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Writers on Writing: Life As We Know It
by Ian Deitchman & Kristin Rusk Robinson
IAN DEITCHMAN: "So who do we leave the baby to when we both die in a plane crash?" It's the question all new, neurotic, soon-to-be parents ask. And in the summer of 2001 it was one of many nervous questions I was asking my wife, who was pregnant with our first baby. Beth suggested, jokingly, that we leave the baby to our two single best friends, "Who knows us better?" I said, "Hey, that's a great idea for a movie." Beth looked at me, "I know! I pitched it to you a month ago." "Oh yeah ... " The friends we were talking about were also mutual friends of Kristin's. We discussed the concept and immediately realized it was the next thing we should write. It had what we're always looking for in a project—a high concept that's grounded in something emotional and real.
KRISTIN RUSK ROBINSON: It was always about tone. That was the most challenging part of writing Life As We Know It. At its heart, we knew it was a romantic comedy, specifically a romantic comedy in reverse. Our two main characters, Holly and Messer, get the baby, the house, the life—then they just need to fall in love. We were certain of the comedy we could mine by throwing these two strong personalities into new parenthood together. But we knew we needed to respect the emotional reality of what happens to them. Holly and Messer lose their best friends. That informs every choice they make.
Writing Honestly
First and foremost, we strive to write honest scenes—both comically honest and dramatically honest. The writers that inspire us the most (James L. Brooks, Cameron Crowe, Billy Wilder, and Anthony Minghella) operate comfortably in both of those worlds. Comedy and drama coexist effortlessly in their films because they're always tied to the emotional underpinning of the scene. That was what we humbly aspired to do in Life As We Know It, and as a result, it became a very personal script for us; all the more personal because we were fortunate enough to stay with the project during its on-and-off development process over eight years.
The Stars Align
Barry Josephson was always the script's greatest champion. He fought with pit-bull tenacity and eventually brought it in "turn around" to Paul Brooks and Brad Kessell at Gold Circle. Finally, we had found a home where we were all in sync creatively. After doing a couple of rewrites for Paul, Brad and Barry, the stars aligned when Katherine Heigl read our draft and signed on. Greg Berlanti and Josh Duhamel followed shortly thereafter. It was a long journey, but one that was well worth it—we couldn't have asked for a more perfect combination of talent to take our script and turn it into a movie. From day one, Greg embraced the tone and ran with it, which is what we'd always hoped a director would do. And after eight years of living with Holly and Messer, we can't think of anyone other than Katherine and Josh in those roles.
The Seasons
One of our earliest breakthroughs in the writing process was finding the structure. We talked for a long time about how Holly and Messer might look back at their situation 10 years down the road. The answer, "It was the toughest year of our lives." We decided to use the seasons as markers—literally title cards denoting Summer, Fall and Winter—to track the stages of Holly and Messer's evolution as a couple and as a family. We also bookended the story with Sophie's 1st and 2nd birthdays in the Spring. We found the device gave the story breathing room and helped it feel like it took place in real time rather than movie time.
The Whisper Fight
If there is one scene that embodies the spirit of the movie for us, it was the scene we nicknamed "The Whisper Fight." In this scene, which comes just before the mid-point of Act Two, Holly and Messer are at the end of their rope—neither is sure they can go on with this. We wanted their fight to play raw and real, but also darkly comic:
INT. SOPHIE'S ROOM - NIGHT Messer sits in the rocker/glider with Sophie in his arms. He's trying to rock her to sleep. He sings a Tom Waits tune, MORE THAN RAIN, as a lullaby. Holly steps into the doorway and watches them. Messer doesn't notice her. Sophie is just about nodding off. HOLLY What, exactly, are you singing to her? Messer is startled, waking Sophie. She fusses. MESSER (to Holly) Do you mind? (to Sophie) Ssshh ... it's okay sweetie. Go to sleep. Bedtime. It's okay ... Holly lowers her voice. HOLLY Why are you singing such a depressing song to her? MESSER I like depressing songs. HOLLY You're going to give her nightmares. Sing something happier. MESSER Fine. He turns back to Sophie and tries again. This time, it's THE WHITE STRIPES. MESSER (CONT'D) (singing to Sophie) "Dead leaves on the dirty ground, when I know you're not around ... " HOLLY Messer ... Messer switches it up again. Now some RICHARD THOMPSON. MESSER "This cruel country has driven me down ... My dreams have withered and died. Oh, my dreams have withered ... and died ... " Sophie's finally asleep. Messer gets up slowly, so as not to wake her. He gestures to Sophie - it worked! MESSER (CONT'D) (whispering) See, works like a charm. HOLLY God, would it kill you to ... MESSER Ssshhh! HOLLY You shhh. (then, whispering, too) Would it kill you to brighten the mood around here? Messer and Holly continue this conversation WHISPERING THE ENTIRE TIME. MESSER It might! Would it kill you to just GO with the mood around here? HOLLY Yes, because I don't think Peter and Alison would like it very much. MESSER Well, THEY are not here, are they? HOLLY Don't say that. MESSER Why not? It's true. HOLLY It's depressing. MESSER No, the thought of masturbating in that little den is depressing. THIS is beyond the fucking pale! HOLLY You know, I'm really tired of all your dark little comments. You think your cynicism is some kind of "brutal truth", but it's just an emotional cop-out. Suddenly, the baby stirs. Messer and Holly both freeze until she settles. Messer moves slowly toward the crib. They WHISPER EVEN MORE SOFTLY NOW. MESSER This isn't something you can fix up and make all nice. HOLLY I know that. MESSER You're just pissed that I brought a girl home. HOLLY Messer, I could give two shits about how many girls you bring home. (referring to Sophie) All I care about is her. MESSER Oh, and I don't?! If it's possible, Holly WHISPERS EVEN MORE SOFTLY. HOLLY Don't get angry at me. MESSER (he can't hear her) What? HOLLY (WHISPERS louder) What are you so angry about?! MESSER Everything! How can you not be? I'm angry at her asshole Grandfather. I'm angry at our lawyer and that judge. I'm angry at her for crying so God damned much and I'm angry at myself for feeling that way. And I'm angry at Peter and Alison for dying. Messer puts Sophie down in her crib. He turns to Holly. Gets right in her face. MESSER (CONT'D) And most of all, I'm angry at you for telling me to sing happy fucking songs! HOLLY Fuck you. MESSER No ... Messer MOUTHS his response to Holly as if he's yelling, "FUUUUCCCKKKK YOOOOOUUUUUU!!!!" He walks out of the bedroom.
Rewriting and Rewriting
If we learned anything from our experience writing Life As We Know It, and we learned a lot, it was to not sweat the funny, the gag, the joke on the first pass. The goal is to find the heart and emotion of the scene first. For us, the best comedy comes from starting at an emotional place and building out organically from there. It's about rewriting and rewriting and rewriting.
About Ian Deitchman and Kristin Rusk Robinson
Ian Deitchman and Kristin Rusk Robinson are screenwriting partners who met as undergrad Radio-TV-Film students at Northwestern University. Ian spent his first years in the entertainment industry working for James L. Brooks on various projects, including The Simpsons. Kristin got her start working as an assistant to director Randa Haines. Since 1999, Ian and Kristin have sold spec scripts, pitches, and worked on feature-film assignments for 20th Century Fox, MGM, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal, CBS Films, and New Line Cinema, among others. Most recently, Ian and Kristin's original feature screenplay, Life As We Know It, was produced by Barry Josephson and Paul Brooks for Warner Bros. Life As We Know It, starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel and directed by Greg Berlanti, will be released in theaters on October 8, 2010. Currently, Ian and Kristin are rewriting a feature for CBS Films called I Didn't Like Him Anyway, with Wendy Finerman producing. They have also recently sold and written an original feature comedy, Like Father, for Sony Pictures with Ashton Kutcher attached to star and produce. They also completed a rewrite of The Bender for New Line Cinema with director Frank Coraci attached. In 2009, Ian was elected as a member of the Board of Directors for the Writers Guild of America, West. Ian and Kristin live with their families in Los Angeles.


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Considerations for Choosing a CSI Delivery Method
Mike Cortez, collision center director at Gullo Toyota of Conroe, Texas, still recalls his reaction when, nearly two decades ago, his bosses informed him that they wanted to start surveying customers.
"I said, 'Are you crazy? We're not gonna survey our customers. Can you imagine the laundry list of things they're gonna complain about?'" Cortez recalls. "I really was negative about that. … And it's the exact opposite.
"You thought all you were going to get was the complaints out of customers, but it's [often] the ones that really appreciate what you did for them."
Yes, you can now consider Cortez a convert. The 35-year collision repair industry veteran knows the value of customer service index (CSI) scores and the process of collecting that valuable feedback. The collision center director wants to constantly gauge his business' treatment of customers, timeliness, quality and communication. And, he knows it's tough to improve without receiving constructive criticism on occasion.
But which CSI delivery method is best for your shop? And, how can you benefit from using particular methods? Virtually all shops use customer service surveys in some fashion, but many fail to use the information to its potential. With that in mind, FenderBender sought insight from industry experts.
Phone Calls
In Cortez's experience, customers like the chance to sound off to body shop employees and have the potential for a back-and-forth conversation, as long as they've been given a heads up that they might be called for a survey.
"If within a couple three or four days—maybe at the most 10—you're able to get ahold of them," Cortez says of customers, "they seem to be appreciative of the repairs, and they like to tell you about it."
According to Dusty Dunkle, president of Customer Research Inc., phone follow-ups are the only method of survey collection "that can result in a more than 50 percent completed survey ratio.
"All methodologies have their pros and cons," Dunkle says. "The key is identifying any customer that had issues with their experience; This sets up the opportunity for the shop to reach back out and do what it takes to satisfy the customer.
"Telephone follow-up typically provides the most detail," Dunkle adds, "because the phone agents have the ability to probe and gather additional feedback in any area."
Bobby Cobb, co-owner of Today's Collision Centers (with two locations in Massachusetts), appreciates the fact that emails offer the ability for a response that's done on the customer's own time. After all, a customer email can be sent well before or after business hours.
"With an email, you can easily send a link to the review platform, and your message will be in their inbox as a reminder," notes Cobb, who says his shop has had the best luck with sending survey-related emails. "You have a short window of time to possibly correct an issue; Follow-up should be within 24 hours [because] customers will want to respond right away."
Granted, email un-open rates are high, at nearly 85 percent. But Cobb has noticed that customers that do respond to emailed surveys seem more at ease as opposed to via phone calls, and, as a result, tend to communicate openly and provide valuable feedback.
Customers who complete a survey electronically and choose to write a review can then be prompted to share their review on websites like Facebook and Yelp, which offer potential for shops to gain inexpensive publicity. Another possible benefit: Once a line of communication is opened via email, a shop can then market to that customer in the future (provided they give an opt-out option), through the use of email blasts and thank yous.
Snail Mail
Despite all the technological advancements our society enjoys in 2017, traditional mail still has a solid open rate. In fact, there's a 98 percent open rate on mailed surveys. Additionally, the Direct Marketing Association notes that 70 percent of Americans feel traditional mail is more personal than the Internet.
A quick, concise mailing can still capture the attention of customers, even in the digital age. However, mailings from collision repair shops can stir up frustrating memories for customers, so they must be worded carefully.
"It's crazy; we've sent out mailers—with less than a 2 percent response," Cortez notes. "It's as though [customers say] 'Look, I'm done with it.'"
Once a shop has narrowed down a group of customers that do respond to snail mail, though, that group can be marketed to in the future, in the form of mailed-out anniversary cards, for example. After all, customers that prefer traditional mail typically appreciate the personal touch it presents.
Statistics certainly seem to indicate that texting is the way of the future and, for many consumers, the present. According to the Pew Research Center, texting is the most widely-used app on smartphones, with 97 percent of Americans using it at least once daily.
And, nowadays, most cellphone users have unlimited text plans. So, in theory, your shop's text messages are almost always within arm's reach of customers, if that survey option is utilized.
Of course, texting customers can be problematic because, as Dunkle notes, doing so requires expressed consent. And, using text messaging for surveys rarely inspires in-depth responses.
Still, texting has its merits. Many customers simply prefer the survey method that will be as unobtrusive as possible which, for many, entails receiving test messages.
And, if a shop uses text (or email) surveys, staff members don't need to keep track of sending, receiving or indexing; All of that can be done automatically by estimating software. Once a survey has been taken, shops will typically then receive a "hotsheet" generated by any survey with less-than-perfect scores. Then, a staff meeting can be held to discuss the survey's findings and address any underperforming areas.
Mix and Match
Using multiple means to seek customer feedback also lends obvious value, if a shop owner is hesitant to rely on one survey delivery method in an era of evolving technology.
"You just have to be flexible," Cortez says. "I try to ask the customer at the beginning, 'What's the easiest for you? Is it easier to call you, is it easier to text you? Is it easier to email you? What's the best way you'd like?'"
Regardless of the method used, all CSI programs should offer aggregate reports, benchmarking a body shop against a national database, and then, Dunkle says "drill down on CSI by estimator and technician this allows the shop to continually monitor employee performance, adjust, and improve."
Overall, when it comes to CSI survey collection, the main thing to keep in mind is making sure you get consistent, valuable feedback from a wide swath of your customer base.
"My experience has been, just listen," Cortez says in regard to customer feedback. "Once they don't feel like you're listening, man, it becomes pretty negative, quickly. This can be a job, or it can be a service.
"Our job," Cortez says, "is to show true empathy for our customer through communication."

subset: commoncrawl


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Travel Videos from Sharjah & UAE
Sharjah in a Nutshell
Adjacent to Dubai, Sharjah is a choice of many when deciding where to live as things tend to run at a slower pace. With the impressive expansion of Dubai and Sharjah cities, these – together with Ajman – tend to form a unique urban metropolis.
The emirate of Sharjah has its own fair share of skyscrapers and interesting cultural points of interest.
Content Provider
3 Travel Videos on Sharjah's Map
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Jacksonville Hotels come with a sort of prestige, or they at least strive towards it. But in today's market, you can't only rely on customers, their opinions, recommendations, or reviews. You have to keep up with the times and invest in more tools than ever before. One such modern tool that is essential for the success of your hotel in Jacksonville is SEO. If you are not familiar with the term you might be puzzled, SEO Jacksonville, what do those things have in common? Here are a few reasons why SEO is key to the success of your hotel:
1) It gets you noticed
2) Helps you find your ideal customer
3) It improves the Product that you are offering
1 It Gets You Noticed
Ranking high on Google is the most important thing for any business these days. People are in a way lazy, and they also want the best. Being on the first page of an average Google search is what counts. In the mind of your average customer, the things that appear on the first page of a Google site are the best of the best. They want to book their flight, stay or vacation cheaply, and without much effort. Only one of three people will look past the first two pages of a Google search. That is where SEO comes in. If you can do things right, and update and refine the SEO aspects of your site, odds are that you will not only get more hits but that you will automatically have most customers.
2 Helps You Find your Ideal Customer
When managing a hotel you would like to be as broad as you can in terms of the services that you offer to potential clients. But not every single hotel has that luxury. There are those who need to specialize and look for a unique type of guest. This is where SEO comes in. With a little bit of creativity on your part and a well-written algorithm on Google's side of things, you will be able to connect with more customers who are looking for just the kind of hotel that you have. With the help of keywords, your future customers will find you a lot easier than ever before. With the help of SEO Jacksonville, locals will know about your hotel. But not just them. With properly arranged SEO keywords you will be able to connect with people all over the world.
3 It Improves The Product that You are Offering
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. But it is hard for even the best managers to figure out all the ways they can optimize their business. With all the analysis tools that Google SEO offers you can track just what kind of traffic your site generates. In due time you will notice some pattern. According to those patterns you can adjust what your hotel has to offer. SEO Trends and the whip of an average customer can change quite rapidly. That is why you should trust a machine that has years of data stored.


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Thomas Forrester Can't Take The Heat on B&B
We know that Stephanie (Susan Flannery) is a ball-buster on The Bold and the Beautiful, but very few can withstand the force of one of her plots. He survived being stranded on a tropical island, but will Thomas (Adam Gregory) crumble beneath the weight of what they're doing to Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang)? Watch this week's B&B promo after the jump.
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Renewal of Yourself First
By Imam Abdullah El-Amin, MMNS
The tenets of the religion of Al-Islam emphasize constant renewal in our lives. If we could just do something once and be done with it, our practice of the religion would cease to exist. For instance, we are directed to fast every year in Ramadan. This is because one time just won't do it. We will forget and/or lapse into other activities to divert our attention from the remembrance of ALLAH, so He orders us to fast each year.
There are many other signs from ALLAH for us to reflect on. We breathe, eat and drink everyday to replenish our bodies. If we did not…well you know the answer to that. There is also constant renewal in education. Our brains need activity to grow and be useful.
Similarly, our relationships must also be constantly renewed. How many of us have heard the expression "What you did to get her, you must also do to keep her?â€
But before we get to that; before reaching out to our spouses, we must reach out to ourselves. In order to spread cheer to our families, spouses, and others, it must first come from a cheerful body and mind. How is this accomplished?
Each day upon rising we must begin to renew ourselves by recognizing the great masterful work of art ALLAH formed when He created you. You must look in the mirror and say to yourself how good you look. Arm your mind with positive thoughts and keep the evil ones (Shatan) from convincing you that you are otherwise.
After recognition of your greatness, resolve to be grateful to ALLAH by taking care of this great creation – you. Make sure you bathe and keep yourself clean. Shampoo your hair and use conditioner to enhance its appearance and health. Try to eat sensibly to reduce stress on your body. Exercise at least moderately to keep your temple in the best shape.
Above all, try to live as uneventful a life as possible. We learn in science that the brain responds to stress by secreting a hormone called cortisol. This chemical balances the stress levels in your body and helps you to cope with the ups and downs of your life. We know everybody has stress but it's smart to keep it to a minimum because too much secretion of this cortisol is harmful to your body. It causes excess plaque build-up in the blood vessels and contributes to heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and many other ailments. These are things that could be prevented by living a moderate life as dictated by your Creator, Almighty ALLAH.
So when you concentrate on this constant renewal of yourself, it will make you grateful and put you in the best possible position to reach out to others. We will be able to love and see the benefit and beauty of our spouse and help them see the benefit and beauty of themselves. This is very important because then everybody wins and ALLAH is pleased because you are carrying out His desires for creating you in the first place. And if ALLAH is pleased with you, you can ask for no better reward.


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Theory Design creating interior design for Santorini model at Esplanade Lake Club
Theory Design's Vice President of Design Ruta Menaghlazi and Lead Designer Adriene Ged are creating the interior design for Seagate Development Group's furnished Santorini model at Esplanade Lake Club, a new 778-acre resort lifestyle community being developed by Taylor Morrison. The gated community is positioned on a 352-acre lake. The 3,794 square feet under air Santorini floor plan offers four bedrooms, four and a half baths, a spacious owner's study that can serve as a comfortable club room, and a living area with a huge great room with an optional wine room, an island kitchen with counter-height seating, and a dining area designed to accommodate a table with seating for ten. The great room and dining area open to a lakefront outdoor living area with a dining area and optional outdoor kitchen, a conversation area, a covered patio off the master bedroom, and a pool and spa. An optional outdoor fireplace and an optional pool bath are available. The master suite includes a sitting area that opens to the covered patio, separate water closets and vanities, two walk-in closets, a free-standing tub, and a walk-in shower. Additional features include ceiling details throughout the home, a walk-in pantry, and a three-car garage.
Ruta and Adriene's island modern design style pays homage to Santorini's stature as Greece's most beautiful island. Towering cliffs, deep blue and turquoise waters, whitewashed villages and dramatic views combine to make Santorini a place of unparalleled beauty. The homes on the island are dug entirely into volcanic rock and considered cave dwellings. The homes' white exteriors deflect the summer heat while their blue doors are a popular way to ward off evil spirits.
While the interior of Seagate's Santorini model at Esplanade will not be dug into rock or have the iconic domes or arches found on the Greek Island, Ruta and Adriene's color palette will capture the spirit of Santorini with fresh white walls and ceilings that will play against navy blue, cobalt, turquoise and pale azure tones. The white ceilings will be stepped and trayed and include muted blue accents. The flooring will be presented with a warm natural oak finish. Simple white stone and porcelain tile will be accented with tiles that have the look of hand-made and hand-painted patterns. Glazed and terra cotta pottery will serve as the inspiration for accessories found throughout the home.
Ruta and Adriene's furniture selections will feature airy, modern lines and subtle curves and will include cerused and contrasting wood tones, rattan and wicker, or painted finishes with simple textured fabrics. Area rugs throughout the home will have an ethnic or tribal flair presented with simple flat weaves and natural fibers. An oversized linear media wall in the great room will feature and media cabinet and shelving in white and washed wood tones against an organic white wall texture.
The cabinetry in the kitchen will continue Ruta and Adriene's island modern design style with slab doors in navy blue and pure white. The white and concrete-like quartzite and quartz countertops will play against a backsplash fashioned from tiles with a hand-made look. The kitchen will feature a Bosch appliance package with a gas cooktop and double ovens.
Multiple windows in the master bedroom will provide an abundance of natural light as well as beautiful lake views. Wood flooring, simple furnishings with white fabrics and blue textured patterns, breezy white sheer draperies, and plantation shutters will all contribute to the bedroom's island ambiance. Understated white cabinetry with a fresh, spa-like design and marble counter surfaces will be featured in the master bath. Finishes in the master bath will also include stone-like tile flooring and shower walls, a freestanding tub, and an oversized shower with rain head and hand-held fixtures and a linear drain.
Ruta and Adriene will finish the lanai with Mediterranean stone-like flooring. The outdoor space will include an outdoor kitchen with a 36-inch grill and a vent hood. An island bar with counter stool seating will include an undercounter refrigerator.
Ruta and Adriene are also creating the interiors for Seagate's furnished Genova and Monaco models that are currently under construction at Esplanade Lake Club. The Genova floor plan includes 3,892 square feet under air and an outdoor living area measuring 1,058 square feet. The open-concept plan features a living area that includes a grand room, an island kitchen, and a dining area. The plan's study can be tasked as a formal dining room. Both the grand room and the dining area have pocketing sliders that open to an outdoor living area that includes a two-sided fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, and conversation and dining areas. The floor plan also features four bedrooms, four and a half baths, a pool bath, and a three-car garage. The master bedroom's sitting area also opens to the outdoors. The master suite includes walk-in closets and a bath with dual vanities, a free-standing tub, and a walk-in shower.
Ruta and Adriene's design for the Genova creates a modern interior that reflects a world travel style with art, fabrics, rugs, and accessories that reflect global influences. Earthy colors with neutral backgrounds and textured wallcovering accents will play against warm natural oak flooring. An oversized linear media treatment on the great room's feature wall will include ebony-toned media cabinets and built-in shelving with a contrasting wall texture.
The Monaco model's 3,299 square feet under air open-concept floor plan features a spacious great room with beamed ceiling details and a wet bar that will open to a covered lanai and an outdoor living area with an outdoor kitchen, a pool bath, and a deck with a custom pool and spa. The lanai and outdoor living area will overlook Esplanade's stunning lake views. The master suite will feature a bedroom with a sitting area that opens to the outdoors, walk-in closets, and a morning bar. The master bath includes dual vanities, a free-standing tub, and a walk-in shower. Two VIP guest suites will feature private baths. The Monaco plan also features an owner's study, a dining room that opens to the outdoor living area, an island kitchen with counter-height seating at the island and a walk-in pantry, an audio/visual control center, and a three-car garage.
Ruta and Adriene have created a coastal beach style interior with a casually elegant feeling for the Monaco model. Wall tones in various shades of white will be accented by soft tans and warm greys. The palette will play against ten-inch wide plank white oak hardwood flooring. Intriguing ceiling details will be found throughout the home, including reverse soffit details with cove lighting in the great room and study. The master bedroom will feature a beamed ceiling detail. The great room's wine bar will showcase an attractive base cabinet with a satin matte black finish, a quartzite counter surface, pendant lighting, and floating shelves against a decorative wallpaper.
Theory Design is also creating the interiors for Seagate Development Group's luxurious models at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, Talis Park, Windward Isle, and Quail West. Seagate's furnished Captiva model in Hill Tide Estates at Boca Grande features an interior by Theory Design's Ruta Menaghlazi. Ruta Menaghlazi also created the interior for Seagate's furnished Bal Harbour model now under construction at Hill Tide Estates.
For additional information about the furnished models at Esplanade Lake Club and to learn more about Theory Design, visit TheoryDesign.com.


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How did you come to write this novel? What's the story of this story?
This particular novel's journey started many years ago, when a short story of mine was published in The Sun. I got more fan mail from that short story than I've ever received for anything else, including all my books put together, probably – and the vast majority wrote to say thanks. Thanks for writing about sex, about fantasy, about isolation (even in the middle of relationship), about vulnerability in love.
I kept several of the letters, because they were so inspiring (never think writing a letter to an author doesn't matter!) One fan wrote: "I was especially interested in the conversation between the women about sex/orgasms/fantasies and violence. I've never seen or heard it put together quite like that, but felt a big poof! of relief and surprise … I thought I was just very peculiar, twisted, living out some sort of painful karma in that arena!"
Another emailed: "I have never written a note like this, and I am surprised at how intimidating it is to write to a writer. But I have to because I have lived with your story "Under the Apple Tree" for several months now. . . I want to thank you for an honest, real, and intriguing look at the life of an adult woman. I wish more talented women writers would follow your lead."
I was so honored by such responses (as you can see—I've saved them all this time). That correspondence got me to thinking about doing just that—trying to continue the conversation of honest portrayals of sex in literary works. In a society that is wildly prudish on one hand, and pornographic on the other, I think we sometimes lose sight of the honest portrayal of sex and love and romance.
What are you reading right now?
One fiction and one nonfiction. The nonfiction is Rising by Elizabeth Rush – and I'm just loving it. It's not just a book about the calamities of rising sea levels and the lost habitats and homes (although it is that)—it's also a moving rumination on the rise of women as investigative reporters, the rise of tangible solutions, the rise of human endeavor and flexibility.
I'm also reading Great Tide Rising by Kathleen Dean Moore because a) I like to keep up with Counterpoint authors, and b) I love her nonfiction work, and c) I'm teaching with her at Fishtrap (a writing workshop in Oregon) in July.
Funny that they both have "rise" in the title. Maybe I should say I planned it that way.
What's the one book that you recommend to people, over and over?
That really varies on the person. But I do point people to Counterpoint books as being the best-of-the-best of what's being published today (and I'm not just saying that). I also tell people to get a subscription to The Sun magazine – for the same reason.
Who are some of your writer mentors? Do you find that's changed over time as you evolve as a writer or do they remain the same?
Kent Haruf was a great mentor until he passed away. His books were a huge influence on me – and I believe he'll go down in history as one of the greats. He was a humble man and a generous mentor. Before that, Emilie Buchwald, who was the editor in chief at Milkweed Editions, was a huge and important mentor. She took me under her wing when I was just in my twenties. I write her a thank you letter from time to time, just to remind her how grateful I am. Rick Bass continues to be a great friend and mentor as well. And I have so many writing friends—and they are my community, my peeps, my literary soulmates.
What is your most prized book possession? A first edition? A gift? Please describe.
That's a tough question! Okay, I'd say three things: an old copy of The Little Prince from my childhood, a broadside of Kent Haruf's writing gifted to me by a friend, and an arrowhead I found as a child (which is not a book possession, but it sits next to these other things). I own nothing of value, really. My books are my most prized possession.


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Establish an Energy Company in Malaysia
Updated on Tuesday 01st November 2016
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The energy industry is a vital sector of any modern country. The activities carried out in this field are strongly regulated by the policies imposed by each government. However, due to the latest technological discoveries and also on the current situation of the climate, more and more governments are investing in green energy resources and this field is also increasing in Malaysia. Investors who want to open a company in Malaysia in the field of energy will need to follow specific steps. Our team of specialists in company formation in Malaysia can assist investors on various legal matters related to the energy sector.
Energy regulations in Malaysia
Energy in Malaysia is highly regulated by the governmental policies referring to its production, distribution or consumption and the main regulator in this field is the Department of Electricity and Gas Supply.
Other representative entities included in the energy field are:
• energy supply companies;
• services companies;
• research and development companies.
The main resources used to provide energy services are based on fossil fuel, which refers to various types of resources which are extracted from the soil. In current times, government is trying to impose new regulations promoting the usage of green energy, which should be a more cost-efficient solution on a long-term basis and that will not harm the environment.
The energy sector in Malaysia is regulated by a few rules, such as:
• Petroleum Development Act;
• Electricity Supply Act;
• Electricity Regulations.
The Electricity Supply Act offers a comprehensive image on the industry, which must provide its services at reasonable prices to its end consumers. At the same time, it prescribes the technical requirements that must be met by an energy installation. Our team of company incorporation representatives in Malaysia can provide more details on this matter.
Green energy in Malaysia
Those interested in openig a company in Malaysia in this field can also opt for a green energy business. Companies operating in this sector must respect the regulations of the Renewable Energy Act 2011. Part IX of the Act prescribes the ways in which licenses are issued or renewed, in accordance with the type of green installation used.
Businessmen are invited to contact our team of company formation agents in Malaysia for more details on how to establish an energy company.


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Spiritual/Secular Personhood – March 10thMarch 10, 2017
My morning routine takes me through a progression of reading. I have two broad categories; Bible/Devotional and Secular (business/news/technology/sports). For the secular category, I use the app feedly to pull a sampling of internet happenings into a smorgasbord of current events and ideas. I flip through the articles picking a few that catch my eye as interesting.
Rarely, do the categories of my morning reading coincide. That is what surprised me during this morning's ritual. This article, in Forbes of all places, was an insightful read for people actually engaging in their working world as complete embodiments of spiritual/secular personhood.
Do You Believe In God, But Not Intuition? http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucekasanoff/2017/03/10/do-you-believe-in-god-but-not-intuition/
Let me know what you think.


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Dating is tough, even for Selena Gomez.
"I feel like I look 16 sometimes, which is a bummer because I would love to date older guys," confesses the 23-year-old singer in the January issue of InStyle UK, on stands Thursday.
It's also difficult to get to know someone when they've already read about you in the tabloids.
"It's hard and I'm weirded out by the idea that a guy has Googled me before we meet, and that has happened."
However, Gomez admitted that there's one man she does have her heart set on — even if he is off the market.
"If [Zayn Malik] had asked me out on a date, I would be seen with him. Just kidding, but not kidding," she hinted. Malik's currently linked to Gigi Hadid, a model and fellow member of Taylor Swift's "squad."
This isn't the first time the "Same Old Love" singer has made self-disparaging remarks on her youthful looks, having made a similar comment on Bravo's "Watch What Happens Live" in October.
"Now I know I look 16, but I'm 23," Gomez replied when host Andy Cohen asked if there was a romantic connection between her and Brooklyn Beckham, who is just 16.


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Biopics of writers are notoriously difficult to pull off and, unfortunately, Daniel Augusto's film about the Brazilian author of such international literary blockbusters as The Alchemist and The Pilgrimage is no exception. Despite its subject having led a colorful life, Paulo Coelho's Best Story is too diffuse and disjointed to pack much of a punch. Only the writer's most ardent fans — and they are legion, judging by his book sales of over 190 million copies — will find anything of interest here.
Using a fragmented, non-linear approach, the film, written by Carolina Kotscho, tells the life story of Coelho (played in his younger and older versions by siblings Ravel and Julio Andrade) from his troubled youth, when his rebellious ways and suicide attempts led to his being institutionalized several times, to his sixties, when he celebrated the 25th anniversary of his greatest literary success by once again walking the Road of Santiago de Compostela.
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Along the way he experimented with drugs; became a successful songwriter in collaboration with the Brazilian rock star Raul Seixas (Lucci Ferreira); was arrested for his subversive lyrics by the ruling military government; and, after writing several books that proved less than successful, achieved worldwide fame with The Alchemist. Regarding the smash hit — in a scene that will surely resonate with every writer— he's initially told by his agent that "this book isn't any good."
These events and more are presented in a melodramatic, visually overheated style that quickly proves wearisome. Despite the copious scenes depicting drug use and sex — the latter involving a sexy lover/muse (Paz Vega) as well as Coelho's loving, supportive wife (Fabiana Gugli) — the proceedings are relentlessly dull. More to the point, the film fails in its primary goal of making us fully understand the author's artistic development, admittedly a difficult task.
Read More 'Pancake Man': Film Review
As seen in the film, one of the oft-quoted passages from The Alchemist is, "When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." In this case, the universe seems to have let the filmmaker down.
Production: Babel Films, Dama Filmes
Cast: Julio Andrade, Ravel Andrade, Nancho Novo, Fabiana Gugli, Fabiula Nascimento, Enrique Diaz, Lucci Ferreira, Paz Vega\
Director: Daniel Augusto
Screenwriter: Carolina Kotscho
Producers: Iona de Macedo, Carolina Kotscho, Angelica Huete|
Director of photography: Jacob Solitrenick
Production designer: Antxon Gomez
Editors: Leticia Giffoni, Daniel Augusto
Costume designer: Ana Avelar
Composer: Pascal Gaigne
Not rated, 112 minutes
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If cash is tight, upgrading to a solid-state drive is easily one of the biggest PC bangs you can get for your bottom dollar. Seriously, these puppies are face-melting fast, and the cheapest SSD you can buy blows the spinning platters off the fastest traditional hard drives you can buy.
But what if that's still not fast enough? What if you've got a need—a need for truly blistering storage speed?
Intel just might have you covered, oh impatient one. At the company's annual Intel Developer Forum this September, Intel plans to demonstrate a way to overclock its self-branded SSDs, as part of a larger overclocking session that mostly looks devoted to Haswell and upcoming Ivy Bridge-E Extreme Edition processors.
While overclocking processors, graphics cards, and even RAM is all relatively commonplace, overclocking SSDs is virtually unheard of—but that doesn't mean it isn't theoretically possible. Solid-state drives rely on NAND flash memory, and like those other frequently tweaked PC components, NAND is regulated by clock speeds and other technical fineries, all of which are regulated by the firmware in your drive's SSD controller.
Myce.com claims to have found hints about SSD overclocking abilities while digging around in preliminary code for Intel's XTreme Tuning Utility, a tool used to overclock and monitor your system hardware. Myce's sleuthing revealed options to control both the clock speed and the NAND bus speed of SSDs. The site also discovered "limited," "typical," and "unrestrained" power-mode options.
The promises and perils of overclocking SSDs
The scarcity of solid-state overclocking tools isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. Any time you overclock a component, you run the risk of stability issues—and an unstable storage drive is no storage drive at all. You also have to wonder how overclocking will affect the longevity of solid-state drives, especially as the industry adopts SSDs using NAND flash with triple-level cell technology, which (theoretically) sport shorter life spans than SSDs that use one or two cells.
In other words, drive reliability could be a big concern when overclocking SSDs.
Assuming the overclocking abilities come via the Xtreme Tuning Utility, Intel presumably won't let you push hard enough to fry your drive. Even still, there's probably no real reason to overclock SSDs—yet.
X-bit Labs, which first noticed the IDF session details, points out that the storage speed bottleneck in enthusiast PCs isn't so much the speed of the SSD itself as much as the 0.6 gigabyte per second (GBps) cap on the SATA 3.0 interface. Overclocking an SSD that already saturates the SATA interface is pretty much pointless.
When the upcoming SATA Express spec rolls out with 2GBps speeds, though, overclocking SSDs should be a much more practical performance option for PC enthusiasts with a need for ludicrous speed. Stay tuned for all the details out of IDF, which will be held September 10 – 12 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.


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7-Day US East Coast In-Depth Package from Philadelphia
As low as
Tour Code : PHL70401
Departure City : Philadelphia
Duration : 7 day(s) 6 night(s)
Availability : Mon. Thu.
Washington DC. Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veteran Memorial, Korean War Memorial, White House, Capitol Hill, Natural History Museum, Madame Tussaud's Washington DC*, Ford's Theatre, FBI Headquarter; Philadelphia, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Mint; New York City in-depth, USS Intrepid Museum*, One World Trade Center*, The Met*, Time Square, Broadway, Fifth Ave., Central Park; New York State Capitol; Thousand Islands Scenic Boat Ride Tour*; Boston Common, MIT, Harvard, Quincy Market, Boston Harbor Cruise*, Mass State House; Corning Museum of Glass*, Niagara Falls State Park, Maid of the Mist*, Niagara Jet Boat*, Niagara Falls IMAX Movie*, The Spirit of the Mist Indian Show*; Yale University*, Breakers Mansion* and much more for you to discover.
Day 1 : Philadelphia - Baltimore
In the morning the bus tour will go to the birth place of our country, the city of Philadelphia. You will visit Independence Hall where George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army, the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, and the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. You will also see the Liberty Bell which has been a symbol of liberty for over 200 years. Next is Philadelphia US Mint. In the afternoon, we will go to Christina Mall in Delaware, which is one of duty free states. Then we will leave for Baltimore. The Baltimore inner harbor is the famous attraction that you can't miss in the city.
Day 2 : Washington D.C. Sightseeing Bus Tour
We travel to the heart of the United States: Washington D.C. First of all, we will join a tour walking into the Capitol building. Next, visit the the Madame Tussauds Presidents Wax Museum in which totally 44 wax statues of United States' presidents are exhibited. Walk across the street, we can see the Ford's Theatre, the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865. Not far away from the theatre, it is the headquarter of FBI. After that you'll have the chance to see some of the city's most historic monuments up close by yourself. We'll visit the Lincoln Memorial which houses a 20 foot tall seated statue of the 16th president, and we'll visit the Jefferson Memorial that is dedicated to the founding father and drafter of the Declaration of Independence. No visit to D.C. is complete without seeing the White House. You will be able to view the historic building before our tour visits the Vietnam Veteran Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. These monuments honor those that gave their lives in these conflicts to secure freedoms we enjoy today. Before we leave D.C. we will visit the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, home of many artifacts of aerospace technology including the Apollo 11 module that went to the moon.
Day 3 : D.C. - Corning Glass Center - Niagara Falls
In the morning the bus tour will depart from Washington D.C. and travel to Corning, New York to visit the Corning Museum of Glass which is the largest glass museum in the world with more than 45,000 objects from over 3,500 years of glassmaking history. You will also see live, narrated glassmaking demonstrations. Afterwards the bus tour will take you to Niagara Falls. The Falls is collectively made from the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and are famous for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. A historical boat ride aboard the world famous Maid of the Mist offers up close and exciting views of the Falls. In the evening, we will join the Native Indian show, The Spirit of the Mist. The show presented by the World Class Native Spirit Dancers. Come together as they take you on a journey of beautiful dance, traditional music and stories passed through the generations. Experience a full sensory show through exciting music, captivating dancing, exceptional costumes and genuine native singing. The show captures audiences of all ages! Next is the colorful and wonderful Niagara Falls Illumination on the Goat Island.
Day 4 : Niagara Falls - Thousand Islands - Albany
In the morning the Niagara Falls bus tour will see the spectacular views of Niagara Falls up close. Enjoy the spectacular view of this landmark between US and Canada. You will also go to the IMAX Theatre to experience the Falls like never before. Here you can see "The Falls Movie: Legends of Adventure" ----- one of the most spectacular IMAX movies of all time. You will sit in a giant six-story movie screen and feel the power of 12,000 watts of thunderous digital surround sound where you can see behind the mist, myths and mysteries of one of the most storied natural wonders of the world. Then we will travel to Thousand Islands. This archipelago of more than 1800 islands situated on a 50 mile span by the US-Canada border stretches along the Saint Lawrence River to Lake Ontario and inspired the famous salad dressing. Join us as we sail these scenic waters. Here you will be able to take in the mystery and majesty of the islands aboard the Thousand Island Boat Cruise. Once pirate infested parts, the region is rife with legends of buccaneers and patriots that robbed passing ships and burned enemy vessels. Today the Thousand Islands are home to beautiful and luxurious castles like Boldt Castle on Heart Island, and the world's shortest international bridge. The last stop is the New York State Capitol in Albany.
Day 5 : Albany - Boston
Today we will head to Boston. The bus tour begins by visiting Cambridge, world-renowned academic home to both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the nation's oldest institution of higher education and remains much in the same brick and mortar colonial style, fenced in by lively Harvard Square. A short bus ride takes you to the MIT campus with its old world meets modernity combination of architecture, exuding the passion for technological advancement that is fostered within its community. After our education, we head back into the heart of the Boston, to see the archaically-designed Massachusetts State House presiding over the city atop a hill that looks out over the Boston Common Park. Originally built in 1795, the State House symbolized America's post-war vitality and dedication to the values that embarked the move for independence and democracy. Its survival to this day is testament to the richness of Boston's culture. Next, a Harbor Cruise will take you around the Port of Boston, historically one of the America's principal seaports since the days of colonial rule. Boston Harbor has remained an important gateway between the land and the sea throughout America's lifetime, and was the site of perhaps the most famous revolutionary activity, the Boston Tea Party. From the harbor, you will get the best view of the Boston skyline and watch how the city wraps around alongside the flowing Charles River. In the afternoon, we continue the tour in Boston's downtown with a walk through historic Faneuil Hall, which has been a marketplace and meeting site since 1742. You will be able to stand in the vicinity of where the great revolutionary speakers, Samuel Adams and James Otis, stood when they encouraged their fellows to rise up for independence. Then shop through the endless food stalls, taste fresh seafood cooked in local styles, or join the crowd of people that always gathers around street performers.
Day 6 : Boston - Breakers RI - Yale University - New York City
In the morning, we will travel to Newport Rhode Island where we will visit the famed Breakers Mansion. Once the extravagant home of the Vanderbilt family, the 700 room mansion overlooks the Atlantic Ocean gets its name from the crashing of the waves on the cliffs below. Next we visit the town of New Haven, in Connecticut to visit the famed campus of Yale University. As a prominent ivy league university, the school is well known for its beautiful campus and distinguished alumnus. From here we drive to New York City.
Day 7 : New York In-Depth Tour - Philadelphia
Our adventure begins in Manhattan's Wall Street and the home of the New York Stock Exchange. As one of the financial cores of the country, Wall Street is a sight you won't want to miss. From there it's on to Ground Zero, the site of the September 11 tragedy. We'll pay our respects to the fallen and witness the remarkable rebuilding efforts in the area. Climb up the symbolic 1776 feet tall One World Trade Center building (so-called Freedom Tower), the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, we will admire the breathtaking panorama from its observation deck. Continue our journey with more iconic buildings in New York: The United Nations building, the Empire State building, Chrysler building, and the Rockefeller Center. From the headquarter of the United Nations for the last 60 years to the towering heights of 102 stories, learn more about the history of each of these buildings as we tour pass these sites. Next we will visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to take in the rich artistic culture New York is famous for. With over 2 million masterpieces in its collection, you'll be stunned by the range of art and history on its walls. Next up we board the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. Formerly a World War II aircraft carrier, the Intrepid is now a floating maritime museum dedicated to the history of America's involvement in sea, air and space. Our tour then takes you aboard the Statue of Liberty Cruise for a chance to view the cityscape from the water and New York's most celebrated landmark: the Statue of Liberty. After the cruise it's over to Times Square and the Broadway Theater district. Known as "the Crossroads of the World," Times Square is one of the most visited attractions in the world. Drive back to Philadelphia after the New York In-Depth Tour.
**Note: The Thousand Islands Scenic Boat Ride is seasonal and is only available from April to October.
**Note: We reserve the rights to use third party motor coach to provide the transfer between NYC and Philadelphia.
Departure and Return info.:
- Use of a local third party bus shuttle service may be employed by the tour operator from New York to Philadelphia based on weather/ traffic conditions and the number of travelers choosing to end in Philadelphia. Drop off locations will be varied if third party bus is in use. Please call in for detail on the last day of your tour.
|Double (per person)
|Third Person
|Fourth Person
*Kid ages 2-9 yr old, infant less than 2 yr old join the tour for FREE if NOT occupied a bus seat.
Price for Single Occupancy applies when one person stays in one standard hotel room.
Price for Double/Triple/Quadruple Occupancy applies when two/three/four people stay in one standard hotel room respectively. Thus, result in a lower per person price.
Maximum 4 guests in each hotel room (incl. kid and infant). Each standard hotel room comes with TWO full sizes or ONE queen size bed. Triple/Quadruple price does not guarantee a third/fourth bed in the room since each room is equipped with 2 beds. Roll-a-ways beds are regulations of each hotel; you are responsible for paying the additional cost for roll-a-way bed. Please check the availability at the time of check-in.
BUY 2 GET 2 FREE Promotion Rules:
The third and fourth guests join the tour for FREE on share room basis with a $20 processing fee. (Except applicable admission fee, service charge and fuel surcharge)
Late Cancellation or NO show of the Free-Fare passenger will result in $350 penalty fee for the reserved bus seat. The other participating passenger in the reservation is responsible for paying the penalty fee to the tour escort prior departure.
All other reschedule, change, and cancellation please refer to the Standard Cancellation and Refund Policy.
Price Includes:
- Ground transportation via deluxe Air-Conditioned and Lavatory Equipped motorcoach with complimentary pick-up and drop-off at chosen location. To insure fewer passengers operation, 15 seats minibus may be substituted.
- Passenger insurance while on board motorcoach. Due to motorcoach insurance policy, passengers over 2 years of age must purchase ticket in order to occupy seats.
- 6 night(s) hotel accommodation.
- Professional tour escort.
- Taxes included.
Price Excludes:
- All meals or drinks during the trip, but our tour escort will arrange for these.
- Personal room expenses such as hotel room services and meal, telephone calls, laundry services, on demand TV shows etc.
- Any private expenses such as airfare or any related transportation to the pick-up location, visa fee, travel document etc.
- Service fee for tour escort and driver: Minimum $10 per passenger per day.
- Optional admission fees to all attractions. Listed below. Prices are subject to change without prior notices.
Optional Activities:
|Kid (age)
|Boston Harbor Cruise
|$18 (3-11)
|Breakers Mansion
|$8 (6-17)
|Corning Museum of Glass
|Free (under 17)
|Harvard and Yale University
|Madame Tussauds Wax Museum DC
|$18 (4-12)
|Maid of the Mist (Seasonal)
|$11.2 (6-12)
|Metropolitan Museum of Art
|Free (under 12)
|Niagara Falls IMAX Movie USA
|$8 (6-12)
|Niagara JetBoat
|$59 (4-12)
|Old Fort Niagara and Whirlpool State Park
|One World Trade Center
|$28 (6-12)
|Statue of Liberty Cruise
|$25 (3-12)
|Thousand Islands Scenic Boat Ride (Seasonal)
|$15 (4-12)
|Thundering Water Cultural Show
|$20 (6-12)
|U.S.S. Intrepid Museum
|$26 (7-17)
Special Notes
Prior to booking your tour, it is your responsibility to read and all information related to your tour products listed under these Itinerary, Pricing, Special Notes and FAQ tabs. Terms and Conditions, Cancellation and Refund Policy can be found on the bottom of every webpage.
Trip Reservation Process:
All tours are open for early booking. It is recommended that customers should book tour at least two weeks before departure date. Bus seats will be pre-assigned after payment is made based on a first come first served basis. The following flowchart summarized the booking process.
- After you submitting your reservation online, you will receive a Pre-Order email within a couple of hours.
- Within 2 business days, we will send you a confirmation email to confirm your reservation of the trip. In this email, you could find the detailed boarding time and location of the trip, contact information of local service provider. Please print out this email with E-TICKET number as the boarding pass for the trip. Also, you can login to our website http://www.tripedition.com/index.php?route=account/login to check the status of your order.
- At the departure date, simply print out the E-TICKET if you have not already done so, and present it with your valid photo ID. Please note that this E-TICKET is the only proof of your purchase of the tour.
- Please make sure you have received our Final Confirmation Letter email with your E-ticket number before booking air tickets, extended hotel stays and etc., if applicable.
Your reservation is always subject to confirmation by email normally within two business days. Promotional offers such as BUY 2 GET 1 FREE is provided and confirmed only on an availability basis. In the rare events (such as booking ONE day prior to the departure day), your reservation can not be confirmed by the service provider, a full refund will be credited back to your account.
The order of day-to-day itinerary is adjustable depending on tour start date of the week. For the detailed arrangement, please email or call the local service provider prior to departure date to re-confirm. Their contact info will be listed in your final confirmation email.
We reserve the right to change the hotel to another of equal or better standard than the hotel mentioned in the itineraries.
Depending on the number of passengers booked for a particular departure, tours may be combined to ensure fewer passengers operation.
We do not recommend infants younger than 2 years of age to join the tours, since our tour guides are not specially trained to provide service to these types of passengers and cannot be responsible for their well being.
Boarding Tips and Travel Documents:
All passengers should arrive at the boarding location at LEAST 15 min. prior to the departure time.
All passengers must show E-TICKET (the boarding pass) for boarding.
Passengers are held solely responsible for their own valid travel documents.
Travel Insurance:
We are not responsible for any occur on or during the tour. It is optional that passengers to purchase travel insurance. By accepting our policy, passenger should agree that we shall hold no responsibilities includes but not limited to the following unforeseeable events such as weather, accident, bus break down, sickness, theft, itinerary changes, delays or cancellation. We are strongly advising you to purchase travel insurance before departure to insure compensations for the unexpected causes above. Such travel insurance can be purchased through third party insurance suppliers.
All tours are escorted by professional bi- or multi-lingual tour guides and/or drivers guide. For driver guided tour, the language will be limited to English/Chinese.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the bus wait for me if I'm late?
Sorry. Tour buses will depart on time. Please be understandable this is a group tour, we have to satisfy the entire group for a smooth operation of the tour. We recommend you arrive at the departure location 15-30 minutes prior the depart time.
Is the drop-off location the same as boarding location for all Tripedition tours?
The tours usually pick-up and drop-off at the same locations unless otherwise stated in the tour Departure and Return Info page.
What happens if I forgot to bring proper travel documents on the boarding day (Passport, Green card, Visa, etc.)?
You can NOT board the bus. The tour guide shall check anyone's proper travel documents prior boarding. Bear in mind, when you can NOT board for this reason, this also triggers the reschedule fee or cancellation penalty. Please refer to the Special Notes section of your booked tour for proper travel documents.
How many pieces of baggage am I allowed to bring?
We recommend two pieces of standard sized baggage per passenger due to the load limitation of the motorcoach. If the tour is operated by 14 seats minibus, only ONE piece per passenger is allowed.
Is there a restroom on the bus?
Yes, only for motorcoach buses. However, we recommend the use of lavatory when there is a personal emergency. All our local service providers, try to maintain a clean environment on the bus, therefore, the bus will make rest stops along the way (every 2-3 hours) at highway service area. If you need to use the lavatory on the way, you may ask the tour guide to open it for your use.
What can we do if we choose not to go on the optional activities?
Optional activities are booked through the tour guide while you are on the tour. If you do not wish to participate in certain tour activities, you can hang around the tourist attraction as you like to. The tour guide will inform guests on the return time to the tour bus before he/she dismisses the group.
We are vegetarians, should I join the tour?
Definitely Yes. Meal breaks will be arranged at hotels, various ethnic restaurants, food courts, and fast food restaurants. There should be vegetarian food for you to choose from the menus.


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Monday, June 26, 2017
I can't believe I am writing about restrooms...
"So what bathroom are you using now?" It's a good question. One that I haven't received much.
I haven't been asked too many tough questions, since I came out at work in April. Which is a shame because I really enjoy answering questions which make me think. I sometimes have to think out loud to actually figure stuff out.
The bathroom question has never really come up. So, in some ways I have had to ask myself that question and talk it out (poor Sarah).
Oh, what bathroom am I using? Thanks for asking! That's a great question. Before I get to the answer, I want to give you a little background.
When I was little, probably around age 4 or 5, I had this terrible, scary desire to be a girl. I did everything to try and put these "sinful" thoughts out of my head. Because, as a kid, I really believed that adults could "look into your eyes" and see the truth. And, I knew this was a "bad" thought I didn't want my parents to see.
As a child, I took every opportunity I could to express myself as a girl, always when no one was around, and often, in a hidden fashion, when they were around. I grew up in a fairly violent home, a very religious home. So the penalty would be extreme if I were to get caught. More than fear, I was very ashamed of what I did. I knew I was going to go to hell for the way I felt about myself and for my actions.
I became hypertuned into observing my surroundings and the people around me. I really learned how to be a sneak and how to cover my tracks. I kept thinking, that as I got older, I would "grow out of it." I prayed for this to happen every day. The only change was when I hit puberty. My attraction to women intensified.
The only twist was that, coupled with my thoughts of coupling with a beautiful woman, were my thoughts that I wanted to have the same kind of body and energy as that beautiful woman. Not good.
More shame. More prayers. More hiding. More continual scanning of the horizon to look for potential icebergs. Many times, I tried to stop this desire, but I was always unsuccessful. You know the rest of the story.
I think diverting much of my energy to be always observing has made me good in jobs that I have held - from being a B-52 crewmember to my work as a firefighter. It definitely has made me more of an empathetic person. Somewhere in this gender dissonance was a weird creativity that I really enjoyed too.
This struggle eventually made me more of a kind person because you never know what things other people struggle with. And if you are always observing, sometimes you see it.
The downside is that always expecting disaster on the horizon has put me in some very dark places. It has made me a less trusting person. And the smallest hint of disapproval can send me into a tailspin. I am working on that. In some ways, it has not been fair to the people I love because seemingly innocuous things can get overblown in my mind - simply because my radar's power is turned up way too high.
When I came out, I was expecting a fight. In fact, I was kind of looking forward to it. Instead, I was given the most amazing outpouring of love and acceptance. I expected to be swinging my fists. That was really hard to do when I found myself in one long uninterrupted hug. I have been humbled and amazed. I am eternally grateful.
What does this have to do with restrooms? Well, maybe you need to use one now after this long introduction.
I still have my radar up and running, and the bathroom issue is no exception.I have recently installed a few filters lately to the scan. I am still tuned into others around me. Coming out has only intensified that, but in a more empathetic way.
So, for me, the bathroom I will use, at least for right now is based on situational stuff and not wanting to shock people or make them uncomfortable.
At work, in my fire station, there are single occupancy bathrooms. I use those. At our training center, there are men's and women's rooms. I will use the women's because everyone at work knows I am a trans woman. I think this is the expectation of what I will do. And if I used the men's room at this point, my brothers would give me a ton of shit, and rightfully so.
In public places this is pretty situational too. I get it. I still look like a guy mostly. I am still fairly muscular and I am tall. In public, I sometimes dress kind of ambiguously. If I can use a public men's room without fear of getting my ass kicked, because of how I look or how I am dressed, I will do it. I don't want to have ciswomen feel uncomfortable with me in their space.
There is a tipping point for me and the radar I developed as a kid will be useful for me determining when it is more appropriate for me to use a public women's restroom, as opposed to the men's. I think the venue matters too. I will use the women's room at Nyne because I know they are used to trans folks as customers. When I was in Peru a couple of weeks ago, I never even considered using the women's room. I might have started an international incident. Besides, the women's rooms' lines were usually too long... That's a joke. But, they were really long.
In a nutshell, I live in a community. I work in a community. I want to fit in with that community whenever I can. I am not about taking a stand (provide your own urinal comment) to make people feel uncomfortable. I really value that people accept and love me. Today, I will take that over asserting my rights.
Most trans people I know are on the same sheet of music as me. We all just want to be accepted, to put our heads down and do our jobs, to love and be loved, to work to make the world better for future generations of all people - no matter who they are or what they are. All the trans people I know, so far, are kind people who don't seek to cause problems.
There is an initiative coming up - I-1552 - that will seek to limit restroom use for trans people. If it passes, it will become illegal for me to use the restroom which causes the least discomfort for other people. It will also put me and others at risk of violence. It will cause discord among all of us. I don't want to march for "the right to use a bathroom." I don't want to make people who love me choose sides. Everything is fine right now. The current law that we have works just fine. Let's not set the clock back in order to combat urban legends and some imaginative what-ifs and actually hurt real people.
The truth is about a month ago, I noticed I started getting some strange looks in the men's room while I was washing my hands. I looked in the mirror. Nine months of hormone replacement therapy and my face had changed. So had my body. There was physical ambiguity. And my radar picked up on the slightest discomfort from men in their room, a place where they should feel comfortable. I felt like an interloper. After that encounter, I started "holding it" until I made it back home. it wasn't even a conscious decision. I was just making an automatic course correction from my observations in order to make others feel comfortable.
To avoid using public restrooms out of a human concern for others' sensibilities is one thing. Making it a law is a civil rights issue. I would suspect you would see massive civil disobedience from trans people and their allies which would cause more discord and more problems between people who, when you get right down to it, love each other.
Right now, I use the restroom that causes the least dischord. A single occupancy at home and in the station. The women's room at other SFD facilities. And I just don't urinate in public restrooms, unless I reallllly have to go. If I do, I cautiously use the men's room, unless I am at an overtly trans friendly place. I suspect that once the scales have tipped and I look more female, I will use the women's room - cautiously and quickly - in public places.
Why would anyone want to prevent me from being kind and respectful of others? If you vote yes on the anti-trans bathroom bill, that's what you will be asking me to do when you make me use the men's room.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Haiku Friday on Saturday!
Haiku Friday June 23, 2017
on Saturday June 24, 2017
you make me see things darker.
i've recently heard of "normal people's" happiness
you stripped my normal happiness
like you stripped my sleeping body - Gracie
Peruse through Peru, It's funny to see the words, Lake Titicaca. Don
Notch eared stray tabby.
Nineteen years. Painful joints. Farts.
Flies with party hats.
Quiet, like a cat
sprawled on the living room floor
licking at his junk. Stine
Time to let it go:
vestigial womanhood;
that pink gingham dress. Stine
You'd better rest up
Lest you create some upchuck
No Tourista Bug! Stine
What is going on?
Not a thing as I had planned
Maybe tomorrow. Phyllis
The right and left wing
Can't fly without the other
Parts of the same bird
Only one chance at life.
Seek out all, enrich oneself.
No fear. Follow love. Jack
Three traits to work on
Bravery, truth and kindness
Connected opposed - me
Another Brew Run Run!
OK. I accidentally made this a private function on FaceBook. It's not. You (whoever you are) are invited!
Run, bike, start, whatever, from wherever but let's plan on being at No-Li at 1:30 pm. Then we will run back into downtown to Black Label. After that, the order is Steel Barrel, River City and we'll finish at Iron Goat. Iron Goat has good food too.
Orlison and Whistle Punk are closed on Sundays, or I would have put them on the route.
Friday, June 16, 2017
How a bout a little Haiku Friday?
Haiku Friday, June 16, 2017
A New Moon haiku!
All possibility is
Right before our eyes. Eve
So subliminal. Almost too subtle I think. Covert poetry. Bob
Nixon did it too! You guys are crazy that way. How do you do that? Doug
Sometimes I'm surprised,
The eloquence of the rhymes,
Think I'll do it twice. Tyson
Haiku withdrawal
For seven days we wait sad
Syllables on hold Grace
Work to do today
While my friend Maeve gets to play
Still happy for her! Christen
Out in the alley
Methy misunderstandings
long before sun-up. Stine
So many poppies --
red petal-paper unfurled,
fleeting dominions. Stine
For a brief moment
Aloft in the still darkness
Higher than the moon
Happy Birthday Don, 73 isn't old, Russia is coming. Don
Train car commandos
Loco laughter pulls tears
And I'm back on track Me
Why grieve potential?
Future deserves its repast
Seedling lifts much soil Me
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Gambling Online has become a huge industry over the years. One of the first things that anyone new to online gambling will need to understand is what type of gambling will be best for them. Gambling Online is any type of gambling conducted online. This includes casinos, virtual poker and online sports betting.
The first worldwide online gambling site to open to the public, was lottery tickets for the first ever World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada in October 1994. Since then many other international casinos have introduced a variety of different types of gambling online 솔카지노. In most cases, the software that is used is based on what type of casino the player is using, for example, one casino may provide the software for poker games while another type of casino provides slot games. The most common types of gambling online that is available to players are poker and slots.
A very unique aspect of online gambling is that players can engage in both "real" gambling online and also play against other individuals or computer programs. This type of personal interaction is referred to as "room play". This type of room play is highly competitive, there are a number of skilled players who spend a lot of time trying to strategize their chances of winning the jackpot. These skilled players spend hours in the single player mode, either waiting for the timers on the machines to expire or just playing against the house. It is much more fun to play in a personal setting where you can be your own best friend and chat with fellow players at the same time.
Other popular types of gambling online include online poker games and online slot machines. Many players enjoy the social aspect of playing with fellow poker players or other individuals. Online slot machines offer a great alternative to playing in the casinos where there are literally thousands of slot machines scattered throughout every city and town. When you are looking for a game where you can go home and play alone without the interruptions of other players it is your best bet. However, when you are betting real money with real funds you want to make sure that you do your homework before you begin.
Be sure that you are familiar with the laws and regulations surrounding gambling online. The United States government along with state and local governments have different definitions of what gambling online means. For example, the state of New York has laws that regulate online wagering but does not regulate it in the same way that the state law would regulate live wagering. Also, the Internal Revenue Service has laws that prevent Turbo Tax from being used to pay out taxes. If you are found to be in violation of these state and federal laws then the penalties can be stiff. For this reason, it is important to educate yourself with the various definitions and regulation for online gambling before you begin to participate.
It is important that when you are researching online gambling sites to check out the testimonials that they provide. There have been many instances in which individuals have been charged with crimes simply because they did not have an understanding of how they were conducting their gambling online. In addition, you should make sure that you fully understand all of the policies and guidelines that any gaming operators have in place. You should also check into the background of the company or operator to ensure that they are established and trustworthy. Finally, do your research and find a site that you feel comfortable placing your bet on. You should always feel comfortable placing a bet on any site that you are familiar and comfortable with the interface and other activities that are provided to you through the site.


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MANILA, Philippines – With online and text votes reaching over 4 million, the winners of the 2012 Yahoo! OMG Awards showered praise on their supporters during their acceptance speeches.
Legions of fans gathered at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on the evening of July 6 to pay homage to their celebrity idols. Raymond Gutierrez, Isabelle Daza and Solenn Heussaff hosted.
The night was a spectacle filled with elaborate performances and A-list presenters. Celebrities like Richard Gomez, Lucy Torres, Coco Martin, Sam Pinto, Bella Padilla, John Estrada, Kim Chiu and Xian Lim (amongst many others) walked on the purple carpet and interacted with throngs of fans who lined up as early as 4pm.
The 16,000-seat arena's upper box was filled with fan clubs who proudly displayed support for their chosen star. Most notable was the following of recent love-team Kim Chiu and Xian Lim of My Binondo Girl fame; they came in droves for the event.
The fan attendance also reflected the results, as Kim Chiu and Xian Lim walked away with 4 major awards: breakthrough male and female, the Loveteam of the Year and — as vindication to their fan base — the best fan club award.
"Sa lahat ng Kim Chiu fan clubs at sa sumuporta sa amin ni Xian, maraming maraming salamat (To all the Kim Chiu fan clubs and to all who support Xian and myself, thank you very much)," Chiu expressed in her acceptance speech.
It was Coco Martin however, who got the biggest ovation of the night: he received the Best Actor of the Year Award. Attendees all over the arena screamed in delight as he went up the stage.
"Kung wala po kayo, wala po ako dito (Without you, I wouldn't be here)," Martin said, pointing to his fans.
A number of winners and nominees were unable to come to the event because of prior engagements, particularly Angel Locsin, who bagged 3 awards this year as Best Actress, with Phil Younghusband as the It-Couple of the Year, and as part of Unofficially Yours, the Best Movie of the Year.
"Sana po andiyan ako, pero nasa taping po ako ngayon (I wish I was there, but I am taping right now)," Locsin explained in a video.
Other winners, such as Male Newcomer Daniel Padilla and Celebrity of the Year Anne Curtis, also delivered their acceptance speeches through video.
OMG also paid a touching tribute to the King of Comedy, with a video presentation of his achievements and milestones in the industry. The video was presented by Richard Gomez and John Estrada.
A number of noteworthy performances from Solenn Heussaff, Lovi Poe and musical acts Gloc 9, Urbandub and Franco kept the energy high for the night. Gary and Gab Valenciano capped off the evening with their father and son duet, a medley of pop songs that featured energetic dance moves.
Here is the complete list of winners:
- Female Newcomer of the Year – Solenn Heussaff
- Male Newcomer of the Year – Daniel Padilla
- Best Male Singer – Christian Bautista
- Best Female Singer – Sarah Geronimo
- Sunsilk Standout Hair – Shamcey Supsup
- Child Star of the Year – Xyriel Manabat
- Best Male Radio DJ – Papa Jack
- Best Female Radio DJ – Nicole Hyala
- Best Radio Show – The Morning Rush with Chico, Delamar and Gino
- Best Radio Station – WLS FM 97.1
- Band of the Year – Parokya ni Edgar
- Comedian of the Year – Vice Ganda
- Comedienne of the Year – Eugine Domingo
- Female TV Host – Bianca Gonzales
- Male TV Host – Luis Manzano
- Most Promising Actor – Enrique Gil
- Most Promising Actress – Kathryn Bernardo
- Fan Club of the Year – KimXi
- Breakthrough Actor of the Year – Xian Lim
- Breakthrough Actress of the Year – Kim Chiu
- Actress of the Year – Angel Locsin
- Actor of the Year – Coco Martin
- Love Team of the Year – Kim Chiu and Xian Lim
- IT Couple – Angel Locsin and Phil Younghusband
- Major Impact Award – Vilma Santos
- Movie of the Year – Unofficially Yours
- Celebrity of the Year – Anne Curtis
– Rappler.com
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Beverly Youmans was shocked when she heard her name at a recent banquet.
She had just been named the latest Catherine McAuley Award winner for St. Joseph's/Candler.
"I got chosen, but there's others people who do the same thing at our center," the Brooklet resident said. "God's blessed me and let me take care of oncology patients."
Youmans, manager of outpatient infusion at the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion in Savannah, has been with the St. Joseph's/Candler system since 1988, but has worked as a registered nurse since 1978, serving in Effingham County and other hospitals.
The McAuley Award is presented annually to a co-worker who best exemplifies the mission and values of the health system. It is named in honor of Catherine McAuley, who founded the Sisters of Mercy in Ireland in the 1800s in the hopes of bringing education, health care, social justice and spiritual guidance to those in need.
"Her mission was to provide care for the poor, sick and uneducated," Youmans said. "This award is just really special to me because the Sisters of Mercy continue to be a presence in our hospital, and they set an example of how to care for people, patients and others."
Agnes Cannella, the director of missions at St. Joseph's/Candler, said that without hesitation, every person she spoke with at the hospital about Youmans during the time of narrowing down the nominees was enthusiastic about how deserving Youmans was of the award.
Cannella said she's even known of patients who stop Youmans in the mall, saying things like, "It was because of you that I got through my treatment; you helped me walk through my journey."
"She is an inspiration and a healing presence to people," Cannella said. "She truly lives out our mission statement: 'Rooted in God's love, we treat illness and promote wellness for all people.'"
One of the nominations Youmans received stated, "Not only are the patients infused with medicine, they also appear to be infused with the love, goodness and great compassion that comes from Beverly, her staff and all services."
Another wrote, "She is a very positive force in a place where many patients must face, pain, uncertainty, fear. Even though Beverly serves in this environment every day, she remains positive, smiling and hopeful."
Youmans and her husband, Foy, are the parents of five children and have four grandchildren.
Beverly Youmans was shocked when she heard her name at a recent banquet.


text: New World Park is the pairing of the typical, roadside Penang fare with the comfort of a clean, sheltered food court. Bistros, cafes and upmarket eateries occupy the portion nearest to Burma Road, while the portion closer to Hutton Lane features hawker stalls. Most patrons champion the ais kacang here, which is topped with a large scoop of ice cream, but New World Park also has its share of famous Penang food such as the Hokkien mee, curry mee and asam laksa as well as Western selections like pizzas and pastries.


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When cell phones were only for making and receiving calls, the battery could last several days. With the advent of smart phones and their ability to connect to the Internet, send and receive data, integration of social networking and other services, it is rare for a full charge takes no more than a day. But there are steps you can take to maximize the battery life. Here are some suggestions:
- Identify applications that are constantly connected to the web and in their respective settings adjusts the frequency with which they do (news aggregators, news, social networking applications). The constant connection to the Internet is a major cause of excessive battery.
- If you do not need the application that is causing the power loss, remove it. My personal rule is: If more than one week and I have not used it do not really need it.
- Even if Android does not need a "Task Killer" because it has its own mechanism for disabling applications that are not in use, having one can be useful to disable applications that are causing excessive load consumption. Be careful to turn off, there are processes which are necessary for normal functioning of the phone and there are applications that simply are reactivated. You can get one in the Android Market.
- Use a "widget" that allows you to monitor memory consumption and loading available. A high consumption of memory or CPU cycles can point to a problem application. There are excellent "widgets" in the Android Market.
- Speaking of "widgets", make sure you do not have any consistent use of the connection to the web.
- Avoid excessive use of "bump charging." This term refers to the following: To inject an extra dose of charge to the battery when you're charging the phone and you see the battery icon indicates that you are charged, disconnect it and then reattach it. This can be done from time to time, but eventually affect battery performance.
- You can charge your phone several times a day if needed, modern lithium batteries do not develop "memory" as the old, so it reduces the time that last charged.
Remember that the more often you connect to the Internet, make downloading or transferring data, the greater the consumption of battery. The course duration varies between manufacturers, but overall, Android makes very effective use of the battery.


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Review: Dhaka Electronica Scene Compilation
19 September 2013
You've probably never tried to party in Dhaka.
I have.
It isn't easy.
In a country where alcohol is mostly illegal, and in capital city which would envy the power supply of Gorakhpur, residents are often at a loss in their search for the perfect beat.
I once spent a week in Dhaka. Every person I met – all children of the Bangla elite – was looking forward to Friday night. A restaurant had been hired, the police had been paid off, the DJ was sorted, and there was going to be a party. Within a very tiny slice of Dhaka's privileged wild young things, this party was the Friday night plan.
We bought our tickets – a place had to be reserved in advance – for the equivalent of about 1,500 rupees, and showed up early, ready to get a full night of partying in. There ain't, after all, no party like an illegal party.
But the night was shut down before it even started. Somebody didn't pay off the right cop.
There was no other party to attend, no club to check out. The rest of the night reminded me of college; everybody calling everyone else to try and find out where they could go.
But there was nowhere else to go.
The point of this preamble is to give an idea of the challenges one faces when trying to help bring together an electronic music scene in Bangladesh. Dhaka has long been a supportive place for the kind of rock bands that grow out of high school and college jam sessions; the kind of grunge inspired rock that's common in Delhi, Bangalore, or neighbouring Calcutta. Electronic music, on the other hand, lacks a natural constituency. It's not to say that dance music requires intoxication and nightclubs, but these things certainly make it easier to develop the critical mass of a cohesive scene.
Dhaka Electronic Scene (DES) begins to fill that void.
The men behind DES (as it seems to be almost entirely men, sadly) are pushing to create a space for the scene, even if that space is at least partially virtual. The DES Facebook group opens a window onto the production chops of Bangladeshi electronic musicians.
DES recently released their second compilation of Bangaldeshi electronic production, 'Atisha – The Sonic Uprising'. And though I've been intending to write a review for the past month, I've consistently let other projects get in the way. That's because 'Atisha' is a very difficult album to write about.
It's difficult for two reasons. First, one usually expects some kind of sonic consistency from a compilation. But 'Atisha' is only consistent as the diverse styles of Dhaka's featured electronic music producers. This stylistic diversity means that all but the most ecumenical of listeners will dislike at least a few of the tracks on the album.
The second challenge is more contextual. I'm so happy about the fact that DES even exists, about the fact that a dedicated group of people are committed to advancing electronic music in Bangladesh, that I've struggled to force myself to be critical. Because though the album has much to offer, there are also several tracks that are more focused on what electronic music has been than what it could be.
Atisha's strongest cuts can be found not in the club tracks, but rather those that craft a more atmospheric electronic landscape. Many, notably The B Regiment's 'Fabric', echo the 1990s British Asian scene that fostered talents such as Asian Dub Foundation, Talvin Singh, and State of Bengal. Others, such as Fahad Zaman's excellent 'Cluster', sound almost as if The Avalanches decided to make a South Asian experiment; a sample, chopped and filtered to the point where its origins are no longer relevant, is buoyed by a simple drum beat. When the tabla-inflected breakbeat drops and apparently human vocal samples are twisted forwards and backwards over a palette of percussive madness, it becomes clear that Zaman has delivered the compilation's highlight.
A close competitor for the title, however, can be found in Kulhed's 'Britton'. I can't quite put my finger on why I enjoy the track so much. It sounds unmistakably like someone took a groovy, warm house track, and filtered everything but the drums down to the finest whisper of groove. This is a track for sipping champagne on rooftops; neither too club nor too lounge.
Other tracks, however, get stuck in the space between dancefloor and chill room and don't come out any better for it. Koshai's 'Venture' pairs a fucking fantastic and fully acid arpeggiated synth line with a tightly programmed melody and clean percussions samples. One senses trouble, however, with the arrival of the plodding dubstep-lite synthesised snare, and it is unavoidable when the mid-range wobble bass makes the track sound like… well, like a lot of other tracks.
Similar struggles are apparent in Rizvi Mahmud's 'Zubair' featuring Future Tribes of Electronica. The title couldn't me more misleading; the dubstep-hard rock hybrid would sound distinctly at home on the soundtrack to a 2008 summer action blockbuster.
Dream3r, another contributor who dips his toe in dubstep inflected waters, fares much better. His 'Phobia' is serious, hard bass music, deftly flitting between breakcore, dubstep, and drum701696'701698' bass. I don't usually go to the kinds of parties that play this kind of music, but if I did, I'd want them to play this song.
Mir Omar's 'Bladed' and RiZZi's 'Aurora' follow. It's always a struggle to write about these kinds of songs. They're big, high energy, four by four club cuts with pounding kick drums. And they're professional, well produced versions of just that; I'm especially fond of Mir Omar's out of context but awesome nonetheless stuttered handclaps. But I'm just not so sure that Dhaka – or any city – really needs more generic club cuts. The Stellar Lounge Mix of RiZZi's Aurora, found earlier on the disc, far outshines the original, and could potentially blow my mind with a good Bangla emcee delivering a verse over it.
The album closes with two tracks – Hash Eza's 'Atisha's Taste of Freedom' and Mazhar's 'Prajna' – that wouldn't sound out of place on a late era Café Del Mar compilation. Both would make for superb beach music, though Hash Eza's comes across as the more compelling of the pair, if only because Prajna slightly fails to satisfy in the mastering and engineering departments.
When Atisha succeeds, it's due to well-executed production by a group of talented electronic musicians who have come together to both open Dhaka up to electronic music and to bring electronic music from Dhaka to the world. When the album fails, it's because it's more worried about what electronic music should sound like than without exploring and expanding its own world.
As the Dhaka Electronic Scene comes into its own, we're confident they'll expand not just their world, but also our own.
Words: Kerry Harwin (Border Movement)