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GLOBUS 2020: America's Musical Heritage with Stay in New Orleans (ASE)
12 days from Nashville to New Orleans
On this Southern US tour, visit the cities and landmarks that have influenced America's musical heritage-country, rock-n-roll, soul, blues, and jazz with Elvis Presley also thrown into the mix. Start in Nashville and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame; RCA Studio B, one of the country's most important recording studios; and the Grand Ole Opry, where you have reserved seats. In Memphis, visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, celebrating the great Memphis soul music; Sun Studio, the most famous recording studio, which launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, and more; and Elvis Presley's Graceland. Travel deep into the heart of the Mississippi Delta, the 'Birthplace of the Blues,' and visit the Delta Blues Museum, dedicated to the blues. Other musical landmarks on this tour include the B.B. King Museum and the Louisiana Delta Music Museum, where you will learn more about Louisiana Delta musicians such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and more. In New Orleans, visit the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, and enjoy great jazz and delicious food during your lunch cruise on the Mississippi River. But that's not all?in addition to musical heritage, you'll also have the opportunity to learn about life on a plantation and cruise through the swampy waterways of Atchafalaya Basin. Plus, Globus has arranged unique experiences for you throughout this Southern US tour. Enjoy a special dinner at an antebellum mansion in Natchez and lunch at Ground Zero Blues Club, owned by actor, Morgan Freeman. A special treat is the opportunity for you to make a recording at RCA Studio B that you can take home with you! It's a vacation no music lover should miss!Special Event - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FestivalThe New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, aka Jazz Fest, is a 10-day cultural feast. The music encompasses every style associated with New Orleans, plus the hottest names in music from around the world. In addition to the music, enjoy locally made specialties-from classic New Orleans gumbo, po-boys, and jambalaya to fine international cuisine. Don't miss the craft and marketplaces, where you'll find tempting handcrafted clothing, leather goods, paintings, sculptures, jewelry, and more. Your New Orleans Jazz Fest package includes a 1-day pass to the festival plus transportation to and from the festival grounds. Available on the April 18, 2019 departure.
Call (409) 866-7022 for more information or to book today! Mention code 14885138
- Tour Operator
- Globus
- Offer
- Offer valid through 6/30/2020
- Duration
- 12 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
|Day 1
|Welcome to Music City, USA! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink.
|Day 2
|Start your day with a sightseeing tour of Nashville, including Centennial Park's full-size replica of Athens' Parthenon, the recording studios of Music Row, and famous Honky Tonk Row. Learn their history, their importance, and the celebrities that got their starts here. We then visit the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME to see its collection of costumes, memorabilia, instruments, and photographs. This afternoon, visit [LF] RCA STUDIO B, Nashville's oldest surviving recording studio and one of the country's most important studios. Between 1957 and 1977, more than 35,000 songs were recorded here. Make a special recording and take it home as a memory of your time in Nashville. Tonight, you have reserved seats for an unforgettable show at the world-famous GRAND OLE OPRY, the mecca for country musicians. (B)
|Day 3
|This morning, depart for Memphis, 'Home of the Blues.' Upon arrival, visit SUN STUDIO, probably the most famous recording studio in the world and where rock 'n' roll was first recorded. This historic studio launched the careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and many more. Then, visit the STAX MUSEUM OF AMERICAN SOUL MUSIC, a celebration of the great Memphis soul music made famous by Otis Redding, Booker T. and the M.G.'s, Aretha Franklin, and others. Enjoy dinner on vibrant Beale Street with its many music clubs. (B,D)SPECIAL FEATURE: Spend the next two nights at the Guest House at Graceland, located just a few steps from Graceland. The hotel is designed with classic elegance, modern luxury, and is uniquely Elvis.
|Day 4
|This morning, see all the landmarks of Memphis. A Local Guide will play and sing selections from the city's rich musical heritage, along with generous amounts of comedy and interaction. We then travel to Elvis Presley's GRACELAND. Tour the mansion, see his original business office, his enormous collection of gold records and awards. The tour ends at the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and members of his family have been laid to rest. There's also time to see Elvis' collection of ornate jumpsuits and capes, as well as the automobile museum. The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)
|Day 5
|Today, we follow the path of the mighty Mississippi River and travel deep into the heart of the Mississippi Delta, the 'Birthplace of the Blues.' From the cotton fields, street corners, and juke joints of the Mississippi Delta came a new kind of music-the blues. Considered by many to be the only truly indigenous American music, the blues has influenced musicians worldwide. Blues legends such as Muddy Waters, Sam Cooke, Ike Turner, and John Lee Hooker honed their incredible music talents here before sharing them with the world. Visit the DELTA BLUES MUSEUM, dedicated to exploring the history and heritage of this unique American musical art form. Exhibits contain historical images, artifacts, musical instruments, and the remains of the cabin where Muddy Waters lived during his days as a sharecropper. Enjoy a photo stop at the 'Cross Roads,' where legendary blues guitarist Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil to play like no one else. Then, a special lunch at [LF] GROUND ZERO BLUES CLUB, owned by Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. After lunch, spend time at the ROCK & BLUES MUSEUM before continuing to Greenwood, where many of the city's downtown buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Upon arrival, take a TOUR to see the sites and locations used for the Oscar-winning movie The Help. (B,L)SPECIAL FEATURE: Overnight at the historic Alluvian Hotel. Originally opened in 1917, it has undergone a major transformation and is now rated as one of the Top 10 Hotels in the United States by Conde Nast magazine.
|Day 6
|This morning, we visit the B.B. KING MUSEUM in Indianola, hometown of the legendary musician. Explore King's 60-plus year career, from his time as a sharecropper and his time on Memphis' Beale Street to the international music star he has become. Artifacts, images, and a guitar studio where visitors can play instruments bring it all to life. We then continue south to beautiful Natchez. Dinner tonight is at an elegant [LF] ANTEBELLUM MANSION. (B,D)
|Day 7
|First stop today is FROGMORE PLANTATION, where you'll learn about the trials and triumphs of life on the plantation, from the 1700s to today. Travel then to the LOUISIANA DELTA MUSIC MUSEUM, where you are treated to a guided tour and will learn intimate stories about Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, Conway Twitty, and other Louisiana Delta musicians. Head through Louisiana into the heart of Cajun Country. Arrive in Lafayette and participate in a unique experience at [LF] MARTIN ACCORDIONS, where you learn the history of accordion making, and enjoy music and storytelling by the Martin family. (B)
|Day 8
|New Orleans
|Enjoy a morning visit to St. Martinville to see the famous oak tree from Longfellow's poem, Evangeline. Then, CRUISE through the swampy waterways of the Atchafalaya Basin. See moss-draped trees, wildlife, and maybe even a lingering alligator or two. On to the Great River Road, where wealthy plantation owners built their monumental homes. Afterward, enjoy authentic Cajun home cooking along the banks of the Atchafalaya. Visit HOUMAS HOUSE PLANTATION, the 'Crown Jewel of the Great River Road.' Tour the mansion, which is filled with period antiques and Louisiana artwork, and enjoy some time to stroll the magnificent gardens. You may just want to relax under one of the magnificent oak trees. We then continue to exciting New Orleans for a 2-night stay. (B,L)
|Day 9
|New Orleans
|This morning, a Local Guide shows you the sights and sounds of New Orleans. Visit the French Quarter, including Jackson Square and Pirate's Alley, then stop at an above-ground cemetery and learn about the city's unique burial customs. Drive along tree-lined St. Charles Avenue to see the stately homes bordering the historic Garden District. This afternoon is free to explore New Orleans on your own, shop for a favorite souvenir, or relax with a fresh cup of cafe au lait and a beignet. Tonight, celebrate your musical journey with a festive farewell dinner at one of the oldest restaurants in New Orleans. (B,D)
|Day 10
|New Orleans
|Continue your stay in New Orleans, the 'Crescent City.' Sample beignets at Cafe du Monde, ride a New Orleans streetcar, shop for souvenirs, or learn to cook Cajun specialties at the New Orleans School of Cooking. This evening, sample some of the country's finest restaurants or listen to some local jazz musicians at Preservation Hall. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for things to see and do. Included in your stay is a 2-hour LUNCH CRUISE along the Mississippi River, featuring great jazz and delicious food. (B daily, 1 L)
|Day 11
|New Orleans
|Continue your stay in New Orleans, the 'Crescent City.' Sample beignets at Cafe du Monde, ride a New Orleans streetcar, shop for souvenirs, or learn to cook Cajun specialties at the New Orleans School of Cooking. This evening, sample some of the country's finest restaurants or listen to some local jazz musicians at Preservation Hall. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for things to see and do. Included in your stay is a 2-hour LUNCH CRUISE along the Mississippi River, featuring great jazz and delicious food. (B daily, 1 L)
|Day 12
|New Orleans
|The tour ends after breakfast with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. (B)
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- US$ Price Details
Gratuities for Tour Director and driver are available for pre-purchase. Prices are per person, based on double room occupancy.Single Room Supplement: $1,095 to $1,435 Triple Room Reduction: $190 to $285 Extra Nights per person in Nashville:in single room $227; in twin room $129; in triple room $99 Extra Nights per person in New Orleans:Departure: April 18: in single room $387; in twin room $199; in triple room $153All departures except April 18: in single room $225; in twin room $118; in triple room $99
Travel Terms & Conditions
The purchase of any travel services offered by Globus, constitutes a contractual arrangement between you (the Traveler) and Globus, and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
Important Notes
- Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required for Globus to reserve space for you. View Terms & Conditions for limited exceptions.
- The following charges are not included in the land vacation price unless otherwise noted: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; Intra-vacation air unless specified in the itinerary; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to $11.20 per person, passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $4.00 per segment, and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government-imposed added by the airline and applicable at time of booking; port taxes; passports; visas (except on Cuba programs) and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Globus Group Leader in Cuba, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ship's crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Globus menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant or onboard your vessel (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; optional excursions; additional activities and excursions purchased online; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection; and all other items of a personal nature.
Booking your Vacation with Air
For air departure dates within 331 days, you'll be offered a choice of carriers and flight schedules as well as price points to choose from when selecting your flights. Your schedule will be provided to you at the time of booking (schedules are subject to change by carriers). Globus offers 2 air options: Flex Air and Instant Purchase Air. Flex Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your vacation schedule. Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options but has more restrictions. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. Guaranteed air-inclusive prices: air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional $300 per person non-refundable air deposit is required for Flex Air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e. air-inclusive vacation). Air can only be booked by Globus in conjunction with a vacation package. Instant Purchase Air requires air payment in full at time of booking (i.e. air-inclusive vacation) plus non-refundable per person service fee ($30 for North/Central America, $50 for Europe/Middle East and $80 for all other destinations. Once booked, Instant Purchase Air is non-refundable, and non-changeable. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. However, once your airfare is confirmed and Globus has received your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed.
Air-Inclusive Vacations - Applicable Taxes & Fees
Air-inclusive vacations include government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking and will be shown as a Total Amount. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. At the time of booking your air-inclusive vacation online, carrier Websites will be provided to check baggage fees, or you can visit www.iflybags.com for up-to-date baggage pricing/restrictions. For return travel from some countries, international travelers are required to pay entry and/or exit fees at the airport. These fees will be collected by the local government and are payable by the traveler at time of travel. Your confirmation booking information will contain information about these fees.
* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s) - please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Globus).


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The article Casual Cryptography for Web Developers is probably the nicest, most concise explanation of some of the important crypto principles and practices that web developers will need. Whether you are new to web development, need a refresher or are just curious about the fundamentals, this is one of the best starter articles I've seen.
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subset: commoncrawl


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WARNING: Advanced SEO Concepts Ahead
Q: What's the fastest way to cause a riot at an SEO conference?
A: Just mention the words "Latent Semantic Indexing".
It's true.
Just about half of the people there will tell you it's an incredible way to get top search engine rankings; the others will say LSI is a lie or a myth.
What I'm going to share with you today is probably going to cause some controversy, because I use the words "Latent Semantic Indexing" (or LSI)…
…So after I show you this technique, I'm going to put an end to these stupid LSI arguments once-and-for-all.
Perfect LSI Structuring
If you're creating a site with an LSI silo structure, you can receive a big boost in the rankings that you receive in search engines – put simply, because search engines see you as being more relevant to the topic.
What I'm talking about when I say "LSI silo structure" is categorising content in a logical keyword structure, and grouping content on similar topics together, in a way similar to what search engines expect to see.
And, for the most part, they expect to see tree-like category structures – with categories, sub-categories, and sub-sub-categories all branching off one-another.
The problem is finding the right structure.
If you're developing a new site, and you're trying to get the best search engine boost from LSI, how should your content be structured?
What keywords should go where? What should your categories be? What topics should you be building content around?
Or, if you're actually doing it as part of your core web-site, no-doubt you're finding categorising content is a pain. You write an article, and then wonder where you should put it to get the maximum benefit.
So you're always second-guessing the way that the content should be categorised for maximum SEO value – should it go in one category? Or another? – particularly when content can be related to multiple categories.
And once you've built categories, how do you know what other topics should go into that category to fill it with the "right" sort of content?
The Google Search-Based Keyword Tool isn't just good for finding long tail keywords – it's also fantastic for categorising and grouping keywords.
That's because the Google Search-Based Keyword Tool is showing you structured, categorised, hierarchical keyword relationships – and blog/site structures tend to be structured, categorised and hierarchical.
And, where keywords are related to multiple categories, it shows you all of them.
Debunking LSI Myths
There's a lot of confusion about whether or not "LSI" (or Latent Semantic Indexing) is used by Google or not – so let me clarify things.
There's a lot of convincing evidence suggesting that "LSI" is NOT used by Google – largely because it doesn't scale well.
(We did our own research and testing months ago to find out for sure. The more information you give it, the bigger, slower and less manageable the structure becomes. With the amount of information Google indexes, LSI doesn't seem to be a logical solution.)
However, there's also a HUGE amount of evidence proving that they at least use something similar – another way to work out common relationships between keywords, (as Stompernet also suggested recently.)
And there is a growing amount of evidence that suggests that LSI'd internal site structures, and the way pages are linked (from both within and beyond the site) "turbo-charge" search engine rankings. (Although this is something we won't go into now.)
If you want to see LSI-style keyword relationships in practice, you don't need to look far.
You only need to look at Adwords broad-match keyword matching, Google's new Wonder Wheel, use the Google Synonym Tool, or watch some of the little-known Google Tech Talks where they show their internal related keyword generator being used, talk about how they developed it, and discuss organising information on the semantic web.
So even though "LSI" isn't a technically correct term to describe the system that is being used, it's still a de facto name for describing structured relationships between keywords. So if we say LSI, this is what we are referring to.
Back to the Nuts and Bolts…
I wanted to share this with you, even though there's no financial benefit to us, because we made a commitment to equip you with the best internet marketing tools available…
…And not all of those tools can fit inside Market Samurai.
Tomorrow, I'm going to be releasing one final video in this series – and show you the#1 thing that blew me away when I first came across the Google Search-Based Keyword Tool.
So make sure you're subscribed, watching your inbox, and ready. You won't want to miss this one.
Edit: Here's the link to Google's Search Based Keyword Tool – http://www.google.com/sktool


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The life and times of Menelik II: Ethiopia, 1844-1913
Red Sea Press, 1995 - Biography & Autobiography - 298 pages
A study of the political and military genius of Menelik II, who defeated late 19th century European imperialism.
From inside the book
19 pages matching Begemder in this book
Where's the rest of this book?
Results 1-3 of 19
What people are saying - Write a review
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abyssinia Addis Ababa Adwa agreement Alula Amharic Ankober Antonelli to Crispi army Article XVII Asmara Baldissera Baratieri Battle of Adwa Begemder Brice to Minister British Colli to Minister colony Dajatch Debra defeat Egyptian emperor empire Entotto Eritrea Ethiopia European Fitawrari force Foreign France French Archives frontier Galla gebbi Gebra Sellasie Gojjam Gondar governor Habta Giyorgis Haile Harar ibid imperial injera Italian Archives Italian government Italy Jibuti June Kasa Lagarde letter Libre verde XV Lij Iyasu makwanent March Massawa Menelik Mengesha Menilek Meshesha military Mimoires mission Muslim negotiations negus Nile Obok officials Orero palace political Politique position province railway Ras Alula Ras Makonnen Ras Wolda rifles Rodd Rome Salimbeni Sept Shoa Shoan soldiers Tafari Taitu talers Tekla Haymanot territory Tesemma Tewodros Thesiger to Grey Tigre Tigrean Traversi treaty troops Wichale Wolda Giyorgis Wollo Yejju Yohannes Yohannes's Zaghi Zeila


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Attorneys for an insurance agent accused of helping a Zumba instructor engage in prostitution attacked police motives and the lead investigator's inexperience Monday in a huge case that drew international attention to the town of Kennebunk.
Police Chief Robert F. MacKenzie testified that he passed over the department's only detective, two lieutenants and four patrol sergeants in favor of having a patrol officer lead the investigation because he felt that she had the most time to devote to the case.
"This appeared to be a complex case and that it was going to take the full attention of an investigator. I did not want to tie up our detective," he said, explaining why he chose the patrol officer.
The defense called its first witnesses in the trial of Mark Strong Sr. on Monday after the prosecution rested its case. The government didn't call any johns to the stand after attorneys stipulated that video recordings showed paid-sex acts took place on two-dozen dates.
Strong's attorneys also asked the judge to dismiss 12 of 13 remaining counts that relate to the promotion of prostitution.
The judge didn't immediately rule.
Strong, 57, of Thomaston, is accused of helping Alexis Wright use her Kennebunk fitness studio as a front for prostitution.
The married businessman has acknowledged having an affair with Wright and helping her open a dance studio but he contends he didn't profit from any of her activities. She'll be tried later.
Videos played for jurors last week indicated Strong discussed operational details with Wright and watched her have sex with men for money from his computer 100 miles away in Thomaston.
The final witness for the state was the chief investigator, police officer Audra Presby. She testified that Wright, in addition to recording sex acts, had a video camera rolling while police executed a search warrant on Feb. 14, 2012. She said Skype video snapshots recovered from Strong's computer in Thomaston indicate he watched the search unfold live on his computer.
Also, it was disclosed that Wright videotaped herself masturbating while a Kennebunk police cruiser drove by and then posted the video online. MacKenzie, the police chief, said prosecutors told him that her actions didn't constitute a crime but he still asked her to remove the video.
The defense contends Strong was targeted by Kennebunk police as retaliation because he was looking into unprofessional conduct by its officers.
Presby, who joined the Kennebunk Police Department as a reserve officer in 2006, told jurors Monday that she was "taken aback" when she learned that a yellow legal pad recovered from a search warrant executed at Strong's office indicated he'd been collecting information about her and other officers in the department.
"I had never seen this man, and yet my name and the others in my department were all over his legal pad," she said. "It was quite shocking. I didn't know what this man was doing with this information."
The judge limited some of the defense's efforts to raise questions about officers' past conduct, but Presby acknowledged that she was reprimanded for having an affair with her superior, who resigned.
She also acknowledged she was once subject of a temporary protection-from-abuse order involving a child. Police say the accusation was unfounded.
The prostitution scandal attracted international attention last fall after it was reported that Wright had ledgers indicating she made $150,000 over 18 months and had more than 150 clients, some of them prominent.


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Note of Disclaimer: The following comment, story, and opinion(s) are that of the commenter Elizabeth Callanan and not that of deansguide or the author of deansguide Dean Guadagni. Those of you who have read this blog in the past know where I stand. I am a victim's advocate and simply creating a place for victims or industry pro's to communicate.
The following are opinions, experiences and stories of the trials and tribulations of the 1031 exchange industry from long time contributor and commenter Elizabeth Callanan one of the 350 "Trainwreck Victims" of the Ed Okun 1031 Tax Group Ponzi scheme. This is a warning, it is a plea, and it is her argument for the complete overhaul of the 1031 exchange industry–or it's outright Abolishment.
Note: Not all of the 1031 exchange companies are bad, fradulent, or subversive. There are well respected, honest, and worthwhile 1031 exchange companies doing business.
To Daniel Lowe and the other victims of the LandAmerica debacle,
You have my most heartfelt empathy.
Having been myself a victim of Ed Okun's embezzlement of exchangers funds on deposit with the 1031 Tax Group, I truly feel your pain. I'm not an attorney, an accountant, and have no expertise apart from what comes of painful firsthand experience. It was in the hopes of warning other potential exchanger/victims that I started posting on Dean's List and elsewhere.
At the end of the day, though, I agree totally with Yaco Tiamo, who has posted here. The entire 1031 industry is superfluous and that aspect of the IRS' 1031 regulations should be expunged. It is a wildly unregulated industry that answers to no government oversight at any level (apart from some half-hearted oversight incorporated in a couple of recently enacted regs by a handful of states (Nevada, California?) and, as evidenced, by the recent spate of embezzlements or gross mismanagement puts all exchangers at great risk for no good reason. Doing a 1031 isn't brain surgery. The forms are pretty standard and the process pretty simple, really.
Since the IRS has shown no interest in overseeing, licensing, demanding accountability from, providing meaningful insurance for (as the SEC does) or otherwise regulating the industry it created, it should kill it – NOW!
As to the LandAmerica victims, my (personal, not professional!!) advice in terms of investing in legal help is two-fold and in both cases I would act only collectively (except for those whose funds were held in traceable segregated accounts, who will no doubt make a serious (and perhaps successful) run at retrieving those funds, I see little point in acting individually — certainly not in bankruptcy, a self-funding and self-perpetuating legal and financial train wreck for everyone involved except the court appointed functionaries. (If you want to see the extent to which such a process can drag on ad nauseam with many billable hours just check out the history of the 1031 Tax Group case on either of these sites: http://www.committeeinfo.com/1031/index.htm (the official website for our Creditors Committee) or http://trustee1031taxgroup.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/ (the Trustee's website).)
However, I WOULD hire a legal firm (on contingency if you can – since, by definition, you no longer have any money!) to:
1) GET YOUR CASE OUT OF BANKRUPTCY COURT!! That is a deep dark hole that will suck up every dime of funding available until there's nothing but dust left. In the 19 months since Ed Okun put the 1031 Tax Group into "bankruptcy" (it was a criminal embezzlement plain and simple now being tried in a US Federal Court in Richmond which was known at the time the bankruptcy was filed in May 07 — the Feds having raided the offices in April 07 — and should never have been accepted as a legitimate bankruptcy to start with!) all of the various court-appointed functionaries have claimed MORE THAN $30 MILLION IN SO-CALLED "ADMINISTRATIVE FEES" and victims have received not one penny of their escrow funds. In fact, in an amazingly brazen and twisted miscarriage of justice, the Bankruptcy Court authorized attorneys for the so-Called "Debtors" (ironically the Dreier firm whose owner embezzled millions in escrow funds himself) to pursue a legal action to retrieve the only escrow funds that Okun himself had not been able to steal and the settlement cozily agreed to by the attorneys on both sides (and approved by the Court) provided for payment as well to the attorneys DEFENDING the bank where those funds were on deposit — the end result of which is that the costs of BOTH SIDES of that court case will be paid by Okun's victims. (So, to our point of view we were mugged first by Okun and then by the Bankruptcy Court!) The only way to get that Bankruptcy action derailed is to get the Committee itself on board (not easy since the Committee's attorneys will understandably vehemently argue against the prospect of losing their cash cow), but I'd consider that a first priority.
2) Get a class action going to pursue all the parties involved, including especially LandAmerica to force them to use the proceeds from the sale of its other two arms to repay the exchange funds it squandered on worthless investments.
I sincerely hope you are more successful than we've been to date in retrieving even a dime of our life savings. The key is acting collectively and getting a junkyard dog of an attorney who is willing to work on a contingency (which means you'll get 25% less than you otherwise might, but most of Okun's victims would happily settle for that today!). Unfortunately in bankruptcy there is absolutely NO incentive for settling anything quickly. It's all about billable hours — for attorneys, for management companies, for accounting firms, and all the other hangers-on who can get their licks in. If I were you, I'd follow the lead of the creditors in the Southwest Exchange Case – which happened just a few months prior to our's and in which there's been a settlement of $92 million of the $97 million lost (minus the contingency and other costs incurred by the attorney) while WE HAVE NOTHING and dismal prospects ahead.
You've gotten off to a better start than we did, it appears. You have a website (noted above by one of your fellow victims), your Committee seems to communicate with you (our's has maintained a nearly absolute silence and shares NO information whatsoever for reasons none of us can fathom), and I understand you're collectively discussing a civil class action which I encourage you to pursue.
Good luck to you all — sincerely.


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Today at SXSW in Austin, TX, Marvel Comics announced a jaw-dropping promotion on the digital comic store. Over 700 free #1 issues of Marvel Comics from the past and present are now free to download through the end of Tuesday, March 12. Marvel is taking aim at attracting comic book readers both new and veteran with the initiative:
"At its core, Marvel #1 is all about bringing new readers into the fold," explains Gabriel. "That doesn't just mean fans who have never read a comic, but [also] longtime fans [who want] to jump into books they may have been waiting to try. With a plethora of great content and digital devices—be it tablets or smart phones—in more hands than ever, there is no better time to launch an initiative such as this."
The Marvel and Comixology apps are understandably slammed at the moment as eager comic fans rush to get the free issues, but keep trying to get your old favorites and take a look at new titles, including the Marvel NOW! titles.
I recommend grabbing Hawkeye #1 or Captain Marvel #1 if you're looking for a new comic to hook you back into the world of Marvel. I'm going to get my first look at the titles All-New X-Men and Young Avengers. What's on your download list?


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Tommy Vercetti is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (set in 1986). He is also mentioned in The Introduction, a prequel of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (set in 1992). He is a former member of the Forelli Family and the leader of the Vercetti Gang, based out of Vice City. Tommy Vercetti is voiced by Ray Liotta, who has also starred in the film Goodfellas.
Character history
Early life
Tommy Vercetti was born in Liberty City and, at a young age, began helping his father at a printing shop cleaning rollers. Vercetti had wanted to follow in his fathers footsteps but 'lived a different a life', at some point joining the Forelli Family. He continued to work with the Forelli Family until in 1971 he was convicted of eleven counts of homicide in Harwood, later gaining the name "The Harwood Butcher". This was an attempted ambush, planned by Sonny Forelli, although Tommy survived. His connections with the Forelli Family ensured he was spared the death penalty and a life sentence. Tommy remained in prison for fifteen years, not informing the LCPD of any Forelli Family secrets.
In 1986 he released from prison, after Sonny Forelli pulled some strings. Forelli decides to send Tommy to Vice City, realising that he is too well known in Liberty City. Sonny, wanting to become involved in the narcotics trade, decides to send Tommy with some money and to allow him to establish himself in the city, before moving in himself and eliminating Tommy. Tommy, unaware of the plans, flies to Vice City along with Harry and Lee, meeting Ken Rosenberg at the airport. The drug deal, with the Vance Crime Family, is ambushed by Ricardo Diaz' men, something Tommy only later discovers. Tommy, Rosenberg, and Lance Vance (of the Vance Crime Family) escape.
Tommy informs Sonny of the ambush and is reminded that Sonny is 'not a guy to be screwed with'. Tommy, looking to get Sonny's money back, begins to work for various criminals around the city to gain money and revenge. He initially works for Rosenberg, causing riots and intimidating jurors, before working for Juan Cortez, an intermediary for the drug deal, who begins to look into the ambush for Tommy. Meanwhile, he has Tommy steal missile technology chips and kill Gonzalez, who had talked about the deal.
Cortez, believing that Ricardo Diaz was responsible for the ambush, helps Tommy to act as protection for Diaz in a deal with the Cubans. The Haitians, arch enemies of the Cubans, attempt to ambush the deal but are thwarted by Tommy and Lance. Diaz, seeing potential in Tommy and Lance, who he does not remember, hires them to, amongst other things, kill gang members stealing some of his drugs and steal the fastest boat in the city, in order to purchase drugs from a dealer on a boat. Lance attempts to kill Diaz in revenge for the death of his brother but is captured, later being freed by Vercetti. The two later go on to extract revenge, killing Diaz in his mansion.
The death of Ricardo Diaz brings change to Vice City, allowing Tommy and Lance to step in and continue the protection ring established by Diaz. Tommy, however, begins to look beyond the protection ring and purchases a number of businesses around the city, most prominently the Malibu Club, the Cherry Popper Ice Cream Factory (used to sell drugs), InterGlobal Films and the Print Works. After purchasing each business, Tommy helps establish them in the city. During this time, Tommy also begins to work for a number of smaller time criminals in the city, including the Cuban leader Umberto Robina and the Haitian leader Auntie Poulet (due to her drugging him), helping both sides attack the other. He also works for Avery Carrington (helping his real estate business), Phil Cassidy (helping his gun running business), Mr. Black (helping to kill a number of people), Mitch Baker to retrieve his stolen motorcycle, and Kent Paul and Love Fist to stop a psychopathic fan. Tommy also went on to help Juan Cortez escape the city when the French government decide to assault his yacht.
Sonny Forelli, growing restless and impatient, sends his own men to collect some of 'his' money from Tommy. Tommy kills the collectors, although not in time to save Earnest Kelly, the man running the printers, from being injured. Tommy, viewing him a lot like his father, decides to give Sonny fake money printed at the Print Works. Tommy meets Sonny in person at his estate, with Sonny informing him that the Harwood incident was an ambush and that Lance had sided with him. A gun battle ensues, with Tommy killing both Lance and Sonny. Following the deaths of Lance and Sonny, Tommy and Ken begin to run the city.
After 1986
Tommy Vercetti continued to run the criminal underworld of Vice City until at least 1992, although his relationship with Ken Rosenberg became increasingly strained due to Rosenberg's cocaine addiction. Tommy eventually sends Ken into rehab at the Fort Carson Medical Center in Fort Carson, San Andreas, later refusing to answer his telephone calls.
Tommy Vercetti is depicted as both intelligent but temperamental, easily angered and quick to resort to violence. He has no hesitation about killing, including innocent people, as evidenced by his working as a contract killer for Mr. Black, only regretting the murder of Lance Vance, who turned against him to side with Sonny Forelli. Tommy does, however, also show a softer side as seen with his relations with Mercedes Cortez and Earnest Kelly, who he views as a father figure due to childhood memories of working with his father at a printworks.
Tommy Vercetti shows many characteristics in common with Tony Montana, a drug lord from the film Scarface. The two both end up in exile, both rise to power in Miami using great amounts of violence, both build an empire from a large estate and mansion, both have short tempers and are prone to violence, both work as contract killers, both killed their collaborators and took their ex-bosses' empires. The interior of the Vercetti Estate is even modelled after Montana's mansion. There are, however, key differences, most notably that Tommy did not become addicted to his own narcotics and that Tommy survived the shoot out in his mansion, as opposed to Montana who was killed.
Tommy Vercetti also bears some resemblance to 'Mr. Blonde' from the film Reservoir Dogs, played by Michael Madsen. The film sees 'Mr. Blonde' released from prison after loyally doing time for his crime family, as Tommy did after the "Harwood Incident". Tommy later performs contract killings for a 'Mr. Black', whilst he is referred to as 'Mr. Teal' (a reference to the then deceased Leo Teal).
- Mercedes Cortez, the daughter of Juan Cortez, is somewhat of a love interest for Tommy, although the two never begin a relationship during Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
- A Tommy Vercetti action figure can be located in the Zero RC shop in San Fierro in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
- Tommy Vercetti kills more people in the storyline, than any other character in the Grand Theft Auto III Era.
- An Easter Egg in Grand Theft Auto IV suggests that Tommy Vercetti, along with the other Grand Theft Auto III Era protagonists, is dead as of 2009. However, GTA IV does not share a canon with the GTA III Era.
- Juan Cortez calls Tommy as "Tomás" (spelled "Thomas" in the game), the Spanish equivalent to "Thomas" twice throughout the game. However, it's never stated whether Thomas is actually his real first name. No one else calls him that in the game.
Murders committed
- Leo Teal (killed due to possible links to the ambushed drug deal)
- Gonzalez (killed for talking about the drug deal between the Forelli Family and the Vance Crime Family)
- Pierre La Ponce (killed whilst attempting to escape a police ambush during an exchange of stolen missile technology)
- Carl Pearson (killed on Mr. Black's orders)
- Mrs. Dawson (killed on Mr. Black's orders)
- Mike Griffin (killed on Mr. Black's orders and for planning to rob a bank)
- Dick Tanner (killed on Mr. Black's orders and for planning to rob a bank)
- Franco Carter (killed on Mr. Black's orders and for planning to rob a bank)
- Marcus Hammond (killed on Mr. Black's orders and for planning to rob a bank)
- Nick Kong (killed on Mr. Black's orders and for planning to rob a bank)
- Charlie Dilson (killed on Mr. Black's orders and for planning to rob a bank)
- Ricardo Diaz (killed for ambushing the drug deal with the Vance Crime Family)
- Pedro Garcia (killed due to being a rival gun runner to Phil Cassidy)
- Lance Vance (killed for betraying Tommy)
- Sonny Forelli (killed for betraying Tommy and attempting to kill him)


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Almond Joy Hearts Recipe
- Yield:Makes about 24 chocolates
- 1 cup shredded coconut (I used Baker's)
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds (I used Diamond)
- 1/2 cup Cream of Coconut (I used Goya)
- 18 ounces semisweet chocolate morsels (I used Ghiradelli 60% cacao)
Preheat oven to 300°F. Wash heart-shaped silicone mold with warm water. Place on a baking sheet and bake empty for 5 minutes to dry. Remove from oven and set aside.
In a large bowl combine the coconut, almonds, and coconut cream. Mix well. Place 8 to 10 chocolate morsels in each of the heart shaped cavities on the silicone baking sheet.
Place 1/2 teaspoonful of the coconut-almond mixture into center of each cavities, on top of chocolate morsels. Place additional 8 to 10 chocolate morsels on top of the coconut-almond mixture, arranging them so that the centers are mostly covered.
Transfer cookie sheet with mold to oven and bake for until chocolate starts to melt and is easy to spread, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven. Use a teaspoon and with a darting motion run the tip of the spoon around the edges of each cavity to ensure that the melted chocolate completely coats the bottom of the cavity. Use the back of the teaspoon to smooth out the "bottoms" of the chocolates that are face up. Finally, gently shake the silicone mold up and down a little to force out any air bubbles.
Place the silicone mat in the refrigerator for 1 hour to set. Remove from refrigerator and gently invert the cavities to release the chocolates. Use a butter knife to smooth out the flakes and make the bottoms of the chocolates as flat as possible.


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UPDATE: "The Picaresque Novel in the Long Eighteenth Century": abstracts due Aug. 29, 2014
CFP: "The Picaresque Novel in the Long Eighteenth Century"
International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies
July 26-31, 2015, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Andrew Bricker
Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in the Humanities (2014-2016)
Department of English, McGill University
Scholars often point to Thomas Nashe's The Unfortunate Traveller (1594) as the first picaresque novel in English. But the English picaresque only truly begins to flourish, it seems, during the long eighteenth century, contaminating a range of generic categories and inhabiting a variety of guises: adventure fiction, travel narrative, spiritual autobiography, criminal biography, prose satire, the novel itself, and on and on. And yet the literary category of the picaresque, a term that only comes into use in the nineteenth century, simply does not exist during this period.
This panel seeks presentations that address two interrelated questions, and that account for the profound role the picaresque played in literary production during the long eighteenth century not only in England but also across Europe. First, in the absence of the blanket category "the picaresque novel," how did writers from the eighteenth century understand the tradition within which they worked? That is, did such novelists as Henry Fielding and Tobias Smollett, deeply influenced, for instance, by Alain-René Lesage's Gil Blas (1715-35), see their own novels as extensions of a tradition running all the way back to their sixteenth- and seventeenth-century continental forbears like as Lazarillo de Tormes (1554) and Simplicius Simplicissimus (1669)? Second, in what ways do we see picaresque elements travelling during the eighteenth century? That is, how do these earlier and contemporary models start to migrate to other literary forms and shape the production not only of the novel itself but also of, for instance, satire, life writing, children's literature, and so on? My goal with this panel is to reinvigorate the study of the picaresque in the long eighteenth century—to see this unstable generic designation as, nonetheless, one of our most important transhistorical literary categories.
Please submit presentation abstracts (200-300 words) by August 29 to Andrew Bricker at andrew.bricker [at] gmail.com


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Sometimes it's the smaller milestones that teach the bigger lessons. Take this past January 22. It was the 70th anniversary of Executive Order 9417, issued in 1944 by Franklin D. Roosevelt to create the War Refugee Board, tasked with rescuing European Jews from the Nazi death machine. During the remaining 16 months until the European war ended in May 1945, it's estimated to have saved about 200,000 lives.
The anniversary didn't make quite the same splash as, say, the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination or the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg. Actually, it passed almost unnoticed. That's a pity. It's worth a second look. It has a lot to teach us about the current moment in history.
This is an unusual moment for America. After a decade of entanglement in two ground wars, we're now engaged in three separate negotiating processes, each addressing a different deadly international dispute. One is the six-power negotiation with Iran in Geneva over halting its nuclear weapons program. The second is the international conference, also in Geneva, to stop the carnage of the Syrian civil war. The third is the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
It's hard to think of another time when three such urgent diplomatic processes were going on at once. They have different timelines, different casts of characters and different issues under dispute. But all involve global stakes.
All three reflect, at least partly, the Muslim world's traumatic, often violent process of adjustment to modernity. All three concern the same 1,000-mile stretch of the Middle East between Jerusalem and Tehran. And right now, for better or worse, they're all Barack Obama-John Kerry productions.
But they're not the same. One pits an Iran with great-power ambitions against a rare, painstakingly constructed coalition of global powers determined to trim Iran's sails. The second addresses a local Syrian protest that escalated into a flashpoint in the centuries-old conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, dragging in various regional and global allies. The third is even more local, involving a territorial dispute between Israelis and Palestinians, but echoes globally because of the passions it evokes throughout the Muslim world and beyond.
None of these disputes is World War II redux, despite what you sometimes hear. None involves a nation or axis of nations with the ambition, much less the power, to conquer and enslave the world as Germany and Japan tried to do. None involves a nation remotely capable of exterminating the world's Jews.
Iran, you say? The director of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, Tamir Pardo, declared publicly in December 2011 that Iran is "not an existential threat" to Israel. The Israeli military chief of staff, Benny Gantz, stated publicly in April 2012 that Iran's leaders are "very rational," not self-destructive. And Pardo and Gantz, you'll recall, were both chosen in 2011 to replace predecessors who hadn't sufficiently shared Prime Minister Netanyahu's Iranophobia.
But if none of the three disputes shares the essential characteristics of the Nazi threat, each of them features one of its traits. Iran aspires to acquire armaments of enormous power, which would greatly increase the reach of its regional ambitions. Syria has proven able and willing to slaughter vast numbers of innocent civilians, on a scale that shocks even the hardened conscience of our cynical age. And the continuation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict puts the living heart of contemporary Jewish civilization at risk. Nazism did all three.
What can the War Refugee Board teach us? To answer that, we need to recall what the board wasn't. For one thing, it wasn't formed in August 1942, when word first reached the West of the Nazis' plan to exterminate the Jews. It would take another 18 months of furious Washington bureaucratic trench warfare for advocates of rescue — mostly Jewish organizational leaders and Treasury Department officials — to overcome deliberate State Department obstruction.
Perhaps history would have turned out differently had the board been formed in November 1942, as soon as American intelligence confirmed the reported Nazi genocide. Or after the Allies issued their joint declaration on December 17, 1942, published on Page 1 of the New York Times, condemning Germany's "bestial policy of cold-blooded extermination" of "the Jewish people in Europe" and vowing "practical measures" to "insure that those responsible for these crimes shall not escape retribution." Or perhaps in January 1943, after the World Jewish Congress submitted the first concrete rescue plan, a $600,000 Romanian ransom offer.
But it wasn't. Instead the State Department was put in charge of rescue plans, which were studiously dismissed, sabotaged or stalled by officials who we now know were contemptuous of Jewish lives. It wasn't until July 1943 that the ransom offer was brought to Treasury officials. They began gathering evidence of State Department sabotage. That led to congressional hearings in November, a State-Treasury showdown in December and, finally, the president's order in January to create the board under Treasury's supervision, not State's.
What if rescue had begun earlier? With twice as much time, maybe twice as many Jews would have been rescued — perhaps 500,000 or more. Perhaps with momentum and creativity, 1 million precious lives could have been saved, twice the Jewish population of what was then Palestine.
And today we would remember 5 million martyrs, and the Holocaust would still be history's greatest evil. Nazi Germany was bent on conquering the world and ridding it of Jews, and it nearly did so. There are tragedies in the world, and acts of human evil, that cannot be wished away.
Americans were noisily unwilling to join a European war in 1939. Certainly not to save Jews. Congress refused even to suspend immigration quotas. If Japan hadn't attacked America — and Germany hadn't attacked Russia — Hitler would have won. It took a mobilized world and tens of millions dead to stop him.
But then, if it hadn't been for the lunacy of World War I, Germans wouldn't have turned to Hitler — nor would Britain and France been so reluctant to take up arms in a timely manner.
Just so, if America hadn't invaded Iraq to bring the ill-conceived caravan of democracy to the Middle East, the peoples of Egypt and Syria likely wouldn't have risen up to join the caravan and 130,000 Syrians would still be alive. Iran would still be quaking in fear of Saddam Hussein. And Americans wouldn't be so reluctant to enter another war.
But we did invade Iraq, and chaos did spread through the region, and Iran was rid of its great enemy. And Americans don't want to enter another war. Certainly not for the Jews. Let's pray for Geneva.
Contact J.J. Goldberg at email@example.com
J.J. Goldberg
J.J. Goldberg is editor emeritus of the Forward, where he served as editor in chief for seven years (2000-2007).


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Shame on Kierna for thinking the beat on "I Luh Her" was so-so. Editorial from the Source attacking Akinyele in december 1993, and the answer from the artist two months later. A few years later Ak shared his feelings about that journalist on the long-shelved Break A Bitch Neck.
Akinyele : I Luh Her (DivShare)
Akinyele & Kool G. Rap : Break A Bitch Neck (DivShare)


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[Editor's Note: On 10.10.10, 350.org is coordinating 2700 events in 150 countries to address climate change concerns as a planet. Learn more about reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and the atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by clicking here. Also, learn more about mountaintop removal and appalachiarising.org.]
"You don't regulate an abomination, you stop it." That's the voice of Beverly May, a resident of Maytown, Kentucky, speaking out against mountaintop-removal coal mining in the 2010 documentary Deep Down: A Story From the Heart of Coal Country.
Deep Down follows the community of Maytown, Kentucky as the residents decide whether they will lease their lands to a local coal company for mountaintop removal. And in a year that's seen a lot of talk about mountaintop removal coal mining, including recent industry-sponsored protests against stricter Environmental Protection Agency mining guidelines here in Washington, D.C., Deep Down helps explain why mountaintop removal is not just an issue of ecological justice, but of poverty, fear, and other subtle forms of oppression fed by industrial greed.
Many Appalachians, like May, believe mountaintop removal is the "final assault" on the place where their families have lived for generations. "In the language of mine operators," explains May, "everything that lies above the coal is 'overburden,' waste to be blown out of the way and dumped on the nearest valley as quickly and cheaply as possible to get to what really matters, which is the coal and the money it represents
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Christ Is Risen!
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those who rejected it and became the Oriental Orthodox
Our Church is not statically bound to four centuries of Church history. We have 2000 years of Tradition, not 400.
...which further implies deviation on behalf of the Coptic Orthodox Church (which is all well and good if you're making it clear that you are presenting a strictly EO perspective on the matter, but you haven't done that).
I am considering entering the U.S. Navy as an officer through the Academy. What is the Orthodox's view from defending your country (and if need be, killing)? And if you must kill someone in war, is there a restriction placed upon you by the church? (I.e. Not being able to become a priest, barred from communion for a certain amount of time, etc.)
Good thing we're no 'democracy'.
whilst we're knitpicking.
Your comments are, well, you as usual.
Thanks folks! Lemme just see if I understand this:The Asian and Middle Eastern Orthodox are Oriental, and they only follow the first 3 Councils.
The Russian, Greek, and other Eastern European Orthodox follow all 7 Councils.
However, can a Oriental take communion at an Eastern Orthodox church, and vice versa, or is it a clear cut "We dont want you go away" type thing?
Well, this is troubling to say the least I always assumed the Holy Land's Patriarchal Cities were still in full communion with Constantinople. Guess Im about 1700 years late
There is also a Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria...I believe his name is Theodoros (am I correct???)
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Movies We Like
The Bridge on the River Kwai
After his weepy romantic travelogue Summertime, director David Lean took an evolutionary jump with The Bridge on the River Kwai, the first part of his super epic trilogy (followed by Lawrence Of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago). If The Great Escape is the ultimate German prisoner of war flick (with apologies to Stalag 17) then Kwai is the quintessential Japanese POW story. The performances are top notch—the British chameleon Alec Guinness deservedly won an Oscar for his powerful performance. As both a human drama, a giant war spectacular, and just a kick-ass action flick Kwai is still a hair-raiser with a famously shocking ending.
A cynical American POW named Shears (William Holden, cynical was his trademark in the fifties) watches Colonel Nicholson (Guinness) lead his British regiment into a Japanese camp deep in the harsh jungles of Burma (while whistling the "Colonel Bogey March" which became a hit record). There the prisoners working as slave laborers are building a military bridge, but Nicholson will not work and demands to keep his rank among his men. A battle of wills takes place between the overly proud Brit and the camp's Japanese commander, Saito (Sessue Hayakawa). The Japanese do everything to break the will and pride of Nicholson to no avail. Eventually the two opposing leaders reach a compromise. Nicholson is given full dignity and instead of forcing his men to chore as slaves, they will build the bridge under their own British commanders. For Nicholson this is a chance to show the Japanese how superior both the British way of life and work ethic are and to build the morale of his men.
Meanwhile Shears makes a dangerous escape from the camp; though he gets shot and his two comrades are killed he manages to make his way to a friendly village and then a British military hospital. Recovering from his injuries on a picturesque beach with a foxy nurse, Shears is forced to join a group of commandos lead by Major Warden (Jack Hawkins) and return to the camp he just escaped from to destroy the very bridge (over the Kwai river) that Colonel Nicholson is now building. An exciting covert raid on the bridge takes place leading to an eventual classic confrontation between Shears and Nicholson.
Another great war film made years later, Apocalypse Now, ends with the words, "the horror, the horror." Similarly the final words spoken in The Bridge on the River Kwai are "madness, madness." Nicholson's madness is evident in more ways than one. At first he was willing to die to maintain his British gentleman's dignity but then he becomes so obsessed with the quality of the bridge he seems to forget there is a war going on and that he is building something vital for the enemy. By the end he becomes so deeply consumed by his project that instead of the war or his allies all that matters to him is protecting the bridge. The final fate of the bridge is one of the great iconic moments of film history.
The film was based on a novel by the French writer Pierre Boulle (who also wrote the source novel for The Planet Of The Apes), though the screenplay was secretly written by two uncredited blacklisted writers, Carl Forman (High Noon) and Michael Wilson (A Place In The Sun). (Boulle received the on-screen credit.) Mega producer Sam Spiegel (On the Waterfront) carried the massive production from day one, assembling everyone both in front of and behind the camera. At certain points actors Charles Laughton, Laurence Olivier, and Humphrey Bogart were considered for the two lead roles while Howard Hawks and, more surprisingly, Rebel Without a Cause's Nicholas Ray were in talks to direct.
While Guinness had worked with Lean on his two acclaimed Dickens adaptations, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations, he was mostly known for the genteel British comedies he made at Ealing studios (The Lavender Hill Mob, etc.) He would continue to be associated with Lean, appearing in four of the director's next five final films. Though the two apparently had a stormy working relationship, their output together may be as impressive as any director/actor combo as there has ever been. The Bridge on the River Kwai may be Guinness at his best and Lean's greatest film just for shear entertainment and excitement. As more than just another classic, Kwai still holds up today and it even stands out for the scope of the adventure. Though a television will do, Kwai is one of those films that are a must-see on the big screen. Missing it is pure "madness."
The Bridge on the River Kwai won 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor (Alec Guinness), Best Cinematography (Jack Hildyard), Best Director (David Lean), Best Editing (Peter Taylor), Best Original Score (Malcolm Arnold), Best Adapted Sceenplay (Pierre Boulle, Carl Foreman, Michael Wilson). It was nominted for an 8th Oscar for Best Supporting Actor (Sessue Hayakawa).


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The first color episode of Doctor Who aired in 1970, meaning that the first two Doctors spent their entire runs in black and white. One fan decided to give William Hartnell's First Doctor a moment in color, colorizing 2,700 frames of the Doctor's farewell to his granddaughter, Susan.
YouTube user farfrombeingallover, who goes by MrBiscuitESQ on reddit, provided the color for the Doctor's goodbye from the 1964 serial "The Dalek Invasion of Earth." He's also involved in the recreation of the lost Doctor Who episodes. You can watch a segment from "The Celestial Toymaker," the episode he's currently working on, here.
[via reddit]


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I laughed uproariously when the news filtered down to me, that Ubuntu was shifting its carcass toward Wayland, as opposed to the ancient monolith Xorg.
The rationale, as I understand it, goes mostly hand-in-hand with the press for Ubuntu to become something less than a desktop, and more of a clicky buttony thingy that hooks into Facebookendsterwitterspace.
That's fine. It'll be interesting to watch, but you know what? I think I will sit this one out.
Not for any dislike of Ubuntu, or distrust for the direction it is moving. You might call me old-fashioned, if only because the clicky buttony thingy doesn't really turn me on. I'll take a traditional desktop, any day.
Of course, if I had an interest beyond the computers of the last century, I might be willing to just try it out. Might be.
But ay, there's the rub: Whether Ubuntu uses Xorg or Wayland or a day-old ham sandwich to project its graphical interface is hardly any interest of mine.
I learned a long time ago that I could move closer to my goals by omitting X altogether. When I jettisoned the aging, bloated crowbait, life suddenly turned beautiful.
Please don't misunderstand me. Stepping away from X made everything better, and I heartily recommend it.
I'll be honest, I still use it from time to time. I do have machines that predate contemporary framebuffer support, and in those situations, a very sparse version of Xorg is what saves it from giant-size block letters smeared across the LCD. 😯
But I won't pretend to care much if Xorg's 25-year legacy is slowly and painfully extracted from Ubuntu or Fedora or Distro X. And oh yes, it will be painful … for someone, somewhere you can bet it will be painful.
No pain for me though. I will be the one on the sidelines, with the look of zen on my face, wondering what the big deal is.


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Musto Clay BR2 Shooting Jacket: True Navy: Large
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Fomer Florida Sen. Larcenia Bullard dies
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Former Sen. Larcenia Bullard, a popular and gregarious figure in the Capitol whose husband and son followed her into the Legislature, has died, according to an aide to her son. She was 65.
Sen. Bullard, a Miami Democrat who was replaced in the Senate last fall by her son, Dwight, had health problems in recent years but was in the Senate on March 5 for the opening of the legislative session. She took the microphone and paid tribute to lobbyist and former Sen. Ken Plante, who is battling ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, and was in the hospital.
Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, sent a memo to senators and staff Saturday night noting that Larcenia Bullard had been on the Senate floor to be with her son on the session's first day.
"Larcenia Bullard had the biggest heart in the Senate,'' Gaetz wrote. "A proud Democrat, she was never an uncompromising partisan. A political pioneer among African-Americans, her passion for fairness and justice extended to all people. Every hard fight in committee or tough debate on the Senate floor always ended with her warmly embracing those with whom she disagreed and assuring them of her love."
Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, issued a statement saying he was "incredibly saddened" by the former senator's death.
"On the Senate floor, she spoke of things that gave inspiration to many; she never shied away from controversial issues,'' Smith said. "And she never shied away from standing up for issues she believed were right."
Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement that said Bullard represented the families of South Florida with "passion and integrity.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to those close to her and the rest of Florida as we honor a woman who put her constituents first," Scott said. "We remain grateful to Senator Bullard for her service to this great state and pray that her family can find peace during this difficult time."
Details of Larcenia Bullard's death were not immediately available Saturday night. But Aaron McKinney, a legislative assistant to Dwight Bullard, sent an email to lawmakers and staff informing them of her death.
"It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of Florida State Senator Larcenia Bullard,'' the email said. "Please keep Senator Dwight Bullard and the Bullard Family in your prayers during their time of bereavement."
Larcenia Bullard served in the House from 1992 to 2000 and in the Senate from 2002 to 2012, when she was term-limited. Her husband, Ed, replaced her in the House and served from 2000 to 2008. Dwight Bullard then won the House seat, serving until 2012, when he was elected to the Senate.
Though she lived in Miami, Larcenia Bullard represented a sprawling Senate district that started in the Keys and went all the way to Hendry and Palm Beach counties. She easily won her House races and prevailed in tough Senate primaries in 2002 and 2004. In 2002, she beat four other Democrats, while in 2004 she held off former Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West.
A South Carolina native, Larcenia Bullard was a friendly figure in the Capitol, smiling and having a good word for people she saw in the hallways. She also could be amusing, sometimes giving long-winded, offbeat, speeches on the Senate floor that veered into unexpected topics.
As word spread of Larcenia Bullard's death Saturday night, lawmakers and others posted messages on Twitter that praised her.
"Rest in peace, Senator Bullard,'' wrote Kathy Mears, chief of staff to House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel. "We will miss you terribly. Our loss is heaven's gain."
Rep. Alan Williams, D-Tallahassee, wrote: "Words can't express the sense of loss the entire Fla Legislative Family is feeling (with) the loss of Sen. Larcenia Bullard."
Copyright 2013 by The News Service of Florida. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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- Trusted dealers


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For Immediate Release
Lavera / True Natural
Uli Jacob / Victor Tang
425.284.6266 x709
[email protected]
Lavera Launches Haircare & Styling Line
This summer, Lavera and Hudson Bay Company proudly announces the start of a new partnership! Lavera's top selling lines Lavere Anti-Aging skincare and Trend Cosmetics make-up will be carried in ten prestigious locations in Vancouver and Toronto area and will expand across Canada, in areas where consumers are demanding the pure and fashionable Lavera skin care brand.
Hudson Bay Company is responding to the increased consumer demand for purest, organic and all natural skin care products that can be used especially for sensitive skin types and people with allergies and chemical sensitivities.
Lavera Organic Skin Care is continuing its fantastic growth in North America andcurrently is available in about 15 000 retail outlets all across the world.
Lavera will bring its unique beauty expertise: outstanding product performance, treatments that are a luxury to use and complete ingredient integrity. No other brand comes close in delivering the results Lavera products do through 100% natural ingredients.
Why organic skin care?
Most experts agree; when it comes to skin care, the purer the better.
We all know the benefits of eating organic foods. Fewer toxins, no genetically modified ingredients and more flavour. Choosing organic beauty products brings the same advantages, with naturally effective treatments for skin, hair and body that feel great, smell delicious and work in harmony with skin's natural functions to promote health, radiant skin and overall well being.
In addition to the benefits they reap for our personal health, organic farming methods also have tremendous advantages for the environment, safeguarding the quality of all natural resources. Through a variety of natural and eco-friendly techniques, organic farmers greatly reduce the amount of toxic chemicals, such as synthetic pesticides and herbicides, released into the environment and the volume of those chemicals that appear in the water and food supply.
Lavera's Ingredient commitment:
100% designed for sensitive skin
100% Pure organic plant oils, herb and flower extracts and essential oils
100% Cruelty free
100% Free from parabens, synthetic preservatives
100% Free from fragrances, emulsifiers and petroleum
Here, just some of the star products Lavera will soon debut at Hudson Bay department stores...
* Lavere Lifting Serum Hydro-Gel, $99. This potent firming, anti-wrinkle treatment uses organic extracts of bamboo and green tea to visibly reduce fine lines by up to 90% while restoring radiance and a youthful glow to stressed, dehydrated skin.
* Lavere Ultimate Eye Cream, $79. A complete turnaround treatment for tired eyes. Organic extracts of ginseng, grape seed and wild rose reduce dark circles and puffiness by up to 70%, and fine lines around the eye area by an incredible 80%.
* Lip Gloss, $19.95. Let lips sparkle and shimmer with this luscious, non-stick gloss. Winner of Oeko's 'Innovation Prize of the Year' several years running, organic jojoba oil and vitamin E deliver moisture and high shine, while crushed mineral pigments lend lips a lovely iridescence.
* Volume Mascara, $24.99. Goes further than other mascaras to lengthen your lashes naturally! Lavera's clever shaping brush adds volume with every application, while organic extracts of wild rose and jojoba gently condition lashes, keeping them flake-free and gorgeously glossy.
WHERE TO FIND: www.lavera.com
About Lavera: Since its founding in 1987, Lavera brand grown to include more than 300 natural and organic skincare products. Lavera health and beauty products are currently sold in more than 24,000 locations in 25 different countries. The natural skincare market leader in Europe, Lavera celebrates its 25 year anniversary this year! Lavera was awarded the title of "Greenest Beauty Brand" for the second consecutive year by the prestigious OEKO-Test magazine in Germany, beating out 32 other companies. Headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, the North American Division was formed in the late 1990s. For more information on Lavera, please visit www.lavera.com.
Lavera / True Natural
13611 NE 126th PL #200, Kirkland WA 98034
Tel: 877-515-8783 Email: email@example.com
Website: www.loveTrueNatural.com
Made by Nature, Made to Work!


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But, a word of advice, if you're here to bitch about other sites or member of other sites, just turn around now and don't come back. If you've been cast away from another site, or your simply emigrating over due to the degeneration of another site, do yourself and everyone else a favor and leave your dirty laundry behind. Nobody here cares about the stupid crap that can go on at other message boards.
Well, I'm too damn lazy to welcome each of you individually, so, to all, welcome to Jedi Defender. Enjoy your stay, have fun, make friends, do whatever it is you do on a Star Wars board.
And remember: Here at JediDefender, we love you. Unless you're an *******.
Quote from: JesseVader08 on August 15, 2005, 12:43 AM I think Dale's starting to rub off on you too much...
I'm the grumpy bastard, dammit.
You guys can go 'round and 'round all you want.....but I get to be the grumpy b*tch
Beth (jadesfire) is likely going to want to challenge you on that title from time to time... No problem, there's plenty of room at the top for Beth (And no, I'm certainly not the one saying she is. She would be the one saying that! )
I just want to send out a big welcome to our Newbies - welcome to JD, the best forum on the planet. And to our Guests - why not sign up, you'll be glad you did!
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Results 1 to 5 of 5
Thread: a max-fuel hybrid
Threaded View
a max-fuel hybrid
I'm not just talking about the hybrid drivetrain itself. Rather, I'm talking about all the stuff in them.
For example, power accessories like power windows eat into the battery life. If everything was manual, manual steering, windows, locks, mirros, etc. and NO AC or radio installed at all, and a manual transmission, then this would be the ultimate hybrid. It would also make the car lighter as well as reduce demand on the batery.
It would come as a 2- or 4-door hatchback or convertible (with a manual top and glass window, but only because plastic windows get yellow over time). It would come standard with ABS, tachometer, manual steering, gas-mileage indicator, and that's it. Options include side airbags, manual-sliding glass sunroof, air conditioning, a radio, rear defroster, and a rear wiper for the hatchbacks. That's it.


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Williams-Sonoma returns home to celebrate heritage
The store that introduced America to food processors and copper fish pans has returned to its Wine Country roots.
For many decades, Williams-Sonoma thrived by being one step ahead of its customers, selling them housewares they didn't yet know they needed. But with this weekend's opening of its newest venue, in Sonoma, the trendsetting company is looking back to celebrate its 99-year-old founder and recall its humble debut.
The project also reflects the Boomer-fueled brand's efforts to woo a younger generation — Millennials, who aren't exactly rushing to buy homes and stock kitchens.
This retro Williams-Sonoma, at the site of the original store, re-creates the look of the shop that Chuck Williams opened in 1956, down to the black-and-white checkerboard floor. "It's going to be a total doppelganger," said Wade Bentson, one of Williams' first employees, who helped with its design.
With a 12-seat cooking school showcasing local talent, an edible garden, vintage merchandise and museum-style kitchenware exhibit, the store is opening in a town famously hostile to chains. But the billion-dollar retailer, for the most part, is being welcomed like a hometown hero.
"I'm totally excited about it," said Sheana Davis, a community activist and proprietor of Epicurean Connection, a nearby cafe and cheese shop. "If you're looking for opposition, I'm not it."
Williams, who celebrated his 99th birthday this week, operated his store near the historic plaza for only two years before decamping to San Francisco. But his later success made Sonoma itself an international brand.
Visitors still inquire about the chain's birthplace. "I've been introduced as his son several times," said Steven Havlek, who owns Sign of the Bear, an independent kitchenware store on the plaza.
Re-creating the original
When the site at 605 Broadway became available in 2012, the retailer swooped in. The property included both Williams' original 570-square-foot shop and an attached home and garden that he had shared with his mother.
"We found enough pictures and enough from (Williams) to rebuild the store exactly as it was," said Janet Hayes, president of the Williams-Sonoma brand. The restoration includes original signage and the clean-lined open white shelving that became the stores' trademark.
The new Sonoma store includes an exhibit of ingredients and tools that Williams popularized, such as Fini balsamic vinegar, Maldon sea salt, Le Creuset cookware and French mandolines. Williams' restored home, attached to the store, has been repurposed as a design studio and showcase for Williams-Sonoma Home furnishings. The store is not all retro; the made-over garden boasts an outdoor kitchen with pizza oven and lots of merchandise from the company's new Agrarian line, launched in 2012 in keeping with a younger generation's fascination with urban farming.
The DIY cheese-making kits and high-end chicken coops that Williams-Sonoma is betting on today were definitely not in the mix when Williams began his retailing career. The society matrons who patronized Williams-Sonoma in the late 1950s were lured by the gleaming copper saucepans, Pillivuyt porcelain and fluted tart tins that Williams discovered in France. Jackie Kennedy and Julia Child were about to make French cuisine the epitome of chic, and Williams was poised to profit.
Cooking to entertaining
Urged by his affluent customers to move the shop to San Francisco, Williams listened when one of them suggested a spot near Elizabeth Arden, the high-end salon on Sutter Street. "In those days, women had beehive hair that required a lot of attention," recalled Bentson, who began working for the store in 1961. "It wasn't unusual for them to go to Arden's two or three times a week, and they went right by our store."
Women from Hillsborough, Piedmont and Marin would have their ball gowns shipped to Williams-Sonoma, drop their dogs off at the store, and then go and have their hair done, recalled Mary Risley, who founded Tante Marie's Cooking School in San Francisco and is a longtime friend of Williams'. They bought Christmas presents and wedding gifts at Williams-Sonoma, especially after the merchant — again nudged by a customer — created a bridal registry to compete with Gumps and Tiffany.
Child's popular television show, which debuted in 1963, also fueled Williams-Sonoma's sales. If Julia used it, "people beat the way to our store to get it," Bentson said. San Francisco cooking teachers like Risley and Joyce Goldstein sent their students to the store for quiche pans, flan rings and souffle dishes — equipment that department stores of the day did not stock.
"Everybody was either taking cooking lessons or giving cooking lessons," recalled Jacqueline Mallorca, an early customer and ad agency employee who persuaded Williams that the store needed a mail-order catalog. Begun in 1972 and, for years, written by Mallorca, the innovative full-color mailer put Williams' finds and favorite recipes within reach of all Americans.
Today, the recipes have migrated to the company's website, and the catalog copy is far more clipped and concise. The September issue still includes Le Creuset and All-Clad cookware but also features packaged mixes for Bundt cakes, quick breads, waffles and breakfast bars — a shift noted unhappily by the culinary doyennes of San Francisco.
"There's an awful lot of tableware," sniffed Mallorca, an Englishwoman whose polished manners don't conceal her dismay. "People today are not so interested in cooking as much as entertaining."
Positioning for future
Goldstein, who later collaborated with Williams on several cookbooks, concurred. "At some point, Williams-Sonoma made the shift from being an educating store to being a lifestyle store, with tablecloths, napkins and pottery," she said.
The publicly traded company's other concepts — among them, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm — are thriving, but the net revenue of the Williams-Sonoma brand has been stagnant in recent years and the store count is down. Branding experts and trend forecasters see both opportunities and challenges for the chain as it positions itself for the future.
Many affluent young consumers aren't hurrying to buy homes, they say, and are more inclined to spend on experiences than on stuff.
"I've been invited to buy wedding gifts at experiential websites," said Kara Nielsen, culinary director for Sterling-Rice Group, an advertising and branding agency in Boulder, Colo. Nielsen and others also point to a minimalist trend, a preference for smaller, less cluttered homes and simpler lives.
"A lot of Millennials believe in access but not ownership," Nielsen said, pointing to the success of businesses that enable consumers to share cars or rent special-occasion clothes.
Building in diversity
Like other retailers, Williams-Sonoma needs to respond to changing demographics, marketing experts say. "Diversity has to be built into their product range and into their staff," said Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, a consultant to high-end brands. Pedraza points to his own multicultural family, which includes Colombians, a Jewish lawyer from Long Island and a Hindu doctor.
"We make samosas for Thanksgiving with turducken and Spanish rice," he said. "And we're not atypical."
Marc Halperin, a food and beverage consultant with San Francisco's Center for Culinary Development, believes the chain is still a tastemaker and sharp observer of trends. The Agrarian line dovetails neatly with the urban homesteading wave, Halperin said. And the shift toward offering tableware, juicers and other appliances that have little to do with cooking may also be wise.
"There's clearly a huge understanding of the consumer," Halperin said. "The number and variety of espresso machines they're selling is mind-boggling."
Janet Fletcher is a food writer and cookbook author in Napa. E-mail: email@example.com
Janet Fletcher is a food writer and cookbook author in Napa. E-mail: email@example.com
Company milestones
1956: First Williams-Sonoma store opens on Broadway in Sonoma.
1958: Chuck Williams moves his thriving cookware store to Sutter Street in San Francisco.
1972: Williams-Sonoma mails its first cookware catalog, with a print run of 10,000.
1973: Williams-Sonoma opens its second store, in Beverly Hills. Chuck Williams introduces the Cuisinart food processor, a revolutionary French appliance.
1978: Chuck Williams encounters balsamic vinegar in Italy and begins to import it.
1983: With its initial public offering, Williams-Sonoma becomes a publicly traded company to raise money for expansion.
1986: Williams-Sonoma releases its first cookbook, starting a hugely successful publishing program.
1999: Williams-Sonoma starts its e-commerce site.
2006: Debut of Williams-Sonoma Home, a furniture and home decor collection
2012: Williams-Sonoma starts Agrarian, a line of products designed for urban homesteaders.
2014: Williams-Sonoma opens its240th store in Sonoma, at the site of the original store.


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Cape Cod, Massachusetts
We found a classic coastal beacon you can rent by the week.
Guests who stay at Wings Neck Lighthouse on Cape Cod often report a life-changing experience—or at least a breathtaking one. This simple 1890 New England lighthouse (with attached keeper's cottage) once guided ships through Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal. But technology rendered it obsolete, and the government put it on the auction block. Today it's a rental property maintained by Christina Stevens, whose grandparents placed the winning bid in 1947. Meticulously restored, the keeper's cottage sleeps eight, and includes a living room with stone fireplace and a crisp, white, eat-in kitchen.
Even with all these homey comforts, the principal attraction remains the view, best seen from atop the tower. Climb the flight of worn mahogany steps, ascend 12 more feet by ladder, catch your breath, and just say, "whoa." Standing in the turret, with the Atlantic stretching out before you, you'll see why so many hardworking keepers turned their backs on the world and tended their lights in splendid isolation.
Now you can relive this lighthouse's golden years without obligations beyond exploring the rocky shore and nearby beaches, or shopping in the neighboring villages of Falmouth and Sandwich. If you'd like to experience lighthouse keeping without having to polish the lens, this may be the rental for you.
A photo essay of Wings Neck Lighthouse
A View of Their Own, a look at lighthouse living with a couple who lived their dream for 14 years.
(published April 2007)