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Website: http://www.rockfarmslane.ie
I stayed here with my dog. It was a lovely big, warm and comfortable room. My dog was allowed to be with me in the room and also in the communal kitchen, living, dining room which was so nice as dog accommodation usually means he is confined to the room in his crate. He and I were made very welcome and he especially enjoyed the attention from the children of the family who were also staying in the house. In the morning I took my dog for a walk on the lead (too many pheasants to go free!) The farm is on a large site but it would be nice to have marked walks as I was not always sure where we cou...more
We stayed as a whole group and had the place to ourselves for 4 nights. We loved the setting and the space. Rock farm slane were there to clean the bathrooms and the showers daily. The beds were comfy and warm. There was even heating in the accommodation and hot water bottles provided it needed. Booking the site, rock farm were great to deal with. Questions were welcome and customer service was great. We will be definately going back.
The Lime House was great for our weekend away celebrating my mother's 60th birthday. The location is beautiful and surroundings provided a serene, countryside getaway for our party. The house itself had plenty of space and the bedrooms were a great size for all guests. We were all very comfortable during our stay. As we ordered pizza packs, we used the pizza woodfire to cook these. We weren't shown where this was or how exactly it worked by anyone however it wasn't too difficult to figure out. It would have been nice for someone to have gone through the heating settings with us, temperatur...more
We loved the accommodation and would recommend it 100%. The showers and self catering kitchen was also great.
Absolutely love this place, 2nd time there. And will be back again. So relaxing. Brought 4 children 2x 12yr old 7yr old 6yr old and all loved it
Beautiful location, yurt was comfortable, spacious and cosy even though it was a cool night. hot tub and camp fire lovely and good breakfast pack. only small snag was the pizza oven - it didn't retain the heat so get help from staff with that if using it, as its a lovely idea. would return to rock farm for sure.
Staying here was incredible. So very peaceful, quiet, comfortable and lovely. I'll come back over and over again. The location and scenery is amazing there, and even a warm shower available which is a nice surprise.
We held our daughters's wedding at this beautiful farm in Slane. There are not enough superlatives to describe this location! Absolutely gorgeous location, with fields, stone walls, wild flowers, rolling hills and views of a castle. We stayed in the Lime House in a large upstairs room with special touches, like organic soaps and flowers. The farm provided various types of lodging for all of our wedding party and guests so that we were the only ones on the premises for a Friday, Sat stay. There are a limpet about of hotel quality rooms in the Lime house, and a variety of more rustic yurts,...more
I loved the experience. A yurt is a great way to camp. Unfortunately we had wet weather which made it difficult walking through the grass. We needed gum boots. However the setting was beautiful. Very relaxing.
We really enjoyed our stay at Lime House. The room was well appointed and comfortable. The site was lovely and we enjoyed many walks along the river. We would love to come back and bring the grand children.
I booked the swallows nest at Rock farm for a little getaway, the accommodation is lovely, very cosy and the room is equipped with everything you need. I would love to return here in the summer as March isn't ideal for campfires or lounging around late at night but nevertheless our stay was enjoyable and we had no hassle at all. Very relaxing and cosy! Thank you for everything
Fabulous 3 nights at Rock Farm. Outdoor pool, hot tub & campfire a big hit. Comfy beds. The Shack was very useful when it rained! Lovely lunch at Slane Castle & evening meal at The Conyingham Arms. Staff v friendly & helpful. Our 75 year old parents stayed in the Lime House which meant they could be with us without staying on the camp site. We will be back again for a third time next year!
a nourishing experience in luxurious bedding and super cosy space that makes one feel enlivened and refreshed.
Großes Gelände mit verschiedensten Tieren. Sehr schönes Haus mit großer Gemeinschaftsküche und Essbereich.
The bell tent was very comfortable - we haven't done 'glamping' before so the hot showers were very much appreciated. Highly recommended if you want the camping experience without having to pack up a tent/sleeping bag and the rest. The camp kitchen had everything we needed, and we enjoyed the covered seating area during a spot of rain on the Friday. Make sure you bring marshmallows for the camp fire, which was a huge hit with the children. There are river walks and tree-climbing and kayaking activities available on site, but the location would also be a perfect base for exploring Newgrange, Hi...more
Location is fab, feels isolated while you're there but very close to decent attractions such as Newgrange and Tayto Park. Condition of tents could be better. Our bell tents were badly mildewed and smelled mouldy, but withstood heavy rain without leaking. One lantern provided didn't have batteries (luckily we had our own). The kitchen/toilet facilities allocated to the bell tents are a transportable building and portaloos, which, while functional, weren't what I was expecting. The yurts have a much more attractive and comfortable set up (log cabin style), which we were able to use but felt a bi...more
Found this campsite in an Irish times article about 50 places to camp. We drove one hour north of Southside Dublin and felt like we were in the French countryside. I'd never been to Slane and was amazed to find it nestled in the 300 year old trees of the Boyne Valley. BEAUTIFUL. From the first phone call, every member of staff could not have been more pleasant and helpful. The tents were spotless and spacious and the full size beds were very comfortable. The kitchen was spotless with new fresh equipment. We did the canoe trip with Dave on the beautiful Boyne. He was such easy company and tol...more
We spent 2 nights at Rock Farm Plane for a wedding. It was a perfect location for a family-get-together! Wonderful atmosphere, all very cosy and a good service. We would recommend it!
We came to Slane Farm for a wedding and truly loved our stay! The wedding was beautiful and the staff did a wonderful job with everything. In particular the woman from Brazil (Elainey?) who prepared and served us breakfast was fabulous!! So sweet and helpful. She even ironed my husband's shirt. You are lucky to have her and we were lucky to meet her. All the food was delicious too (especially the pizza, hummus and those bread sticks!). Thanks for a great time!
Fantastic location, great check in and lovely staff unfortunately that was undermined by the state of the bell tent. The outside was completely covered in black mold! Not a pleasant sight or smell. The "camping" side also felt slight segregated from the "glamping" side of the site. The area is stunning and the shower facilities great just a shame the tent itself wasn't up to standard.


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Original Boy on Trapeze Cast Iron Mechanical Bank
Scarce Painted Balancing Bar
Circa 1888: Originally christened French's Automatic Toy Bank, the Boy on Trapeze is the single mechanical bank produced by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's J. Barton Smith Company. This beautiful and elegant bank works by placing a coin in the acrobat's chapeau. Then, the boy spins and drops the coin into the coin slot on the base and continues its revolution, coming to a stop in his original upright position. The heavier the coin, the more revolutions the boy will make. Bill Norman's seminal volume The Bank Book published in 1984 cites the following quotation from an 1891 source: "for one penny dropped in the head the boy revolves once, for a nickel twice, for a quarter dollar three times, for a half dollar six times." This bit of information has been a source of consternation for bank collectors for several decades because this data has not proved correct. Many early bank collectors tried to calibrate the acrobat's balancing rod by bending it slightly so that the bank would work according to its 1891 specifications. This resulted in a lot of bent or broken balancing rods. What the early bank collectors forgot to figure is that modern coins weigh less than their predecessors and thus will not produce the same amount of revolutions as the 19th century coins did. In our example, a contemporary quarter makes the boy revolve twice.
The highly desirable and difficult to find Boy on Trapeze is certainly one of the most streamlined and striking mechanical banks ever manufactured, and this example sports an incredibly well painted figure with attractive pastel blue pants and a very scarce painted balancing arm. The bank works perfectly and is completely original with no chips, cracks, or repairs and a completely untouched original painted surface. This wonderful antique American cast iron mechanical bank is sure to please the discriminating collector and will be right at home in any fine collection of mechanical banks, antique toys, or Americana.

subset: commoncrawl


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What qualities did I want and need in a "big scope"?
First, at a minimum, I wanted to at least double the focal length I had with the 130EDT. That meant at least 2,000mm.
Doubling the focal length, and keeping the focal ratio reasonable, meant an aperture of 10-12 inches.
It's hard to find a refractor in that size, let alone be able to afford it. So that meant a mirror scope.
I actually have a 12.5 inch f/6 dobsonian with an amazingly excellent mirror made by Peter Ceravolo.
I have used it to shoot one or two images of the Moon, such as the crater Clavius, and the ringed wonder Saturn.
But, I have to tell you, shooting afocal and pushing the scope along by hand, and trying to keep Saturn in the camera at 2,500mm was not a lot of fun. Don't even ask me how I focused it.
During a brief period of insanity, I even thought about putting a Losmandy D dovetail plate on one of the altitude bearning of the Dob's rocker box, and putting it on the Losmandy. I though if I only shot when the planet was near transit, I might be able to get away with it since that would keep the mirror correctly oriented in the sling.
I abandoned that idea because I thought the 12.5 inch Dob had just too much lever arm to work well on the Losmandy. The Losmandy GM100EQ mount that I have is unbelieveably great, and would hold a ton of weight, but the lever arm would get me.
Then I thought about putting the 12.5 inch mirror in a tube so it would be turned into a real telescope, but the length and lever arm again dissuaded me.
Finally I realized that if I wanted more aperture and focal length in a package that I could use on the mounts I had, it was going to have to be some kind of folded optical design.
After a lot of research, and I narrowed my search for a big scope down to a 10-inch Astro-Tech Ritchey-Chretien, and an 11-inch Celestron Edge aplanatic Schmidt-Cassegrain.
Picking between the scopes in Big Scope Chronicles 3.Follow


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07 Aug
The Archers College PTA hosted a fundraiser fun walk/run on Saturday 2 August 2014 at the Cliffview Primary School field with great success.
Over 200 students, parents, grandparents, friends and co-workers joined us for a fun filled afternoon of running and some walking in order to raise funds to purchase a Smart interactive white board for the school.
We are happy to announce that we succeeded in raising over R23 000 and donations are still coming in.
This would not have been achieved without the hard work of the students, parents and teachers of Archers College as well as our generous sponsors who donated prizes such as Spur vouchers, Ster Kinekor and Numetro tickets, Pizza Del Forno vouchers, Liberty gift packs, Sportman's warehouse and Barnyard theatre vouchers for the winners.
The PTA are hoping to make this an annual event!


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From Tiger Brands exec to Exclusive Books CEO
CAPE TOWN - Tiger Brands chief growth officer, Grattan Kirk has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of Exclusive Books.
Tiger Brands released a SENS announcement stating that they have made changes to their executive committee.
According to the announcement, Kirk has handed in his resignation in order to pursue the retail sector. His contract with Tiger Brands will terminate on June 22. He will then assume his new role at Exclusive Books, reports Business Tech. The Tiger Brands Group wished Kirk well and thanked him for his contribution to the group over the past five years. Executive Director of South African Breweries, Yokesh Maharaj will assume the role of chief growth officer at Tiger Brands.
At Exclusive Books, Kirk will take over the role from Benjamin Trisk. The two reportedly reached an "amicable" agreement with the board, following a collapse in the relationship between shareholders.
Exclusive Books reportedly expressed their excitement about Kirk's new appointment and said that they look forward to working with him.
Meanwhile, take a look at Kirk's previous job titles.
1. According to Bloomberg, Kirk holds a Chartered Accountancy qualification.
2. He served as Director of Connection Group Holdings since 1999.
3. He joined Incredible Connection as in 1997 as Financial Director.
4. Kirk served as Business Executive of Consumer Brands at Tiger Brands since 2013 until 2017.
5. The title he now leaves behind is Chief Growth Officer of Grocery & Home, Personal Care & Baby at Tiger Brands Limited.
READ ALSO: Petrol to rise by massive 82c/litre
ALSO READ: KPMG to lay off 400 people after numerous scandals
TOP STORY: WATCH: R2.6 billion development in Sandton


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Tacking Point/lighthouse Beach
Tacking Point/lighthouse Beach
- 28 Jan
1 Flynns Beach
Flynns Beach 2444, NSW
Tacking Point marks the end of the hard intrusive rocks that dominate the Port Macquarie coast and beaches. Four longer beaches (NSW 171-173) sweep for 15.5 km to the southwest to the more rolling slopes of Bonny Hills. The first beach, Lighthouse or Tacking Point Beach extends southwest of the point for 700 m between to the low Watonga Rocks, which extends across the lower beach and into the surf (Fig. 4.92 & 4.93). This is the main surfing beach for Port Macquarie, with the Tacking Point SLSC (established 1971) located at the northern end of the backing foreshore reserve, beside the small Lighthouse Gully creek. The reserve is in turn backed by Matthew Flinders Drive, then residential housing on the backing slopes, which rise to 50 m. The beach faces the southeast and receives waves averaging 1.6 m which combine with the fine sand to produce a well developed one to two bar system. The inner bar is always present and usually continuous and attached to the shore. However wave greater than 1.5 m result in rips cutting the bar particularly against the point and the rocks, and form a second outer bar. A wide trough, usually occupied by rips, separates the inner bar from the outer bar, which when present, is cut by rips at both ends.
An exposed and potentially hazardous rip-dominated beach. Stay between the flags and on the inner bar.


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home > portfolio > clients list > ljubljanske mlekarne
Industry: production and processing
Ljubljanske mlekarne are the leading dairy in Slovenia, with more than fifty years of tradition. The company was established in 1956.
Their most important brands are: Alpsko mleko, Mu, Ego, Maxim Premium, Lučka, Planica, Piran, Jošt, Laščan and Kranjska gauda.
Vision of Ljubljanske mlekarne is to remain the best in Slovenia and to become a recognised producer of dairy and other products in Europe.


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|MiniBoss Business School International
1. Make empathy a family habit.
You are your kids' first teacher: Be mindful of the lessons you impart. When they fight with their siblings or friends, teach them to look at the argument from the other person's perspective. What might their brothers or sisters be feeling when they call them names or won't share?
Do the same when you have conflicts with your spouse or relatives. If there's a rift within the extended family, explain it to the kids while acknowledging the other side's perspective.
In the business world, Costco modeled corporate empathy in an extraordinary way, following the 2008 economic collapse. Most companies were frantically searching for ways to cut costs, but Costco gave its employees a raise.
Rather than add to its workers' economic woes, it looked at the situation from where its employees stood and buoyed them during a difficult time. Today, Costco sees less than 10 percent turnover among its hourly team members.
2. Encourage emotional sharing.
Invite your kids to share not only what they're feeling, but also why. Doing so builds emotional literacy and enables your children to communicate more effectively. Ever since our kids were young, my wife and I have made it a point to discuss our feelings openly and examine how we plan to act on those emotions.
We saw our children carry that practice into their own lives outside our home. When our son was 12, he stood up for a classmate who was being bullied, asking the young offender why he felt that he needed to act that way. Our son was not an especially outspoken type, but he told me he intervened because he didn't understand and couldn't accept why someone would treat a peer that way.
As kids grow into adults, they likely won't be sharing their deep feelings at work (founder or otherwise), but they will be sharing their ideas. Workers who feel comfortable offering input and pitching ideas to their managers are 54 percent more engaged than those who feel that they can't approach their bosses, according to a Gallup study. Empathy is crucial for developing a healthy work environment, so the sooner future leaders learn to exercise it, the better.
3. Teach your kids to read others' body language.
In a 20-year study from Duke and Penn State universities, researchers followed children from kindergarten through age 25 to observe how their interpersonal skills correlated with long-term success.
They concluded that those with strong social habits, such as empathy and conflict resolution, were more likely to finish college and land full-time jobs than their less socially adept peers.
Understanding body language is a core component of healthy interpersonal development, so look for opportunities to explain body cues to your kids. Use TV shows, movies and play-date interactions as teachable moments in this area.
Having company over is also a great time to practice paying attention to what people say through both their words and body language. When we had guests visit our home, my wife and I taught our kids to shake their hands and look them in the eye.
Our kids also paid attention to what a guest might need -- a glass of water or directions to the coat room -- rather than to scurry shyly away. As they grew older, that attentiveness helped them sense when someone's feelings were going unspoken and to anticipate how to improve the situation.
Organizational change expert Manfred Kets de Vries wrote, "Empathy enhances our ability to receive and process information and to find solutions." Nothing could be more important to future entrepreneurs, and parents have the power to instill this skill at a young age.
Teaching children empathy now lays the foundation for a successful, enriching and emotionally rewarding future. The best part? All kids can learn it -- they just need someone to teach them.


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Catolicadas 3ra Temporada - Capítulo 4: El mejor camino
If you give us your email we can send you our press releases. These are usually only sent during campaigns. Lees meer »
In some countries, you might find that the Women on Web website is censored. Here you can read about several ways you… Lees meer »


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"If I were to tell you the story of my relationship with my grandfather it would be difficult to separate reality from fiction. For a child, is there really a difference?" – JOYÀ
Behind the veil of the lush Mayan jungle exists a world of crystal-clear water pools, coral rocks, and rich flora and fauna – an oasis within an oasis. A wooden walkway leads to a theater perched above a massive lagoon cascading in a majestic waterfall. This is the world of JOYÀ – a unique entertainment and culinary experience by Cirque du Soleil.
Inspired by the fabulous migratory journey of the monarch butterfly in which life is passed from one generation to the next to ensure the survival of the species, JOYÀ (Hoy-ya) follows the adventures of a rebellious teenage girl whisked away to a mysterious jungle in her grandfather's fantastical world. Surrounded by a strange band of half-human, half-animal masters inspired by ancient Mayan iconography, the aging naturalist yearns to pass on to his granddaughter his relentless quest for the meaning of life.
Inhabited by entrancing characters that work hand-in-hand to perpetuate the love of life, JOYÀ abounds in subtle allusions to the history and culture of Mexico, from the 5,000-km migration of the monarch butterflies (from Canada to Mexico) and the 66 million year old Yucatán asteroid believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs (a dinosaur puppet that trots on stage also refers to this cataclysmic event) to artists such as Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo (vines, giant flowers and jungles are oblique references to the artists), and with mariachis, masked wrestlers, pirate legends (famous pirates took refuge on Isla Mujeres – the Island of Women – in the 17th and 18th centuries), and the rhythms and sounds of Mexico: cucaracha, marionettes, horror films (in reference to master of horror Guillermo del Toro), and even the underwater sculptures of Jason deCaires Taylor.
It's an engaging, immersive, multisensory experience in which joy, courage, and friendship conquer all, but with the show beginning its fourth season in the Riviera Maya (on Wednesday, September 27th), I realized there's very little I, here in the United States, know about this unique show. A few weeks back I sought to rectify that by getting my hands on a hardcover book Vidanta Resorts provides to its members: THE BOOK OF JOYÀ. This book, while not a tell-all, is a wonderful reference source about the production and has given me wonderful insights into not only the show itself, but the Theater, the Grounds, and the Menu!
So, in celebration of JOYÀ beginning its fourth season (it'll also celebrate its third year of existence in November), I'm going to share the texts found in the book with you – in three parts. Part One: "A GEM IN THE JUNGLE" covers the development of the concept and the grounds. Part Two (November): "SWEET, SAVORY, and SURREAL" takes a peek at the menu and the show itself. And in Part Three (December): "INNOVATOR PROFILES" we'll meet creators and some of the cast that brought the show to life.
Let's get started, shall we?
"Through our partnership with Cirque du Soleil, we are providing an entertainment experience beyond what currently exists in Mexico or the world. This is an entirely new category of entertainment that everyone must see, hear, and taste. We are extremely proud to bring this dream to life" – Daniel Chávez Morán, Founder of Grupo Vidanta.
The story of JOYÀ begins with a dream. It was a dream to do something bigger and more extraordinary than anything Vidanta had ever done before. We wanted to create a magical world where happiness ruled and the imagination ran free. A mesmerizing place where families and friends could come together to smile, laugh, and share unforgettable moments. It would be an entertainment experience that would do more than just dazzle audiences – it would inspire generations.
They needed a partner who could dream right alongside us and who knew a thing or two about happiness. We considered only one company – the most beloved performance company in the world – Cirque du Soleil. So in the fall of 2009, Cirque du Soleil and Vidanta embarked on a miraculous journey and a whirlwind of beautiful collaboration. It was unprecedented. Here were two visionary companies dreaming together, both dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the imagination and bringing happiness to the world. It was an incredible time. Everyone involved knew that this project was special.
And after almost five years of planning and preparation, the dream came true – Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ made its debut at Vidanta Riviera Maya on November 21, 2014.
"Welcome to Our Dream. It's here for you and all the world to experience. From its beautiful home hidden deep within the Mayan jungle, JOYÀ will enchant you with spellbinding performances, amazing music, culinary wonders, and theatrical magic. Through astonishing new sights, sounds, and flavors, JOYÀ will take you to fantastic worlds and show you the beauty of nature and the unbreakable bonds of friendship and family. JOYÀ has truly become one of the world's most extraordinary entertainment and dining experiences. It is adream come true. It was ours. Now it is yours."
The Cirque du Soleil Theatre is perched above a massive lagoon overlooking the Mayan jungle on the Vidanta Riviera Maya property. It is an oasis within an oasis. The JOYÀ experience begins the moment you enter the grounds. You wind your way through the lush Mayan jungle – quiet, peaceful, mysterious – and the fantastic world of JOYÀ slowly unfolds before you. You walk beneath palapas (a traditional Mexican shelter roofed with palm leaves or branches), through a world of lush vegetation, waterfalls, and rich flora and fauna, and you hear the sounds of Cirque du Soleil – you're far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Warm smiles welcome you. Then you see it – the breathtaking Cirque du Soleil Theater perched atop a waterfall overlooking the lagoon, the grand centerpiece of the impeccably designed grounds. As more people arrive, the buzz of excitement builds. The sun begins to set; brilliant colors emerge from the darkness, and faint points of light twinkle in the secret island. Everyone knows they will soon be experiencing something magical. The night of JOYÀ has begun.
Unlike other shows where you watch the performance and head home, the JOYÀ experience begins well before the first act and lasts long after the actors take their final bow. Before the show, friends and families enjoy dinner at Nektar (Yucatecan Grill & Lounge), couples relax in lounges overlooking the water, and giddy children dart about the wooden pathways. Afterwards, the experience continues with live music and drinks at Nektar, shopping at the JOYÀ boutique, or a pleasant walk around the lagoon. When you are here, time doesn't matter. Watch the stars come out. Listen to the water. Take in the view of the jungle at night. Enjoy your loved ones. Make the moment last. That's what JOYÀ is all about.
You'll even find a few surprises… Before the show, guests are treated to a Mayan fire dance where performers recreate an astonishing ancient ritual. It begins as the performers mingle with guests and spread the rich aroma of incense harvested from local Copal trees. Then they slowly traverse the lagoon in a small boat and light up the darkness with spinning rings of fire. The beautiful dance of light is brilliantly reflected in the waters below. And, along the wide wooden pathway leading up to the Cirque du Soleil Theater, is the JOYÀ Boutique. Inside this small palapa, everyone can find that perfect piece of JOYÀ to take home – JOYÀ-themed sketchbooks, clothing, and collectible characters; soundtracks from JOYÀ and other Cirque du Soleil shows; even one-of-a-kind pieces of art and lighting.
From far away, you can just barely see it above the trees, curiously peeking out from the jungle canopy. As you get closer, its strange shape makes you wonder, "What is this?" Maybe it's a giant flower with its petals unfurled toward the skies. Or a furry animal sleeping soundly on the jungle floor. Is it alive? Who lives there? This strangely beautiful place is the Cirque du Soleil Theater – JOYÀ's home – at Vidanta Riviera Maya.
When Vidanta and Cirque du Soleil set out to build the theater for JOYÀ, their top priority was to create a completely unique and immersive theatrical experience that had never been done before at a resort. Vidanta's team of master architects, designers, and engineers worked closely with the lead creatives at Cirque du Soleil to bring the dream to life. Grupo Vidanta architect Arturo Hernandez based his designs on three guiding principles: have the utmost respect for the jungle environment, conceal the theater among the mangroves, and play with sinuous lines and organic shapes.
The beautiful result of their work is the Cirque du Soleil Theater at Vidanta Riviera Maya – an awe-inspiring structure that transports audiences into the dreamlike world of JOYÀ with timeless beauty, gorgeous natural surroundings, and intricate details. The Theater was purposefully designed to reflect and blend into the lush Mayan jungle, almost like it just sprouted there. With it organic shape and decor, the Theater recaptures the essence of nature – the swaging trees in the breeze, the fluttering of butterflies, animal migrations, and the cycle of life.
In fact, if you've stepped foot onto any of Vidanta's resort destinations, you've experienced Chief Architect Arturo Hernandez' brilliant mind at work. Throughout his prolific 33-year career, Arturo has seen the completion of more than 1,500 architectural projects in Mexico. Majestic vistas; soaring palapas; giant tiled columns; brilliant colors; elements of the surreal; playful combinations of water, fire, wood, stone, and metal – these are all the hallmarks of Arturo's visionary style. Most of Vidanta's sweeping structures and breathtaking buildings have been designed by this incredible talent. Many of which have helped Vidanta reinvent the Mexican resort experience. Joining him in executing these amazing feats of architecture is a full team of more than 125 architects, engineers, designers, and staff.
Arturo is an architectural pioneer whose structures often defy physics. His inspiration comes primarily from the natural beauty of Mexico and its wealth of art and cultures, and he cleverly incorporates both into almost every design. Arturo is a true leader and a kind, humble man. Just spend an evening in the Cirque du Soleil Theater… look around and take it all in. You'll see firsthand why he deserves such praise.
When you first saw it, what did you think it was? A plant? An animal? It's been described as many things – a pomegranate, a furry moth, even an alien. Arturo Hernandez calls it a "beautiful flower." This is the beauty of the Theater – it invites you to explore your own imagination. It begs you to think about your world, what is a dream and what is reality, and if there really is any difference. Much like the journey of JOYÀ itself. Because of the Theater's complex geometry (not many right angles here!), one of the main construction challenges was in the installation of the HVAC systems. The kitchen, the stage, the audience areas, the basement, and other areas all require different temperatures at various times during the show!
But that's not all. Construction in this ecologically rich part of Mexico is subject to stringent environmental controls and restrictions; it is prohibited, for example, to build anything above the 12-meter tree line of the lush, low-lying jungle that is not made of natural materials. During construction of the JOYÀ site, Vidanta went to extremes to protect the jungle. Trees, rare plants and animals were all displaced. Every plant that was moved, no matter how large, was relocated and replanted. Hundreds of new trees were planted in and around the site. To better preserve the natural habitat, the wooden walkway leading to the theatre was deliberately built above ground, allowing animals to pass freely underneath. 80% of the Theater was preserved as pristine jungle. 100% of permeable ecological concrete was used for roads and parking lots around the site. And local woods were used for pergolas and other decorative elements.
Did you know, hidden away on the island in the lagoon, is a small cenote? Abundant in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, cenotes are naturally occurring sinkholes resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that expose groundwater underneath. The Maya believed these pools were sacred gateways to the afterlife, their openings representing sacred portals to a mythical underworld, a place of awe. The architecture and esthetics of the JOYÀ site reflect and celebrate the Maya's reverential respect for nature and are inspired by the natural beauty of the surrounding jungle, which sits atop an intricate underground labyrinth of rivers and cenotes. In fact, the entire JOYÀ site concept is meant to give the impression one is stepping into a large cenote among the mangroves, complete with crystal-clear water pools, coral rocks, and a magnificent waterfall. When architects discovered it during construction, they protected the cenote by creating the island around it.
If you peek behind the curtain and look past its stunning artistry, you'll see that the theater is a marvel of form and function. Despite the theater's organic shape and softness, it is one of the most technically advanced theaters ever built. (In fact, The Cirque du Soleil Theater has the most highly advanced sound system of any public building in Mexico!) For its groundbreaking design and adherence to high quality standards required for safety of performing artists and the public, the Cirque du Soleil Theater won the coveted "Building Project of the Year" award in 2015. Given by Grupo Expansion and Obras Magazine, this achievement recognizes the most important construction projects for innovation, development, engineering, technology use, and economic impact.
An intricate web of curved steel girders and woven palapa roof create an intimate 600-seat theater with a multi-level, 360-degree stage. Above, behind, and underneath the stage, there is amble prep space – rehearsal areas, a costume shop, dressing rooms, lobbies, two bars, lounges for actors and audience, and, most impressively, a full commercial kitchen that supplies eager guests with a three-course gourmet dinner. In this incredible space, actors and acrobats, musicians and magicians, chefs and servers, and bussers and bartenders can all safely do their jobs and create the unforgettable experience that is JOYÀ.
The Cirque du Soleil Theater is more than a physical place – it has become another lovable character in a show that amazes audiences each night. Did you know it took 18 months to build? With 600 seats, it is the most intimate Cirque du Soleil Theater. Even the seats farthest from the stage are only 18 meters away! Guests enjoy 2 distinct dining areas, 2 bars, and 2 lounges. 832 tons of steel were used to make the structure. 218,362 meters of electrical cable run through the theater. And 17,000 square-meters of ecological concrete were used for roads and parking lots, all 100% permeable. But there's more to JOYÀ than just the theater and grounds. There's also the food! Did you know the kitchen crew – the chefs, sous chefs, servers, and bussers – have to rehearse their parts just like the actors? Leading up to the show, the dinner service was rehearsed for weeks to get the timing just right.
"The JOYÀ dinner experience should be as enjoyable – and surprising – as the show itself. It should feel like you are eating part of the show." – Alexis Bostelmann, Vidanta corporate chef.
Like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the magically surreal stories of Gabriel García Márquez, things are rarely as they seem inside the Cirque du Soleil Theater – especially at the dinner table. Here, heavenly desserts hide inside giant library books. Caviar is made from fruit. Breadsticks, like bonsai trees, grow from their bowls. And it is perfectly normal for you to tip your dinner menu into salsa and take a bite. The three-course JOYÀ dinner tempts every sense with culinary wonders as spectacular as the Theater, music, and performances of JOYÀ. It is the first dining experience of any Cirque du Soleil production and another tasty step on an unforgettable journey. So, if the Cirque du Soleil Theater and its immaculate grounds are where you begin your journey into the world of JOYÀ, then the dinner experience is where you cross the threshold into the truly fantastic. The new aromas, tastes, and sights of the gourmet meal fully immerse you in the magic of the moment. JOYÀ takes you on a wild journey where you meet new characters and see things that only happen in dreams. The JOYÀ dinner takes you on another trip – this one mouthwatering – through the rich culinary history of Mexico, bite by bite.
If you've ever vacationed at a Vidanta destination, then you've tasted the culinary gifts of Chef Alexis Bostelmann. Chef Alexis leads a team of executive chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, butchers, and kitchen assistants responsible for the incredible dining experiences at over 120 restaurants at the Vidanta destinations across Mexico. His training began in his parents' kitchen in Mexico City. He then traveled the world, cooking for celebrities and heads of state, then returned home to Mexico and Vidanta, where his menu and presentations for the JOYÀ dinner have garnered accolades from food critics and audiences alike. To create the unforgettable dinner loved by so many, Chef Alexis explored traditional and modern cooking techniques and found inspiration in the geography of Mexico, the culinary heritage of the Yucatan, and the story of JOYÀ. When asked about his goal for the JOYÀ dinner experience, his answer is simple, "I want to surprise the audience."
Vidanta Corporate Chef Alexis Bostelmann and his team combine traditional Mexican flavors with modern cooking methods to create the exquisite dishes on the Joya dinner menu. The flavors of the Maya dance on the palate with herbs like Chaya and epazote, xcatic and habanero peppers, annatto, pumpkin seeds, mole-inspired sauces, and bright citrus. Special culinary styles open up a whole new world of taste and texture for dinner guests – liquid nitrogen is used to make the Dragon Breath, and molecular techniques are used to create melon caviar and other edible oddities.
Chef Alexis and Cirque du Soleil wanted to create the feeling that the dinner was an extension of the show – Mexican artists created the plates and food presentation elements to match the JOYÀ set. But like the JOYÀ show, the dinner menu is in constant transformation. So, the dishes you enjoyed once before will be different when you return. But they will always be delicious.
THE PLANNING – The JOYÀ dinner had to be as unexpected and memorable as the performances themselves, and it had to be delicious. This was, after all, Cirque du Soleil's first production to include food. Vidanta's Corporate Chef, Alexis Bostelmann, worked closely with executives from Vidanta and Cirque du Soleil for over a year before the show opened to create the menu and to design a kitchen that could support such an incredible culinary experience. After experimenting with hundreds of dishes and presentations, the menu was set. But executing the JOYÀ dinner would prove to be the greatest challenge Chef Alexis and his team at Vidanta had ever faced.
THE SERVICE – Each night, the three-course JOYÀ dinner is served to almost 60 guests (twice if there are two show times) in less than 45 minutes, with full wait service before and during the show. To efficiently and safely serve food and drinks among actors and acrobats who often perform in the aisles and on top of tables, the dinner staff routinely rehearses with the cast and crew. "This took an incredible team because what is normally possible in a standard restaurant isn't as easy to do from the belly of a strangely shaped theater," Chef Alexis notes, "so timing is everything."
THE TIMETLINE – A dedicated team of nearly 100 chefs, waiters, bussers, and bartenders work throughout the day to prepare for the JOYÀ dinner service.
• 7:00am – The tapas prep cooks arrive and prepare 1,200 tapas servings
• 9:00am – At the Vidanta resort kitchen, breads are baked, desserts made, and meat trimmed. Chefs and cooks arrive and start preparation for dinner, sear and braise meat, prepare dehydrated veggies, and begin slow-cooked items.
• 12:00pm – All the staff arrives at the theater and stars preparation of fruits and vegetables.
• 1:00pm – Breads, deserts, supplies, and the staff meal are transported to the Theater from the Vidanta kitchen
• 2:00pm – Staff enjoys lunch
• 4:00pm – Appetizer plating begins.
• 4:30pm – Waiters set up tables with glasses and flatware
• 5:00pm – All food preparation is complete
• 6:00pm – Plating of tapas and the dessert book
• 7:00pm – Bread basket set up
• 7:30pm – Entrée plating begins
• 7:45pm – Theater doors open for VIP guests. Appetizer and tapas served; Dragon Breath given to guests.
• 8:00pm – Waiters take entrée orders
• 8:20pm – Entrée served
• 8:30pm – Dessert served
• 9:30pm – Tables cleared and kitchen cleaned
• 1:00pm to 7:00am – Deep cleaning of kitchen
MERCIER CHAMPAGNE – When one takes an extraordinary journey to magical worlds, one must stay hydrated. Because experiencing JOYÀ is an event worth celebrating, champagne was the beverage of choice. After a number of tastings, the Vidanta team felt that Moet & Chandon's Mercier Brut Champagne was the only bubbly worthy of the JOYÀ experience. It has a soft sweetness, delicate bubbles, and a clean finish. This variety of Mercier Brut can only be found in France and at the Cirque du Soleil Theater at Vidanta Riviera Maya.
DRAGON BREATH – Another playful surprise waiting for JOYÀ dinner guests is Dragon Breath, an amuse-bouche made tableside with freeze-dried tropical fruits quickly dipped in liquid nitrogen. As you eat it, your breath condenses and steam billows from your nose like a dragon. This is a bite to remember!
THE BOOK OF DESSERTS – The passing of knowledge is one of JOYÀ's central themes, and the classic symbol of knowledge, the book, is seen many times throughout the show and set. And in dessert. One of the more memorable moments for dinner guests is when they receive their dessert box. Uniquely crafted for JOYÀ, the dessert boxes are large books that open to reveal a quartet of delectable desserts.
The JOYÀ gastronomic experience sets the stage, as it were, for diners to experience the performance collectively in the spirit of the Mayan greeting "In Lak'ech Ala K'in" (which means "I am you and you are me"), which speaks of unity and oneness.
"JOYÀ is a unique Cirque du Soleil experience. The theater, the dinner, and the show all contribute to a complete evening. It's a fantastic privilege for guests to be so up-close to the performers and to be totally immersed in a dream world where all your senses are involved." – Joel Bergeron, Director of JOYÀ.
Welcome to a place where anything is possible. Here, up is down. Left is right. Backwards is forwards, and the past is really the future. Our guides on this whimsical journey are sweet JOYÀ and her zany grandfather, Zelig. They'll take us on a whirlwind of adventures through time and space where we'll meet peculiar creatures with superhuman powers. They will do things that bend the mind and baffle the eyes. We'll battle pirate ships, cannon fire, and dinosaurs. Rockets will shoot across the stage. We'll swim under sea and breathe just fine. In this magical new world, statues come to life, giant flowers grow in seconds, and paper butterflies fall like soft rain. And you have a very important part to play. Welcome to JOYÀ.
But what is JOYÀ? Is it theater? A circus? A musical? Comedy or drama? History or science fiction? Maybe fantasy? The beauty of JOYÀ by Cirque du Soleil is that it is all of those things and much more. It is a mind-bending, genre-blending show that has truly created a new category of immersive entertainment. JOYÀ invites you to leave this world for a while, forget what you know, and trust your imagination. We are guests at a Parisian art deco theater in 1920. Then we're aboard a traveling spaceship. Next we are inside a giant machine, the belly of a robot. Maybe we're all just small creatures in an ancient, giant library.
The performance happens in front of you, behind you, and sometimes right under your nose – characters emerge from every nook and cranny in the theater. It is a show full of incredible energy, endless surprises, and stunning physical and mental feats. JOYÀ combines all of the artistic and technical disciplines – acting, music, sound, lighting, special effects, makeup, costumes, sets, props, and storytelling – to stimulate every sense and fully immerse you in a magical world. Take your seat. You're in for a wild ride.
Our story begins in the whimsical workshop / laboratory / library of Mr. Zelig, an endearing old alchemist who performs mad experiments to find the meaning of life, helped by his band of half-animal, half-human assistants. Joya, his granddaughter, pays Zelig a visit and accidentally leads them on a wild journey through the magical mangroves. Along the way, they encounter strange characters who do amazing things. Throughout their zany and mysterious journey, Zelig passes generations of knowledge to JOYÀ, teaching her important lessons about nature, the universe, and herself. The story of JOYÀ is a story of love – love for family and friends, love for learning, and love for life.
The story of JOYÀ is about Mexico in many ways, drawing inspiration from Mexico's complex history, diverse cultures, and the beauty of its art, architecture, and environment.
THE BUTTERFLY – Seen throughout the show, the butterfly is the classic symbol of transformation, beginning life as a caterpillar, retreating to its cocoon, and emerging as a magnificent winged creature. Joya, the character, is our butterfly who transforms from a clumsy teenager into an enlightened hero. The monarch butterfly is also famous around the world for its spectacular 2,500-mile migration from Canada (the home of Cirque du Soleil) to Mexico (the home of Vidanta), where it spends the winter. A perfect symbol of JOYÀ's two parents.
BOOKS – Symbols of knowledge, books are everywhere in JOYÀ – a book is the main prop in the show that gets passed between characters; large volumes tower behind the stage; and desserts are even served inside books. The set itself was inspired by the UNAM library in Mexico City, the largest library in Latin America and one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Even the costumes of the pirates are made from hundreds of pages torn from books.
METEORS – The meteor that makes a dramatic appearance in the show refers to the Chicxulub crater buried beneath the Yucatan Peninsula where JOYÀ takes place. The crater is the result of a meteor that hit Mexico millions of years ago, triggering a mass extinction of the dinosaurs (we meet two dinosaurs in the show). The meteor is a visitor from another world, like many of the show's characters, and symbolizes the end of one era and the beginning of something new.
There are many other hidden symbols in JOYÀ. You'll see references to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, allusions to the stories of Octavio Paz and Carlos Fuentes, and hits at the work of Guillermo del Toro. We can't divulge too many secrets here. You'll have to see the show – more than once – to find them all.
A singer with a soaring voice like a celestial being from another time. A trumpeter whose sweet, sublime sounds come from everywhere – the stage, the aisles, and the catwalks. A percussionist who plays mischievous beats. A guitarist who blends the sounds of rock, samba, and merengue. These are the artists who make the stunning music of JOYÀ – a whimsical score for a wild night. The music of JOYÀ is your incredible guide through a strange new world, zigging and sagging alongside JOYÀ and her grandfather on their magical journey. In true Cirque du Soleil fashion, the music and the artists who create it are main characters in the show. Their unforgettable melodies bring all the elements together to create the mind-blowing spectacle that is JOYÀ. And also in true Cirque du Soleil fashion, there are surprises everywhere. What guests don't realize is that there are really four parts to the musical experience of JOYÀ:
THE WELCOME PARTY – The music starts when you arrive. The sounds of different Cirque du Soleil shows play throughout the grounds, filling the air with excitement and whimsy, reminding you that this is a place of magic and of fun – you are in Cirque du Soleil's world now and anything is possible.
THE VIP SHOW – Guests who choose the VIP dinner experience are treated to a spirited performance by Arpason, a lively trio of musicians from Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. As you dine on exquisite dishes and drink delicate champagne, the festive sounds of rumba, cha-cha-cha, samba, and merengue fill the electric air. The musicians all sing, snap, and clap along to well-known beats, play the harp, violin, and drums – and even do a little tap dancing to liven the mood. Sometimes, guests get a lucky visit from the JOYÀ vocalist or trumpeter who join the band. It's a bustling treat to an incredible evening.
THE MAIN EVENT – When the house lights dim, ethereal music welcomes you to the main attraction. Angelic vocals and regal trumpets announce your arrival to Zelig's Naturalium. The beat quickens, and the amazing trip begins. Live music is always a part of Cirque du Soleil's performances – the music is just as important as the acts themselves. The musicians of the JOYÀ ensembles merge musicals styles from around the world to create a beautiful and balanced score that sets the mood and supports the actors and acrobats. You'll hear traditional Mexican melodies, Caribbean drums, improvisational jazz, rhythms, merengue, rumba, samba, and rock all in one show. The music guides you through all the emotions of the story – drama and deceit, comedy and the absurd, elation and inspiration. Some songs are fast-paced and full of action, some zany and unpredictable, and others delicate and introspective. Each one takes you to a different dimension of the JOYÀ universe – deep under the sea, through the Mayan jungle, and even into the afterlife. The final song leaves you energized and inspired with a modern rock anthem backed by powerful vocals that linger playfully in your head as you leave the theater – still in awe of what you have seen and tasted.
THE AFTER PARTY – As you leave the theater, humming the JOYÀ songs and wondering what you just experienced, you'll hear it from far away – the kitschy catchy sound of The Red Shoes. At Nektar, the all-female group from Cancun performers covers of your favorite pop songs in their signature quirky style to keep the experience going. And yes, they do wear red shoes: red velvet heels, to be precise. And finally, as you leave the JOYÀ grounds, the musical experience comes to a close. But not to fear! With your newly purchased JOYÀ soundtrack (wink, wink), you can relive the experience over and over again, whenever you need to add a little magic to your everyday life.
• 10,000 – the number of beads and jewels in the masks worn by Zelig's Masters. 33 – full time performers.
• 35 – full-time theater technicians
• 15 – months it took to prepare for JOYÀ
• 6 – months it took to build the set.
• 6 – costume designers who take care of the actors' wardrobe
• 6 – Zelig has six half-human, half-animal assistants: the Master of Time (the rabbit), Master Physicist (the iguana), Master Botanist (the cat), Master Archivist (the bird), Master Alchemist (the ram), and the Master Entomologist (the lemur).
• 4 – times each performer rehearses his/her routine each week.
Being part of Cirque du Soleil show is often considered the pinnacle of success for performers – only the world's top talents are asked to join the renowned organization. For JOYÀ, Cirque du Soleil assembled a team of acrobats, aerialists, actors, jugglers, dancers, and magicians from all over the world, including Mongolia, Ukraine, France, England, Japan, Canada, USA, and Mexico. Cast members follow a strict training schedule, exercising every day and often practicing their full routines four times each week to maintain the excellence and stamina required for the rigorous JOYÀ schedule.
As you've turned the pages of this article series, you've been given a glimpse into the reasons why Iván Chávez, Executive Vice President of Grupo Vidanta, sees JOYÀ as "a gift for Mexico, for Riviera Maya, for Vidanta, and for all of us."
He continues to say: "The theater is a work of art and a marvel of architecture. The grounds are a testament to the beauty of the Mayan jungle and to the power of preservation. The dinner is truly spectacular, as creative as the show itself. The show brings smiles, laughter, and gasps of delight every night. The story is steeped in the rich history of Mexico and its many cultures. JOYÀ is more far more than just a show – it's an enchanting night full of new sights, sounds, flavors, and memories. We are so proud to work with the hundreds of performers, artisans, designers, chefs, servers, and crew who come together to make JOYÀ possible. They are an incredible team."
Indeed they are.
"The reason we are working with Vidanta is because they share the same values as Cirque du Soleil, which is first and foremost creativity." – Daniel Lamarre, CEO of Cirque du Soleil
RICHARD DAGENAIS, Director of Creation
"Our goal in creating JOYÀ was to tell a story completely inspired by the energy of Mexico. Without using clichés and stereotypes, every scene had to have its seed in the history, culture, or values of Mexico. My role as Director of Creation was to assemble and support a team of creators who understood this mandate and who could deliver an experience that would create long-lasting memories in the minds of the audience. With JOYÀ, we wanted to show audiences a side of this beautiful and rich country, its humanity, and the care it shows future generations. JOYÀ is more than a show, it is a rare voyage into the heart of a culture hungry to learn and to pass on life's secrets."
MARTIN GENEST, Stage Director
"When I have the opportunity to create a show with people from a culture other than mine, I always try to find what unites me with them. This is what has touched me and inspired me to create JOYÀ. Since the beginning of time, every spring, monarch butterflies leave the volcanic peaks of Mexico and fly for months to Canada where they lay their eggs. Small and fragile, they take turns from generation to generation, between our two countries, to complete the annual cycle that ensures the continuity of their species. I invite you to discover the stupendous history of Mr. Zelig and of JOYÀ. To experience a playful and exciting adventure, where the love for life is passed from one generation to another, like the instinct that guides the monarch butterflies on their great journey."
JAMES LAVOIE, Costume Designer
"The process of designing and creating the costumes for JOYÀ was as dynamic and exciting as the show is to watch. I spent six months researching, sketching, and collaborating with the rest of the creative team. When then worked at the Cirque du Soleil costume shop in Montreal for six weeks, exploring different techniques, designing custom fabric prints, and, of course, sewing and cutting. Then in Mexico, we spent two months with 10 Cirque du Soleil costume makers, as well as several local tailors, to create all of the costumes for the premiere. Finally, after almost nine months of preparation, filled with many ups and downs, from the snow of Montreal to the beaches of Riviera Maya, we opened. I remember a mix of emotions, but mostly pride, wonder, and joy." (Some of the masks worn by Zelig's masters have over 10,000 beads and jewels, each one glued by hand. It took over five months to create them.)
NATHALIE GAGNE, Makeup Designer
"For JOYÀ, we used a lot of a white in the makeup concepts. I wanted to bring out the purity and light in the story. The two main characters, Zelig and JOYÀ, are albinos. This is their family link – they are beings of the light. The Masters, underneath their animal masks, wear white makeup with lines to represent their animal family. This was done in a simple and graphic manner like a child's drawings, as if JOYÀ had drawn them in her notebook. For some actors, I applied special Swarovski crystals to their faces to capture the light and enhance their look. After more than six months of preparation, we saw all the elements come together on opening night – artists in makeup and costumes, the lighting, dancing, and performances. We all, with tears in our eyes, felt an incredible sense of satisfaction from all the hard work."
JEAN LAURIN, Lighting Designer
"The inspiration for the lighting design of JOYÀ costumes from the surroundings of the Theater and old European museums (for Zelig's Naturalium). From our first site visit to Mexico, we could feel something special that was deeply linked to the story for the show. The nature, the ocean, and the sky were all references that I used to create different visual looks. JOYÀ's lighting design is complex because it must work on many levels – the action happens on stage, but also in the air, on the mezzanine level, and in the audience. I wanted to highlight the performances while keeping the atmosphere of each scene bold and unique. With that in mind, I was able to evoke new feelings, create a sense of time and place, and change the ambiance for each specific act."
GUILLAIME LORD, Set Designer
"Inspiration for the JOYÀ set came from many places, but nature was the main source for our style. The backbone for designing the space was to create a seamless link between the Theater and the set. Martin Genest came up with the general story, and together we sketched different environments that would enhance the situations the characters would go through. Lots of ideas and design options later, in collaboration with the technical team, the sketches became drawings, and then they became set elements. After lots of sweaty days in Mexico building the set, I was happy that we were ready for the premiere. A lot of time and energy went into JOYÀ, and being a creative on a show of this magnitude was, for me, a life-changing experience."
PIERRE MASSE, Acrobatic Equipment and Rigging
"Our biggest influence was the wonderful storyboard created by Stage Director Martin Genest. We were also very influenced by the beautiful nature, history, architecture, and people of Mexico. My main duty was to make the storyline come alive, acrobatically and technically. We designed the acrobatic elements to fit each scene and to meet the needs of our incredibly talented performers. From the first sketch and the drafting of construction plans, to the fabrication and validation, it sometimes took three months to design each act. Opening night was a mixture of both excitement and nervousness. For me, the end of a creation is always a moment of satisfaction and accomplishment. But, above all, it was a great opportunity to meet wonderful people and be able to call them friends."
PHILIPPE AUBERTIN, Acrobatic Performance Designer
"When our job is done on a creation like JOYÀ, there is always a mix of feelings, like nostalgia and happiness. During the premiere, I remembered all the stages of development we went through for each act, like a movie played fast forward. I was sad that it was over, but I was extremely proud that my friends were going to carry on and spread more joy to our audiences. My goal is always to make a show that will inspire the audience for a long time after their journey to our special universe comes to a close."
JULIE MEASROACH, Prop Designer
"Designing and building props for JOYÀ was a unique experience for me, because I had to make them be magic, somehow alive. For my research, I found inspiration from old alchemist books and the fascinating sketches of botanists, entomologists, or inventors from a few centuries ago. Their vision of nature often portrayed the world more like a large delirious dream than true reality. It was then our turn to find solutions, like how to give a giant book an illuminated heart, giving life to captured larvae in a jar, and how to fill this great library with curious objects that may or may not be alive. Aesthetically, JOYÀ has been a fantastic universe to explore, opening up an infinite world of possibilities to its creators, as nature often does with the truth."
ANDRE MORENCY, Script Writer
"When I was a child, my father would travel to the four corners of the world for his work. His returns were always a celebration. Around the dinner table, he would tell us about his encounters and exploits, and it would fill our dreams with faraway travels and adventures. He would take out his notebook and pencils, and then he would illustrate his stories on these large sheets of paper – the wind would swell the sail of a ship; horses would gallop on the edge of a fjord; a smiling farmer welcomed you while raising his glass of gin. For JOYÀ, it is my father who inspired me: a storyteller who, while never imposing it, conveyed a passion to me what I am passing on to my children without even realizing it – the passion to tell a good story!"
HAROLD RHEAUME, Choreographer
"As a contemporary dance choreographer, I found JOYÀ to be across the board a unique a unforgettable artistic and human experience. I had the privilege to work with an experienced artistic team. I also worked closely with the Cirque du Soleil artists to refine their acts. JOYÀ was challenging for me because I had to understand the acts of the show, as well as the technical and executional challenges, in order to create cohesive movements. The night of the premiere, a great sense of accomplishment and pride came over me. The success of JOYÀ was a testimony to the collaborative effort between the artistic, technical, and production teams. The sad part in all of this was that I had to leave such a beautiful place and the JOYÀ team that is filled with such talented, professional, and generous people."
JOEL BERGERON, Show Director
"The making of JOYÀ was a completely unique experience. We combined a cast and crew from all over the world and created an unforgettable experience. That is what normal Cirque du Soleil shows do, have performers from all over the world, but JOYÀ is different. The Theater, the dinner, the whole area is unique for a Cirque du Soleil show. And all of the bar, kitchen, and waitstaff are from Mexico. They are a part of the experience just like the performers and crew. For me, JOYÀ is a constant learning experience just like the theme of the show. I love working with people from different places and different backgrounds. JOYÀ is very special because we offer the audience, if only for a little while, the opportunity to dream, to escape to another world."
JACQUES BOUCHER, Sound Designer
"JOYÀ is a fantasy-based story, which I love, so I tried to make the sound design compliment it. In my field, the challenges are many – how to create the sound system design, integrate it, mix the music, and produce all relevant sound effects. You have to then balance all these in harmony with the staging. One of my favorite moments of JOYÀ is when the skeleton pirates collapse at the end of their choreography. I used zombie and bone sounds to add more humor. Of course, I was very proud of our collective effort for the premiere. I knew that the audience would be pleased and would have a good time attending the show. One of the best parts of my stay in Riviera Maya was the kindness of the Mexican people. I will never forget that."
MARC LESSARD and GUY DUBUC, Composers
"What a blessing it was to work on JOYÀ! During the creation process, our first goal was to compose music inspired by the Mexican culture that would sustain the script and the acrobatic numbers with an original cinematographic approach. As for the final result, the music of JOYÀ is a subtle mix of classic sounds intertwined with contemporary effects, with a touch of Mayan percussion, mariachi, and Mexican jazz. Sometimes festive and danceable, sometimes melodic and warm, we wanted to create a trip for audiences into a musical environment with many feelings."
IRINA NAUMENKO, Hand Balancer & Contortionist
One of the most talked about moments of JOYÀ is when Irina Naumenko descends from the sky and puts on a thrilling display of hand-balancing and contortion. From a small town in Russia called Marks, Irina joined the Russian State Circus Company at age 18 and has been performing for over 21 years. The small size of the Theater demands that the performers work very closely with the audience – Irina's scene takes place directly on top of a table where VIP guests sit and enjoy dinner. "There is no room for errors, so I have to keep an eye on glasses and plates so I don't accidentally touch them," she says. Before joining the cast of JOYÀ, Irina spent 10 years touring with the Cirque du Soleil show Varekai, where she was the lead female character.
SOPHIE GUAY, Previous Vocalist
One of the standouts of the JOYÀ performance is the incredibly talented Sophie Guay, an accomplished vocalist from Lac-St-Jean, in Quebec, Canada. She comes to JOYÀ from Corteo, a Cirque du Soleil show she joined in 2011. To prepare for JOYÀ, Sophie spent five weeks training with vocal coaches to build the endurance to perform 10 shows per week. She also had to overcome the challenge of singing while in a harness floating above the audience. She says the voice is a fragile instrument and takes good care of hers by drinking lots of tea and water, and always spends 30 minutes warming her voice up before each show. Of her experience with Cirque du Soleil, Sophie says, "Working with Cirque du Soleil, you get to travel the world, meet new people, experience other cultures, and learn new languages and traditions. It's a dream to do all of this while doing what you love."
BRYDEN BAIRD, Trumpeter
Before becoming the much-adored trumpeter of JOYÀ, Bryden Baird trained as a classical jazz musician in Toronto, Canada, and traveled around the world as a background musician for various artists. Bryden enjoys performing the JOYÀ score, because he believes it does an amazing job of complementing the action without upstaging the performance. And even though JOYÀ is the first time he's had to play 5-10 shows per week – a very demanding schedule for a musician – he loves working with the international cast and crew to make JOYÀ possible. His inspiration comes from seeing other musicians truly playing from the soul, which is something he tries to do each night. Bryden adds, "I know that 99% of the audience is seeing JOYÀ for the first time. They deserve the same magic that I initially felt when I first saw the amazing acts."
ABRAHAM G. BUCHANAN, Drummer
Honored to be part of the first resident Cirque du Soleil show in his home country, Abraham G. Buchanan, from Aguascalientes, Mexico, masterfully works the drums for JOYÀ. Abraham is a passionate musician who trained at the Berklee School of Music and works very hard to bring raw emotion to each performance. "I want people to really feel something when I play each night," he says, "and I really try to support the cast and crew with my music."
JOE HUNDERTMARK, Bandleader & Guitarist
To create the one-of-a-kind sounds of the magnificent JOYÀ score, bandleader and guitarist Joe Hundertmark plays three guitars during the show – a Martin Parlor acoustic guitar, a Boutin flamenco guitar, and a Fender Stratocaster electric guitar – and deftly moves between the different paces, moods, and genres to enhance the performance. Joe says of his role in JOYÀ, "It's a thrill to conduct the music as the bandleader and to be part of an intimate show like JOYÀ, very different from the huge scale of Zarkana. I have more responsibilities here and it's very rewarding."
"JOYÀ is a truly special part of the Vidanta family. It's a milestone on our journey together – a step towards a totally re-imagined vacation experience for you and your family. When happiness is the goal, anything is possible. Only one last thing to say – enjoy the show!" – Iván Chávez, Executive Vice President of Grupo Vidanta
JOYÀ is an homage to Mexico, a triumph of creativity, a celebration of nature, and a tribute to the power of friendship and family. And as you can tell by the images and words in this book, JOYÀ has made a profound impact on everyone who's been a part of the special experience so far, and on the thousands of guests who've shared the magic. Vidanta and Cirque du Soleil brought together the finest people from every artistic and technical discipline to bring JOYÀ to life. And JOYÀ is a first in many ways – Latin America's first resident Cirque du Soleil show, the first show of its kind at a resort, the first Cirque du Soleil show to include a dinner experience – and the first of many collaborations between Vidanta and Cirque du Soleil. We invite you to experience JOYÀ for the first time or the tenth time. JOYÀ reminds us all that we have important stories to tell, and somewhere – inside all of us – there is a curios child who wants to play and a spark of imagination waiting to ignite.
"On that day, I inherited our ancestors' legacy. Zelig gave me wings so I could fly on my own and continue his work so that his knowledge will be passed on to future generations." – JOYÀ


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|Blackjack Forum
|Poker Tournaments
Blackjack Teams and Lie Detector Tests
The Politics of Polygraphs on Blackjack TeamsBy Arnold Snyder
(From Casino Player, September1997)
© 1997 Arnold Snyder
Question from a Reader: I have been playing for a blackjack team for about six months now. I believe I am a good player, but I have had some pretty bad losing sessions. I have been informed by the team leaders that before I can play any more, I must submit to a lie detector test. Apparently, the team has a contract with a private investigation agency in Las Vegas that regularly tests their team members.
When I first joined this blackjack team, I was told that all players had to submit to lie detector tests if asked. It seemed like a remote possibility at the time. Now, I'm terrified. I have been 100% honest in my dealings with the team, and I've never stolen a penny. But, I've read that these tests are unreliable, and it scares me to death to think I might be "identified" by some piece of electronic equipment as a liar and a thief. I've read that lie detectors actually measure "stress." If so, I'm a dead duck, because I am really stressed out about this test, even though I'm innocent. If this test ruins my career, can I sue the agency that gives the test?
Answer: No. Prior to submitting to the test, you must sign a form releasing the agency from any such liability.
Most big money blackjack teams use polygraph tests. Some test all players; some test randomly chosen players; some test only players under suspicion. Players who have undergone such tests tell me your apprehension is normal. One player said he could not sleep at all the night before the test, and went in for his test a nervous wreck. When it was over, he was sure he'd "flunked." Another said he was sweating profusely throughout the test, and whenever the "loaded" questions were asked, he could feel his heart pounding in fear, even though he knew he'd been honest. He was also sure he'd failed. Yet, both of these players passed. This is not to say that the tests are always accurate, only that it is normal to feel very stressed out by the prospect of being tested, and that this stress will not necessarily foul the results.
Polygraph experts will tell you that the tests are usually 90 - 97% accurate, depending on the number of questions asked. The more questions, the lower the accuracy. And some people just don't give valid results.
Blackjack teams usually have six major areas of concern: 1) Did you report all wins/losses accurately? 2) Did you report expenses accurately? 3) Did you ever play under the influence of alcohol or drugs? 4) If you are being paid for hours played, did you report your hours accurately? 5) If there is some confusion about money transfers from player to player, did you report those transfers accurately? 6) Did you violate any procedures that the team may require to maintain a high level of competency, i.e. did you drill properly on the strategy prior to play, count down X number of decks, etc.?
It is unlikely that you will be asked questions about all of these areas of concern. The team leaders will instruct the examiner to ask about two or three of these areas of concern, depending on your circumstances and their suspicions — if they even have suspicions. Some blackjack teams really do test players randomly, just to keep everyone honest. If a team is losing, it often saves the investors worries to know that the team is seriously confronting all possible problems.
When you go in for the test, the examiner will go over all of the questions he will ask you. There should be no "surprise" questions. Surprise questions, according to reputable polygraph examiners, tend to foul the results.
Also, 90 - 97% accuracy is pretty impressive, but not if you're in that 3 - 10% of the population that just doesn't test accurately. One blackjack team leader told me that he has used polygraph tests for many years, and will always use them, but that he would never allow the test results to be his sole criterion for judgment.
"If I personally don't trust a player," he said, "I don't care what the polygraph shows. He could come up smelling like a rose, but if I lose faith in him, and I think he could be ripping off the team, that's it. My gut feeling means more to me than the test results. By the same token, if someone fails a test, and I think this person is a straight arrow, I wouldn't automatically let that person go. These tests aren't 100% accurate. I might watch this person more closely and talk about this with my associates, just to make sure I'm not deluding myself. But my judgment of a person's character is always foremost in my decisions."
In any case, if you're going to play on a big money blackjack team, you'd better get used to the idea of getting a lie detector test occasionally. All of the smart teams use them. They're just a standard condition of employment for professional players. ♠
For more information on blackjack team play and management, and other professional gambling techniques, see the Blackjack Forum Professional Gambling Library.
Return to Blackjack Forum Online Home
|© 2004-2005 Blackjack Forum Online, All Rights Reserved
|Blackjack Card Counting Teams and Compensation Issues
Bad blackjack team compensation issues that led to the bankruptcy of professional blackjack card counting teams. This article discusses sound blackjack card counting team compensation options.


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Vincera, Inc. Partners With ClearStar. net
ClearStar. net to provide access to the Vincera Intelligent Protection™ service for retail screening firms to protect personally identifiable information (PII).
Austin, TX (PRWEB) April 20, 2006
Vincera, Inc., the business process improvement company whose software yields predictive analytics, behavioral monitoring, and information distribution technology to enable their clients to track and manage access to all content and products they provide over the Internet, today announced its partnership with ClearStar. net. ClearStar. net is the first 100% Internet based application service provider (ASP) of the retail screening industry, providing strategy, services, and technology infrastructure to retail screening firms. To fulfill the partnership, ClearStar. net will offer Vincera's VAM! Intelligent Protection service to their retail screening customers, enabling them to protect, monitor and manage their e-distributed content containing personally identifiable information (PII).
Stated Robert Vale, CEO of ClearStar. net, "ClearStar. net's customers require ready access to services that engender the smooth operation of their retail screening business, and we've been vigilant to include only the highest-caliber services for each business need. Increasingly, we find that retail screeners are aware of their obligations to protect the integrity of the personally identifiable information they distribute; they are asking ClearStar. net to point the way to their distribution and data integrity solution. We are pleased to meet this need by endorsing and providing access to Vincera's Intelligent Protection service."
VAM! Intelligent Protection (VIP) is an information distribution technology that greatly reduces the risk of inappropriate access inherent in the e-distribution and storage of sensitive data by enabling consumer reporting agencies (CRA) to set business-driven rules to secure, track and manage the distribution of content that contains PII. With VIP, the CRA can easily customize distribution according to the desired business rules of their customers. For instance, a CRA or an HR department may decide to track that the documents containing sensitive information are being distributed, and track the number of machines that the document is being accessed by (potentially identifying a "breached" document); or, with the click of a button, the VIP customer can protect sensitive information from being indefinitely available by setting expiration rules thereby ensuring document destruction meets legislative requirements and simultaneously preventing the further distribution of such data.
Concluded Dave Malmstedt, CEO of Vincera, "The e-channels so necessary for the distribution of personally identifiable information are also the likely nexus of PII alteration, theft, and illicit distribution. Background screeners are increasingly aware of their legal responsibilities for the prevention of these negative outcomes. We are excited to be at the forefront in offering CRA's in the retail space an easy to use and affordable way to protect and control access to documents containing personally identifiable information, and we are delighted to announce ClearStar. net as our Premium VIP ASP Partner as they offer our VAM! Intelligent Protection service to their clients."
About Vincera, Inc.
Vincera, Inc. is the business process improvement company, whose software monitors businesses' end-user web-based behavior, subsequently delivering predictive analytics that enable businesses to retain and upsell existing customers. Vincera's software also allows their clients to track and manage the distribution of intellectual property and content that contains personally identifiable information in a process Vincera labels "business friendly distribution," because businesses are in charge of how they use the resulting information. Based in Austin since its launch in 1999, Vincera's core team emerges from the information technology industry with extensive go-to-market expertise and has delivered a solution with more than 75 staff-years of development investment. Consequent to their expertise, Vincera combines three vital business process improvement services-- behavioral monitoring, predictive analytics, and information distribution technology--in one software tool.
Vincera's clients include research publications, background screeners, healthcare industries, and other businesses that use web-based technology. Vincera's clients share a need to track and predict how their own customers are using their licensed software products or other intellectual property, as a revenue-generating sales tool for acquiring, retaining, and upselling customers; and/or to guard intellectual property and personally identifiable information. Vincera is a member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners. For more information, please visit:
Www. Vincera. com
About ClearStar. net
ClearStar. net is the retail screening industry's first 100% Internet based system and serves as the worldwide leader in providing strategy, services, and technology infrastructure to retail screening firms. ClearStar. net empowers public record companies with the ability to gather information from sources of their choosing either manually or through the Internet. Each company can specify if a source is to have an account on their system. Ordered information is automatically routed to the desired source that can enter results directly, with the option for a quality control review prior to making the information available to your customers.
With offices just outside of Atlanta, ClearStar. net has provided service to some of the premier retail screening companies around the world since 1995. ClearStar. net is a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS). For more information, please visit:
Www. ClearStar. net
Safe Harbor Statement
Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those indicated by any forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Some of the things that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and channel performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U. S. actions subsequently; and the Company's ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (www. sec. gov). All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the risk factors discussed in the Company's SEC filings. These risk factors may not be exhaustive. The company operates in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Management cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on the company's business or events described in any forward-looking statements. The company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform them to actual results.


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Antique Imperial "Star & File" #612 Toothpick/Toy Spooner Clear EAPG Ca. 1910
Quantity available: 2
Children's toy spooner or toothpick holder (according to the new book by Bredehoft & Sanford) in the "Star & File" pattern made by Imperial Glass, otherwise known as #612. Clear glass, measuring 2.25"h. Circa 1910. Very good condition with no chips or cracks. Have 2, priced separately. Inglenook Antiques...Established 1989.
Inglenook Antiques & Collectibles
Lake Wales, Florida
Dealer accepts: PayPal
Shipping: $6.00


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Paladyne integrates with SunGard's visual portfolio managerBy : CIOL Bureau |February 7, 2008 0
New York,USA: SunGard, a leading provider of software and processing solutions to the financial services industry, and Paladyne Systems, a leading provider of outsourced alternative investment solutions, have announced a strategic partnership to offer SunGard's Visual Portfolio Manager (VPM) software as part of Paladyne's integrated front- to back-office hosted solution. SunGard and Paladyne will deliver VPM as an application service provider (ASP) solution primarily to start-ups and small-to-medium-sized hedge funds – although hedge funds of any size or complexity will be able to license the VPM ASP solution.
SunGard's VPM solution is currently used by more than 45 hedge funds as a complete portfolio management, general ledger and investor reporting solution. By offering VPM as part of Paladyne's full service ASP platform, the two companies will offer a solution for hedge funds that may require comprehensive infrastructure – especially to those funds that are leveraging a single prime broker's technology and are considering adding a second prime broker. Customers will be able to access the full functionality of VPM in combination with Paladyne's front-to-back-office product suite and take advantage of full service IT, disaster recovery and data vendor services.
The Paladyne/SunGard relationship will also benefit larger sized hedge funds and service providers who have some existing infrastructure but are looking for tools to help centralize processing and streamline operations. Paladyne's order management system, global security master, pricing and valuation toolset, data warehouse and custom reporting tools are all fully integrated with VPM and help solve many of the operational challenges facing today's hedge funds. All of the Paladyne products are included as part of the integrated ASP environment or may be licensed individually and installed directly at a customer site.
"This partnership with SunGard advances our strategy to provide hedge fund managers and fund administrators with a robust front-to-back office solution" said Sameer Shalaby, chief executive officer of Paladyne Systems. "The tight integration of our products and hosting services with VPM provides a world class infrastructure that is ideal for hedge fund managers and fund administrators seeking to improve and centralize their existing infrastructure."
Emanuel Mond, president of SunGard's alternative investment business, commented: "In the current environment, where hedge funds want the functionality of a robust accounting platform, yet do not have the infrastructure to support an in-house system, an ASP model is very appealing. SunGard's VPM is a leading solution for larger hedge funds, and together with Paladyne we now have a more comprehensive offering and scalable delivery model for small-to-medium sized funds."
Trademark Information: SunGard, the SunGard logo and VPM are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunGard Data Systems Inc. or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. All other trade names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Source: Webwire


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I heard some portions of the Ehrman/Wallace debate. Here is a major argumentation for Ehrman's theory that the Bible cannot be trustworthy: a) There are about 400,000 variants in the Greek text. b) The Greek text contains less than 200,000 words, c) Therefore, there are more textual variants than there are words in the New Testament. Hence, the Bible, according to Ehrman is not inerrant.
Dan Wallace's critique is quite striking. His point is a simple one: a) The reason there are more textual variants than the words in the Bible is because there are many Greek texts. b) The more Greek texts available, the more the variants. c) Therefore, Ehrman's argument proves nothing.
If there were only five Greek manuscripts available and there were over 400,000 variants, then there may be a problem. Nevertheless, there are hundreds and hundreds of Greek manuscripts available (not to mention the oral tradition, and the patristic witness, and so on). The more the witnesses the better the ability to reconstruct the original. Unlike great works of literature, which contain one or a few manuscripts, the New Testament provides an abundance of evidence– in both oral and written tradition– that the present set of Greek texts available is reliable beyond a scribe's dream.
Thanks to James White for some of the observations.


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Phase 1. Research. 2014.
Our process began in 2014 with a series of Madlove workshop in England and mainland Europe, supported by Unlimited. These workshops brought together a range of people with and without experiences of mental health to consider questions like:
'What does good mental health care feel like?'
'What does good mental health look, taste, sound, touch and feel like to touch?'
You can read about the workshops here.
Workshops happened at Southbank Centre (London), Fierce Festival (Birmingham), Nottingham Contemporary, NAGAS (Newcastle), FACT (Liverpool), Riga Mental Health Hospital (with Homo Novus), The Prague Quadrennial, Gessnerallee (Zurich).
Read a review of the workshop.
In conjunction with this numerous artist talks about the project happened internationally.


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Kristin Elizabeth Clark, October 2013. This novel in verse is told from three points of view: Brendan, the protagonist, is a straight boy who is starting to wish he were a girl. Vanessa is his girlfriend, who's stopped hanging out with anyone but Brendan and doesn't have a shoulder left to cry on when this news comes out. Angel works at the local LGBTQ center and meets Brendan on a bus.
This is a fairly typical problem novel with a few special features, like the verse, the triple narration, and the introduction of gender fluidity, a concept many teens might not know about. But the plot arc fits the formula; Brendan realizes he's different, freaks out, vows not to tell anyone, explores his new world, and slowly accepts who he's become. That said, the book is accessible and appealing, fast-paced for a character-driven novel, and mixes the familiar with the mysterious. Recommended.


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Years ago, as a graduate student shuttling between England and France, I spent a lot of time at Reid Hall in Paris, Columbia's footprint in the city of lights. It was and is at 4 rue de Chevreuse, near the corner of boulevards Montparnasse and Raspail, an easy walk from the Vavin and Notre-dame-des-champs metro stops. Reid Hall served as headquarters for many junior year abroad students. (I am pretty certain that Jacqueline Bouvier spent time at Reid Hall in her year in France.) When I got the news that the buildings are getting a make-over, I excitedly phoned Oscar Hammerstein, who evoked the time and place, the romance of being young in a foreign tongue, and suddenly we were at a nearby cafe. "No matter how they change her, / I'll remember her that way."
The 18th-century rue de Chevreuse building has a new roof and facades, and the repurposed southwest corner building is now home to Columbia's Institute for Ideas and Imagination. The institute, a presidential initiative led by Columbia Professor Mark Mazower, aims to promote collaboration across the arts and academia through fellowships, workshops, conferences, exhibitions and events. Plans are being finalized to create new gardens and restore the Grande Salle.
For more, link here: https://news.columbia.edu/news/fresh-start-reid-hall-paris


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Cheesy Chips
Member recipe by chizylass
ServingsServes 2
Lovely cheesy chips
This recipe has been submitted by the Good Food community. Sign in or create a My Good Food account to upload your own recipe creations. Please note that all recipes will be moderated but they are not tested in the Good Food kitchen.
Save to My Good Food
- 4 whole potatoes (generally one per person)
- vegetable oil (for frying)
- grated cheddar cheese
- seasoning salt
- Heat the oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Wash all the potatoes with fresh water and cut them width-ways with a sharp knife so that you have several thin chips.
- When all the chips are cut, deep-fry them for 2-4 minutes until crispy.
- Gently sprinkle some seasoned salt over the chips.
- Put the fried chips on a plate and cover with as much grated cheese as you like; I use enough to completely cover the center of the plate and spread it out from there.
- Set the oven to 'Broil' and set the plate close to the flames.
- When all the cheese is melted, remove the plate and set it on top of a clean plate (this way you don't burn your hands carrying the chips because the plate will be extremely hot).
- Enjoy


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Dear Robin Circle Families,
Each time we meet with this wonderful group, we are all so impressed with the maturity, patience, and intelligence of each of your daughters. We are able to challenge them beyond what we could have imagined, and they are so sharp!
As you know, we have been teaching the girls different things about their Nature Names each week. This week, we continued this practice by bringing different cards that each had a group of different plants and animals that depicted the diets of each of their nature names. The challenge was for each girl to pick which card was for her animal! It goes without saying that we were impressed that each girl found their card within their first couple guesses!
As we move forward into the chilly Colorado autumn, we thought it would be a fun challenge to begin teaching the girls about fire! So happened to have their bow-drill on hand today, which is a primitive method of fire-making that involves rubbing sticks together to create friction!
Our next challenge for the day was to gather different plant materials that we thought would be good tinder. Tinder is typically a fine, very dry material that is highly flammable. Having a good tinder bundle is essential to starting a primitive fire. It's basically a nest-like structure in which we place the coal that is produced using the bow-drill.
We went on a wander to the upper meadow on the McClintock Trail, where we found all kinds of different materials for tinder, including dried thistle blooms, dried grasses, pinecones, pine needles, and more! We traveled silently (by fox walking) back to the charcoal grill, and began making our coal! Watch this video to see how a coal is made!
Just as we arrived back at the grill to build our fire, the wind decided to pick up, which gave us another challenge! Starting a fire even with a small breeze can be quite difficult, so we had to act quickly! But all of the girls got together to create the tinder bundle, and had it ready to go as So heated up the coal. Meanwhile, others built a small tee-pee out of small sticks inside of the grill, where we quickly placed the tinder bundle that contained the hot coal. In no time, we had a little blazing fire!
Seeing the teamwork of the Robins today was so inspiring. When in a survival situation, it is essential for each member of a group to take on different roles to help reach our end result, which today was making warmth! All of our hands were busy during this time, and together, we successfully completed our challenge! (We were all wishing we had some marshmallows right about then!)
We can't wait to use this newly learned skill later on in the season to cook some delicious treats and warm our chilly hands!
Next week, we have a fun craft planned that we hope will be a challenging and exciting activity for the group.
Until next time,


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Women's Health And Fitness: The Significance
- September 20, 2018
- 1246
- VINN Hospital
- Rss
A woman's day should have more than 24 hours, given the way she's constantly on the go. Even while you are reading this, the women in your life are busy getting things done, struggling to fit in all things scheduled for today and preparing to meet you with a smile on her face that can light your world up!
You find these women to be the source of strength, encouragement and hopefulness. The women in your life- your mom, sister, wife, daughter, friend, or a colleague, all of them are real life miracle makers. They are organised people who constantly make mental notes of who likes what, and who needs what and what not!
While you can totally count on them for everything, from the responsibilities of your home to responsibilities at work, whom do they count on for their well being and health?
More than half of the female population is still unaware of their basic health necessities, which is sad because we talk about development and progress in light of already having achieved it. While ensuring everybody is getting what they want and need, she forgets what her body needs which is, a little rest and a little attention.
A woman's body is such a complicated mechanism, every month is a challenge that she fights and victors over. It is not just menstruation and its pre and post phases, but its also the constant hormonal changes that she struggles with that make her grumpy, or moody, depressed or even sick.
There is a lot of societal pressure on the woman to do things in a particular way, to look a particular way, to talk a particular way, so on and so forth. All of this pressure is too much to bear, and her underlying health conditions could make the challenge even difficult. In such circumstances, it is very likely for her to suffer from disorders that affect the mental state.
This 'women's health and fitness day', let us see how you can help the women you love, lead a fitter, healthier life and take some time out of their busy schedule to sit back and think about themselves.
- Ensure that she sleeps well
- Make sure she eats a balanced and healthy diet on time
- Get her regular check ups done in time to rule out the following conditions,
-Breast Cancer
-Cervical Cancer
- Lifestyle and food habits may affect fertility as well, it is important for her to lead a healthy life.
- Excess consumption of alcohol and smoking can affect her health, ensure it is controlled
- Make it a point to exercise well and maintain physical fitness. It is important to understand that hitting the gym is not the only road to fitness. If you engage in defense arts or normal physical exercises like brisk walking, stretching, squatting etc, it should work fine.
- Drinking plenty of water is of prime importance, make sure she does that.
- Help her take care of her skin and hair, they talk volumes of the woman's physical health, make her feel special.
- Watch out for UTIs and yeast infections.
- Make sure she is as stress-free as possible, a mother or a wife is not responsible for the family alone, if stress and work can be divided among people of the family, it will be easier to maintain the family's health.
We at Vinn Hospital, respect the sacrifices a woman makes for her family, we vouch for it because we see these women who hold the fort at their homes, are the same who help us hold the fort at the hospital. Their ability to multitask is amazing and we prioritize their health.
About the Hospital:
Vinn Hospital has been providing comprehensive treatments and cares for its patients, with the best in class doctors, specialists and support staff. Our teams and units are dedicated in their cause to ensure optimum health for all our patients. Vinn Hospital Multi Speciality Hospital has the best, state-of-the-art facilities, which treat an array of diseases and disorders all under one roof
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