was a little bit of a problem in that when the race was over you were a mile away from your car if you parked near the starting line. This year, however, the course was changed to an out-and-back course up the greenway so that the starting line and finish line were at the same place, which resulted in not only a great improvement in parking logistics, but it eliminated all of the hills except in the final 100 yards or so at the end of the race.
As the race began I was a little concerned that we were running down that short street and getting directly onto the greenway. With more than 500 runners jockeying for position to get a spot on the greenway I wanted to be sure I beat most of the crowd there, which turns out was pretty easy considering I was able to line up near the front of the pack as we started. Going up the greenway was a little crowded but not bad since we had the entire width of the greenway, which was probably 8 or 10 feet wide. At the turn-around point, of course, it became two-way traffic so we only had 4 or 5 feet instead of 8 or 10 feet. Although most of the runners still coming up the greenway were staying on the right side, there were still quite a few spots where runners were taking up the almost the entire width of the greenway, and once or twice I had to go off the paved area just to avoid running into somebody coming the other way. Next year I hope they'll put up a few "Keep Right" signs along the way.
As far as I could tell though, everything worked out well and there were no major mishaps along the route. There were a few issues with timing. Steve Staley mentioned that both of his daughters were listed as 8 years old (one is a few years older). Linda and I were positive we had the numbers they had given us but somehow our names were switched around so the results showed her running 20:56 and me running 33:29. She was kinda happy about that but I was a little miffed. We went to the timing tent though and they were able to fix it right away, much to Linda's chagrin.
The race T-shirts were really great, at least if you want an Easter-themed shirt. Nice tech material and beautiful artwork. The awards were outstanding as well, with the overall winners receiving beautiful trophies and age group winners receiving attractive oval-shaped resin plaques that are among the nicest awards I've won in all my races.
Race Rating:
7 – 1-10 Website (Information, results, registration, photo links, etc.)
9 – 1-10 Awards (Quality of medals, trophies, etc.) (1 to 10)
7 – 1-10 Awards Presentation (PA system, winning times, etc.) (1 to 10)
4 – 1-10 Food for Race Participants (1 to 10)
9 – 1-10 T-Shirts (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
4 – 4/6 Part of Race Series (Grand Prix, etc.) (6=Yes and 4=No)
0 – 0/5 Professional Photography (5=Yes and 0=No)
6 – 4/6 Chip Timing (6=Yes and 4=No)
7 – 3/7 Certified Course (by USA Track & Field) (7=Yes and 3=No)
7 – 1-10 Course (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
4 – 1-10 Parking (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
5 – 1-10 Entertainment (1 to 10 with 5 being average)
10 – 0-10 Age Groups (10 if 5-year groups; 0 if 10-year groups)
0 – 0/5 Indoor Shelter from Elements (0 if none; 5 if provided)
6 – 1-10 Bathroom Facilities
0-10 Other
Race Stats:
1st Overall Male: Kevin Ballantine (17:50)
1st Overall Female: Cheryl Todd (20:31)
My Stats:
Time: 20:56
Pace: 6:45
Age Group: 1 of 9
Overall: 22 of 520 (4.2%)


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Martin Hemberg PhD
Associate Group Leader at the Gurdon Institute and Career Development Fellow Group Leader at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Publications listed at: Europe PMC | Pubmed
Computational analyses of large genomic datasets
Although every cell in an organism contains the same DNA, there is a great variety of cell types (e.g. skin, muscle, kidney) due to the fact that different genes are being transcribed. The amount of transcripts, or RNA, made from a specific gene can be measured in the cell and is referred to as the expression level of the gene. Understanding how, why, when and where genes are turned on and off is crucial for understanding many biological processes, ranging from devlopment to a variety of diseases, including cancer and autism.
Recent technological advances have made it possible to analyse gene expression and other related properties in a high-throughput manner, and this has resulted in a wealth of data. However, the experimental data is typically large, high-dimensional and noisy. We are interested in developing computational methods that will make it possible to extract as much information as possible from the data.
Our ongoing research projects include:
- Inference of gene regulatory networks from single-cell RNA-seq data.
- Characterisation of the transcriptome of individual nematodes (with the Miska lab).
- Characterisation of the heterogeneity of liver organoids (with the Huch lab).
- Identification and characterization of non-canonical secondary structures in DNA.
- Virtual Reality technology for visualising genomic data (collaborating with HammerheadVR).
Selected publications:
• Nguyen TA et al. (2016) High-throughput functional comparison of promoter and enhancer activities. Genome Res. Jun 16. pii: gr.204834.116. [Epub ahead of print]
• Delmans M and Hemberg M (2016) Discrete distributional differential expression (D3E)--a tool for gene expression analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data. BMC Bioinformatics. 17:110.
• Kiselev VY et al. (2016) SC3 - consensus clustering of single-cell RNA-Seq data. BiorXiv pre-print published online 14 April 2016.
• Prabakaran S et al. (2014) Quantitative profiling of peptides from RNAs classified as noncoding. Nature Communications 5: 5429.
• Kim TK et al. (2010) Widespread transcription at neuronal activity-regulated enhancers. Nature 465 (7295): 182–187.


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On the Non-Compliance in the North Sea Cod Stock
AbstractThis paper estimates the economic value of the North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) stock under recent catch and several recovery scenarios. The research presents results on: a) what the value of catches and biomass would have been if the EU fishing fleet had followed the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea scientific recommendations (SRs) and Total Allowable Catches (TACs) in the 1986–2010 period; and b) what the value of catches and biomass will be for the 2010–2022 period if the fleet follows the current Common Fisheries Policy Reform (CFPR). Results show that the actual economic value of the stock for the 1986–2010 period has been US$7 billion, which is substantially lower than what would have been predicted had the industry followed the SRs (US$20.7 billion) or approved TACs (US$19.5 billion). Similarly, if catches do not follow the SRs or the approved TACs for the 2010–2022 period the estimated economic value of the stock is predicted to be lower than if they had done so. Further, the losses of non-compliance increase even when a scenario of 50% reduction of discards under the new CFPR is considered. We also show that the status of the stock is strongly dependent on the trade-offs generated by both the non-compliance of scientific recommendations and by the short-term economic incentives of the fishing industry. With most fishery resources fully exploited or overexploited in Europe, opportunities for development lie primarily in restoring depleted stocks and catching fish more efficiently, as is the case of the North Sea cod stock. View Full-Text
Figure 1
Supplementary material
- Supplementary File 1:
Supplementary Material (PDF, 369 KB)
Share & Cite This Article
Villasante, S.; Rodríguez-González, D.; Antelo, M. On the Non-Compliance in the North Sea Cod Stock. Sustainability 2013, 5, 1974-1993.
Villasante S, Rodríguez-González D, Antelo M. On the Non-Compliance in the North Sea Cod Stock. Sustainability. 2013; 5(5):1974-1993.Chicago/Turabian Style
Villasante, Sebastian; Rodríguez-González, David; Antelo, Manel. 2013. "On the Non-Compliance in the North Sea Cod Stock." Sustainability 5, no. 5: 1974-1993.


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Saturday, June 9, 2012
Red Rover
Posted by Funaek at 5:14 PM
Labels: Blast from the past, Ink, Pug
2 comments:
I love the red Rover ref! I was known as not being very strong, so I was definitely targeted as a the weak link in the line... Thanks for all the fun memories these posts have generated!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Colleen! I really enjoyed walking through memory lane with these children's songs and games too! I ran out of ideas for now but maybe a new one will pop into my mind when I least expect it!Delete
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Please visit our Open House at 266 Bourgonje TERR in Saskatoon.
OPEN HOUSE: Saturday Feb 26th 2 - 4pm
Original owner, former Royalty Construction showhome. Spacious 1392 square foot bungalow with bright, open main floor layout. Main floor features maple kitchen with island, corner pantry, dining area with direct access to deck, livingroom with large East facing windows, large master bedroom with 4 piece ensuite and his and her closets, nice sized second bedroom, den/flex room and laundry. Maple hardwood flooring throughout main living areas. Basement fully developed with family room, den, rec room, bedroom with walk in closet, 3 piece bathroom and storage cupboard. Recently repainted with modern paint colours throughout. Attached 24' x 24' double garage with direct entry from house and double concrete driveway. Fully landscaped front and back yard, fenced, 2 tiered deck, curb-ease curbing and underground sprinklers on timer. Includes 5 appliances. Prime Silverspring location on quiet terrace, facing Dave King Park. Just minutes away from elementary and high schools. Close to Forestry Farm, Soccer Centre, Library, shopping, gyms and more.


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Starting our journey from Dunedin, we drove along State Highway 1 until we reached Balclutha, which is nicknamed "big river town" as it is nestled on the banks of the Clutha river and is renowned for it's famous six-arch bridge. We stopped here as it's the gateway to the famous Southern Scenic Route, which runs through the rugged Catlins Coast and it seemed like a good place to get some information from the i-SITE on tide times for Jacks Blowhole and the Cathedral Caves. However, to our disappointment the Cathedral Caves were closed at this time of year, so we decided not go out of our way to visit Jacks Blowhole, but to head over to Nugget Point instead.
|Looking back towards Kaka Point from the Nugget Point lookout
|"Welcome to Nugget Point"
Just offshore are "The Nuggets", which are several jagged stacks of rock, a bit like the Needles at the Isle of Wight. These wave-eroded rocks can be seen from the viewing platform at the Nugget Point Lighthouse. A short cliff side track leads to the 1870 lighthouse on the tip of the headland, which still functions today.
|The Nuggets can be seen just beyond the lighthouse
|You get some amazing views of The Nuggets from the lighthouse
|There are approx. 20 of these rocks, each with a Māori name
At the base of the cliffs we could just about see some New Zealand fur seals, but it was more the sound of their cries that let us know they were around! Nearby is a viewing hide at Roaring Bay (which is on the road to Nugget Point) so you can observe yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) when they come ashore in the late afternoon, however, we were there at the wrong time of day.
Taking a scenic drive down to Cannibal Bay, we hoped to see some Hooker's sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) as apparently this small and sheltered bay is a regular haul out site, as is Surat Bay. The drive to Cannibal Bay was a pretty pointless 8km stretch of gravel track that seemed to go on forever, a bit like the one at Nugget Point. Pretty much all the side roads off along the Catlins Coast are unsealed gravel roads. The beach was nice and secluded but that was about it - no sea lions, no birds, nothing, apart from a couple of New Zealand's 40 million sheep on the hills!
The Catlins is touted as one of the most remotest parts of New Zealand, and we learnt this the hard way when we tried to check into our hostel (Split Level Backpackers) in Owaka, where we found a note on the door asking us to call the owner because we had been double booked and had nowhere to stay... This was particularly frustrating as there's no mobile phone coverage down in this part of the country (unless you're on Vodaphone) as we found out, but that's another story.
After a lot of chasing our tails we eventually finished the day off at Surat Bay (which owes it's name to the ship Surat, wrecked on a sand bar, New Year's Day 1874) in an attempt to see some sea lions. Crossing a bridge over a small creek, we followed a poled route through some sand dunes but surprise, surprise the beach was deserted.
|Reflections in the Catlins River on the way to Surat Bay
|Shoe tree at Surat Bay
This is a really infuriating aspect of New Zealand, as what it offers in spectacular scenery, it seriously lacks in wildlife compared to somewhere like Australia. It's especially annoying when you go out of your way to visit the Catlins because the guide books hype up the area as a prominent place to see "nature at its best".
|Sand dunes looking out towards False Island
The day wasn't a complete disaster though, as there was a beautiful sunset and we did spot a sea lion swimming in the bay and it even came over to the shallows to catch a breath. It was a really cool experience especially as it swum all the way over to us, but it was also a little intimidating as the sea lion was huge!
|That tiny dot on the shore is the only proof that we saw a sea lion!
On our our second day, the weather changed from wonderful blue skies to overcast and threatening to rain. We were on a bit of a schedule as Lizzie had planned an itinery so that we would arrive in Curio Bay for low tide around 3.20pm, so we could see the site of the one of the world's most extensive Jurassic-era petrified forests. Heading off from Pounawea it was a short drive to Pūrākaunui Falls, a small three-tiered waterfall. The falls lie in a scenic reserve of silver beech trees and podocarp forests (trees that can be traced back to when New Zealand was part of the supercontinent, Gondwana).
|The podocarp forest on the way to the falls
|Pūrākaunui Falls cascade over 20m
Continuing along the Southern Scenic Route we stopped at the Table Hill Scenic Reserve, 5km south of the Pūrākaunui turn off to do a short 15-20 minute walk to Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls. The trail itself was nice enough, as we were walking through native tree fuchsias (known as Kōtukutuku), which can be identified by their peeling pinkish bark when they're not in flower.
|Me and Lizzie on the platform overlooking Matai Falls
|Horseshoe Falls is further upstream and best seen when the river is high
|Kōtukutuku is the largest fuchsia in the world
|Fuchsia excorticata, is known as the NZ fuchsia
|Moody skies over Tautuku Bay from the Florence Hill lookout
Further along the main road, a small side road runs 3km to McLean Falls, which is a picturesque 30 min return walk through a variety of forest and shrubs. It was easily the best bush walk we've done in the Catlins. It was lush, with moisture hanging in the air and green vegetation everywhere as there were mosses growing on the tree ferns and rimu. The falls themselves were nice but not as impressive as Pūrākaunui Falls but I think this was because we weren't able to get to the higher section of the falls as part of the track was closed due to rock fall.
|Lizzie standing under an enormous Kōtukutuku fuchsia tree
|Mosses thrives in the moist conditions of the temperate rainforests
|The 22-metre McLean Falls are upstream on the Tautuku River
|The lower tiers of McLean Falls
Unlike fossils, petrified wood is incredibly rare. Entire logs and tree stumps have been preserved in floodwater rich in silica, which impregnated the standing trees and turned them literally into stone within a matter of months before decay was able to set in - this process is known as "silicification".
|The tree stumps are visible for four hours either side of low tide
|One of the many rock pools on the tidal rock shelf
|Logs were carried in the flood, which killed the rest of the forest
|You can still see the grain texture of the petrified wood in the rock
Unfortunately, over time people have been slowly breaking off bits of the forest and removing rare fossils to keep them as souvenirs, however, this practice is discouraged as this is an internationally important site and the fossil forest needs to be preserved for others to enjoy in the future.
Following a tip from the local backpackers we were staying at, we were told that the petrified forest was a good place to see yellow-eyed penguins. Having tried on three separate occasions (once in Oamaru and twice on the Otago Peninsula) to see them, we were sceptical as to whether we would actually see the elusive little hōiho.
As we sat on on the rocks an hour before sunset, sure enough one penguin after the other came ashore as the late afternoon drew to a close. We were advised to stay at least 10m away from the penguins to avoid disturbing them as they make their way back to their nests in the flax bushes. Hōiho nest where they can find a cool, shady and moist place to avoid overheating.
|I spy with my little eye, something beginning with P!
|It's almost comical watching the penguins return back to their hides
|"Hi honey, I'm home!"
We were really spoilt by one penguin who came towards where we were sitting quietly (we were virtually the only people there), it couldn't have been further than 10m away at it's closest point, stopping every now and again to stretch it's wings and have a good look around or give an exuberant trill - thus living up to it's name as the "noisy shouter". Yellow-eyed penguins are a taonga (treasured) species which recognises in law their importance to Ngāi Tahu - the Māori tribe of much of the South Island.
We must have seen around 10 penguins come ashore, but we could only stay for so long before we were being bitten to death by sandflies and we had to call it day. We were down there for a good hour or so and felt it was definitely a good time to quit while we were ahead!
|Our very own "March of the Penguins"
|Another obligatory photograph by the signpost!
|If you look hard enough you might spot Stewart Island
|Windswept macrocarpa trees at Slope Point
The last stop on our journey through the Catlins was Waipapā Point. This was the site of New Zealand's worst civilian shipwreck, when on 29th April 1881 the steamship, SS Tararua struck the treacherous Ōtara Reef - as a result 131 lives were lost. The lighthouse that now stands on the point was erected three years after the shipwreck and it was as we were walking through the scenic reserve that we finally stumbled upon some Hooker's sea lions!
|Waipapā Point guards the eastern entrance of the Foveaux Strait
|The tower is clad in kauri and tōtara wood
Waipapā Point was one of the last Foveaux Strait lighthouses to be erecetd, although it became one of the first to be connected to the national electricity grid.
The New Zealand/ Hooker's sea lion (Pakake) is possibly the rarest of the world's five species of sea lion and is only found in New Zealand. They once lived all around the coast but today they mostly live around the sub-Antartic Auckland Islands as well as breeding in the Otago Peninsula, along the Catlins and around Stewart Island after they were nearly hunted to extinction over 200 years ago.
|Sea lions are a lot larger than fur seals and have distinctive blunt noses
|Sea lions prefer to laze about on sandy beaches unlike fur seals.
Sea lions are able to move faster on the sand than humans can, so you have to be careful around them as the biggest adult males can weigh up to 400kg and are not afraid of people. Finally seeing the wildlife that we tried to see on so many different occasions round the South Island was a fitting way to finish our time in the Catlins!
|A couple of boisterous sea lion pups play fighting