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PRINCETON – The Bureau County zoning board is recommending against a company's proposed wind farm.
The Bureau County Board has the final say.
On Tuesday, the Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously rejected all 19 of Mainstream Renewable Power's planned turbines. They were a part of a wind farm that would include nine turbines in Whiteside County and 53 in Lee County.
During the summer, the Whiteside County Board approved the nine turbines, with two also needing the village of Deer Grove's approval.
Lee County has been holding public hearings on Mainstream's plan since July.
The Bureau County zoning board's process was exhaustive. It met 21 times since March on Mainstream's proposal.
Before that, the county revised its wind energy ordinance. Mainstream's wind farm was the first test.
"The members felt a strong obligation to follow the ordinance," member Barry Welbers said. "They did follow it stringently. Whether it's the most perfect ordinance, that remains to be seen."
Welbers said he voted down the turbines because the company's plan didn't comply with the ordinance.
For instance, he said, the decommissioning plan, in the event of the turbines' abandonment, was inadequate.
Also, Mainstream didn't provide a road-use agreement, which the ordinance required, Welbers said.
"Their argument was that they were township roads," Welbers said, adding that he didn't think that made a difference.
Mainstream's Matt Boss said his company would get the deliberation transcripts in the next few days to better understand the zoning board's reasoning.
"We had a good project yesterday; we have a good project today," he said.
Rick Porter, who represented residents against the wind farm, said he hoped the County Board put a lot of weight in the zoning board's recommendation. County Board members rarely attend zoning board meetings, he said.
"The Bureau County Zoning Board of Appeals was very attentive. They were vested in the process. They spent a lot of time understanding the issues," he said.
The County Board has rejected the zoning panel's advice before. Last year, the County Board extended the permits for the proposed Walnut Ridge wind farm, contrary to the zoning board's recommendation.
On Tuesday, the County Board's Planning and Zoning Committee is expected to make its own recommendation on the Mainstream proposal. The County Board will decide on Dec. 11.
To attend
The Bureau County Board's Planning and Zoning Committee will make a recommendation on Mainstream Renewable Power's wind farm proposal during its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the County Courthouse, 700 S. Main St. in Princeton.
The Bureau County Board is expected to make a final decision at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, also at the courthouse.
Call Kris Donarski, the county's zoning officer, at 815-875-2077 for more information.


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Help for Hanover veterans
Two residents pitch in for those who serve
When veterans in Hanover felt like they were not getting proper aid, two residents with military backgrounds stepped up to help those who served.
After convincing the town to increase the veteran tax credit from $50 to $500, Robert Chambers and co-founder Danielle, who did not want to use her last name, created Project VetCare; a resource to help veterans find out how Hanover can work for them.
"We're going into their homes and filling out these extensive forms and educating them about their benefits," said Chambers.
In a small, one-room office above Main Street, Chambers, a veteran himself, and Danielle, whose husband is an active member of the armed forces, offer a support system that help the area's 158 vets.
Along with helping with paperwork, the two organize potluck dinners and outreach projects that help to create a veteran network and creates a bridge into the larger Hanover community.
"(It also is) to someone to listen to and to let the community know that their freedoms are because of the sacrifices these people made," he said.
Project VetCare was founded in September and is currently applying for non-profit status.

subset: commoncrawl


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A fast one-dish meal flavored with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger.
This simple, flavorful pork and veggie stir-fry is ideal for a weeknight meal. Game plan: Freeze the pork for about 30 minutes prior to slicing—this makes it easier to cut into very thin, even pieces. Use Chowhound's easy white rice recipe as an optional side.... Read More
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text: New Home: Eco Design Goes Victorian Text by Amy Elbert | Photographs by Luca Trovato | Produced by Andrea Caughey N E A R LY E V E RY T H I N G Joe and Kathy Bush need is an easy stroll from their historically inspired home in Santa Barbara, California. Joe walks six minutes to his law office, and the couple can easily go by foot to restaurants, parks, and stores. "Kathy was going to the bank yesterday and started to drive—like we have for 40 years—and then said: Hey, I can walk and get there and back in quicker time because I don't to have to look for a place to park," Joe relates. The Bushes were living in a 4,000-square-foot house in the Santa Ynez foothills outside Santa Barbara when friend and contractor Dennis Allen suggest they move downtown. Allen, who specializes in green building projects, had purchased a lot with a sorely neglected house and rundown garages that he was developing into environmentally responsible residences. The timing was perfect. Joe and Kathy's children were grown and no longer living at home, and the couple was ready to downsize. Although it took two years to get permit approval from the famously strict Santa Barbara city planners, the Bushes finally moved into the new 2,250-squarefoot, two-story residence in 2009. Located in the heart of town, the place was loaded with energy- and water-saving features. It has even been submitted for platinum (the highest) rating certification through the U.S Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for homes program. The home boasts the best in eco-design, but it looks like a charming old Victorian farmhouse, which is just what Kathy hoped. "I wanted the house to look authentic," says Kathy, who grew up in a Victorian house nearby. The existing 1877 house on the property had been too dilapidated to restore, but the new home was built with a façade that closely resembles the style of the original Victorian. Materials were salvaged and reused when possible, including redwood exterior siding and several interior doors. The contractor also donated salvaged building materials to Habitat for Humanity and diverted as much waste as possible from landfills. Other green features include energy-conserving insulation and windows, plus a high-efficiency heating and cooling system. There are dual-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads and faucets. Solar panels garner enough power to heat the water supply, and there is a backup tankless water heater. Lumber is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified as sustainable, and cabinet boxes are made with FSC-certified wood and formaldehyde-free melamine. An old Douglas fir railroad trestle was planed into planks for the tongue-andgroove wood floors and finished on site with a low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) sealer. Green building was new to Joe and Kathy, who is an interior designer, but they quickly got up to speed. Kathy worked closely with architect Dennis Thompson to create a floor plan that took advantage of natural light and was also period appropriate—with nooks and crannies and odd-sized spaces to give the home character. Many of the walls have beadboard wainscoting made with FSC-certified lumber and painted with low-VOC paints. Kathy incorporated antiques and vintage furnishing throughout the house, including a chandelier that a client was ready to toss. Kathy rescued it from her client's garage, had it refurbished, and hung the chandelier in the dining room. The dining table, chairs, and sideboard were also hand-me-downs. The designer opted for linen, organic cotton, and hemp fabrics for draperies, bed linens, and some furnishings. Mattresses for all the beds are made with organic materials and plant-based foams. One of Joe's favorite rooms is the library, where his books fill shelves on two walls. Redwood wainscoting on the other walls was fabricated from wood salvaged from the original old house. "We just put a light finish on it," Kathy says. "I couldn't believe how gorgeous it was." Nearly every morning Kathy and Joe start the day with coffee on the front porch. An upper level porch offers evening views of the sunset. "We really use the outdoor spaces," Joe says. "The porches are great places to sit and enjoy the sunsets, mountains, and city views." DE SIG N : Architect: Dennis Thompson, AIA, LEEP, AP Thompson Naylor Architects Inc., 900 Philinda Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805/966-9807 thompsonnaylor.com. Interior designer: Kathy Bush Kathy Bush Interiors, 805/966-9680. General contractor: Dennis Allen and Bryan Henson Allen Associates 201 N. Milpas, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805/884-8777 dennisallenassociates.com. Garden design: Margie Grace Grace Design Associates 3010 Paseo Tranquillo, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805/687-3569 gracedesignassociates.com. The sunroom on the front of the house has a built-in window seat perfect for relaxing and reading. Floors throughout the house are made from lumber from an old Utah railroad trestle that had been demolished. The Douglas fir was shipped to California, where it was milled and planed into planks for tongue-and-groove floorboards. After installation, the floors were treated with an eco-friendly water-based Bona Mega finish. Dual-pane wood windows by Lowen are low-E (emissivity) to conserve energy and cut cooling and heating costs. Linen-cotton blend draperies can be closed for more temperature control and add color to the cozy room. Sheer linens curtains provide privacy from the street. The home was designed to be a model for green residential building in Southern California, showing how a home can be environmentally responsible without sacrificing beauty, warmth and traditional style. Frazee low-VOC paints in custom colors were used on the walls and vintage fixtures were restored and used throughout the house. S O U RC E S : Bench cushion ("Sunscreen"/Gold, Light Blue, Light Green #2105401): Fabricut, 800/999-8200, fabricut.com. Sheer drapery ("Stripe Sheer"/Tan #ST602, Woven Collection): Kathryn M. Ireland Textiles & Design, 310/246-1906, kathrynireland.com. Drapery ("Ajmir"/Vert #1424-48, by Manuel Canovas): Cowtan & Tout, 212/647-6900, cowtan.com. Drapery hardware: Orion Ornamental Iron, 877/476-6278, ironartbyorion.com. Chairs; table: owner's collection. Chair fabric ("Porter"/Sage #8881, discontinued): Pindler & Pindler, 805/531-9090, pindler.com. Wall sconces (antique): Santa Barbara Lights, 805/884-0535, santabarbaralights.com. Paint: custom. Pillows; vase: owner's collection. Flooring (reclaimed from Utah bridge): owner's collection. Sofas in the living room are slipcovered with a stain-resistant, easy-care indoor-outdoor fabric that is GreenGuard-certified as low in the emission of VOCs. The fabric is washable, too, so no toxic dry cleaning is required. Pillows in a variety of prints introduce colors and pattern, and an antique secretary adds height to the room. Paint colors for the walls were inspired by hues in rugs and fabrics. S O U RC E S : Flooring and fireplace mantel (recycled woods): Allen Associates, 805/884-8777, dennisallenassociates.com. Rug (from Istanbul); sofa; russet-colored sofa pillow; coffee table (antique); secretary (antique); sconces (antique): owner's collection. Sofa fabric ("Sandpiper"/Natural #25823-1): Kravet, 888/457-2838, kravet.com. Green throw pillows ("Foglia Figured Woven"/Pine #89764-450): Brunschwig & Fils, 800/538-1880, brunschwig.com. Pillow trim (#T30368-934): Kravet, 888/457-2838, kravet.com. Yellow throw pillows ("Bryce"/Sunflower, discontinued): Pindler & Pindler, 805/531-9090, pindler.com. Pillow trim ("Rustica Cord"/Nugget): Robert Allen, 800/333-3777, robertallendesign.com. Ceiling light (antique): Santa Barbara Lights, 805/884-0535, santabarbaralights.com. Art: Waterhouse Gallery, 805/962-8885, waterhousegallery.com. Paint: custom. Brick fire surround: Santa Barbara Stone & Masonry Supplies, 805/963-5891. Candle sconces flanking fireplace: Santa Barbara Lights, 805/884-0535, santabarbaralights.com. Mirror over mantel: Cabana Home, 877/214-0200, cabanahome.com. Kathy Bush made use of vintage and antique pieces whenever possible. She rescued a discarded chandelier from a client's garage and restored it for her dining room. Kathy bought the matching mahogany dining set from a friend but toned down its formality by painting the sideboard turquoise and distressing and refinishing the tabletop. "I wanted it to be more user-friendly and casual," she says. Slipcovers on the dining chair seats are easy-care indoor-outdoor fabric, which also keeps the mood relaxed. S O U RC E S : Table and chairs; sideboard (vintage Duncan Phyfe); rug (from Istanbul); chandelier (found and restored); accessories: owner's collection. Drapery trim ("Triompe"/Blue, Red #3104711): Fabricut, 800/999-8200, fabricut.com. Table lamp (antique tea tin): Summerland Antique Collective, 805/565-3189. Sheer Roman shades ("Highland"/linen scrim in Cream): Carol's Roman Shades, 800/422-1210, carolsromanshades.com. Drapery ("Rennie"/Gold, Beige #0514302): Vervain, 800/611-8686, vervain.com. Drapery hardware: Orion Ornamental Iron, 877/476-6278, ironartbyorion.com. Paint: custom. A 48-inch-wide Dacor range set at an angle under a mantel style hood is the focal point of the kitchen. Kathy worked closely with the architect to add wide window trims, beadboard wainscoting, and other architectural details to give the house a period look. The light fixtures are reproductions. Fiber cement made with recycled fly ash is used for perimeter countertops that have the appearance of soapstone. The island top is marble. Kitchen cabinets were built with FSC-certified sustainable lumber. The cabinet boxes are formaldehyde-free melamine. S O U RC E S : Perimeter countertop (Slatescape): Rockmart Slate Corporation, 877/752-8331, slatescape.com. Island countertop: Carrara marble. Cabinetry; cabinetry finish: custom. Cabinetry hardware: Restoration Hardware, 800/910-9836, restorationhardware.com. Flooring: cement tiles. Range ("Epicure," 48-inch): Dacor, 800/793-0093, dacor.com. Vent: Vulcan Vent, 916/652-7424, vulcanvents.com. Kitchen sink: Rohl, 800/777-9762, rohlhome.com. Faucet: Grohe, 800/444-7643, groheamerica.com. Shelf corbels: recycled from original house. Drinking water: Aquel, aquelwater.com. Tile; border tile: NS Ceramic, 805/962-1422, nsceramic.com. Dishwasher: Miele, 800/843-7231, mieleusa.com. Window treatment ("Stripe Sheer"/Blue #ST604, Woven Collection): Kathryn M. Ireland Textiles & Design, 310/246-1906, kathrynireland.com. Pendant lights over island; oven hood: owner's collection. Sconce over window (custom): Steven Handelman Studios, 805/962-5119, stevenhandelmanstudios.com. Refrigerator ("Profile"): GE Appliances, 800/626-2005, geappliances.com. Paint: custom. Beverage center: Sub-Zero Inc., 800/222-7820, subzero.com. Bar stool ("La Tour Counter Stool"/Semois Blue): Pierre Deux, 888/743-7732, pierredeux.com. A small table—a family antique—and two chairs create a cozy eating area in the kitchen. The sturdy hickory chairs came from a church school in England. Racks on the backs of the chairs were used to hold songbooks. Now the Bushes' grandchildren keep drawing supplies there. Kathy found the Spanish-style chandelier in an antique shop. She added blue-and-white medallion print shades to give the fixture French country styling. Shelves in the kitchen were made using corbels salvaged from the original house. Kathy prefers open shelves for displaying dishes rather than upper wall cabinets. S O U RC E S : Chairs: The Pine Trader Antiques, 805/688-8700. Window treatment ("Stripe Sheer"/Blue #ST604, Woven Collection): Kathryn M. Ireland Textiles & Design, 310/246-1906, kathrynireland.com. Shades ("Chloe"/Blue): Pierre Deux, 888/743-7732, pierredeux.com. Chandelier; table covers; accessories: owner's collection. Paint: custom. Kathy and Joe Bush relax in the library with their cat Pallas (named for the Greek goddess of wisdom). With shelves lined with books, the library is Joe's favorite retreat. Pocket doors allow him to crank up the stereo and listen to his music without bothering Kathy. Redwood salvaged from the front of the original house was refinished and installed as 38-inch-high wainscoting and baseboards in the library. The walls are a perfect backdrop for Joe's collection of old golf clubs, including a hickory-shafted putter made in Scotland about 1880. Floors are made from 125-year-old Douglas fir that came from an old railroad trestle. S O U RC E S : Chair: Barcalounger, barcalounger.com. Library table (antique); accessories: owner's collection. A new canopy bed is softened with an antique crocheted coverlet made by Kathy's great aunt. Other bed linens are organic cotton. S O U RC E S : Bed ("Acorn"): Kolkka Furniture, 650/327-5001, kolkka.com. Bedding: Ralph Lauren Home, 888/475-7674, ralphlaurenhome.com. Mattress: Land and Sky Organic, 800/755-7667, landandsky.com. Chandelier ("Barcelona"/Black #CH121): Steven Handelman Studios, 805/962-5119, stevenhandelmanstudios.com. Drapery ("Milford"/Gold #2008156-424): Lee Jofa, 800/453-3563, leejofa.com. Roman shades ("Capri"/Soft White): Roman Shades, 800/422-1210, carolsromanshades.com. Tables: Nadeau, furniturewithasoul.com. Table lamps: owner's collection. Bed skirt: Anthropologie, 800/309-2500, anthropologie.com. Chair: Sofa U Love, 818/504-9922, sofaulove.com. Chair fabric; pillow on chair: owner's collection. Paint: custom. Carrara marble surrounds the deep soaking tub and tops the vanity in the master bath. An old train suitcase rack serves as a tub-side towel shelf. To bring light into the walk-in shower, an interior window was installed above the tub. S O U RC E S : Tile; decorative tile border: NS Ceramics, 805/962-1422, nsceramic.com. Vanity countertop: Carrara marble. Sinks; tub: Kohler, 800/456-4537, kohler. com. Sink faucets; tub faucet: Rohl, 800/777-9762, rohlhome.com. Tub lights: Cree, 800/533-2583, cree.com. Lighting: Steven Handelman Studios, 805/962-5119, stevenhandelmanstudios.com. Drapery: Osborne & Little, 877/322-7420, osborneandlittle.com. Paint: custom.


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Today's lineup
J.D. Drew is back in the lineup but Jeff Kent is still out. It's getting closer to looking normal again (plus Gagne throws tonight in Vegas!)
Furcal, SS
Lofton, CF
Garciaparra, 1B
Drew, RF
Kemp, LF
Aybar, 3B
Martinez, 2B
Martin, C
Penny, P
15 Comments
Lofton and Kemp both at CF? Kemp is playing LF.
OK Guys. Here's the choke of the year so far. Living on the east coast of Canada, dying to see the Dodgers play, especially Russell Martin and guess what? The Game was on TBS and I didn't know it was an afternoon game. Got to see the last out. Kemp a great game. Bet I'll check the TV guide for the next two days. Go Dodgers.
anyone else have a huge issue with penny's reaction after being pulled. He had given up a string of hard hit doubles and base hits. What was Little to do, leave him in there and lose the game. I am thinking discipline for the bat to the cooler. Opinions?
I don't really know what was up with Penny – he should have been mad at himself, not Little. The best way to finish an inning yourself is to get guys out. Oh well, we won.
Meanwhile, to Roy S and the Dodgers, and to you armchair GMs out there, here's a trade idea for you:
Toronto needs **** (they had Troy Glaus playing there the other day and not much else to impress over at that position).
Cesar Izturis (back) to Toronto for OF Frank Catalanotto (whom the Dodgers have always liked).
Possible? Good?
Penny is a big wuss, he throws his 5 innings then ducks out every game. I don't know why he was whining, he would've been asking out after that last out anyways. The only reason he was upset, he lost out on a W, but with us still up by 4, a Dodger win is what's important not a w for Penny. His value is super high right now, I say we ship him out. That kind of stuff can ruin what Grady and co. are working so hard to accomplish. That was bush league all the way.
I didn't see the Penny incident. If he was angry with himself, that is childish. If he was angry with Grady, that is disrespectful and should not be tolerated by the team. The idea of a Catalanotto trade is interesting. I see a lot of Blue Jay games on TV. Playing the Red Sox right now. I love watching Catalanotto hit with two strikes on him. A difficult out. Jays have Wells, Rios, Johnson, Hinske for OF. Do need ****. Good idea.
Brad Penny, for a guy with a bad back, isn't the most mature fellow. The milkman has his flaws. Maybe he thought he was such a good pitcher Grady should have left him in too long.
Tommy Lasorda and Doug Rau in the '77 series, anyone?
Let's hold off on talking Izturis trades, and make sure Rafael Furcal is not the next Jose Offerman.
Brad Penny should apologize to Rick Honeycutt, Grady Little, and the entire team. If he were upset about his performance that would be one thing. How could he be upset about being removed after giving up a warning track fly ball and six consecutive hard hit singles and doubles? Beimel came on and rescued what could have been a catastrophic inning by inducing a double play. If Penny were still upset after the game, that tells me he's all bout Penny and not concerned about the team.
I think it is great that he is showing passion. Once in a while players will throw bats or whatever, no harm done, it just shows he cares. I think next time Little will leave Penny in that situation.
Showing passion, and showing up your skipper due to selfish reasons are completely different. Every time the guy throws I'm waiting for him to wince in pain, trade his tail while his value is high. Penny went Milton Bradley on us, and that's unacceptable. Once again I say that was straight bush league!!!!!!
With respect to an earlier comment:
Catalanotto? Come on. It's another outfielder, but his numbers do not merit trading a gold glove shortstop over. The Dodgers have high-performance rookies, after all.
If there's anyone to trade for, he should be an impact player who would lead by example, and have some pop in his bat. The LA Times reported that the Dodgers, like nearly everyone else in baseball, would like Alfonso Soriano. Not only does the guy have a lot of home runs, but he also leads the league in outfield assists, and he has a great work ethic, as reported here
And this is exactly the type of influence that the Dodgers would want for their youngsters coming up. And he can speak a bit of Japanese after he played over there for a while. I have to imagine that if the Dodgers are going to trade off their youth, they would want really substantial impact players. And having Soriano would also put less pressure on JD Drew. Obviously there are some prospects off limits, like Billingsley, but if LA wants to deal for someone, he's the prize.
I for one was glad to see that Grady pulled Penny with the lead eroding fast. I would have pulled him a batter sooner. With the leads that we've given up in past games Grady should be more aware when the starter does not have his stuff – like he should have pulled Seo much earlier the previous game, when it was obvious he wasn't getting his pitches under control. Shame on Penny for taking his frustration out on the wrong target. Hopefully he's mature enough to have apologized later.
Sad to see Penny's actions. Most likely he knows he's headed to the DL. Grady did the right thing, he protected the game first and his Ace second !! Lets not forget the blown 5 run lead in the 9th in San Diego !! I agree he needs to apologize to Grady, Honeycut and the entire team. Because last I saw the only result worth anything is the "W" and that was achieved by the team not an individual.
6 straight hits,on the verge of blowing a 7 run lead. His fastball wasn't there, nor was he hitting his spots. Maybe he would have been happy if Grady left him in, only to blow the lead and our stinkin' W. How about Penny and Izturis 4 V.Wells??? Bring up Chad to take that spot in the rotation,if there are any prospects that should be promoted, it's him. His stuff is nothing short of electric.


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When you want to share data with others, the first thing you need to decide is under what terms. Do you want others be able just look at the data, change the format (Excel to CSV, for example)? Do you want this person to be allowed to share the data within his research group, or perhaps collaborators?
Very often this is arranged informally, in good faith, or by some consortium, confidentiality, or non-disclosure agreements. However, these approaches do not scale very well. When this matters, then data licenses are an alternative approach (not necessarily better!).
Madeleine Gray has written on her EUDat blog some words about the EUDAT License Wizard. This wizards talks you through the things you like to agree on, and in the end suggests a possible data license. It seems pretty well done, and the first few questions focus on an important aspect: do you even have the rights to change the license (i.e. you are the copyright owner).
Mind you, there are huge differences between countries around data copyright.


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Çicek Desenli Hırka RENKLİ
- Model: 201FR.2063-1-RENKLİ
Available Options
Free shipping over 150 TL
Shipping fee for orders under 150 TL is 9.99 TL
Payment at the door is 4.99 TL
Delivery by PTT Cargo or Sürat Cargo
You can easily exchange and return within 15 days from the date of delivery.How do I Exchange or Return?
- Put the invoice together with the items to be exchanged / returned in a single package.
- Deliver your package to PTT Cargo or SÜRAT Cargo with our code.
- Our contracted code for PTT Kargo: 702730878, SÜRAT Cargo: 1024540899
- Please let us know the tracking code given to you by the cargo company from the whatsapp support line at +90 553 574 90 80.
- After we receive your package, we will call you and contact you for exchange / return


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Hello Apache Friends,
I am not an expert at all in computer matters, and even less in XAMPP.
I have installed XAMPP 1.8.1 and have Apache and MySQL running in the XAMPP control panel.
For that, I had to change the ports for Apache and MySQL. I used respectively these solutions:
The URL then became: http://localhost:8080/
I could then access phpMyAdmin home page directly, without any previous log in page. So, at this point, I did not enter or create any username or password.
Before going any further, I proceeded to create a password because there was a red message at the bottom saying that 'root' user had no password.
I used the XAMPP security tool and the link: http://localhost/security/xamppsecurity.php
After that, when trying to access phpMyAdmin, the log in page appears, but the password does not work. I get this message in the phpMyAdmin log in window:
#2002 Cannot log in to the MySQL server
Connection for controluser as defined in your configuration failed.
Then, I executed the resetroot.bat file... Still same problem...
Now, I do not know what else to do, and I need some help...
Thanks in advance.


text:
Samsung Has Sold More Than 100 Million Galaxy S Devices
Samsung has sold more than 100 million Galaxy S devices, the company has announced.
Samsung reached this milestone in 2 years and 7 months after the launch of the original Samsung Galaxy S back in May 2010.
A big chunk of this success Samsung owes to its Galaxy S III, whose average daily sales are currently 190,000 units. All in all, the company sold 40 million Galaxy S III devices in 7 months. It took 20 months for its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S II, to reach that same milestone.
For comparison, Apple sold more than 250 million iPhones to date, but it had a big head start, given the first iPhone was launched in June 2007.
Image credit: Samsung


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As an Egyptologist, currently working at the British Museum, I've been involved in a number of archaeological digs, but most of my research life has been devoted to trying to make sense of what other people have dug up and trying to share it with a wider audience. And that's what I've been busy doing today.
A lot more ancient material than people might imagine has been found and then relatively ignored in pursuit of new discoveries, and it's not always shared with as many people as it could be. Part of the work of the curators at the British Museum, whom I have been lucky to join as part of the BM's Future Curators programme, is trying to make sense of the archaeological legacy that has been left to us. Curators have many different responsibilities, including current fieldwork, but they also persevere in contributing research on the museum's existing collections, which is made freely available to the public in an online database, online research catalogues, and online journals. Outside researchers are also gladly welcomed to work on the collections; there's always more that can be learnt from the objects.
Most of what I've been working on today relates to a BM UK touring exhibition, Pharaoh: King of Egypt, which I've been highly involved in, that opened recently in Newcastle before it tours the country. The exhibition explores the ideals and realities of kingship in ancient Egypt, and, as part of the BM's Partnership UK programme, allows objects from the national collection to tour to museums outside of London.
I started today with further research into the objects that are currently part of Pharaoh. Exhibitions shed light on objects both literally and figuratively, bringing them out of storage to be shared with thousands of curious people, as well as being an excellent prompt to pursue further research into them. My hands on research, examining the details on objects up close, has sadly already passed, and now I'm chained to the computer and library books, fleshing out the context. Today I finally got round to working on one of my favourite objects from the exhibition, the massive wooden tomb guardian statue from the tomb of Ramses I. It towers at about two metres high and through the conservation work done on it, we learned that it is surprising in its construction as it is made from native Egyptian sycamore wood rather than the imported cedar wood which was usually used for large objects. Making sense of the object also involves tracing its history back to its discovery by Giovanni Battista Belzoni in 1817 and some subsequent misinterpretation in later publications!
Of course, as all archaeologists will understand, my research time didn't last long, as administration, meetings, and other commitments took over. I worked on our slowly evolving project of making the Pharaoh website a better guide and online catalogue for the exhibition: today we added the exhibition themes to the website, which you can see here. Then we had a debriefing meeting to discuss what we learned during the installation of the exhibition at the Great North Museum: Hancock to help us better prepare for transporting and installing the objects in the subsequent venues around the UK. All sorts of things like scheduling, personnel, improved packing techniques, security, and providing contextual information and images were discussed.
Finally I also exchanged farewells with our visiting curators from Egypt and around the world, who were here for the past 6 weeks as part of the British Museum's International Training Programme. I led a couple of sessions with the visiting Egyptian curators, as well as attending some of training sessions alongside the ITP participants, and I certainly learned as much from them as I was able to teach. On their last whole day here yesterday, they presented their ideas for future exhibitions based on some of the new approaches they'd learned from colleagues at the BM, partner museums, and each others. It was amazing to see presentations on exhibition concepts like the trade route between China & Europe or Somali wedding traditions, and given in partnerships such as Brazilian and Nigerian curators working together.
One can always learn more, whether from meeting new people or revisiting old objects, and continually asking questions is one of the most important tenets of archaeology.


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Since I have been on a little succulent and terrarium spree lately, I thought it would be fun to make some mini accessories to dress them up! There is almost nothing that clay can become…your imagination is seriously the limit on this one – just have fun.
Materials Needed:
Oven Bake Clay
Floral Wire
Acrylic Paints
Paint Markers or Sharpies
Wax Paper
Additional Materials Needed: knife, roller, shaping tools
There are a few different brands of oven baked clay that are available at your local crafting store. I picked mine up while browsing the crafting isles at Walmart and for just under $5, one box goes a pretty long way. {I didn't even make a dent in the while pack making these miniatures} Once baked in the oven the clay takes on a bisque matte finish and hardens.
Begin by kneading a chunk of the clay. As you work with it, it becomes more pliable.
For the mushrooms, I used two pieces, one for the top and one for the bottom . Once I had my shapes the way I wanted them, I smushed the two pieces together and inserted a cut piece of floral wire into the stem. {the wire will become a little stake to stabilize the mushroom when they are inserted into the plants and terrariums}
For the pennant banners, take the kneaded clay, place between two sheets of wax paper and roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.
Using a knife cut out several small triangles. Working on top a sheet of wax paper makes it much easier to move the clay pieces around.
Arrange the triangles in an arc shape {that of a hanging banner} on the wax paper. Cut a long piece of floral wire and gently press it into the back of each clay pennant.
Cut a few extra pieces of clay to place on top of the wire, at each point where it connects to the clay, and press gently to secure. Once baked this will hold the clay pennants in place.
Flip the banner over and stamp out your saying with rubber stamps. I used mini wooden scrapbooking stamps. Make sure you press firmly but not too hard as you do not want to go through the layer of clay – you just want to make an impression of the letter.
To give the pennants a little dimension you can curl and bend the clay as you wish.
Remove the mushrooms and banners from the wax paper and place on a non-stick cookie sheet. Bake following the manufactures directions on the clay package. Due to the thickness of the mushrooms they will need to bake a little longer than recommended. {my package recommended 15 minutes and it actually took the mushrooms 45 minutes to cure} Just be sure to check them periodically and do not over bake.
Once the clay has baked and cooled, you are now ready to embellish with your favorite acrylic paints. {I used my DecoArt multi-purpose Americana Acrylics} For the lettering on the banners and mushroom spots, I used sharpies and paint pens. {tip: have a planter near by to hold the mushrooms as they are drying}
To hang the banner, I wrapped the end of the wire around two small sticks that were inserted into the terrarium.
I made this one bright and colorful to go in my little guys bug bathroom.
It adds some fun and touch of whimsy to an otherwise plain rock and moss terrarium.
I had a too much fun with the cute little mushrooms – they are perfect additions for succulent gardens.
I even left a few un-painted as the clay alone is a perfect natural color.
Though I think I like the splash of red the best!


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Ascot Slipper
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I have to admit – I fell off the photo-a-DAY wagon a few times…dusted myself off and got back on and then fell off
on off
on off
real life got in the way
But overall I'm quilt pleased with the moments I captured
here are my images all together
bits & pieces of real life
week 1
1. photo a day badge 2. inspiration from here 3. view today (walk in the wood in fresh snow)
4. words (hold on) 5. hands
6. stranger (check out at market)
7. button (generations past vintage buttons)
week 2
9. front door (looking out)
11. makes you happy (target!)
12. closet (new beadboard closet yum!)
13. blue (vintage blue toolbox 14. heart (mmm jello)
week 3
15. phone (a vintage aqua phone!)
17. time (an old schoolhouse clock)
20. handwriting (my mom's handwriting in a cookbook she passed down to me from my grandfather)
week 4
22. where you work (at my desk!)
23. shoes (my fav borns)
24. bath cabinet (vintage wire basket w/ extra rolls)
27. eat (mmm whipped cream)
28. money – vacation coins in a big vintage jar
Thanks so much for coming along for the ride!
I don't think I'll formally be participating in March but April is calling my name!
The photos were shared out on my Facebook page
& if you click here, you can review all the original Photo-a-DAY blog posts
sharing the recap here:
Chat soon -
(click here for Northern Cottage main page)
connect/follow here:
**Be a LINKY FOLLOWER **
Check out my Pinterest Pins/Boards here


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Grilled Squash and Sausages with Sauce Verte from 'Kitchen Garden Cookbook'
The slew of herbs in Jeanne Kelly's sauce verte were perfect for making use of my small garden's bumper crop. Laced with salty capers, spicy dijon, and pungent raw garlic, this thick green sauce from her new Kitchen Garden Cookbook is a potent twist on my standard pesto-heavy repertoire. Tossed with grill-kissed squash and smeared on charred spicy sausages, it helped make an early summer dinner even better.
Why I picked this recipe: I'm always looking for creative ways to incorporate more of my gardens' herbs into each and every meal.
What worked: Sweet, mild summer squash was a perfect match for the sauce verte. Adding grilled sausages was a great way to round things out into an easy full meal.
What didn't: Not a misstep in sight.
Suggested tweaks: I used a variety of small local squashes here, and the key to even cooking (as usual) was to slice them into relatively even pieces. Long, thin slices work best on the grill. If sausages aren't your thing, you could grill just about any protein here, or even skip it altogether and serve the squash with good crusty bread and a nice log of chèvre.
Reprinted with permission from Kitchen Garden Cookbook: Celebrating the homegrown and homemade by Jeanne Kelly. Copyright 2013. Published by Weldon Owen. All rights reserved. Available wherever books are sold.
- Yield:Serves 4-6
- Active time: 30 minutes
- Total time:30 minutes
- Sauce Verte
- 1/3 cup (1 ounce/30 g) packed fresh basil leaves
- 1 green onion, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 2 tablespoons capers
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 pounds (1 kg) summer squash, such as pattypan, zucchini, or crookneck, trimmed and halved lengthwise
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
- 6 French garlic or hot Italian sausages, about 1 1/2 pounds (750 g) total weight
- 2 tablespoons fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
To make the sauce: In a food processor, combine the basil, green onion, parsley, capers, lemon juice, oregano, mustard, and garlic and process until finely chopped. With the processor running, slowly pour in the olive oil and process until the mixture forms a chunky purée. (The sauce can be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days.)
Prepare a medium fire for direct-heat cooking in a charcoal or gas grill.
Brush the squash halves with olive oil and season on all sides with salt and pepper. Arrange the squash halves and sausages on the grill directly over the fire and grill, turning as needed, until the squash halves are just tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 4 minutes. Transfer the squash halves to a platter, and toss with about 1/3 cup (3 fluid ounces/80 ml) of the sauce. Continue grilling the sausages, turning as needed, until cooked through, about 4 minutes longer.
Transfer the sausages to the platter with the squash, sprinkle with the parsley, and serve. Pass the remaining sauce at the table.


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Messi 'from Jupiter' as Argentina scores 3rd win
PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) About a dozen Argentine fans couldn't get enough of the smell of victory in the Beira-Rio Stadium, dancing and singing in their seats more than than an hour after their team beat Nigeria 3-2.
They had good reason to celebrate.
Once again Lionel Messi had put on a World Cup show with two goals, but this time his whole team - aside from a couple of defensive blunders - was part of the performance.
In its third straight win, Argentina attacked with more flair than previously and could have scored more goals if it weren't for some good saves by Nigeria's goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Ahmed Musa kept things interesting by twice erasing Argentina's lead, before Marcos Rojo kneed in the winner from a corner.
''We played against a team that wanted to play,'' Messi said. ''I think we saw a good Argentina. We need to continue on this path.''
Before the match, which saw both teams advance from Group F, Enyeama was the only goalkeeper in the tournament who hadn't conceded a goal. In Porto Alegre it took just three minutes for Messi to beat him.
The Argentina captain slammed in the rebound after Angel Di Maria's shot bounced off the post.
Nigeria replied within a minute as Musa cut in from the left and beat Sergio Romero with a curling shot toward the far post.
Then just before halftime Messi stunned Enyeama again, with a long-range free kick that rose over the wall then dipped sharply to slip in just inside the post.
''Messi is from Jupiter, he is different,'' Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said.
Messi had his best match so far, boosting his tournament total to four goals, and repeatedly cutting up Nigeria's defense with dazzling runs and clever passes. The game lost intensity when its biggest profile was substituted after the hour-mark.
''At 3-2 with a half-hour left, we needed to let him rest,'' Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella said.
The second half started at the same furious pace as the first, with two goals within the first five minutes. First Musa took advantage of confusion in the Argentine defense to score his second. Then Rojo made it 3-2 as he got his right knee on a corner kick three minutes later.
Finding more space to attack, Argentina created more chances than in its previous games against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran, but its defense caved in on both of Musa's goals. Another concern for Argentina: Striker Sergio Aguero was injured in the first half, and replaced by Ezequiel Lavezzi.
''Defensively sometimes we have problems,'' Sabella said. ''We will have to work on that ... because in round of 16 if things go bad you go home.''
Argentina had already secured advancement but needed at least a draw to win the group. Nigeria advanced thanks to Bosnia beating Iran, going through on four points.
Just before the match tragedy struck in Nigeria as an explosion rocked a shopping mall in the capital, Abuja, and police said at least 21 people were killed.
The blast came as Nigerians were preparing to watch the World Cup match but it was unclear if the explosion was timed to coincide with the match, which started an hour later.
Keshi said he wasn't aware of the explosion during the match and condemned it.
Tens of thousands of Argentine fans had traveled to Porto Alegre for the match, taunting Brazilian spectators with a song that includes the line ''Maradona is greater than Pele.''
The Brazilians booed and held up five fingers to remind the Argentines of how many World Cups they've won. Argentina has two.
The Argentine fans who stayed in the empty stadium well past the final whistle kept singing the song as cleaning crews picked up garbage and a lawn-mower rolled across the pitch.
Nigeria: Vincent Enyeama; Efe Ambrose, Kenneth Omeruo, Joseph Yobo, Juwon Oshaniwa; Ahmed Musa, Ogenyi Onazi, John Obi Mikel, Michael Babatunde (Okechukwu Uchebo, 66); Peter Odemwingie (Uche Nwofor, 80), Emmanuel Emenike.
Argentina: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Federico Fernandez, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria; Lionel Messi (Ricardo Alvarez, 63), Gonzalo Higuain (Lucas Biglia, 91), Sergio Aguero (Ezequiel Lavezzi, 38).


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02 Wariyapola Sri Sumangala MawathaKandy 20000.
(0)81 2204167
English/ Tamil
All prayers including formal jum'a
1st Floor, Nihal Supermarket | Aniwatta Road, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka
YMCA Building, E L Senanayake Veediya, Kandy
00600, Sri Sambuddhathva Jayanthi Mawatha, Colombo 00600, Sri Lanka.
Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy 20000
Sri Dalada Veediya, Kandy
Market Street, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Centre of Kandy City, Kandy, Sri Lanka
National Museum, Central Province, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Ceylon Tea Museum, Hantana, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Peradeniya Road, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
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6 E L Senanayake Veediya, Kandy, Sri Lanka
King Street Jumma Mosque 19, King's Street, Kandy Kandy Sri Lanka Central PRovince
Mosque Road, Kandy , SRI LANKA
line Mosque 20 Mosque Rd, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Central Province
For the newlyweds (or any couples), start packing your bags for Sri Lanka! via GIPHY Galle Face Beach - Galle Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka Morning walks along Sri Lanka's beautiful beaches is a must! Even this beach that is located so close to the city centre is a breathtaking sight in the early morning. Take a romantic stroll with your spouse and just spend some quality time to get to know each other. Beach on Colombo Plan Road However, if you seek more thrill, something like combining beaches with railway tracks, then walk along Colombo Plan Road. It is a tranquil sight of the sea with occasional loud train sounds as the trains pass by the tracks on its way to Galle station. While you are there, stay on to catch a little bit of sunset. All you need is your life partner by your side and a sweet silence as you both listen to the muse of the sea. Negombo beach - Negombo, Sri Lanka If you need some private time with your spouse, Negombo Beach is the beach for you. There are very much lesser people here so you can walk along the beach and have a romantic conversation undisturbed! Amagi Aria Hotel - 640/82 Suhada Mawatha, Puttalam - Colombo Rd, Negombo 11500, Sri Lanka Even better, why not stay at the Amagi Aria Hotel and whisper words of forever as the sun sets leaving you and your spouse with warm lovely feelings. This is the perfect spot to have a heart-to-heart talk with your spouse. Alright, enough about the beaches! Let's go on to talk about just how gorgeous the train ride in Sri Lanka is! Image Credit: YamuThere are so many beautiful places to visit via train. Places such as Ella, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy are among the top few for the must-visit! The journey to the mentioned places itself is such a breathtaking sight. Views en route from Colombo to Kandy Kandy Train Station Things to do in Ella: 1.The Nine Arch Bridge Image Credit: Salt in our Hair This gorgeous bridge is located right outside of Ella. It will take about 30 minutes to walk through the woods and reach a beautiful tea field. Be there with your beloved and sip a cup of delicious Sri Lankan tea while watching trains pass by. 2. Swim at Diyaluma Falls Diyaluma waterfall - in Badulla district on the Colombo-Badulla highway, about 6km east of the regional town of Koslanda, and around 30km south of Ella.Image Credit: Pinterest The Diyaluma waterfall is 220-meter high and is the second-highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. On top of the waterfall, it has different levels of natural pools where you can swim. To get to this waterfall is not an easy task! A two-hour tuk-tuk ride from Ella to Poonagala through quintessentially lush Sri Lankan tea plantations followed by a hike downhill through long, dry grass for about 30mins before getting to the upper Diyaluma falls. A short hike further would bring you and your partner to the edge of the world, watching the cascading water drop 220m to the valley below. This is the start of a very challenging honeymoon thus far in Sri Lanka. However, such tasks would allow for a different kind of bonding as you learn more about your partner and even yourself! 3. Climb Little Adam's Peak Image Credit: Wandervisions To get to Little Adam's Peak, you need to follow the trail which is right next to Ella Flower Garden Resort (3rd Mile Post, Passara Road, Ella 90090, Sri Lanka). An alternative entrance is also located at 98 Acres Resort (Greenland Estate, Ella - Passara Rd, Ella, Sri Lanka) and marked by a white Buddha. Just follow the trails and you would only need about an hour before you reach the top and have a lovely sunset view with the-love-of-your-life. Things to do in Nuwara Eliya: 1. Go to the Tea Plantations Image Credit: Travel Triangle Nuwara Eliya has so many tea plantation fields. One of them is the Pedro Tea Estate. Pedro Estate is about 3.5km east of Nuwara Eliya station and is a 20 minutes drive by rickshaw from the station. You both can have an educational tour of the tea plantations here and learn the process of tea planting! 2. Take a stroll in Victoria Park Image Credit: Kingsford Residences Well, why not take a stroll in Victoria Park (Badulla Rd, Nuwara Eliya 22200) and have a lovely chat while sipping a nice cuppa tea? This lovely walk with your soulmate will leave you with a tingling feeling and many gorgeous photos together! 3. Gregory Lake Image Credit: Sri Lanka Finder This enchanting lake (Gregory Lake, Nuwara Eliya 22200, Sri Lanka) is a must to visit. It is just a 5 minutes ride on a rickshaw from Nuwara Eliya. Enjoy a breezy walk and cooling weather which definitely calls for a lovely picnic or a sweet ride on the swan boats. Over at this lake, it compels you to show how much you love your spouse by doing things together and caring for each other! THE THING to do in Kandy: Well, we did mention that this honeymoon destination is not for the weak-hearted as the hike at Little Adam's Peak over in Ella was just the start of all hikes. In Kandy, climbing up Adam's Peak is a must if you want to learn the ultimate truth about your partner's character and yours too! Image Credit: Atlas And Boots Adam's Peak is located at South Central Sri Lanka and the nearest town is Dalhousie which is the start of the trek up the mountain. Taking the taxi/Grab/Uber/Private car rental from Kandy to Dalhousie is the fastest option to get here as compared to coming by bus or train. The ride takes about an hour and a half. The best time to start climbing Adam's Peak is in the wee hours (start at 12 am or slightly later) as the climb takes between 2 to 4 hours (depending on fitness levels). This climb will be an opportunity to encourage each other as the total number of steps is about 5000 to 6000 crumbling steps and inclined trekking. Reaching to the 1000th step is already a great achievement but will definitely test you as your legs may go numb or feel very sore. However, with constant coaxing from the beloved, the pain would turn into motivation as watching the sunrise at the peak of the mountain is a glorious sight which leaves you feeling a sense of achievement. It takes a lot for couples to reach the top but hey, love conquers all (even the challenging Adam's Peak!). Sunrise at the top of Adam's PeakImage Credit: The Partying Traveler One of the best feelings in the world is to pray with your spouse. Sri Lanka has a gorgeous mosque located at 2nd Cross Street, Colombo, Sri Lanka. The mosque goes by the name of Red Mosque or Jami Ul-Alfar Masjid. Image Credit: Atlas Obscura Well, this honeymoon destination has loads of challenging activities to do with your spouse. Despite the pain, it is definitely a worthwhile trip to do together. Marriage may not always be smooth. There may be challenges. Well, challenges are meant to be conquered together, just like how challenging-Sri Lanka was conquered together! ...
Are you in the midst of planning your end of year vacation? We've got just the right destination for you - Kandy, Sri Lanka. There are numerous historical landmarks that you can visit during your stay to learn more about the history and culture of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. These landmarks include The Temple of Tooth, Royal Palace of Kandy, The Buddhist Museum and Udawatta Forest Reserve. If you wish to make the most of your vacation and not miss out on visiting any landmarks, we'd highly recommend you to bunk in this luxurious hotel: The Radh Hotel. Not only is it conveniently located near numerous exciting places, it's also got a perfect dining and accommodating experience for everyone, especially Muslims. Not to mention, it's a crescent rated establishement too! Credit: The Radh Hotel Islamic Amenities Credit: The Radh Hotel Credit: The Radh Hotel Moreover, in Ramadan specifically, scrumptious Halal iftar (meal when breaking fast) and suhoor (meal before fasting) cooked by professional chefs can be requested for guests. What's more, even transport can be arranged to transport Muslims to the nearby mosques for Taraweeh, prayers and even Eid salah (Hari Raya prayers). Other Amenities This boutique hotel offers 5-star quality amenities along with side amazing hospitality and attentive staff. Alongside free high-speed wifi, restaurants, dry cleaning, the hotel also houses a gym, sauna, spa, lounges and children's activities. Rest assured, you can rely on The Radh Hotel to ensure you enjoy a serene and comforting experience during your stay in Kandy. Credit: The Radh Hotel The Radh Spa treatment in particular is a good way to relieve stress and remove tension from your body. It opens daily from 7am to 10pm and features a steam room, sauna, premium toiletries and an array of treatments that you can choose from to suit your body needs. All of these features will undoubtedly help to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere just for you. One of their spa menu treatments includes their Javanese treatment, where the well-trained therapists will give you a satisfying deep tissue massage using their thumbs and by applying palm pressure onto the body to relieve its pain. Interestingly, this massage will even allow you to develop better sleep patterns - a perfect solution to overcome jet lag! Fruitful Experiences Credit: The Radh Hotel That's not all! The Radh Hotel also offers many special promotinoal offers such as a specially tailored package for travelers to visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic that's only a five minutes drive from the hotel - so convenient! At a price of just $545, you get to sleep in a peaceful, luxury double room on a Bed & Breakfast basis, and even be entitled to a personal chauffeur pickup and drop from Kandy Railway Station. Not to worry, there are vegan, gluten-free and Halal meat options available during this tour. Rooms Now, moving on to the fun part - the rooms! The Radh Hotel has 8 types of rooms, all of which are air conditioned and come with amenities like HD televisions, Wi Fi, spacious bathrooms, loads of toiletries, and some rooms even offer eye-catching views of the city! Not forgetting, there's also 24-hour room service! Scroll down to view the rooms and their prices: Deluxe Queen (From $140)Credit: The Radh Hotel Deluxe King (From $155)Credit: The Radh Hotel Executive King City View (From $175)Credit: The Radh Hotel Premier King Forest View (From $190)Credit: The Radh Hotel The Radh Family Suite (From $220)Credit: The Radh Hotel The Garden Suite (From $270)Credit: The Radh Hotel The Radh Premier Suite (From $385)Credit: The Radh Hotel The Radh Royal Suite (From $550)Credit: The Radh Hotel There you have it. The Radh Hotel offers guests the ultimate experience, respecting the nature that surrounds the hotel, the history that came before it and the culture that distinguishes it. It is important to note that this hotel is currently obtaining a halal certification by the HAC - Halal accreditation council (Guarantee) Limited. Address: 30 Colombo St, Kandy 20000, Sri Lanka Contact Number: +94 77 843 7423 WebsiteBook A Room Now ...
Sri Lanka is an island paradise, surrounded by the Indian Ocean boasting of rich nature, wildlife and culture. A lot of tourists head over to the sea side towns or the hill country, but its commercial capital has much to offer as well.With 5.6 million making up its population, this rising cosmopolitan city is quickly making its mark on the international map. Skyscrapers, luxury hotels, a new harbour port, however, Colombo's charm doesn't lie in these modern buildings, it can be found in the beautiful colonial era buildings and it's people - a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures which gives the city it's character.Historical or otherwise, Colombo is a kaleidoscope of activity. Being the commercial centre of the Island, it attracts everyone and has something for anyone! From street food to art and music – this is a city that will not bore you.Here are 5 interesting things you can experience in Colombo, keep reading! 1. The Gangaramaya Temple Credit: @GangaramayaTemple on FacebookStarting at the heart of Colombo, this temple is full of character with interesting things to see. The Temple is over 150 years old, and is the perfect place to head to if you want to escape the din of the city.You will be greeted by a row of golden statues at the entrance, and once inside get ready to be swept away by the temple's charm. The Temple houses a museum of artefacts that you won't find at any other temple – quirky statues and ornaments, old coins, rare artwork and a lot more. You will also find a collection of vintage cars, gifted to the Chief Monk at the time.The Seemamalakaya found on the Beira Lake is a part of the Gangaramaya Temple. Designed by the renowned architect Geoffrey Bawa in 1979, it was built as an assembly hall for monks. The floating structure offers incredible views of the surrounding city from the lake and makes for some incredible photos.You have to purchase a ticket at the gates and remove your shoes before entering the Temple. They provide a separate and safe place for you to keep your shoes till you pick them up at the end of the tour.A peculiar temple but with lots of charm! It will definitely leave you with a sense of wonderment.Address: 61 Sri Jinarathana Road, Colombo 2 Website: http://gangaramaya.com/Operating hours: 6:00AM to 10:00PM (Daily) 2. Dutch Hospital – Shopping Precinct Credit: @DutchHospital on FacebookDutch hospital is a colonial era building refurbished into a shopping complex with restaurants and cafes – it has a little bit of everything.If you are in Colombo and want to cool off and relax for a bit after all that walking, Dutch Hospital is the place to be. There's a myriad of restaurants and cafes, but a must try is the Ministry of Crab which serves authentic Sri Lankan Crab dishes – you will not experience this taste anywhere else.You will also find a Spa Ceylon branch, a luxury spa specialising in using aryuvedic healing techniques to soothe the body. You can even purchase natural beauty products and get a massage to ease your aching feet.There's also an Art and Jazz Festival as well as a Street Food Festival hosted annually so if you are in town during that time do try to pop in. These festivals are great for families on holiday in the city.Be aware that there are also pubs and bars at the venue which serve alcoholic drinks, however you can easily find non-alcoholic drinks almost anywhere.Bonus tip: The Dutch Hospital is very close to the hotel strip on Galle Road so don't forget to check out hotels like The Kingsbury and, Galle Face Hotel – it overlooks the Galle Face Green, a great spot to enjoy the sunset from and has some great street food stalls.Address: Hospital St, Colombo 1Operating hours: 10:00AM to 10:00PM (Daily) 3. Shopping Credit: @colombocitycentre on InstagramShopping and eating makes up an important part of Colombo life, there are plenty of high end stores and shopping malls as well as numerous restaurants!As there are many places to shop in Colombo, there are a lot of seasonal sales in the city, so if you are a shopping addict – Colombo is definitely the place to be! Also, if you are looking for places to eat in Colombo there are a lot of options – Upali's for Sri Lankan cuisine, The Bay Leaf for Authentic Italian and Black Cat Cafe for good coffee amongst many others, just Google and you will be spoilt for choice.Note: According to the workers at Black Cat Cafe, they are unable to confirm if everything on the menu is halal. Hence, we advice that you consume at your own discretion.Head over to the newly opened Colombo City Centre for a more high end shopping experience which houses international brands like Armani Exchange, Swarovski, U.S. Polo Assn. and more! They also feature local high end brands, boutiques and, stores like Odel and Aviraté. If you want to watch the latest blockbuster head over to the multiplex cinema and grab a bite at the food court – The FoodStudio - which serves a variety of cuisines.If you want a real Colombo experience hop on a tuk tuk and head to Pettah. A labyrinthine mix of wholesale shops, historical sites and cheap eateries serving authentic Lankan streetfood – the language spoken here is haggling and it will make for a more thrilling experience.When in Pettah you have to try a Faluda – perfect for people with a sweet tooth (Sri Lankans love their sweets) or if you are more health conscious opt for a Thambili (Coconut water) – nature's isotonic drink – these can be found on almost every street corner. You don't have to worry about not being able to find Halal food because most of the restaurants and eateries are owned by Muslims, since they make a better part of the Pettah community. Almost all restaurants, cafes and hotels are Muslim-friendly as Sri Lanka has a population of about 1.9 million Muslims. 4. Festivals Credit: @cinnamonlifecolombo on Facebook Sri Lanka is a melting pot of different cultures and religions, and Colombo is the epicentre.There are many cultural and religious festivals you can witness while in Colombo. One of the biggest festivals is the Vesak Poya holiday, the Buddhist festival of lights which brings everyone together to enjoy beautiful light and lantern displays, as well as pandols. The Sinhala Tamil New Year is also a major festival enjoyed by all ethnicities and religions; it is similar to a spring festival which celebrates the new harvest of the season. Deepavali, which is the Hindu festival of lights is also a event that should not be missed.Apart from the religious or cultural festivals, Colombo hosts many festivals pertaining to art, music and street food.Be sure to head to the festival hot-spots like Dutch Hospital which hosts an exciting Art and Jazz Festival, Green Path for Foodies On The Street - a festival dedicated to street food and also the many free film and cultural festivals hosted by the different international embassies and organizations in the country. The city also holds music festivals like the Cinnamon Life Colombo Music Festival.Colombo also hosts many shopping festivals, with the largest being the CMB Shopping Festival held annually at the BMICH. Find clothes, accessories and many other things for competitive prices. Colombo is fast becoming a top shopping destination like Bangkok and Dubai, so remember to add Colombo to your list. 5. Food Credit: @mydinemore on FacebookLast but not least, everyone's favourite part about travelling - food. Colombo offers many options for places to eat and drink; almost all restaurants, cafes and, hotels are Muslim-friendly or Halal certified, as Sri Lanka has a population of about 1.9 million Muslims.You can choose between a range of expensive or cheap eateries. One of the budget friendly local fast food joints in Colombo is Dinemore, that serves up a variety of dishes, their most famous being their submarine - the restaurant chain is Halal certified. It's the perfect spot to grab a quick bite and escape the Colombo heat. You can find branches in Colombo 2, 3 and 6.Real Lankan street food is hidden in Pettah. A Pettah staple is Faluda – perfect for people with a sweet tooth (Sri Lankans love their sweets) or if you are more health conscious opt for a Thambili (Coconut water) – nature's isotonic drink – these can be found on almost every street corner. Try the many types of Achcharu and the local cotton candy - Bombai Motai.You don't have to worry about not being able to find Halal food, most of the restaurants and eateries are owned by Muslims as they make a better part of the Pettah community.Travelling in Colombo is very affordable!Bus tickets are very cheap, also with the advent of Pick Me and Uber, you can easily get around the city!Tip: avoid normal meter tuks that don't belong to any taxi service company which may charge more, always opt for Pick Me or Uber or any other private taxi company.Now you know what to do and where to be in this fun, fast growing city! Put on your shades, hop in a tuk tuk and enjoy Colombo!...
You are in Colombo on vacation and you need some privacy to get your work done and catch up on some reading. The hotel room is a great option but your family and friends are getting on your nerves for being too loud. So where do you go to get a cup of coffee and enjoy some quality alone time? Colombo has got you covered. Here are the top 8 cafés where you may enjoy peaceful time to yourself: 1. Black Cat Café Credit: @blackcathackney on InstagramBlack Cat is a quaint little café that serves up good coffee and healthy food. It has a homey, rustic feel to it as it is an old house that has been converted into a café and B+B so...if you want to stay over they can accommodate you. The staff here is very friendly and would strike up a conversation with you and make you feel welcome.The ambience is nice with indoor and outdoor seating – a lot of natural light seeping in through the windows and relaxing music playing. The seating arrangement is great as it gives you the secluded privacy you want even though it's quite a small space. It's great to work from or have some much needed alone time with a book. Electrical outlets and WiFi are available, so all you gotta do is settle in, and order a cuppa. The prices are between LKR 500 to LKR 100, but definitely worth it. There are two menus, the breakfast menu which is available till noon and another menu for the rest of the day. Their home made Ginger Beer comes highly recommended and their sandwiches are quite good as well. This place is also perfect to hang out with a group of friends, and you can stay as long as you like, even after the café has closed for the day.Charging Ports: YesWifi: Yes Address: 11, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07Opening Hours: 8AM to 6PM (Mon-Tue) 8AM to 10PM (Wed-Sun)Note: According to the workers at Black Cat Cafe, they are unable to confirm if everything on the menu is halal. Hence, we advice that you consume at your own discretion. 2. Café Mocha by Barista Credit: @CafeMochaSL on FacebookA spacious café with great ambience, the interior is specifically designed to accommodate people who want to get some work done or simply have a coffee date by themselves. It's a great spot to really sink into work or studying without being disturbed, it is also great to if you want to curl up in a ball on one of the comfy couches or booths and read a book – no judgement here, everyone's busy staring at laptop screens or books themselves. With ambient lighting and well spaced out tables, it's also great if you want to have any group discussions. It's a great hangout spot and has pretty chill vibe overall, you can also find some interesting boutiques selling interesting trinkets and batik clothing. The staff is friendly and accommodating. It has a typical coffee shop menu, with some interesting sandwiches which fuse Sri Lankan style fillings with cheese and other condiments. The price range is between LKR 400 to LKR 900, their Spicy Chicken Pasta is value for money at LKR 800 and their Tea is served for LKR 350 a pot.Charging Ports: YesWifi: Yes Address: 8 Stratford Ave, Colombo 6Opening Hours: 7AM to 11PM (Mon-Sun) 3. Caramel Pumpkin Credit: Caramel PumpkinA quirky café, Caramel Pumpkin is the place to be if you want to chill or catch up with a friend. If you are looking for a place that's more upbeat and different from the usual cafés this is the spot for you!It's has some cute wall art that might help get the creative juices flowing if you are a creative as well as bean bags if you want to get super cosy. There is also a nice outdoor area on the first floor overlooking the street below. If you like burning the midnight oil they are open till 1am Friday to Sunday and have an interesting late night menu.They have an extensive menu with a great variety to choose from, but you will not go wrong with the make your own pasta option, which is value for money at LKR 800 and, local gelato (highly recommend the Puttalam Sea Salt Flavour by Isle of Gelato), one generous scoop is LKR 450.Charging Ports: YesWifi: Yes Address: 38 Ward Pl, ColomboOpening Hours: 8AM to 1AM (Fri-Sun) 4. Tea Avenue Credit: @TeaAvenue1936 on FacebookLocated at Barnes place, this café is perfect if you are serious about getting some work done without any distractions or need some alone time to reflect on your vacation or just, chill. It has a variety of seating options and it is great for hanging out with a group of friends. They offer a variety of food and drinks, mainly known for their ice teas and cakes. Prices range from LKR 500 to LKR 1000, their Charcoal Waffles at LKR 850 is one of the best items on their menu and you can get Ice Teas between LKR 400 to LKR 500.Many electrical outlets are available, so you don't have to worry about your laptop or phone battery running out of juice and WiFi is free for one hour with every purchase; however you can stay here as long as you want without any disturbances. The music is unobtrusive and the booths are perfect to set up shop and finish any tasks at hand. If you are someone who likes working at night, this spot is highly recommended, they are open till midnight.Charging Ports: YesWifi: Yes Address: 55 Barnes Pl, Colombo 7Opening Hours: 7AM to 11PM (Mon-Sun) 5. Café Kumbuk Credit: Cafe KumbukSimilar to Black Cat Café, Café Kumbuk is located in an old colonial house that has been renovated, with both indoor and outdoor seating. However, it is not air-conditioned. If you are vegan or a health food junkie this is the place to be.The interior is nice and comfortable with a minimalist but rustic aesthetic; however, seating is quite limited. Other than that it's a great spot to relax and enjoy a healthy but tasty meal. They use organic ingredients and their menu changes seasonally. The price range is between LKR 500 to LKR 1500.Charging Ports: YesWifi: Yes Address: 60, Horton Place, Colombo 7Opening Hours: 8AM to 6PM (Tue-Sat) 8AM to 5PM (Sun) 6. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Credit: The Coffee Bean and Tea LeafThis American chain has 3 branches scattered around Colombo, however the Maitland Crescent outlet would be the best of you are a night owl.Similar to Tea Avenue in spaciousness, this coffee shop has a cool ambience. With urbanised interior and interesting seating, this spot will not disappoint. The café also serves essential coffee shop fare and is a great spot to hangout by yourself or with a group of friends. Their ice coffees and frappes are popular amongst the young crowd and are great if you want to escape the heat, their price range is between LKR 500 to LKR 1500.Charging Ports: YesWifi: Yes Address: 07, No 2 Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7Opening Hours: 6AM to 12AM (Sun to Thur) 24 hours (Fri and Sat) 7. The Blue Swan Credit: @blueswancafe on InstagramThis small, cosy café serves up their own brand of coffee and chocolate along with some delectable desserts and sandwiches. The perfect spot to grab a book and escape, the café is decked with comfy seating and has only one or two people making up the staff – however, this does not mean service is bad! Be sure to try their Chili Hot Chocolate priced at LKR 350, which is a peculiar concoction of chilli with hot chocolate, also the Cheese and Tamarind Toast for LKR 400, another quirky treat. The place is almost always crowded, however it is worth the visit for the good food and drinks at very affordable prices as well as its notable homely feel.Charging Ports: NoWifi: Yes Address: 24 Fife Road, ColomboOpening Hours: 10AM to 7PM (Mon to Sat) 8. Noteworthy Café Credit: @NoteworthyCafe on Facebook If you are a book lover or an art enthusiast, this café will not disappoint! The ambience is comfortable but rich with the velvet carpets and the apparent Van Gogh Theme, you can see copies of his best work hung up on their walls! Also, the staff there are friendly and accommodating. They have an impressive drinks menu that serves up some of the best coffee in town. If you are a fan of breakfast, they serve up all breakfast all day and have some interesting sandwiches – like the Green Goddess (LKR 500) for you health nuts and the Fish Ambulthiyal Wrap which has an authentic Sri Lankan curry filling (LKR 600). Their menu is quite extensive and has something for everyone; the price range is between LKR 1000 to LKR 1500. If you want some proper alone time – just you, a cup of coffee and a book? Look no further than Noteworthy Café. Fact: The café does not have WiFi as the owners want the customers to immerse themselves in the café experience and communicate and relax in the traditional ways.Charging Ports: NoWifi: No Address: 4 A Maitland Crescent, Colombo 7Opening Hours: 7AM to 9:30AM (Mon-Thur) 7AM to 10PM (Fri-Sun)Important: Most Cafes in Colombo are Halal friendly and don't really serve pork products so there is no need to worry about the food not being Halal, however, if you want to make sure you may always enquire with the staff. When you are in Colombo and craving that much needed alone time with a nice hot, steaming cup, you know where to go!...
Instant noodle trips – or spontaneous, short, cheap trips packed with a punch I never knew my type of travel had a name until I read the recent Mastercard-CrescentRating Halal Travel Frontier 2019 (HTF2019) Report outlining trends that will shape the US$220-billion global halal travel industry. The full report can be downloaded Halal Travel Frontier 2019. Of the 17 trends identified, three hit home personally: the urge for "instant noodle trips", stronger female influence in planning trips, and travel to non-traditional "Muslim" destinations such as Japan and Africa. I have always encouraged friends to travel beyond their comfort zones and experience local cultures, beliefs and people. In fact, I truly believe that putting oneself in so-called uneasy situations is the perfect test of one's faith. The keyword here is uneasy, not dangerous. Doing the latter is just being foolish. The reward after each "uneasy" situation is a deeper understanding and appreciation of others. You then realise the biases you have are your own. You make those walls so, there's nobody but only you who can break them. Me spending the night in this monastery in MyanmarWhat do Muslim travellers need when they travel? Two biggest needs are halal food and prayer spaces. Since we are on the topic of instant noodles, I realise my trips are literally about instant noodles. You see, many of my travel mates are non-Muslims and I refuse to inconvenience them or limit their culinary enjoyment so Maggi and Indomie have become a staple in my backpack. Proof I have been instant noodling for years…Vegetarian meals may be an alternative for many Muslims, but they are not for me. And that's because I hate vegetables and will not touch them with a 10-foot pole. I remember telling the travel guide on a trip to southern Africa that I was a vegetarian. After many days of not touching her food and cooking instant noodles instead, she confronted me. She was amused when she found out the truth. "There ARE halal food here!" she roared. She called me a "fake vegetarian" and then whipped out a halal chicken to cook the next day. (Below) An old video of some stuff I carry with me on trips. This was filmed a decade ago so, apologies for the poor quality. Sad? Not really. The search for halal food sometimes takes me to the homes and dining tables of Muslim strangers. (Below) A curious tuk-tuk man in Cambodia spotted me eating at the same halal Indian restaurant for three consecutive meals before offering to take me to a Kompong Cham enclave, where I was treated to a sumptuous halal beef meal by the village chief and Muslim elders. (Below) I also had a free chapatti dinner at the home of this generous Muslim family in Myanmar. They were poor in money but not in spirit and felt compelled to share what little they had with a fellow Muslim. No electricity means it's candlelight dinner. How fancy! Now, back to the rising trend of "instant noodle trips". I am glad that this is trending (and trendy) among millennials and Gen Z travellers. Compared to years ago, travel has now become more affordable with lower airfares offered by budget airlines. Social media and mobile applications have also made it easier to research on-the-go about new places, discover travel promotions and discounts, and minimise risks and dangers with real-time warnings about natural disasters and terror attacks for instance. It is easy to DIY. Personally I use Expedia to compare flight prices, and then book tickets directly from the airlines. I book accommodation on Booking.com an hour or two before arriving at my destination. The good thing about using the same app consistently is that eventually one becomes a "frequent traveller" and gets offered more discounts and deals. One memorable instant noodle trip was a 2015 solo travel to Sri Lanka. I flew budget from Jakarta to Colombo on AirAsia, and then took either public buses or trains to Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna. Within each city or town, I hitched tuk-tuks or simply explored on foot. I befriended locals and other tourists and they were ever willing to impart local wisdom and lend some company. I had no itinerary, no goals and no fixed plans. When I found bugs in bed, I covered the pillow with a shirt and slipped into my cheap travel sheet. No fuss. Bed bugs are part and parcel of "instant noodle trips"And when hungry? Search the walls for "halal" clues and tuck in. Bismillah. Article credit: The Flying Sarong...


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Radley Balko, a former policy wonk at the CATO Institute, currently a columnist for FoxNews.com, and a blogger and Senior Editor for Reason Magazine, praises Bob Barr's coronation as the presidential nominee at the Libertarian Party's Denver convention. The nomination, which took place hours prior to the conclusion of the convention, has shaken up the entire libertarian movement, including many purists, anarchists, and "free marketeers" who are throwing a fit over the delegates (which have been reportedly made up a number of Barr and Wayne Allyn Root supporters, with only some Steve Kubby and Mary Ruwart supporters).
Balko opined on his The Agitator blog with the following:
It's the first time the LP has nominated a serious candidate in a long time. I've become rather fond of Barr over his 5-year conversion to libertarianism. Second place went to nutjob Mary Ruwart, who would have continued the party's long history of kook-ism.
Barr has the potential to win more votes than any LP nominee in history. If he helps the GOP learn that it's time to boot the neocons and pay more attention to its limited government wing, all the better.
This is a good thing.
Notice what Balko said in the beginning of the third sentence in the first paragraph:
Second place went to nutjob Mary Ruwart....
Mary Ruwart, a long-time libertarian activist and author of Healing Our World in an Age of Aggression and Short Answers to the Tough Questions, is a "nutjob"? I see. So, in Balkoland, being a principled candidate makes you a "nutjob." How about Wayne Allyn Root, while he was running as an LP presidential candidate, throwing his support to John McCain little over a month prior to getting the VP nomination at the Denver convention this past weekend? (But then, that was before LP stalwarts Tom Knapp, Barry Hess, Ernie Hancock, and a number of "bought-and-paid-for" sell-outs got all starstruck over Barr's nomination.) Doesn't that make him a nutjob? Yet, you haven't heard a single condemnation from the national LP or even the party base for Root for pledging his support to McCain. Where was Balko when that claptrap happened?
Supporting Barr is "a good thing"? How can a candidate who has flip-flopped on the issues so many times and has assumed the role of a "I-wanna-pretend-to-be-a-Libertarian-so-I-make-money-off-the-base-and-the-party-and-just-get-a-few-more-votes-tarian" collectivist be "a good thing"? This is coming from a self-deluded "I'm-libertarian-when-I-want-to-be" libertarian, not a true-blue libertarian. That's exactly what Balko is and anything he says should be suspect.
Sure, he's great on the War on Drugs issue, but isn't he undermining his "opposition" to the War on Drugs by supporting a Drug Warrior who has more of a problem shedding his past image than adopting his new "let's-pretend-to-be-for-freedom" image? Isn't that really the matter? And sure, he's great on a few other social issues, but then again that's not saying much. Of course, Balko was FOR the war in Iraq initially. Once again, that doesn't say much in the grand scheme of things.
Sure, Barr may "[have] the potential to win more votes than any LP nominee in history," but so what? What is the likelihood that he will win the presidency? How much of a realistic shot does he have? Ron Paul didn't have a realistic shot, but his campaign was purely educational. Barr doesn't have a realistic shot, but his campaign is purely political, a 180-degree turn from Paul. Plus, his positions on immigration, the war in Afghanistan, his support for the Fair Tax, and spending are seriously suspect. Why should any third party and average voters support him over McCain, Obama, and Clinton?
Besides, what is so great about Barr? Even Wayne Allyn Root? I mean, seriously! What makes him the best candidate for the party? Because he WAS a congressman? Big deal! Captain Kangaroo and Bozo the Clown, on a political ticket, would have more success than Barr and Root would ever have.
The collectivists in the LP are thinking about power and votes and lining their pockets with money to make names for themselves in the media. It's a power play for the cameras. They want to look as if they are trying to accomplish something "positive" for the libertarian movement. But many of us who reject Barr and Root know better.
Balko is a collectivist, a statist, and a shmuck. His waffling on his libertarianism shows how much of a hypocrite he is when it comes to the libertarian philosophy. His support for Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root makes as much sense as a Democrat supporting Pervez Musharraf and Hugo Chavez, who both look like vile and pathetic candidates for the LP ticket for 2012.
It's time to write off these sell-outs for good. Balko gets a bigger write-off because he wasn't libertarian in the first place. That should tell people something.
[H/T to Wendy McElroy for reporting this on her website. Same goes to long-time (although briefly retired) libertarian writer and blogger Skip Oliva who privately emailed Wendy on Balko's antics.]
Update: The only reason Balko did attack Ruwart by calling her a "nutjob" because of the recent kiddie porn scandal that was the subject of great discussion at the Third Party Watch blog (before Stephen Gordon sold it off to Barr crony Richard Viguerie). Considering Balko never bothered to hear Mary's clarification of her answers on the Steve Kubby Show on Blog Talk Radio or even my Liberty Cap Talk Live spin-off show Liberty Cap Talk Live: The Special Edition Show prior to the Denver convention or even read her Short Answers to the Tough Questions book (which contains the offending answers to the "Childrens' Rights" question), of course he would level an attack against her as well.
It's interesting that Balko would do this, considering that Mary has never initiated force against anyone, stolen, taken bribes, or called for the power of the state to arrest anyone for drug possession or on the claim that the U.S. Patriot Act and the REAL ID Act are laws that will "protect our freedoms." Yet Balko praises a washed-up ex-congressman who has a history of supporting anti-freedom, pro-violent legislation against people, especially with regards to peaceful, non-violent drug use, even if it's done for recreational or medicinal purposes or both.


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Website development.
Doing our job we always create a vehicle that meets the requirements of modern consumers.
We fluently research the peculiarities of our clients business and effectively solve their problems and tasks.
To create order, please fill in the form and our specialists will contact you in the nearest future.


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Hookah Stones Shisharoma Frozen Papaya 120g
Product's availability
The product that is sold here is a shisharoma stones with a capacity of 120 grams.
Shisharoma is a cleaned and heat-treated volcanic hookah steam stone. It contains flavored glycerin, which allows its consumers to enjoy hookah without any tobacco.
Everyone knows that smoking is very harmful. But we can enjoy hookah without this health risk, because Shisharoma minerals offer a much healthier alternative.
The high quality steam stone is a new alternative for the enjoyment without tobacco, because:
- There's no smoke: The glycerin steam gives an illusion similar to smoke, and you can even blow bigger clouds.
- There's no flue gas: The hookah steam stone doesn't burn out. The glycerin that gives the steam also evaporates, so there are significantly less harmful substances compared to tobacco-based products.
- It's tobacco-free: Shiahsaroma hookah steam stone is tobacco tax free and it doesn't have an age limit so you can buy or sell it on the Internet.
- It's nicotine-free: As it doesn't contain tobacco, it doesn't contain nicotine either, so it's a great alternative for people who don't smoke but like hookahs, and their non-smoker environment, too.
- It's tar-free: One of the most dangerous components of tobacco is tar. Shisharoma shisha steam stones doesn't contain any tar and it doesn't create tar when using it.
New product, better than Shiazo steam stones because the flavor of Shisharoma is more intese, they last longer and is re-usable!
How does it work?
Shisharoma doesn't burn out in contrast with tobacco products. As a result of its special porous structure, it soaks the flavor and aroma of glycerin, then, heated up, it evaporates them. As Shisharoma stones have a large surface, it can effectively create a delicious steam cloud by evaporating aroma substances together with the glycerin, allowing us to taste the flavor of the Shisharoma product by inhaling it.


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You need a permit in order to:
The number of animals you may keep in a particular area depends on the size of your site.
Keeping of animals must comply with local laws and council's planning scheme.
A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.
Council determines the length of this approval.
Cassowary Coast Regional Council - Local Law 2 (Animal Management) 2011 - PDF
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Cassowary Coast Regional Council - Subordinate Local Law 2 (Animal Management) 2011 - PDF
(Opens in new window)
Contact council for more information on the current application process and relevant form.
To obtain this licence, you must:
provide written evidence that occupiers or
owners of neighbouring properties either support or object to the
obtain prior licensing from the Department of
Environment and Science in order to keep native species.
You may need planning approval
for stables or other structures.
may consider the following factors in deciding whether to grant this licence:
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.
Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Queensland local laws online database
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The Valley Arts Foundation has partnered with the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) to get the word out that the Mad River Valley is the place to be this summer to experience everything arts.
Karen Nevin, director of the Valley Arts Foundation, is working with Megan Smith, commissioner of VDTM, to promote The Valley this summer. August isn't the only time The Valley celebrates the arts. June brings the Green Mountain Opera Festival, in July there is the new Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition and, of course, August brings the Vermont Festival of the Arts.
"I reached out to the Department of Tourism to see how we could work together to bring The Valley to the attention of as many people as possible," said Karen Nevin, "Commissioner Smith was incredibly receptive to working with us."
Together, they have put together a three-pronged approach to encourage visitors to spend time here this summer. Four different festival weekends will be given away via an online Vermont Festival of the Arts Sweepstakes at the state's tourism website: www.vermontvacation.com. Each weekend includes a two-night stay at a local inn, dinner for two at a local restaurant and extra festival activities.
"The generosity of our local businesses is amazing," said Nevin, "It's because of them that the sweepstakes is possible." Along with the increased web presence through the Department of Tourism, the Chamber of Commerce is getting the word out through their website.
A four-page spread on the Arts in the Mad River Valley will be in the summer issue of Vermont Life Magazine coming out in May. There is great information on what to do and see, places to stay and eat and all the ways that the arts are celebrated.
"The Mad River Valley is such a special place in the summer. With a readership of over 100,000, we will definitely get noticed," Nevin said.
Finally, the Vermont Department of Tourism attends a number of tourism expos to promote Vermont as a vacation destination. Along with domestic events, they attend three or four international expos. Vermont will be letting people in Germany, England, Canada and even Japan know that the Mad River Valley is a great place to visit this summer.
"The arts community is a vibrant component of Vermont's population and integral ingredient to Vermont's brand as a tourism and recreation destination," said Megan Smith, commissioner of Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. "To promote this festival and arts organization provides success two-fold. We nurture and promote an event that directly draws tourists to the state, and we support Vermont's arts community and economy. These efforts align with our overall mission to strengthen Vermont communities."
Planning for the 16th Vermont Festival of the Arts is in full swing. The Festival is a 120-event, 33-day arts festival that takes place during August each year. With so much to do, it is known for its multimedia, multi-age, and multidimensional events that provide activities for everyone. For more information, call (802) 496-6682 or go to www.vermontartfest.com.


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Jugos, bebidas, vinos y licoresAgo. 22, 2012
Cranberries/EE.UU: producción 2012 alcanzaría 7,6 millones de barriles
That's a drop of less than 1% from last year, according to the annual report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
More than 7.6 million 100-pound barrels of cranberries will be produced by U.S. growers in 2012, the third biggest crop on record, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.
That's a drop of less than 1% from last year, according to the annual report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Production gains are expected in Wisconsin, Washington, Oregon and New Jersey. But a weather-related decline in Massachusetts — from 2.3 million to 2.1 million barrels — brought the total down marginally.
"They're still sizing up," said John Decas, board chairman of Carver, Mass.-based Decas Cranberry Products Inc. "It's a very good crop, but not as good as last year."
In Massachusetts an early spring pushed growth ahead of normal, exposing some growers to frost damage, according to the USDA report released Aug. 14. In summer, heat stress became an issue.
"Some growers had as many as 30 frost protection nights this year," said Parker Mauck, director of grower relations at Decas Cranberry Products. "It was unprecedented. Typically they might have six to 10."
So the sprinklers came on overnight. In summer, irrigation protection was necessary.
"Massachusetts will be an OK crop but not a barnbuster," Mauck said.
Harvesting there starts in the third or fourth week of September.
Bob Wilson, managing member of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.-based The Cranberry Network LLC, expects shipments of fresh cranberries to start around Sept. 17. Only 4% of cranberries go to the fresh market, he said.
Wilson predicts a balance between demand and availability may encourage nontraditional suppliers of the fresh fruit to stay on the sidelines.
"Grower returns on cranberries have been somewhat suppressed in the last couple years, but they're recovering of late," he said. "With the advent of somewhat reasonable returns, hopefully fewer peripheral players will be in the fresh market this year trying to save their bacon.
"It tends to confuse buyers and not make a great statement for the industry as a whole when less than stellar material ends up on the shelf," Wilson said.
The Wareham, Mass.-based Cranberry Marketing Committee plans to have its summer meeting Aug. 27-28 in Milwaukee. Further crop predictions are expected there, Mauck said.
"Between late August and harvest, the crop has changed dramatically in the past," Wilson said. "Fruit is definitely maturing early this year. We have to wait for cold temperatures to have the fruit color up nicely."
Water supply for fall frost protection is also a concern in light of summer drought.