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Could Joss Whedon's Avengers movie already be in trouble? That's what some inside sources are claiming. Marvel is reportedly trying to squeeze costs on the film, leading to delays — and some key behind-the-scenes people have already walked away.
The rumor comes from Bleeding Cool's Rich Johnston, who has a pretty decent track record in these sorts of areas. Plus, as Johnston points out, Marvel has a record of being tight-fisted — they got Robert Downey Jr. for an ultra-low salary in Iron Man, they dumped the expensive Terrence Howard for Iron Man 2 and reportedly offered Mickey Rourke just $250,000 to be in the film. And rumor has it they won't hire Jon Favreau to direct another movie because he's too expensive, and they almost didn't hire him for Iron Man 2. So it does have the ring of truth.
How cheap is Marvel being? According to Johnston, they want The Avengers to cost about as much as the first Spider-Man film, at least in real terms. That's $139 million in 2002 dollars, or around $160 million in today's dollars. So, not cheap, but on the low end for a summer blockbuster — especially given that Downey Jr. is probably charging a higher rate these days, and there are several other stars in the film. Adds Johnston:
Some people say it can't be done. Others say it can be done – even if then, in certain well heeled Los Angeles bars, they assure each other that it can't. And while some people have walked off the project, others are planning a longer game. Basically do the work, then when they run out of budget (which they believe they will) trust that Marvel Studios and their investors will pony up the extra necessary cash rather than leave the movie unfinished.
And he adds that this upheaval has delayed pre-production by "weeks — possibly months," and it could have a negative impact on the film's filming schedule and special effects.
So let's hope that Johnston's sources are wrong — or that Marvel loosens the purse strings. Joss Whedon is the master of getting a lot done for very little money, but even he can't work miracles. [Bleeding Cool]

subset: commoncrawl


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The sandwich is undoubtedly one of life's simplest culinary pleasures. Open-faced, hot, cold, sweet or savory and with an endless combination of fillings, everyone has their favorite. Sandwiches don't usually require a recipe, but my favorite, the Croque Madame is one of the exceptions. This sandwich was first invented by Beyonce. After eating a croque-monsieur for the first time, she was inspired to pen her most famous lyrics "If you liked it then you shoulda put an egg on it" and so the croque-madame was born. I jest of course.
It is, at its most basic a ham and cheese sandwich with added "je ne sais quoi". It makes a perfect brunch or supper. This sandwich is not for packed lunches, it requires to be eaten immediately without a moments hesitation. Beloved in French cafés and bistros, there are many methods of making it. I prefer to bake them in the oven (you save a few calories and it's particularly useful if you are feeding a crowd for brunch), but a frying pan or grill is more common (That's skillet or broiler to you lovely Americans).
You will need some good bread, traditionally plain store-bought white is used, but I prefer something with a bit more character. My favorite at the moment is a nice spelt bread with honey and sesame seeds. This is also an excellent way of using left over ham, otherwise buy some thinly sliced baked ham from the deli counter, slimy packet ham is not ideal. The cheese should be Gruyère, Emmenthal will do or a sharp cheddar if you are desperate. The sauce on top is béchamel, never hollandaise or mornay. Don't skimp on the Dijon, it adds a really nice flavor. The egg is usually fried but poached is fine also.
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp plain flour
175g cup milk
A pinch each of salt, freshly ground pepper, nutmeg, or more to taste
About 3 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated, more if you like
4 slices of your choice of bread
6 thin slices of ham
Dijon mustard
(makes two)
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Make the béchamel sauce. Melt butter in a small saucepan on medium/low heat until it just starts to bubble. Add the flour and cook, stirring with a whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously, cook until thick. Remove from heat. Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in a third of the the grated Gruyère. Cover and set aside.
Lightly brush 2 of the bread slices with mustard. Add the ham and divide the remaining Gruyère cheese between them evenly. Top with the other bread slices.
Spoon the béchamel sauce onto the tops of the sandwiches. Sprinkle with the remaining Gruyère cheese. Place on a baking tray. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese topping is bubbly and lightly browned.
(You can also assemble the sandwiches and fry them each side in a frying pan in a spoon of oil or butter, finishing them under the grill with the béchamel sauce on top.)
Cook two eggs sunny side up, until the white is set and the yolk still runny, and put on top of each sandwich. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and/or black pepper and serve immediately.
No sandwich is more delicious in my opinion.


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La Moda Haircare Ponytail Shades Asst Thick Case Size 6 (LM3753)
Dispatched from and sold by Paul MurrayLM3753
Product specifics
- £1.99
Product informationLa Moda Haircare Ponytail Shades Asst Thick Case Size 6
Supplier information
Delivery: Next day delivery for orders received before 12 noon (Monday -Thursday). Orders received before 2pm Friday will be delivered Monday. Min order: No minimum order quantity. Carriage: Free on orders of £165 and over. £5.95 for orders under £165.


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Mobile Homes sold for less in Indiana
If anyone knows mobile homes in Indiana, it's us. And for good reason, Home Nation was founded in the northern Indiana city of Goshen. Since then, we have maintained a constant
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We are Indiana's #1 mobile home dealer, offering pricing on new mobile homes and modular homes that cannot be matched. Being local, we are well able to service customers from our headquarters, and able to know each customer on a more personal level. Being in the heart of the Midwest, we are thrilled to be able to offer pricing on manufactured housing that makes the American dream of owning and living in your own house a reality. Join us in our Home Field Advantage!
We started here with the intent of providing America's most affordable house (so of course we decided to go with manufactured housing). In the years since our founding, our business has grown
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of customers that can back us up, we have not only offered the dream of home ownership to our customers but have sold it too. In that time, we've also seen just about as many different mobile
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This varies widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. One of the reason it changes is seasonal, obviously during the spring season there will be a lot of individuals putting in orders for their new homes, in hopes to have things in place by the end of summer. In reality, this isnt always possible. We recommend skipping the crowds and ordering your home during the winter, the slow season. This give you and your salesperson more time to work on your new home, ensuring options are correct, organizing the details of delivery and installation. It will only give you more attention to detail which will make sure your project goes according to plan. Once you do order the mobile home, how long it takes depends on the price you paid. Really! A more affordable house like a Tru can be built very quickly due to their simplicity. Something that is modular will probably require a more thorough construction process, especially if you have custom features such as a tiled shower. A Tru home can be completed in as little as 2 weeks where you should expect anything else to take between 4 to 6 weeks to be built. The sooner you order the home, the sooner it is built!
Where can I see one of your homes?
Our mission statement is to make mobile homes affordable for as many Americans as we can. Part of that is keeping our costs low and our margin razor thin. This means we maintain very few physical sales lots, as they cost too much to justify for the customer, when seeing a home online would do just as well! Still, we have locations in very popular markets where it makes sense, like Florida. If you happen to live in one of these areas, we would be happy to show you around. We always will stock at least 1 single wide, 1 double wide, and 1 modular home in order to show you the widest range of homes we can, without having to maintain a 25+ inventory of homes like other traditional local dealers.
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If you're located in Yoder, Indiana, and need a local lender for manufactured homes in IN, we can help you out. Contact us today to find the perfect lender, and get you payments you can work with.


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Panic Strikes Trinidad and Tobago School After 'Devil Attack'
Panic broke out at Trinidad and Tobago high school after students fell mysteriously ill, began rolling on the ground and blabbering in a strange tongue, triggering fears of a demon attack, the Guardian Trinidad and Tobago reported.
Seventeen female students at Moruga Composite School began the strange behavior after suffering from nausea and headaches. Two of the students reportedly tried to throw themselves off a railing and had to be physically restrained.
Teachers took the students into the multi-purpose hall where some of them fell into a semi-conscious state. One student, Kern Mollinea, told the paper that the girls were unusually strong, and many of them had bruises.
Mollineau also claimed he communicated with the "Devil" who had possessed the girl. "I asked the Devil what he wanted with the girls and the voice said he wanted a life. He kept saying to send the girls in the toilet and to leave them alone."
Roman Catholic priests and pastors from nearby churches visited the school to shower the children with holy water and prayers.
Authorities said that there was nothing in the environment to trigger fainting spells, nausea and headaches among the students.
A teacher told authorities the school was constructed on a burial site, but neighbors who live around the school denied such claims.
School officials confirmed that all 17 pupils were taken to a local hospital and then sent home.
For more on this story from the Guardian Trinidad and Tobago click here


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After rising for the past 10 trading days, the Dow ended modestly lower Friday following a surprise drop in a measure of consumer confidence.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.2%, ending the longest winning streak since 1996. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% after coming within two points of its October 2007 record high on Thursday. The Nasdaq lost 0.3%.
All three indexes ended higher for the week, and are up between 7% and 11% for the year.
The last time the Dow had such a string of gains, then Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan warned that investors were experiencing "irrational exuberance."
"The optimism we've seen for stocks suggests that expectations are very high," said Bruce McCain, chief investment strategist at Key Private Bank. "And reality often doesn't live up to that level of perfection."
Still, he said a correction in stock prices would be healthy, creating opportunities for new investors to push the market higher in the second half of the year.
Stocks have been supported by better-than-expected economic data and signs the Federal Reserve will keep its stimulus policies in place. But there are concerns that growth in emerging markets, such as China, is beginning to "roll over," said McCain.
Related: Greenspan says stocks are undervalued
Meanwhile, data released Friday painted a mixed picture for the U.S. economy.
The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment for March unexpectedly fell, raising worries about the impact of higher income tax rates on household spending.
The index was at its lowest level in 15 months, driven by a "combination of the payroll tax hike and rising gasoline prices," said Amna Asaf, an economist at Capital Economics in Toronto.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said the consumer price index rose 0.7% last month, driven mainly by a spike in energy prices. CPI was expected to have risen 0.5%, according to a Briefing.com consensus. But the annual inflation rate is still just 2%, within the range that the Federal Reserve finds to be comfortable.
Separately, industrial production rose more than expected in February, after being flat in the prior month, according to the Fed.
Bank stocks were in focus after the Federal Reserve on Thursday approved the capital plans submitted by 16 of the 18 banks it subjected to stress tests.
Bank of America (BAC) shares rose after it announced plans to repurchase $10.5 billion of common stock and preferred shares. Wells Fargo (WFC) said it would increase its quarterly dividend payment to 30 cents per share, starting in the second quarter.
J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM) and Goldman Sachs (GS) both dipped after the Fed approved their capital plans, but with conditions attached. Shares BB&T Corp (BBT), one of only two banks to have its capital plans rejected, also fell.
Separately, the Senate issued a scathing report late Thursday, accusing JPMorgan of intentionally misleading investors about the so-called London Whale trades, which ultimately led to losses of $6 billion for the bank. Former chief investment officer Ina Drew and other executives testified before a Senate panel Friday.
Related: Former London Whale Boss: I was misled
Shares of Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) fell after another of its ships experienced technical difficulties, the latest in a growing list of woes for the company. Carnival also reported earnings that widely missed estimates, and issued a weak outlook.
The Securities and Exchange Commission said two units of the hedge fund SAC Capital agreed to pay a record $619 million in fines to settle insider trading charges.
Friday was the last day to close out certain options, known as "quadruple witching," which is when four types of contracts expire -- those tied to market index futures, market index options, stock options and stock futures.
Related: Fear & Greed Index reaches extreme greed
European markets ended lower. European Union officials agreed Friday to give Portugal more time to meet targets for reducing its debt.
Asian markets ended mixed. Japan's Nikkei extended recent gains after parliament confirmed the appointment of Haruhiko Kuroda as Bank of Japan governor, raising expectations of swift monetary easing. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell on lingering concerns about local measures to curb runaway real estate prices.
Oil and gold prices both edged higher as the U.S. dollar weakened. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note dipped to 2%.


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Rockford Roots to perform Aug. 2
Staff Writer
Rockford Register Star
ROCKFORD — The Rockford Roots with Randy Sabien on violin, Jim McDowell on bass and Stan Hickerson on guitar, will perform at 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at Spring Creek Church, 4500 Spring Creek Road, as part of the Concerts on the Creek series.
The Concerts on the Creek series is held Saturdays through Aug. 30.
Cost: free, but donations are accepted. Food and beverages will be made available for purchase.
For information: springcreekucc.com.


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Welcome to BAUCIS PALERMO BOUTIQUE HOTEL... a provocative elegant romantic boutique hotel in Buenos Aires located in Palermo Hollywood.
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An invitation to chic Palermo, passionate as the porteños, with plenty to keep you attracted, while inmerse into : Tango, Museums, Palermo, Wine, Theatres, Expeditions, Polo, Football... read more. Close to La Rural, Costa Salguero, Alto Palermo Shopping, Polo, Aeroparque, Palermo Soho>>
Even before entering, you get the feeling of a private residence, intimate and comfortable, eclectic and charming. the perfect place to get insight buenos aires culture and palermo mystic.
Baucis hotel is located in Palermo Hollywood , palermo's most exclusive sector of Buenos Aires, where you can discover the true porteño essence as you walk the busy streets, full of stories to tell and people to meet.
whether you dine in one of it's exquisite restaurants, shop in the fashionable stores, watch a play in one of it's alternative theatres or simply have a cup of coffee in one of the historical cafés, there's plenty to keep you atracted.


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I began writing these words on Easter Sunday, as Christians celebrated the triumphant arc of their spiritual year, when Christ rises from death.
But resurrection itself belongs to everyone, regardless of belief, or non-belief.
Here in much of America, Easter-time coincides with the year's resurrection. The alarm clock set by the spin and wobble of this particular planet on which we reside goes off; the natural world wakes again from winter's deep sleep. In Vermont
and points north, that sleep is so very quiet, cold and monochromatic it might be mistaken for death; hold a mirror to earth here in January, and if you looked quickly and casually, you would not see see a trace of vapor. It's there, of course; just not easily seen. Left and above: the relevant cover of one of my mother's books for children, The Bunny Who Found Easter, most recently illustrated with great charm by Helen Craig (another illustration, right).
The change, here, is dramatic. The other day, lying in bed to take a nap in the upstairs bedroom, I took off my reading glasses, put down my book, glanced out the window at the tree-tops and literally started, did a double-take: there, among the gray-brown tree branches and somber black-greens of the conifers, at which I'd been gazing for months, was a sudden swath of riotously bright pale green; the deciduous trees abruptly beginning to leaf out.
To go from the one to
the other so swiftly is an annual astonishment, in Cole Porter 's words, "the urge to merge with the splurge of spring."
Perhaps it's rabbits' urge to merge, the fecundity rather than their cuteness, which has linked them, in human eyes, with this time of year. In the book above (another of Craig's illustrations, right), a bunny seeking company is advised to find Easter. This, he thinks, is a place, located (logically) in the east. The book follows the bunny's brave, persistent, journey through the seasons as he seeks Easter and a mate. You can see from the picture that his search is a lonely one.
The post previous to this one was written in deep winter, a Part One left dangling without a Part Two until now. A sheepish confession (especially apropos since Part One included a sheep — Go back and look if you don't believe me): this is, I think, the third Part One I've left orphaned. Why have my well-intended
Part Ones sometimes lacked their promised Part Twos? It's not "Shit happens," that supremely who-cares verbal shrug. It's the opposite.
It's: everything happens, and keeps on happening. Daily life is a confoundingly overflowing cornucopia. Events, ideas, insights reproduce more rapidly than rabbits. Not a day goes by when I don't think "Ooooo – that would be good for the blog." But as all writers and would-be writers know, thinking, writing in one's head, is quick and easy. But actually writing, on paper or digitally, is time-consuming and hard.
so, why Part Two: a mere 3 1/2 months later?
But. This particular Part Two compels my return. For two reasons.
First, because the gift the Rare Hare offered me (yes, synchronistically, Part One had not only a sheep but a rabbit, or at least a half-rabbit, half-antelope, the mythological jackalope) was made fully clear only by subsequent events. It was, it turned out, not exactly a prophetic dream, but something akin. A psychological booster shot, revving up an immunity I already had but would need, soon, to revisit, as daily life's cornucopia grew particularly, challengingly difficult.
And second, not delivering on Part Two was a tease, a broken promise, poor writing. All these acts I do my best not to commit, but maybe especially the last.Until I write Part Two, I'm committing the Chekovian sin: In Part One, I showed you, dear reader, a metaphorical gun on the wall — in fact, a small armory — but, not one of them has yet gone off.
Having told you about the dream (and mentioned that besides Boundin' it referenced the Holocaust, David Letterman, a New Yorker article — that's the cover, there … the December 21-28, 2009, issue, oh the shame! — called Green Giant, about where the U.S. and China stand, respectively, on developing green technologies, and a transcendent moonlight walk with David — these would be the firearms) in Part One, I need to tell you the dream itself.
And why those references came up.
So now I'm gonna.
(If you haven't read that previous post, and seen Boundin', please do so now.)
& now the dream: lights, camera, action
The Cast:
- Me.
- Chou-Chou (described in previous post as "the
dear friend who traveled with me through the terrible period following
Ned's death and with whom I traveled through some terrible things in
her life").
- David Letterman. talk-show host.
- An imaginary man, Letterman's guest: an older, erudite Eastern European Jew.
The time: present
The place: a large bedroom at Chou-Chou's house (though not her waking-life real house). The king size bed has a golden-yellow bedspread and is set against a wall, with pillows and bolsters so that one can easily watch the big-screen tv that sits on a bureau across from the foot of it.
We open: Chou-Chou and Crescent are sitting on the bed, sprawled on the bolsters, watching TV.
Ah, beloved Chou-Chou. (That's me and Chou, a few years back, at a riotously fun dinner at her house in Eureka Springs in 2002.) A certain ex-boyfriend and his mother may have been cropped out of the picture — this sometimes happens, in pictures as in life. But! What I remember about that evening is Chou and I laughing our heads off, some kind of ridiculous back-and-forth jive between us in pseudo-therapy talk — We began with the standards — 'What I hear you saying is that – ' 'Un-hunh, and what does that mean to you?' — and quickly went way, way off the rails. I also recall Chou's excellent spinach enchiladas, and Spanish rice. I believe I brought the salad — I do a slightly sweet cilantro-lime vinaigrette, of which she is fond, excellent on mesclun and avocado with a little sectioned orange and some scallion. I probably also brought dessert. Most likely flan. )
But, David Letterman? If
you know me personally — I don't own a television, rarely
watch TV even in hotel rooms, and when I do, never, ever,
late night talk shows— you are no doubt having a WTF moment. You are saying "David Letterman? Of all people!" As I did, when I woke from and thought about the dream. If my unconscious was going to pick "talk show host to participate in meaningful message delivery," wouldn't, say, Oprah have been a better choice? Yes. (After all, she interviewed Elie Wiesel: relevant, as you'll see).
But, nope. My subconscious picked David Letterman.
My subconscious also invented the fourth character. It did not see fit to give him a name, which has hindered and irritated me during the writing of this post; dialogue would've been much easier had he been more than "he" or "the gentleman." But, I did not succumb to the temptation to make one up for him: I felt funny saying "Let's just call him ________." For who am I to argue with the mind's underground foundations?
This man, then, unnamed, was both old and Old World, and elegant. He spoke English impeccably but with a faint Eastern European or Russian inflection. He exuded warmth, charm, intelligence, sophistication. His slightly old-fashioned dark suit fit him as well as he seemed to fit his own being — wholly comfortably.
Okay. I just went online to search for someone who looked like him. I did this by Googling images with various
phrases — elegant older man, elegant older Jewish man, older Russian, Russian Jewish actor, handsome older actor Russian — to see if I could find someone who resembled what my unconscious had conjured up. (Of this process, well, "These are the days of miracle and wonder," as a Paul
Simon line has it ). And there, after about fifteen minutes, he was, the gentleman on the left. (In real life, this man was Constantin Stanislavski, 1863-1938, considered the father of modern acting technique, which became known in America as Method Acting.
In some ways that's wholly beside the point here; I'm merely using his
image as stand-in. But, after reading a bit about him, I feel that Stanislavski
would be unreasonably pleased if he knew he were playing a role even after
his death.)
And why was he being interviewed by Letterman? Because, in my dream, he was 90-something, the world's foremost voice-over artist, and a Holocaust survivor.
And therein lies the hinge-point of the dream.
a simple plot, not a lot of what you'd call action, and yet…
In summation, the
dream was simple: Chou-Chou and I, staying put, our backs against the headboard, watching Letterman interview the invented character who looks like Stanislavski. There's no direct dialogue between us, though we exchange a lot of looks as we watch TV and the events of the dream unfold.
In the dream, David Letterman is asking my guy, the Stanislavski-lookalike, about one of his recent voice-over projects: Boundin'.
"But, unlike in your films, you speak with a Russian accent, " says Letterman.
"True," says my man, with a Russian accent. He's smiling.
"And as we're talking here, you sound a little, forgive me, old," says Letterman.
"Also true," he says. Still smiling, he gives a little what-can-you-do shrug.
"Well," says Letterman, "Of course, you are 99."
The studio audience applauds, stamps, cheers, whistles its approval.
"Yet you narrated that film in the voice of a wise, all-American cowboy, sort of a mellow cowboy, middle-aged. Can we see a clip of the film, please?"
After a bit of Boundin' is shown, Letterman says, "How did you do that?"
There is some discussion between the two of them about voice technique, learning and unlearning accented speech, coaching, travel to Wyoming. How my man lived on a ranch for a few weeks, and eavesdropped on small-town conversations at small-town Western coffee shops.
freedom, and its nightmare opposite
"But," says Letterman, "There's much more to your story than doing voice-over for this film. You are a concentration camp survivor… "
"Yes, " says my character. He is not smiling now. Somber, serious, he sits erect, his posture dignified. "Auschwitz. Not many lived." (Left, the sign at the main gate to Auschwitz, its famously perverted motto which translates as: "Work Makes One Free." Of course, the only
freedom work at the camp brought to its inmates — those who were not gassed
the same day the cattle cars on which they were transported to the camps arrived, which was the majority — was death. To which most of those who survived "the selection" were
literally worked.)Back to the dream, from this real-life nightmare.
My waking self does not remember the specific dialogue which followed. Letterman asks him about the years in the camp, how he survived… The dream Chou and I, seated on the bed, exchange looks every now and then, shaking our heads, believing but not believing, the common reaction, one I have to this day when I try to truly wrap my mind around the Holocaust, its pure, systemic day-after-day evil. The word itself is from the Greek word "holokauston" , or "sacrifice by
fire" , meaning the Nazi's persecution and planned slaughter of people who were Jewish (other groups of 'different' people were also consigned to flame, among them gypsies, the disabled, and homosexuals). How was it possible? How could it have happened?
The Dutch poet and playwright, Abel Herzberg (right, above), who survived the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and lived to write about it, has said, "There
were not six million Jews murdered; there was one murder, six million
times." This distinction attempts to individualize the losses, to restore humanity to people systematically dehumanized. A noble attempt. but impossible still. Either way: how can one possibly take in the outrage, the horror, the depth, the scope of the murdering?
As Oprah said, in her introduction to the interview with Wiesel, pictured left: "The story—and especially that number, six million —numbs us: A
Jew hater named Adolf Hitler rises to power in Germany, the world goes
to war in 1939, and when the showdown is over six years later, the
tyrant has slaughtered six million Jews. Inconceivable."
Evil, in my mind, is synonymous with two things: slavery, and (warning: this next link is graphic and horrific; close-up images of Nazi genocide) the Holocaust. Every perversion of good, every oppression, from the sexual exploitation of women and children, to ecocide (intended or otherwise), racism — every serious lie we tell ourselves or others, seems to me encapsulated and exemplified by these two things. Both express the consequences when human beings have absolute power over powerless beings (human and otherwise), with whom they lack even the slightest empathy.
Both slavery and the Holocaust systematized sociopathology, the deeply shadowed crevasses of the human heart, which we shiver to examine. Yet if we fail to look down into them, we surely imperil ourselves more so. A blind eye to atrocity, simply because it is atrocious, upsetting, surely damns us further.
Yet the man my unconscious created survived this, as only a small percentage of those who went through those gates of hell did (including Elie Wiesel, pictured again below, older, this time with Oprah, at Auschwitz in 2006; photo,). My dream man not only survived. Eventually, he thrived.
what do we do with it?
In a sense, this question, which I ask myself all the time, was the one the dream put to me, and answered.
As symbol and reality, the Holocaust and slavery (the one a historical event; the second, an ongoing institution that's been seemingly part of humankind's shadow self for almost as long as there have been humans) embody what is most unacceptable and impossible to understand about life: that such things can, did, and do happen. That I, or you, or Oprah, may say "unacceptable" is powerfully (or perhaps powerlessly), irrelevant. Evil — "the banality of evil," as the German political theorist Hannah Arendt famously said at the trial of Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi said to be "the architect of the Holocaust," — appears intractable, as much part of life as good. (That's Arendt's image, as it appeared on a German postage stamp, issued in 1988 as part of a "Women in German History" series.)
And so, what do we do with this?
This being evil's existence, whether or not we "accept" it. (Not what do we do 'about' it; obviously, good and evil and those who embody each, are in eternal struggle. What we do 'about' evil, assuming we are on the side of the good, is struggle against it; simple, if rarely easy).
But what do we do with it, in thought and feeling? (Left, a detail of the two as archetypes in struggle, in Satan Before the
Lord by 18th-century Italian artist Corrado Giaquinto.)
And is there any point to even ask "what do we do with this?"
I think so.
Because one cannot embrace life while editing out the evil that takes place in it, any more than one can excise life's inherent sorrows. (Sorrow — even when unpolluted by evil intent — also, of course, inheres in life. Beloved innocents die in accidents, in earthquakes, of disease, by murder — each a sorrow of vastly different shading, especially to the survivors, but all sorrowful nonetheless).
The gristle and gravy, the wonder of the Milky Way and of the tornado that lifts one righteous house clear off the ground, killing five, but leaves the home of the child molester next door, untouched, its residents safe. The vernal wild flowers that come up, unbidden and triumphant, each year (like the trillium David photographed last spring, which is now beginning, again, to come up); the 30,000 species that quietly go extinct each year. Bunnies; barbed wire. Those who are quenched and sated; those, in the same world, who are parched and hungry. Love and hate, gifts and losses, an incomprehensible system by which plenty or its absence is meted out.It's what the Vedas, the Hindu holy books, call "the riot of opposites." Even in Auschwitz, there must have been spring days when the air was warm and fresh and ambrosial, the grass and trees growing green again even as the smoke rose from the crematoria.
Hope and despair, good and evil, cheek by jowl.
Everything happens, keeps on happening.
Life is large enough to contain all this, because it has to be. It is we who are too small.
But I think the act of asking what we do with contradictory realities too large for us, questions which can never be answered — does, itself, enlarge us.
And I also believe, of course, that nothing is wasted on the writer.
art & atrocity
I once heard an extraordinary lecture called "Writing Atrocity", given in 2000, during the summer session at the University of Iowa's non-degree writing program. It was given by Janusz Bardach, the then-elderly author of a memoir called Man is Wolf to Man, about his horrific internment in the Gulag, the Russian equivalent of the concentration camps (he died in 2000, at age 83). Bardach, who had gone on to have a distinguished career in the U.S. as a reconstructive surgeon and a professor, radiated sweetness, unpretentious brilliance, and an Old World gentlemanly quality, much like the man in my dream.
He spoke, that day, of the inherent conundrum of writing like his: to tell one's story, knowing that any telling will be inadequate, is to risk in some way diminishing it. Or, worse yet, to put it up for the prurient interest of horror's voyeurs and sightseers. But to not write about it; isn't that worse? Doesn't keeping silent collude with the evil-doers, with evil itself? In the end, he seemed to feel, it was the responsibility of the survivor, if he or she had any call to the literary, to try to tell his or her story: for personal psychological integration, yes, but even more so because then a testament was left to the world. (I consider Man is Wolf to Man to be just such a testament.)
And if this testament was accurate enough, clear, truthful, compelling, there was the chance that readers might do whatever they could to prevent it coming again, in another form, in their own lives. (I am thinking about this currently, as I listen to the audio-book The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver's latest; as she describes the "howlers", who grow, in the lifetime of the book's protagonist, to be the House Un-American Activities Committee, HUAC, with its the reverberations backwards – to the Salem witch trials, and forwards, to our own time, when the so-called Tea-Baggers appropriate words like 'freedom' and 'rights' as excuses for the fomenting of violence, racism, name-calling, and that lack of seeing fellow human beings as just that, which, to me, begins the long downward slide. Though fiction, this novel also has the ring of personal testament and powerful warning.)
It took Wiesel a decade to find the words for his testament. But he did, eventually, in Night, called by the New York Times "a slim volume of terrifying power." It was the fi
rst volume of a trilogy. the other two books being Dawn and Day. The writer, in life and in writing, made the journey from unspeakable darkness to light.
Imagine, if you can (knowing you cannot, nor can any of us who did not experience such places), Wiesel's unimaginable suffering. Now imagine if he had not been able to make use of it through writing; how much greater would that suffering have been.
Its horror would have then been not only absolute but unadulterated. The Holocaust can never be justified or explained, nor can art mitigate it. But meaning can be wrung from it. This is what Wiesel did, and in literature as in life, moved from darkness to light. Night has now been read by millions of people. The Holocaust was not wasted on Elie Wiesel.
But, back to the dream
Eventually Letterman gets to how, after all his guest has survived, he can still believe in resiliency, the 'bound and
rebound' theme of the film.
My man says that his
experiences confirmed it. That while he never would have made it out of the camp without
hope, will, and luck, even more than these things it was ultimately resiliency that saved him.
For, he says, in his accented speech, that while to survive the camps physically was essential, it "was only a partial saving." The far-longer work was to live a life of meaning, to uncripple oneself from what had been experienced. To not just live but to make a a life: that he says, was the
true and final victory.
That, he says to Letterman, "is the most fundamental way war is won, and
imprisonment ended — not once, but every day. And not just that war I was in, either, or Auschwitz; I am talking about all prisons, all wars. You love, you live and use life fully, despite everything. That is when you win. That is the victory. When you love anyway.
Then he pauses. Hesitates. His face changes, draws in as if in sudden physical pain. And as begins to topple from his chair on the studio
set (Chou and I watch, riveted). And then they cut to a commercial.
Chou and I look at each other questioningly, then back to the TV, leaning forward.
the show returns, instead of Letterman and his
guests, there are written
words on the screen, being typed as we see them, scrolling down. The words are in white against a dark brown background… with deepest regret … cardiac arrest… doctors… has just been pronounced dead… last words, spoken: 'when you love anyway'... world grieves passing of a great man..."
Chou and I exchange a long, long glance, wide-eyed. She clicks off the remote. We have nothing to say. We know we have just witnessed an extraordinary occurrence. (And, fortunate us: in waking life we have decades of friendship together, in which we have experienced, side by side, not only each others griefs, but vast and extraordinary joys. Just look at us, right, in 1983, in our bright, bright saris, in India, young and radiant).
So when, in the dream, Chou and I witness the voice-over man's death, we know that even the strange and public manner in which he died was his final gift to the world.
A world towards which, given his experiences, he had no call to be generous. Yet, he won. He loved. He loved anyway. It was death, but it was a good death.
And that, dear reader, was the dream.
To deliver — or not — on what's left on Part One's promises
I mentioned, in Part One, the walk I took with David around 11:00 p.m., on the last
night of 2009. That night was lit up: It was not just a full moon night but a blue moon, and the ground so blanketed in snow it reflected the moonlight. All was illuminated, bright enough that we did not need flashlights, so bright, in fact, that David was able to take pictures without a flash. I posted some of them on Part 1. Here are a few more.
Below, I'm standing on the iced-over pond. I'm bundled up from head to to toe. I said to David, "Please, could you take one of me waving, for the blog?" He did.
It's amazing how much ambient light there is, sometimes, even at night.
Ask Wiesel, or Bardach, or the dear man being interviewed by Letterman in my dream.
It is very silent on a windless winter night in Vermont; everything except the sound of one's footsteps is frozen, and still. No birds, no frogs or peepers, nothing to rustle or splash.The snow insulates the ground; one's hat and scarves or balaclava insulate one's ears.
A fictional telling, for children, of winter's quietude, from Charlotte's The Bunny Who Found Easter:
One day it began to snow. Soft white flakes drifted down from the sky, and the air was sharp and cold and still. When he hopped through the white drifts he left little dark footprints in the snow. But no matter which way he hopped, his footprints never crossed other bunny footprints. The little bunny was alone in a world without rabbits.
So when, on that full moon night walk at the end of last year, I heard a sound, I started slightly (much as I did recently when, a few months later, that pale green stroke of spring caught my eye).
But then I almost immediately recognized what I was hearing — the rush of water, where the stream which feeds the pond travels under the road and down the hill.
Though the pond was frozen solid on the surface, at one spot, near the dock, it remained liquid, a dark uneven half-circle in the white. This is the location of the overflow for water held in the pond; where it sluices down, beneath the road and out the other side, in a small waterfall . From there, it heads towards the foot of the hill. A busy, noisy year-round brook, it's narrowed by ice in the winter, but is of sufficient force and flow as to remain mostly unfrozen. Its rush was what I heard.


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This book will make practitioners in marketing, PR, advertising, communications, and any professional with the word digital in his title uncertain about the future of his discipline. Philip Sheldrake makes the case that the traditional boundaries of these professions must morph into a more holistic expertise, which he calls the influence professional. And while such professionals must retain their creative right-brain talents, they must become far more skilled in left-brained analytical competencies.
The convergence of markets, media, and technology raises the bar further. New business models, the proliferation of social media, the relative power shift from producers to consumers, and the overwhelming amount of structured and unstructured data make managing our businesses more challenging than ever. It seems that we increasingly know more and more about less and less. Change is constant, and accelerating.
What to do? The author proposes a creative, structured approach to the business of influence, which is to say, business itself. He identifies the interactions between stakeholders – businesses, employees, customers, competitors – and maps the primary influence flows among them. He provides a practical framework for seeing, and acting on, the drivers of value creation. He proposes an Influence Scorecard that integrates strategy, objectives, and processes in an actionable influence framework. The scorecard provides structure, focus, and a common language – across organizational boundaries – that drives desired behaviors and outcomes. It puts influence at the center of the strategy.
Strategy is how an organization intends to create value for its stakeholders consistent with its mission. Strategy is a process, and like any process, it must be managed and its efficacy measured. And while strategy is important, it's the execution that counts. In a world where 7 out of 10 organizations fail to execute their strategies, it is not surprising that execution – that is, fulfilling the promise of creating value for stakeholders – is the number one issue that keeps executives up at night. The Kaplan Norton Balanced Scorecard has become the dominant framework successful organizations use to execute their strategies.
The author's Influence Scorecard builds on the Kaplan Norton approach, in which success is based on universal management principles: aligning around the critical few things that matter, identifying cause-and-effect relationships that result in desired outcomes, setting measures and targets to drive behaviors, choosing initiatives that close performance gaps, and managing strategy as a process. The Influence Scorecard shares these principles with the Balanced Scorecard, and applies them to the emergent, cross-disciplinary domain of influence.
Readers will find helpful the author's syntheses of recent research and writing in the art and science of influence – including insights into social media and Web 3.0 developments, chapter summaries, and a glossary. Whether the emerging profession of the Chief Influence Officer leads the nexus of influence as the author suggests, or another C level executive, influence – like strategy itself – is a team sport. Influence is everyone's responsibility. This book will help you understand your contribution to that reality.
Robert L. Howie, Jr.
Managing Director, CMO, Palladium Group, Inc.
Director, Kaplan Norton Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame for Executing Strategy
Boston, Massachusetts, February 2011
With thanks to Robert for his interest in The Business of Influence and for investing the time to write this foreword.


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Hotel Search Results
Cannes, 06400
Santa Monica, 90401
United States
- 176-Ocean Tower Rooms with Balconies
- 94 Rooms in the Historic Palisades Building
- 31 Garden Bungalows
Common Amenities - Guest Rooms
All guest rooms at The Fairmont Miramar Hotel Santa Monica offer the following amenities.
- Alarm clock-radio
- Bathrobes
- Bose Wave radios*
- Cable television (25-inch) with pay movies and Nintendo Games
- Coffee maker with complimentary Wolfgang Puck coffee
- Duvets
- Hair dryer
- Iron and ironing board
- Refreshment Center
- Safe (in-room)
- In-Room Business Amenities
- High Speed Internet
- Speakerphone with voice-mail
- Work desk Amenities on Request
*Bose Wave Radio available only in Suite & Specialty Room types.
The following amenities may be available in select guest rooms.
- Crib
- Rollaway
- Please Note: No guest rooms offer sofabeds** or whirlpools.
Hong Kong
Our 499 rooms and suites were redesigned for the most possible space, with suites ranging from 44 square metres to 292 square metres. The sleek interiors incorporate contemporary luxuries and thoughtful ingenuities that will surprise even the seasoned traveller. The sophisticated entertainment and business technology comes with the full support of our IT butlers. Best of all, our comfortable new rooms give a warm sense of welcome as if each guest were returning home.
London, SW1X 7TA
Furnished in a rich Regency style, each of the 93 guest rooms and suites is decorated with handcrafted period furnishings. The historic character is flawlessly maintained with 1820's furnishings concealing 21st century technology.
All guests enjoy complimentary 24 hour dedicated butler service and full access to the award-winning Lanesborough Club & Spa, complete with large gym, hydro-pool, sauna and steam room.
State-of-the-art, fully interactive TV systems are concealed behind paintings and offer the latest movies and music on demand, complimentary to all guests.
Upon arrival you will find a bowl of fresh fruit, mineral water, and assorted sweets in all rooms, replenished daily on a complimentary basis. Welcome tea or coffee is also served on arrival and with daily wake up calls with the compliments of your butler.
All guest rooms offer generously sized desks for those traveling for business. Guests enjoy complimentary wifi and calls to the UK, Europe and US and personal business cards printed and prepared for arrival. Fax machines and printers are also available upon request.
Phoenix, 85016
United States
Classic elegance meets modern sanctuary at the foot of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve in the Arizona Biltmore. Choose stylish décor, modern amenities and extra space in all of our guest rooms.
In-Room Amenities Include:
- Air-conditioning
- 55-inch flat TV with premium cable and smart TV options
- Internet access
- Alarm clock radio
- Mini-Fridge
- Safe
- Iron and ironing board
- Waldorf Astoria Collection Bed and Bedding
- Roll-away bed based on availability
- Crib on request based on availability
- Pet-friendly resort
Montego Bay
All rooms have air-conditioning, private bathrooms, with tub and shower separate, telephones, umbrellas, in room safes, bathrobes, iPod docking stations, coffee machine for complimentary Blue Mountain Coffee and tea, hair dryers, and an iron and ironing board.
There are 26 individually owned villas with 89 suites surrounded by 30 acres of gardens. Villas or cottages contain 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 suites, each with private open aired living rooms magnificent sea views. There are 23 villas with their private swimming pools. Classic, Deluxe, Master and Grand Pineapple Villa Suites have semi private pools. There are also Classic and Deluxe suites without pool.
Villas are beautifully decorated by individual owners to Round Hill's standards. You may find wicker, mahogany or bamboo furniture, slipcovers and beautiful tile and wooden floors. Bedrooms are closed for your complete air-conditioning comfort. Living rooms convey a very light, Caribbean feel with the trade winds passing through it.
Each villa features great privacy, beautiful tropical gardens and most with pool decks. The Villas are complete with a Cook, Housekeeper and Gardner to attend to your individual needs. Available in all rooms and suites:
- iPod iPhone Docking Stations
- In-room Safe
- Telephone with direct dial
- Hair dryers
- Bathrobes
- Iron & ironing board
- Air Conditioning
San Francisco, 94108
United States
Fairmont San Francisco, a landmark "crown jewel" of the City by the Bay for more than a century, has completed an exciting comprehensive renovation for all of its 606 guest rooms and suites. Stylish new furnishings and interior updates have updated each of the already-stunning classic-meets-contemporary hotel accommodations.
Jasper , T0E 1E0
The following amenities are found in the above Guest Rooms at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge.
- Cable Television with In-Room Pay Movies
- Keurig Coffee Machine and Kettle
- Unstocked Mini Refrigerator
- Ceiling Fan or Electric Fan
- Computer Dataport
- Deadbolts and Security Viewport
- Hair Dryer
- Iron and Ironing Board
- Telephone with Voice-Mail
- Windows that Open for Fresh Air
Amenities on Request
The following amenities are available in selected hotel rooms at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Please indicate the request in your on-line jasper hotel reservation, or ask one of our reservation agents.
- Bathrobe (currently in all Junior Suites, Junior Suite Lakeview and Lakefront Suite accommodations)
- Bed board
- Crib
- Connecting rooms*
- Microwave
*Due to the minimum quantities and categories of connecting rooms, these can be guaranteed and secured prior to arrival for a charge of $75 per stay.
Unless otherwise mentioned not all rooms are accessible. Please connect with our Reservations team for further details. Please indicate the request in your on-line Fairmont Jasper hotel reservation, or ask one of our reservation agents.
Barcelona, 08009
124 luxury rooms, completely renovated: Superior Rooms, Executive Rooms, Junior Suites Duplex, Junior Suites, Suites and Suite Duplex, all of them different from each other and personalised to the nines. Each room in the hotel contains items from the spectacular collection of pre-Columbian art.
It is difficult nowadays to find places which possess a special magnetism and, at the same time, combine delicateness, elegance, comfort and good taste. Hotel Claris is one of those places.By simply strolling through the corridors, you can experience a relaxed atmosphere, difficult to find in other hotels. Let yourself be taken through the history of ancient and modern civilizations in a unique, charming setting.
Vancouver, V6C 3L5
All guest rooms at Fairmont Waterfront offer the following amenities:
Scottsdale, 85255
United States
All suites and specialty rooms at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offer the following amenities:
- Nespresso Coffee maker
- Air-conditioning with individual temperature control
- iHome Clock Radio
- Balcony/Terrace with table and two chairs
- Bathrobes
- Cable television with in-room pay movies, video games and express video check-out
- Iron and ironing board
- Wetbar
- Safe (in-room)
- Telephone (multi-line) with voice-mail
- High Speed Internet Access (Included in the daily resort fee; Premium High Speed Internet complimentary for members of the Fairmont President's Club)
- Sliding glass doors to the patio or balcony
- Bathroom Amenities
- Double sinks
- Hair dryer
- Make-up mirror
- Soaker tub and separate shower
- LeLabo toiletries
- In-Room Business Amenities
- Computer dataport
- Cordless/Speakerphone with voice-mail
- Work Desk
Amenities on Request - The following amenities may be available in selected guest rooms.
- Connecting rooms
- Crib
- Rollaway
- Sofabed
- Children's amenities - charges may apply for some items.
- Baby bathtubs
- Bathtub safety ring
- Bottle warmers
- Car seats (for infants & toddlers)
- Electrical outlet covers
- High chairs
- Jogging stroller
- Night lights
- Reclining stroller (three position)
- Toilet chairs
- Toilet seat locks
Dana Point, 92629
United States
Coastal Inspiration. Total Relaxation.
The best resort experiences are both exhilarating and restful, providing a sense of excitement along with opportunities for rejuvenation. The spacious guest rooms and suites at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club offer private terraces and patios, custom-designed furnishings, spa-inspired bathrooms, and other refined touches, creating the foundation for whatever adventures lie ahead.
Explore our selection of accommodations, each carefully designed with complete comfort in mind.
Khum Svay Dang Kum
Siem Reap
The hotel has 119 guestrooms and suites, each tastefully appointed with art deco country style furnishings and Cambodian object d'art reflecting the period architectural theme. The Main Building, carefully restored and refurbished to original architectural style, is complemented by extended building of the same architectural inspiration.
Our Guestroom Features:
London, W1J 7BH
The hotel has 129 guest rooms & suites including:
26 Single Rooms (14 Deluxe Singles)
23 Standard Doubles
40 Deluxe Doubles
19 Executive Kings
5 Junior Suites
5 Studio Suites
10 serviced apartments
The 10 apartments comprise 1, 2 or 3 bedrooms and have their own fully fitted kitchens and private entrance.
We now have ten rooms on the ground floor with their own private landscaped patios. All rooms from Executive category and above can be twinned though do note these are continental twins.
Banff , T1L 1J4
•Manual alarm clock
•Cable television with in-room pay movies and video games
•Coffee/Tea maker
•Hair dryer
•Iron and ironing board
•Telephone with voice-mail
•Unlimited Business Internet Access (fee information)
•Windows that open for fresh mountain air
Amenities on Request
The following amenities may be available in selected hotel rooms at Fairmont Banff Springs. Please indicate the request in your on-line hotel reservation, or ask one of our reservation agents.
•Air Conditioning
•Bed board
•Connecting rooms
•Crib •Rollaway
Accessible Amenities on Request
The following amenities may be available for select Accessible hotel rooms at Fairmont Banff Springs. Please indicate the request in your on-line hotel reservation, or ask one of our reservation agents.
•Non-Slip Mat
•Toilet Raiser
•Shower Transfer Bench
•Tub/Shower Chair
•Tub/Shower Stool
•Person Lift
Fairmont Singapore remains strongly committed towards efforts of embracing the unique culture, traditions and heritage of the extraordinary locale amidst maintaining luxury and relevance. At Fairmont Singapore, every room is a private sanctuary, providing a wealth of amenities carefully chosen to offer you the highest degree of pampering, while offering breathtaking views of the city from the private balcony.
- From 45 m² / 484 ft²
- Newly renovated
- Complimentary WIFI
- Private balcony
- Nespresso coffee machine
- TWG tea
- Large work desks.
- Daily buffet breakfast
- Evening cocktails and canapes
- Dedicated service from Fairmont Gold team
Vence , 06142
All our guestrooms have light and lovely new interiors though the fabulous views remain the same, taking in the Côte d'Azur from Nice to Cannes.
Our suites are full of character, reflecting the history of this Château, while for those preferring more privacy, our six Provencal style villas dotted along the hillside, are offering awe-inspiring views across the Côte d'Azur.
Washington, 20037
United States
On the ninth floor, Fairmont Gold awaits, a private, dedicated area that offers guests the experience of an exclusive oasis within the bustle of the hotel. Guests of Fairmont Gold enjoy an unparalleled level of service, delivered by warm and caring staff. Dedicated Fairmont Gold Managers are discreet, thoughtful, and focused on anticipating and addressing each individual guest's needs, accommodating requests from dinner reservations to planning special events, or providing light secretarial duties.
Please see the Guestroom and Suites descriptions below for further detail on our sleeping accommodation.
Hotel Arts has 483 luxurious rooms with panoramic views of both the city and sea. There are 365 deluxe rooms with king or twin beds,44 Executive Suites,32 Deluxe rooms on The Club and 12 Executive Suites on The Club, 28 duplex luxury Penthouses with one, two or three bedrooms. All guest rooms have marble bathrooms, compact disc player, mini-bar and fax/pc connections, satellite television and video.
Exclusive Penthouses
The Penthouses reflect the purest Ritz-Carlton philosophy of service and innovation. Their unique and exclusive location means they boast spectacular panoramic views, along with stunning interior decor and the attention of a team of Butlers who provide personalised service for guests 24 hours a day.
Architecture and interior decor
The exceptional beauty of the 28 luxurious penthouses that crown the building comes from the stunning architecture of Bruce Graham and the warm and elegant interior decor designed by Antoni Puig and José Juanpere, and created by Jaume Tressera. All the apartments have a spacious living room, dining area, bedroom, dressing room, and large marble bathroom. They are attended by an expert team of Butlers who provide personalised service for guests 24 hours a day. Brightness and space accentuate their exceptional features. The rooms, on the upper level, combine wood with other natural materials, to provide an intimate and luminous atmosphere. Your butler will coordinate our exclusive catering service or surprise you with a varied and no less exquisite choice: our room service.
Penthouse Types
5 one-bedroom lofts, from 150 m2.
5 one-bedroom penthouses, from 150 m2.
11 two-bedroom penthouses, from 185 m2.
5 three-bedroom penthouses, from 250 m2.
1 royal penthouse, measuring 400 m2.
1 presidential penthouse, measuring 400 m2.
Exclusive Services
As a guest at the penthouses, in addition to all the hotel's general services you will enjoy:
- Direct and exclusive access
- Private reception and concierge service
- Flexible check-in and check-out
- Personal butler service
- A Mini Cooper Cabrio available for 4 hours per day
- Daily buffet breakfast in your own penthouse or at Lokal
- Nespresso coffee machine
- High-speed Internet access
- Bulgari bathroom products and accessories
- Bugaboo Bee3 baby stroller upon request
- The ultimate shopping experience: a private transfer to the exclusive La Roca Village shopping center, access to the La Roca Village Lounge with drink service, Hands-Free Shopping service and a VIP card with an additional 10% discount for purchases made at the mall.
London, SW1E 6AF
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences comprises three Victorian townhouses - Kings, Ministers and Falconers, which are each distinctly designed, and beautifully restored to their iconic heritage. The 85 luxurious suites and residences with Butler service, offer the space and exclusivity of a private home each with their own separate kitchen and living area.


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Just about the most important decisions you'll lead to any new or pre-existing domestic pets you possess is definitely the wildlife hospital or animal clinic you may use for sick and tired care, any crisis visits, and well care. Choosing the right in shape for you and the dog is really important and also the recommendations and tips listed here are everything you should use when you are performing your quest.
Once you've narrowed across the choices of pet clinics or hospitals to look into, you could start the process of viewing what type will fit your needs the very best. Things such as place, doctor's costs, and services presented are all significant things to think about when choosing.
Ideally, choose an wildlife healthcare facility which has a full range of professional services. Listed here is a list of solutions that you should consider when searching for your final decision:
• A great wellbeing program: protective care is as significant as good emergency and sick attention. A great deal of diseases and issues could be eliminated together with the correct precautionary attention. Immunizations, heartworm preventive, flea handle, and many other items can be sure that your animal will likely be wholesome and satisfied for many years.
• Oral plan: Dental treatments for household pets is probably one of the more overlooked kinds of care. But just like human beings, pet's pearly whites needs to be looked after as well. It's been shown by using standard oral washing the life expectancy of the dog can boost by 3-5 years! Definitely reasons to remember to possess this care completed.
• Unexpected emergency proper care: Who knows when you will require the assistance of your pet's medical doctor, plus it won't often be during office hours. Getting an pet medical facility which has a great emergency attention process set up is indeed essential. Occasionally minutes or so can be critical in the healthiness of your dog. Ensure that your medical center has this aspect of dog treatment under control at the same time.
• Veterinarian Items: Your pet medical facility is a superb place to get items for your personal pet. Most treatment centers sell family pet food products, flea manage goods, heartworm preventatives, collars, leashes, toys plus more. Some places will have a greater type of merchandise than others.
Planning to see the probable animal medical centers you are considering is an extremely good plan. You can see the cleanliness of your place in addition to connect with the staff and physicians. Don't just arrive in the office to visit it, be sure you get in touch with very first and request if there are particular times which they allow tours. Take your dog when possible, since viewing the way your family pet works within their premises with the staff is significant. Pets have got a all-natural power to read individuals, of course, if your wildlife is incredibly scared and unpleasant, which may be something to take into consideration. Finding if this functions exactly the same at another office will give you plenty of understanding of whether it's merely a terrified animal or something particular to this business office.
Whenever you go see the pet healthcare facility, glance at the cleanness, the discussion from the staff with your dog and you also, and appearance the kennel place in which the creatures are kept, to see if it is actually neat and scents clear as well. You are able to inform a good deal with what your nose tells you.
Inspired by: ezinearticles


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|System: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U
|Dev: Vigil
|Pub: THQ
|Release: June 26, 2012
|Players: 1
|Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p
by Shelby Reiches
In January, THQ walked us through a short demonstration of Darksiders II, introducing us to its new protagonist, Death. In the time since, details have come forth on the title's release date, its pre-order incentives, and its Limited and Collector's editions. Then came Monday, when the developers finally felt comfortable putting the controller in our hands and letting us have our first taste of the upcoming action-adventure-with-light-RPG-elements mash-up.
The demo was set near the end of the first act, we were told (the game takes place over four major areas, each of them purported to be as large as the entire map for the first game), and the basics of control were explained to us. Then we were off. It turned out that our journey would begin just after where the previous demonstration had ended, with Death striding past a massive hammer on his way deeper into a dungeon. Exploring the temple led to its center, where the massive, guardian construct we were tasked with awakening stood dormant, demanding three "heartstones" before it would come to life and help rid the Makers' Realm of the Corruption.
Pursuing these stones took us through varied environs, from old hallways of brick and metal to verdant clearings and chambers coursing with lava. There were lakes as well, in which Death could swim. The scale of these areas was incredible, elements often stretching into the distance so far and so high that I assumed they were only background, until the game demanded that I proceed to them. The graphics, in general, are consistent with those of the first game, though most objects seem somewhat smoother, their textures more intricate.
Eventually, after finding all three stones, the guardian shuddered to life, but one of the power sources had been corrupted, and soon I was riding atop Despair, combating a hulking behemoth that would easily have been at home in Shadow of the Colossus. Once defeated, the demo came to a somewhat abrupt end, the entire experience leaving me, on the whole, tentative regarding the game. Before I go into my thoughts, though, a few housekeeping things: First, I asked whether the game had been sent in for certification prior to the event, which it had not as they were still in the process of polishing it; second, the demo was based on month-old code, and was thus not entirely representative of the game as a whole.
That said, there's definite promise. The environments are creative and interesting to explore, the graphics are recognizably Darksiders, but are both cleaner and more complex than the first entry, and weapon variety has been improved. In the demo alone, Death had tonfas, axes, hammers, and claws available as secondary weapons. This was in addition to his dual skill trees, each of which features multiple abilities to buy and a series of skills that in some way modifies or powers up the attached ability. Each of these skills could be upgraded multiple times.
Further, as mentioned before, the boss for the demo was tremendous, as was the open field in which we fought him. In general, environments were bigger and more open to exploration than in the first game, which only occasionally left me feeling overwhelmed and, far more often, provided a sense of wonder at the scale of the game.
There were a few things that irked me, but they may be fixed by release. The frame rate was inconsistent, constantly dipping if things were starting to get a little hectic. There was also prevalent screen tearing, though turning on V-Sync in the options menu reduced this at the cost of more frame rate. Platforming occasionally felt a little wonky, with Death inconsistent about when he would grab a ledge and when he would just bump into the same and plummet to his demise. The camera was unwieldy, resistant to being controlled and often too close in or at the wrong angle to give a proper sense of distance and orientation for the target of Death's next jump.
Then, there are the elements of the game that just seem like poor design decisions: Combat is even more button-mashy than in the first game, since Death is a faster character. I caught myself hitting the attack buttons in a regular, dull rhythm, only occasionally having to think about defense. Abilities are still somewhat awkward to use, demanding that one hold down a button that temporarily disables one's capacity for normal attacks. As such, abilities are still unable to be worked naturally into combat, demanding a very specific intent to use them; often I just forgot I had them.
Most worrisome, though, are the platforming controls and the loot system. While Death's expanded wall-running capabilities and more acrobatic climbing are welcome, it seems somewhat unnecessary to—if one has already used one button to specifically target and launch toward a peg on the wall for the express purpose of boosting oneself into the air—demand that a player press the jump button at some ill-defined time as Death approaches the peg to actually use it correctly. This "press jump to use the peg" concept shows up when wall-running, too, if one wants to use one of them to continue their wall-run longer without dropping too low. It's reminiscent of 2008's Prince of Persia reboot, which required a ballet of button presses for various platforming feats. As in that game, there's no feedback here to tell you whether or not you've succeeded, until Death either uses the object correctly or doesn't. It's a strange enough choice that I constantly caught myself forgetting to actually hit the button as I was launching myself toward my target.
Even this, though, is relatively minor compared to the loot system. Equipment drops fairly often from downed enemies and springs out of opened chests en masse. There are half a dozen different slots to equip, from weapons and armor to accessories. It's great that there's so much variety in what Death can wear, and that it models so well on him, but there are seemingly innumerable characteristics that a given piece of equipment can possess, from the basic "attack" or "defense" stats to various elemental resistances and bonuses to specific types of damage. Percents and scores flit around onscreen, and it's all a bit overwhelming. Further, the number of stats any given weapon has all but ensures that there will be a lot of red in the comparison screen, and picking an item that suits your play-style becomes overly time-consuming. This utterly broke the flow of the demo, which was at its best when I was either exploring or solving puzzles.
Again, all of these impressions are based on a non-final build of the game, which has yet to be submitted for certification. What I played, though, has left me a little apprehensive about Darksiders II. The first was a hodge-podge of various genres and gameplay elements from prevalent series, but it managed to use those elements well and, as a whole, it just worked. The sequel has certainly expanded its range of inspirations, but seems to have a little trouble distinguishing what works for it from what's best left on the cutting room floor.
Shelby Reiches
Contributing Writer
Date: March 22, 2012
Game Features:


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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Major government and media websites in South and North Korea were shut down for hours Tuesday on the 63rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Seoul said its sites were hacked, while it was unclear what knocked out those north of the border.
Seoul said experts were investigating attacks on the websites of the South Korean presidential Blue House and prime minister's office, as well as some media servers. There were no initial reports Tuesday that sensitive military or other key infrastructure had been compromised.
The attacks in South Korea did not appear to be as serious as a March cyberattack that shut down tens of thousands of computers and servers at South Korean broadcasters and banks. Seoul alerted people to take security measures against cyberattacks.
The North Korean websites that shut down Tuesday included those belonging to the national airline, Air Koryo, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the North's official Uriminzokkiri site and Naenara, the country's state-run Internet portal. All but Air Koryo were operational a few hours later.
South Korean National Intelligence Service officials said they were investigating what may have caused the shutdown of the North Korean websites. North Korea didn't make any immediate comment.
Operators of several Twitter accounts who purported to be part of a global hackers' collective known as Anonymous claimed that they attacked North Korean websites. The Associated Press received no answer to several requests to speak to the Twitter users. Shin Hong-soon, an official at South Korea's science ministry in charge of online security, said the government was not able to confirm whether these hackers were linked to Tuesday's attack on South Korean websites.
It wasn't immediately clear who was responsible. North and South Korea have traded accusations of cyberattacks in recent years.
South Korean officials blamed Pyongyang for a March 20 cyberattack that struck 48,000 computers and servers, hampering banks and broadcasters for several days, although television programming was not interrupted and officials have said that no bank records or personal data were compromised. Seoul officials said in April that an initial investigation pointed to a North Korean military-run spy agency as the culprit.
North Korea blamed South Korea and the United States for cyberattacks in March that temporarily disabled Internet access and websites in North Korea.
Experts believe North Korea trains large teams of cyber warriors and that the South and its allies should be prepared against possible attacks on key infrastructure and military systems. If the inter-Korean conflict were to move into cyberspace, South Korea's deeply wired society would have more to lose than North Korea's, which largely remains offline.
The shutdowns came on a war anniversary that both countries were marking with commemorations. They also are gearing up for the 60th anniversary of the end of the fighting July 27, a day North Koreans call "Victory Day" even though the Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
Tens of thousands of North Koreans were gathering Tuesday to Pyongyang's main Kim Il Sung Square for the largest of many rallies around the nation denouncing the United States. On Monday evening, men lined up in the shadow of the capital's iconic Juche Tower to practice coordinating their steps as they hoisted signs reading "Sweep away the imperialist American aggressors," "sworn enemies," and "U.S. troops out of South Korea" while a man with a megaphone barked out orders.
In South Korea, thousands of people, including Korean war veterans, gatherrf at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul for a commemoration. Two South Korean army units held military drills in Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, near the demilitarized zone, defense officials said in Seoul.
North Korea in recent weeks has pushed for diplomatic talks with Washington. Tensions ran high on the Korean Peninsula in March and April, with North Korea delivering regular threats over U.N. sanctions and U.S.-South Korean military drills.
Filed Under: M2M (machine to machine)


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Keck's Exclusives First Look: A Cosby Kids Reunion
Guys With Kids is reuniting Tempestt Bledsoe (Marny) with Cosby Show costar Keshia Knight Pulliam in the NBC comedy's season finale, set to air later this month.
The former Huxtable girls again play combative sisters, with Marny trying to land a job for Pulliam's spoiled Bridget. "Bridget just enjoys life and pursues whatever whim comes to mind. She even has a horse overseas," Pulliam says. "But," says Bledsoe, "now it's time for Marny to tell her she's got to grow up."
Pulliam shot her scenes in between practice sessions for ABC's diving competition show, Splash. "I'm dispelling the myth that black girls can't swim and get their hair wet without freaking out," she jokes.
Guys With Kids is the first time the women have acted together since The Cosby Show ended in 1992. "I grew up with Keshia. She's like my sister, so we immediately clicked again," says Bledsoe, 39. "When producers decided to cast the role they asked me how I'd feel about having Keshia and I said, 'Absolutely!' I think they're fantasizing about having all of The Cosby Show cast pop up."
Unlikely, as Lisa Bonet has declined all reunion invitations. Plus, "Mr. Cosby was very clear about wanting to maintain the purity of the legacy," says Pulliam, 33, who now oversees a self-esteem camp for young girls in between acting gigs. "Sometimes you tarnish the memory when you beat a dead horse." Even an overseas horse.
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I wrote about the EPA's "environmental justice" initiative here, here and here. The environmental justice program is based on an executive order by Bill Clinton, which was mostly ignored until Barack Obama's EPA ran with it. The fundamental problem with "environmental justice," apart from the fact that no one has any idea what it is, is that the EPA has no legislative authority to pursue such an agenda. Accordingly, the agency is now using its permitting powers to coerce companies into taking actions for which there is no legal basis–for example, buying new homes, somewhere else, for people who live near industrial facilities like refineries. This is one more example of the extra-legal administrative state run amok; we have seen it to an unprecedented degree in the lawless Obama administration.
Hugh Hewitt knows as much as anyone about the EPA's depredations, and had me on his radio show for a segment tonight talking about the environmental justice issue. Here it is:


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Staying positive after the first half
I have to admit this is not the most fun blog I have ever had to write, but I'm still trying to stay positive. I think it's safe to say this wasn't the way we wanted to close out the first half, but life goes on and so will this season. The good news is we are still in contention and we hold our fate in our own hands. There are several teams around baseball that can't say that right now.
We have an opportunity to play our division many times coming up early in the second half and it's up to us to take it to these teams when it starts back up. On that note, kids always have a way to put you in a better mood because they are so innocent and just want to have fun. That's why I am so excited my kids baseball camps started today. (For more info you can check out BullsSoxAcademy.com). I'm really looking forward to these camps and working with the Bulls/Sox Academy and I know it's going to be a lot of fun. Hopefully this is the beginning of many more camps in the future!
Other than the camps, I will spend most of the break relaxing and will definitely hit the golf course a couple of times. The most important thing for us is that our guys clear their heads and come back fresh. I will try and do the same. I know PK (Paul Konerko) and Carlos Quentin will represent the White Sox very well in the All-Star Game. And, of course, hopefully they will help the American League win because you never know, maybe it will help us down the road.
I will keep you guys updated on the camps this week on my Facebook and Twitter!
— Ozzie


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1 of memory foam in the seat for a very Comfortable and smooth ride all day long. 5 inches of gullet also (Full and Semi QH bars are also available).
WE ARE ACCEPTED PAYMENTS IN. Digital picture displayed here are most accurate in color i can't be held responsible for the difference in the individual monitor settings. All items are stored is smoke free, moisture free and pet free environment. This item is in the category "Sporting Goods\Outdoor Sports\Equestrian\Western Saddles & Tack\Saddles". The seller is "store-club30" and is located in this country: IN.


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source: free ARC courtesy of Poetic Book Tours
title: Louisiana Catch
author: Sweta Srivastava Vikram
published: April 10, 2018
pages: 254
genre: fiction
about the book:
Ahana, a wealthy thirty-three-year-old New Delhi woman, flees the pain of her mother's death and her dark past by accepting a huge project in New Orleans, where she'll coordinate the Annual Women's Conference to raise awareness around violence against women. Her half-Indian, half-Irish colleague and public relations guru, Rohan Brady, who helps Ahana develop her online presence, offends her prim sensibilities with his raunchy humor. She is convinced that he's a womanizer. Meanwhile, she seeks relief from her pain in an online support group, where she makes a good friend: the mercurial Jay Dubois, who is also grieving the loss of his mother. Her work in the U.S. and the online medium brings the two men into her life, and Ahana learns that neither is what he seems. With their differing sensibilities on a collision course, Ahana finds herself in a dangerous situation—and she discovers a side of herself that she never realized she had.
Louisiana Catch is an emotionally immersive novel about trust and who we project ourselves to be in the world. It's a book about Ahana's unreliable instincts and her ongoing battle to determine whom to place her faith in as she, Rohan, and Jay shed layers of their identities.
As Ahana matures from a victim of domestic sexual abuse into a global feminist leader, she must confront her issues: both with the men in her life and, ultimately, with her own instincts. Whom can she rely on to have her best interests at heart?
My thoughts:
In Louisiana Catch Ahana is in her early thirties, lives in New Delhi and is very close to her mom who is a successful doctor. Her life changes drastically after she finally divorces her abusive husband Dev and when not long after, her beloved mother passes away. As the story flows Ahana deals with the loss of her mother and she tries to find her inner strength being that she was sheltered for much of her life. She finds a support group online where she meets a man named Jay. She cannot shake the feeling that Jay isn't what he makes himself out to be as he has a bad habit of manipulating her through his texts and emails yet she can't fully break off the online connection. She also meets Rohan Brady at work. Ahana initially doesn't trust Rohan but the two eventually become friends. Also in the mix are Ahana's family and close friends like Naina and her work as a women's advocate for a non-profit. She works in public relations for "Freedom Movement". Her work lets her travel to different parts of the country like Louisiana and NYC.
Much of the story revolves around Ahana finding her inner strength. Having her mom as her rock, she depended on her alot but now Ahana wants to depend on herself. She has divorced her abusive husband yet he seems to still pop up and try to play mind games.
"My name is Ahana Chopra, and I was born and raised in the most ludicrous city in the world: New Delhi. Sometimes, I feel New Delhi doesn't understand me. Other times, I don't understand it. I don't think I've ever found a way to bridge the differences between what I was and what I was expected to be in this city."
p.2, Louisiana Catch by Sweta Vikram
Louisiana Catch was an interesting book with alot to discuss. I found that author Sweta Srivastava Vikram took the time to develop her characters. Little by little she shows us who they are.
I liked Rohan's character the most. He and Ahana slowly became friends, he earned her trust. I also found it interesting the dynamic between Ahana and Jay. In this digital era we connect so much through social media and through our cell phones. It is hard to know who to trust online, it can go either way. Much of the story centers around Jay's virtual hold on Ahana. This reminded me of the tv show Catfish. When Ahana meets Jay online she is in an emotional state and looking for support and he exploits this. The book shows how easily it is to become "friends" online with a virtual stranger and the dangers this can pose. Without giving too much away, many times I was shaking my head because of some of the actions Ahana was taking and because one of the characters was making my skin crawl.
Another thing I liked was Ahana's love of her culture and the way she described New Delhi, the food, the people the sights, the good and the bad of it. She would contrast and compare it to New York. I have a girlfriend who studied abroad in India for a few months and she had alot of stories to share when she returned, good and bad. Like the monkey who stole her dress right off the balcony where she and the other students were living. She saw him in a tree with it. She had stories about the food she ate, the people she met, the train rides, the rickshaws, the animals and many other interesting things. She loved this part of India. But she also told us about the downside of it, when she was actually harassed by a young man who had the audacity to grope her bare leg then made a run for it after facing zero repercussions.
In Louisiana Catch Ahana talks about how women are disrespected and abused, not just in her country but everywhere. She suffered alot at the hands of her ex-husband Dev especially. He was irritating to read about and the way he would manipulate her and harass her even after the divorce was really disturbing. I especially liked these lines as they ring true.
"I couldn't force him to respect me, but I did make a choice not to be disrespected"
p.76, Louisiana Catch by Sweta Vikram
I enjoyed Louisiana Catch and recommend it to those looking for a well written book that revolves around relevant and important themes. I do have to give a trigger warning for the topics of rape and abuse within the storyline as Ahana opens up about what she suffered. It isn't overly graphic, but it is discussed.
Special thanks to Serena over @ Poetic Book Tours for including me in this online book tour. Follow the links below for the full blog tour schedule and there is a giveaway. CLICK HERE TO ENTER TO WIN A COPY
March 8: Button-Eyed Reader (Spotlight/Giveaway)
March 14: Soapy Violinist (Review)
March 22: the bookworm (Review)
March 28: Diary of an Eccentric (Guest Post/Giveaway)
April 10: Svetlana Reads & Views (Review)
April 25: Suko's Notebook (Review)
April 27: Life's A Stage (Review)
April 28: Drunk On Pop (Review)
May 6: Books From Dusk Till Dawn (Review)
May 8: Where the Reader Grows (Spotlight)
TBD: Modern Creative Life (Interview)
About the Author:
Sweta Srivastava Vikram is a best-selling author of 11 books, a wellness columnist, and a mindfulness writing coach. Featured by Asian Fusion as "one of the most influential Asians of our time," Sweta writes about women, multiculturalism, and identity. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and other publications across nice countries and three continents. Louisiana Catch (Modern History Press 2018) is her debut U.S. novel. Born in India, Sweta grew up between the Indian Himalayas, Northern Africa, and the United States collecting and sharing stories. Exposure to this vast societal spectrum inspired her to become an advocate for social issues and also to get certified as a Holistic Health Counselor. In this avatar, Sweta is the CEO-Founder of NimmiLife through which she helps people elevate their productivity and creativity using Ayurveda and yoga. A certified yoga teacher, Sweta also teaches yoga and mindfulness to female survivors of rape and domestic violence. She lives with her husband in New York City.
disclaimer: This review is my honest opinion. I did not receive any kind of compensation for reading and reviewing this book. I am under no obligation to write a positive review. I received my free ARC of Louisiana Catch by Sweta Vikram via Poetic Book Tours .
Some of the links in the post are affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission.


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I´ve been a MS Visio user for some time and I was wondering how could I create a subprocess in WebRatio 8.5.2., so far the activities that I find are User Task, Service Task and Manual Task.
Thank you.
Hi, subprocess cannot be modeled with the current version of WebRatio BPM Platform.
They will be available starting from the next release.