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I remember reading somewhere that �there are no accidents in life.�
Although should you rear-end someone and use this as your defense to your insurance company, you�ll probably find it unsuccessful. However, the orchestration of Providence often leaves me breathless.
My weekly lunch date is my elderly mother. Beginning in May we enjoy enticing excursions known as �car picnics.� As mom is no longer steady on her feet, I fold her walker and stow it in the backseat, pack a surprise lunch, and off we drive to her choice of scenic spots.
�Where shall we eat today, Mom,� I asked, helping her fasten her seatbelt, �Lake, river, pastoral, or all of the above?�
�I think...lake.� she replied.
Always grateful to the Carolina landscape, offering so many lovely places within a few minutes drive, we wound our way to one of two local lakes, pulled right up the shore and let its tranquility spread itself before our eyes.
�Lake and mountains,� I murmured, pulling our sandwiches from a totebag. �Not bad, huh?�
�Beautiful.� Mom agreed.
�Wait til you see the feast we have today!� I said. �Do you remember on Sunday I asked you what sort of sandwich you would like and you said �ham salad ?� Well, voila!�
�Lovely!� Mom smiled.
�And then,� I continued, reaching inside the tote once again, �you said you would love fresh strawberries? Ta daa !�
� Mmm .�
�But,� I replied slowly, for this was the moment I relished, �the best part was when I asked if you could have any dessert you wanted...� and before she could answer, I pulled out the small tub of rice pudding she had requested, dusted with cinnamon, and the tub of what I had been dreaming of for exactly seven days, banana pudding, and presented them with an exaggerated flourish.
� Oo,� she cooed. �Banana pudding!�
And promptly took it from my outstretched hand.
I hate rice pudding.
�I thought you wanted the rice pudding?� I asked, deflated. �I thought it reminded you of your childhood in England.�
�No, dear, you have it.�
�OK, no problem.� I said, lying stoutly. �I�ll have it. Gosh, I sure hope I have room for it after my sandwich and strawberries!�
We munched contentedly, looking out from the best seats in the house, remarking over the reflection of the mountains in the water and the funny, floating, row of a mother goose and her fuzzy goslings. I saw my own mother eyeing the banana pudding and laying the other half of her sandwich in her lap.
�Saving room?� I teased. �You want me to wrap up the rest?�
�Yes,� she replied. �I don�t think I can finish it. I�m rather full.�
But let me tell you, after a couple of strawberries, she dove into her pudding and it was gone by the time I had re-wrapped the ham salad.
The loathsome rice pudding remained ignored, unopened, and shoved back into the tote.
As we leisurely made our way back home, I stopped for gas and took note of a thin and dejected looking man sitting on an outside bench. His hands and arms and hair were dirty, his T-shirt dank and sweat stained. I left the gas nozzle inside the car and, pulling the tote out of the back seat, strolled over to him and said, �Hey, do you like ham salad?�
His eyes lit up and he nodded.
�Great,� I replied and handed the other half of the sandwich to him. �My mom only wanted part of it and I hate throwing away food if somebody wants it.�
Before I had even turned around to make my way back to the car, he had hunched over, wolfing it down.
�I think God put us right here, at this exact moment, to provide for that man.� I said to Mom, after replacing the gas nozzle to the pump and sliding into the driver�s seat. �He looked so hopeless and he was obviously very hungry.�
�Yes.� she nodded.
�And actually...� I said, realizing I had more to give, and popped back out of the car with the tote and approached him for a final time. �I�ve got some rice pudding here, too,� I offered, pulling out the untouched tub.
His stomach considered and then his brow telegraphed his reply.
�Nah, � he said. � hate the stuff.�
It still sits in the fridge at my house. Paul won�t touch it, either.
But I still believe my mother and I were purposely led to feed that man that day.
Although it�s pretty rare for God to get the dessert wrong, I should think.


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Ravens, Bengals set to kick off NFL's Monday night slate
Even though the Cincinnati Bengals turned in a surprise postseason appearance last season, the team feels it still has something to prove.
They'll get a chance to gain some early validation right out of the gates, making a visit to the harsh environment of M&T Bank Stadium for a primetime matchup with the defending AFC North Baltimore Ravens that will open up the NFL's Monday night schedule for the 2012 season.
Cincinnati defied the experts by putting together a 9-7 record -- a five-game improvement from a forgettable previous season -- and reaching the AFC Playoffs as a Wild Card entry in 2011, with the heady play of rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and the game-changing skills of first-year wide receiver A.J. Green paving the way for the team's unexpected surge.
With those two at the forefront of a strong collection of young talent the Bengals have assembled the past few years, expectations are quite high in the Queen City for 2012. But how much Cincinnati progresses during Dalton and Green's second season may depend how the team handles the tough opponents on the upcoming schedule.
Counting their 31-10 defeat at Houston in the first round of the playoffs, the Bengals went just 1-7 against foes that finished .500 or better last year. That includes a pair of hard-fought setbacks to the Ravens, a 31-24 loss at M&T Bank Stadium and a 24-16 ousting in Cincinnati in the regular-season finale.
"For us to play really good teams like that every year, twice a year, and for this team and this offense and everybody to get to where we want to be, we've got to find ways to beat those teams," said Dalton.
Cincinnati will also be attempting to buck another negative trend, with the Bengals last reaching the playoffs in back-to-back years in 1981 and 1982.
The Ravens had an even more bitter ending to an otherwise very successful campaign, coming up just short in a stinging 23-20 loss to New England in the AFC Championship Game best remembered for Baltimore kicker Billy Cundiff misfiring on a 32-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds that would have forced overtime.
Baltimore experienced another tough break during the offseason, with pass- rushing terror Terrell Suggs suffering a partial Achilles tendon tear that will sideline the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year for at least half the schedule, and the team will enter Monday's opener with some heavy hearts as well after former team owner Art Modell passed away on Thursday.
The 87-year-old Modell relocated the original Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996 and christened the franchise as the Ravens, and served as the team's patriarch until selling it to businessman Steve Bisciotti in 2004.
One of the NFL's most active and influential owners during his time with the Browns and Ravens, Modell was also instrumental in the establishment of the hugely successful "Monday Night Football" program in 1970.
"I told him that we're playing Monday night and that he was going to be there watching the game and we're going to fight for him," said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh about his visit to Modell in the hospital earlier in the week. "And that we're going to play our best football for Art Modell."
Baltimore is coming off a 12-4 regular season and brings an 11-game winning streak at M&T Bank Stadium, counting last January's 20-13 triumph over Houston in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, into Monday's tilt. The Ravens have also prevailed in eight consecutive non-postseason contests against AFC North members and are 19-1 in their last 20 overall outings at home.
Ravens lead 18-14
Streak: Ravens have won last three meetings 2011 Meetings: Ravens 31, Bengals 24 (Nov. 20 at Baltimore) Ravens 24, Bengals 16 (Jan. 1 at Cincinnati)
Bengals HC Marvin Lewis vs. Ravens: 10-8 Ravens HC John Harbaugh vs. Bengals: 5-3 Lewis vs. Harbaugh Head-to-Head: Harbaugh leads, 5-3
Notes: All four matchups in the series over the past two seasons have been decided by eight points or less. Cincinnati's most recent victory in the set was a 15-10 home decision in Week 2 of the 2010 season. Bengals have lost in two straight and three of their last four trips to Baltimore, with their lone victory during that stretch a 17-14 decision in 2009. Lewis was the Ravens' defensive coordinator from 1996 to 2001 and helped Baltimore to a win in Super Bowl XXXV to conclude the 2000 season.
2011 Offensive Team Rankings
Cincinnati: 20th overall (319.9 ypg), 19th rushing (111.1 ypg), 20th passing (208.8 ypg), 18th scoring (21.5 ppg)
Baltimore: 15th overall (338.7 ypg), 10th rushing (124.8 ypg), 19th passing (213.9 ypg), tied 12th scoring (23.6 ppg)
2011 Defensive Team Rankings
Cincinnati: 7th overall (316.3 ypg), 10th rushing (104.7 ypg), 9th passing (211.6 ypg), 9th scoring (20.2 ppg)
Baltimore: 3rd overall (288.9 ypg), 2nd rushing (92.6 ypg), 4th passing (196.3 ypg), 3rd scoring (16.6 ppg)
2011 Turnover Margin
Cincinnati: E (22 takeaways, 22 giveaways) Baltimore: +2 (26 takeaways, 24 giveaways)
2011 Red Zone Touchdown Percentage (offense)
Cincinnati: 45.1 percent (51 possessions, 23 TD, 20 FG) -- 26th overall Baltimore: 51.0 percent (49 possessions, 25 TD, 19 FG) -- 17th overall
2011 Red Zone Touchdown Percentage (defense)
Cincinnati: 58.5 percent (41 possessions, 24 TD, 13 FG) -- 25th overall Baltimore: 38.1 percent (42 possessions, 16 TD, 15 FG) -- 1st overall
After opting not to re-sign both leading rusher Cedric Benson and No. 2 receiver Jerome Simpson during the offseason, it's clear the Bengals' plan is to get the ball in the hands of the dynamic Green (65 receptions, 1057 yards, 7 TD in 2011) as much as possible on Monday. That may be a task easier said than done, though, as the Ravens focused their defensive attention towards containing the second-year standout when the teams last met in Week 17 (Green did not play in the first matchup). If that's again the case, Dalton (3398 yards, 20 TD, 13 INT) may have to lean more on secondary targets such as tight end Jermaine Gresham (56 receptions, 6 TD), slot receiver Andrew Hawkins (23 receptions) and the combo of return specialist Brandon Tate and 2011 practice- squad member Armon Binns, both of whom are expected to rotate as Simpson's replacement. The ground game, now headed by New England refugee BenJarvus Green-Ellis (667 rushing yards, 11 TD), figures to have trouble gaining any sustained steam against Baltimore's rugged run defense, which places an greater responsibility on the shoulders of Dalton. Although the young quarterback performed impressively well overall on the road during his rookie year, he was intercepted three times in Cincinnati's loss at M&T Bank Stadium in November and completed less than 52 percent (46-of-89) of his throws over the two games in last season's series. The Bengals come in with concerns on the offensive line as well, with starting center Kyle Cook and left guard Travelle Wharton forced to injured reserve during the preseason. Cincinnati did bring in seasoned veteran Jeff Faine to take Cook's place, but he's been with the team for less than two weeks.
Baltimore's greatest challenge on defense will be trying to replicate the insane production that Suggs gave the unit a year ago, when the ferocious end/outside linebacker hybrid racked up 14 sacks and a league-best seven forced fumbles while also being a force in run support. More than likely, new coordinator Dean Pees will utilize more of a committee approach to generate pressure, with Suggs stand-in Paul Kruger (15 tackles, 5.5 sacks), situational end Pernell McPhee (23 tackles, 6 sacks), rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw (2nd Round, Alabama) and even All-Pro tackle Haloti Ngata (64 tackles, 5 sacks) all counted on to step up in that area. More up-the-gut blitzes by cornerstone inside linebacker Ray Lewis (95 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) and passing-down counterpart Brendon Ayanbadejo (35 tackles, 1.5 sacks) may be part of Pees' formula as well. Expect big-play safety Ed Reed (52 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT) to be stationed extensively on Green's side to help out cornerbacks Lardarius Webb (67 tackles, 1 sack, 5 INT) and Cary Williams (78 tackles, 16 PD) and attempt to get Dalton to check down. The Ravens should be their usual stifling selves against the run, with Ngata, Lewis and physical strong safety Bernard Pollard (75 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT) spearheading a crew that held opponents to 3.5 yards per carry last year, second-best in the NFL.
Baltimore has predominantly been a pretty conservative outfit on offense under Harbaugh and coordinator Cam Cameron, but it appears as if this year's team will be more fast-paced and free-wheeling that what fans are accustomed to. The Ravens ran a lot of no-huddle plays during the preseason, a concept Harbaugh believes suits the strengths of strong-armed quarterback Joe Flacco (3610 passing yards, 20 TD, 12 INT), and there are certainly enough capable weapons to make the idea work. Second-year wideout Torrey Smith (50 receptions, 7 TD) can stretch the field with the best of them and proved so with a six-catch, 165-yard, one-touchdown display in last November's home win over Cincinnati, and more speed was brought in with the free-agent signing of Jacoby Jones (31 receptions, 2 TD). The ex-Texans will work as the No. 3 receiver behind Smith and hard-nosed veteran Anquan Boldin (57 receptions, 3 TD), who remains Flacco's go-to-guy over the middle and in the clutch. Cameron still won't be phasing out Ray Rice (1364 rushing yards, 76 receptions, 15 total TD), however, with the star running back continuing his role as an every-down workhorse as well as an excellent outlet in the passing game. Rice torched the Bengals in last year's two encounters, amassing a prolific 295 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and should be primed for another outstanding season operating behind the league's best lead-blocking fullback in Vonta Leach (15 receptions).
For Cincinnati to have its best chance of emerging victorious, it's an absolute necessity that the defense prevents Rice from running wild like he did in last season's games. Tackles Geno Atkins (47 tackles, 7.5 sacks) and Domata Peko (66 tackles, 2.5 sacks) will have to win their battles in the trenches, while linebackers Rey Maualuga (88 tackles, 1 INT) and Thomas Howard (99 tackles, 1 sack) must be disciplined in their assignments and sound in their tackling. That's not the only potential headache for coordinator Mike Zimmer, however. He may be without his best edge rusher on Monday with end Carlos Dunlap (23 tackles, 4.5 sacks) questionable with a knee sprain, while talented rookie cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) has already been ruled out, leaving the secondary with graybeards Nate Clements (55 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT) and Terence Newman (53 tackles, 4 INT) as two of the top three corners along with the steady Leon Hall (32 tackles, 2 INT). Count on the Ravens testing both of them along with new strong safety Taylor Mays (10 tackles), a capable run stopper who's unproven in coverage. Zimmer will be relying on Atkins, who tied for the league lead among interior players in sacks in 2011, and end Michael Johnson (42 tackles, 6 sacks) to bring the heat and help out the back end.
Knocking off the Ravens on their home turf is a daunting task in itself, but trying to do so when Baltimore is the healthier team makes the chore doubly tough. Suggs' absence shouldn't be as much as an impediment against a Cincinnati team that lacks any real playmakers other than Green and is still in the process sorting things out on a depleted offensive line, and the Bengals' secondary also doesn't look to be in top shape for its matchup against a good corps of Baltimore receivers. And if Rice extends his streak of huge games against Cincinnati, this one could get ugly. The Bengals didn't appear quite ready for primetime last season, and that may be the case as well to begin 2012.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ravens 24, Bengals 13

subset: commoncrawl


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By Wesley Ratko
Mural Arts Program Executive Director Jane Golden appeared before the Chestnut Hill Community Association's Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee Thursday night, April 5, to discuss the mural proposed for the side of Bredenbeck's Bakery and Ice Cream Parlor at 8126 Germantown Ave. Golden was joined by Caroline King, a Chestnut Hill resident and Mural Arts representative, and Bredenbeck's owner, Karen Boyd.
The subject of the mural was strictly informational for the committee. The Mural Arts Program and Bredenbeck's do not need approval from the CHCA. The subject of how to control or influence future murals had come up in prior committee meetings, so Golden and King were invited to discuss the process used by the Mural Arts Program to select buildings on which murals are placed.
One group concerned about murals is the Chestnut Hill Historic District Advisory Committee, which issued a six-point statement regarding the installation of murals on buildings within the historic district.
That statement, written in consultation with the Philadelphia Historic Commission and the Preservation Alliance, asked that murals not be applied directly to historic "fabrics" such as masonry or stucco, that the paint used be of a kind that doesn't trap moisture, that an agreement between the building owner, the community, and the Mural Arts Program regarding continued maintenance be put in place, and that any future murals go through the normal design review process. The statement also asked that a "sunset" date be put in place, "at which time the mural can be reviewed and its future determined."
No representatives of either the Chestnut Hill Historical Society or the Historic District Advisory Committee were present at Thursday's meeting.
After some discussion about the mural's design, LUPZ committee co-chair Cynthia Brey asked Golden how the Bredenbeck's mural proposal came to be.
"I was just made aware of this a few weeks ago," Brey said, "and it was presented as though it was a fait accompli."
"I'm sorry if you in any way felt blindsided," Golden said. "We tried to go through what I thought was a good process,"
One of Brey's central concerns was who would take responsibility for future maintenance of the mural.
Golden referred to Seth Turner, Director of Mural Operations & Restoration for the Mural Arts program. Turner told the committee that before the murals are painted, the walls are inspected for integrity and signs of water damage. Once cleared, the first step to preparing a wall is to check and, wherever necessary, fix the flashing at the top of the wall to prevent water infiltration. Turner said walls are then thoroughly cleaned and primed.
Golden explained that all mural budgets come with contingency funds for maintenance restoration, and that work will not begin on a mural until those funds are adequate.
"It's all about the impact a mural has on a neighborhood," Golden said, adding that her goal was not to complete a quota of murals throughout the city.
"We want to be responsive to every neighborhood in the city," said Golden.
Golden said special weatherproof mural paint is used to create the image. The paint is designed to last 25 years, although according to Golden and Turner, the newer paints could last much longer. Turner said that when the mural is finished and the paint is dry, it's sealed with an archival top coat will to further protect it from the elements. Mural arts staff regularly inspect the murals and the walls on which they're painted for damage and peeling and will make repairs when and if necessary.
Karen Boyd, owner of Bredenbeck's, told the committee that she really wants to have the mural. She told the committee that the mural depicts a specific place in the Wissahickon and is not simply a generic natural scene being painted on the side of a building.
Golden said the mural artist for this project – Ann Northrup – does what their best mural artists do – look at context, architecture, color, and setting.
Boyd said selecting the mural design (from a final list of five proposals) was very difficult. "I wish I had five walls," she said. She said she selected the image she did because the natural setting appealed to her, more than any of the other options, which depicted architectural themes or people walking along the avenue.
"I just wanted to have nature," she said. "It was very peaceful and calm."
CHCA Board member Tom Hemphill expressed his full support for the project. He was somewhat critical of the importance placed on evaluating the mural selection process.
"Sometimes it seems to me that we need to get the hell out of the way and get the work done," he said.
Brey siad there was a need to consider a process that could be followed for future murals. Later discussion of how to incorporate the proposed mural guidelines provided by Historic District Advisory Committee centered on the possibility of incorporating them into the existing Germantown Avenue sign guidelines. Further discussion on that, however, will take place before the Development Review Committee where the input of both Aesthetics and Historic District Advisory committees will be available.
Golden said that , although there was no need to get official support from the CHCA or its committees, she was very much interested in having broad support for the mural in Chestnut Hill.
"If everyone in Chestnut Hill said, 'Jane Golden, we don't want this, get out of here,' we'll go. We have a huge waiting list," Golden said. "It's about beauty, it's about hope, it's about bringing inspiration to the city."


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Thanks for all of your efforts in helping us prepare for the impending crisis.
Many of us here are certain that inflation will hit hard very soon because our government is accelerating the rate at which it prints "funny money". My question has to do with preparation as it regards to your finances.
Since it is almost certain that our savings will be stolen from us by the government in the form of hidden taxes (aka inflation), is it best to buy durable goods with our savings now? Should we be buying our kids shoes and clothes to last for the next five years? It doesn't seem like a good idea to have a huge lump sum of cash sitting around to be stolen, confiscated, or metered out by our banks (government).
It makes sense to have gold around, but shouldn't we just buy goods and supplies that we know will last us, and then have enough in gold to keep around for emergencies?
I was calculating REAL inflation today with my wife ( not the BS reported by INDEC, even INDEC workers openly state that the gov. modifies the numbers they don't like), compared to 2000 prices.
We estimated it in 500%, roughly speaking since 2000.
In both our families ( back when we were single) they would buy a month worth of groceries for 300 pesos. Now you need 1500 pesos and the quality of the products isn't nearly as good as it used to be.
Guys, get this into your head: The number of poor will likely double in USA these following years. And no that's not the end of the world, life still goes on, but it's a pretty bitter situation.
The new poor wont come form Mars, they'll drop from middle class.
It's survival of the fittest. For us humans, it's survival of the smartest.
Unless you are smart and find ways to crawl up the sinking pyramid, you'll end up in the "poor" section.
If you want my honest opinion, save it in gold and silver instead.
DO NOT buy stuff you try to "guess" you'll end up needing. If a year from now you need shoes, more food or whatever, the same amount of gold will buy you the same amount of product, or even more since gold goes up during hard times.
Of course have extra pairs of shoes and clothes. Don't know about you but three pairs of shoes last me a long time. What I mean is don't eat up your savings buying stuff. You'll sure need that money later on for things you disn't guess correctly.
You'll soon see how every little spend becomes and important decision in your struggle to save as much money as possible.
Salaries and earning wont go up along with inflation, at least not at the same rate. That's what makes poor people.
I'd try very hard to come up with new sources of income.
Here' it's unthinkable for a wife NOT to work. There's really little doubt in that regard. If both parents don't work, unless you are truly rich you can' live here with the salaries and wages we have.
If you want your better half to stay home then get serious about home business. The internet is full of ideas. But do something that makes money.
If your wife can make money by staying home watching over the kids and you have some land and she can keep a garden and some far animals that sounds great, but be serious and calculate how money you are actually making and saving by doing this.
Staying home just to make 500 bucks worth of groceries doesn't sound very effective when she can make 2000 working a normal job.
OK, you'll need a nanny for the kids, but with a normal wage its still profitable to pay a girl you trust and go to work.
Wrapping this up, SAVE AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU CAN.
For every buck you spend, think:
Will I use this?
Is it worth it?
Do I need a 200 dollar knife/watch or a 1000 custom 1911?
Do I need the fanciest 4x4 ATV?
What benefit am I getting for my money? What the real benefit/cost rate?
If you already have 6 to 12 months worth of food and as much water stored as you can put aside,. plus a few weapons ( you do need at least a couple handguns in my opinion) ammo, cleaning supplies, medicines you may need, other than some gear I'm leaving out, don't keep buying any more junk.
There's a market out there for this stuff, and the crisis is being good business for many. That's fine, I love capitalism, I myself have ads from Amazon that sell stuff, get a small % for each item sold, but that doesn't mean you should go desperate and buy everything you'll ever need the rest of your life.
This is a crisis guys, a depression, economical collapse, whatever you want to call it. Things are tough and will get tougher, but people, this is not the end of the world and people will not die by the thousands, ok?
*Save your money, odds are you'll need it in the future.
For larger amounts of money, I'd invest in real estate right now.
For smaller amounts I'd go for gold.
*Find new ways of making money.
Even something as simple as starting a blog is easy, has no initial cost, and can generate some spare cash.
Start a blog in blgospot ( just like this one, its as easy as opening a hotmail acount)
Write about something you like. Try learning a bit aobut blogs.
Then add some ads like the ones by adsense or some other afiliate programs, and writing regularly will make a bit of extra cash for you.
Starting a home business is something relatively simple. You dont make a ton of money but you dont invest a lot either. A number of housewives here started theri own business making scneted candles, breakfasts, etc.
*Reduce your expenses as much as possible.
*Yes, buy the basic necessary gear and supplies, get the necessary training and know how. Knowledge and mindset will make the real difference.
*There are a few items you might want to buy now.
For example: I'd try to use just one car at a time but have a second car ( cheap, low gas mileage, common model with cheap and commonly available parts) in case your other one brakes.
Going out buying a car after a crisis can burn a bit hole in your pocket. Its just not an option for most.
Same for certain appliances such as a fridge , chest freezer, and washing machine. If a generator is essential for you, have another one. No guys, don't buy new, I'm talking about keeping eyes opened for these kind of things at garage sales and such. If you can get an extra fridge for cheap, Yes, I would do it. If you work with computers a lot, an extra used PC or notebook might be a good idea too.
I'm mentioning this because in my case buying theses things are very expensive right now, and before the crisis they were dirt cheap when bought used.
People will survive, we saw that here in Argentina. Even with 50% poor and 25% below the line of poverty people in general still get by and survive somehow.
The difference is that some live better than others.


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GURNEE – Climbing to the top of an 180-foot drop at Six Flags Great America's new wooden roller coaster, Joliet-resident Taylor Trimby is strapped into the car with a seat belt and a heavy lap bar to keep him in place.
When Trimby goes down the drop at an 85-degree angle, he reaches 72 mph, goes through a tunnel, into an over-bank turn, over a hill, into an inversion, inverted drop, into another inversion and into a final over-bank turn.
"It's a wonderful ride. That first incline and drop is magnificent, it's just amazing. It's like nothing they've ever built before," Trimby said. "It's quick. You don't have time to prepare for anything. You're going up, you're going down. You're twisting and turning. ... It's great."
Trimby, a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts, was among the crowd who were the first to take on Six Flags' new ride Goliath, which sets world records for tallest drop, steepest drop and fastest speed.
It has been a few years since Six Flags, which opened in 1976, last opened a new ride.
Changing the landscape offers a variety of benefits, said John Krajnak, marketing director for Six Flags, by keeping the park fresh and people engaged and encouraging season-pass sales.
"The more product we continue to add is going to enhance the season pass," he said. "You have to come multiple times to experience everything in the park."
Krajnak said the ride's restraint system, which has a heavy bar over a rider's waist, thighs and shins can be intimidating, especially when the ride goes upside down and sideways.
"It keeps the riders nice and secure in the car without having to have a shoulder harness," Krajnak said. "It adds to the thrills of the ride."
Goliath, which was built by Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction, is a smooth ride compared to its fellow wooden roller coasters in the park. Designers used a "topper track" made out of composite metal to make the ride more graceful, Six Flags Great America President Hank Salemi said.
Traditional wooden roller coasters have steel wheels on steel tracks. Salemi said.
"This topper track allows it to be innovative, allows it to run fast enough, go upside down," Salemi said. "It's very smooth."
Salemi said Goliath has features of wooden and steel coasters.
"This really combines the elements of a wood roller coaster, the feel, the sensation of riding a wood roller coaster with elements like inversions that you don't really find on a whole lot of wood roller coasters," Salemi said. "It's really kind of a hybrid. It's a hybrid between what is a tremendous wooden ride but also has a lot of the elements that our steel coasters have, like Batman and Superman."
As for how long Goliath holds its records is anyone's guess.
"You never know in this business," Salemi said. "We hope it lasts for a long, long time. We also know that our sister parks, our competitor parks, they're all out there looking for the same kind of innovation. ... We're just thrilled to have Goliath. If it holds records for a while, then that's even better."
When the Gurnee theme park opens a new ride, it can mean a financial windfall for the village, which doesn't levy a property tax, Village President Kristina Kovarik said.
Kovarik said the village sees an increase in its amusement tax revenue of 5 to 10 percent any summer there is a new ride.
"We've been expecting an increase in visitors to this area, which is always a boon for us," Kovarik said. "We rely on an amusement tax, sales tax, food and beverage tax, and Six Flags is really the main generator of the amusement tax and food and beverage tax. It also fills up our hotels ... and brings people to Gurnee, and they shop and they dine. It has a trickle effect all through the community that really benefits us."
Glenn Tallar of Homer Glen watched the ride grow as it was constructed, and he couldn't wait for the day Goliath opened.
"For Six Flags Great America to have a ride like this, you don't want to miss out on it," Tallar said. "It's truly amazing."
Keith Steinke of Gurnee said when people hear wooden roller coasters, a lot of them think of rambling and vibration, which also can be fun.
However, with Goliath's topper track system, steep drop, over-bank turns, zero-g elements and inversions, Steinke said the ride is incredible.
"I thought it was one of the most intense, yet smooth, wooden roller coaster I've ever been on," Steinke said.
Paul Polelle of Lake Villa said the ride is intense from start to finish.
"It's absolutely incredible. You get tons of air time," Polelle said. "You have a world-record breaking drop, two inversions that aren't on any other wooden roller coaster in the world. That in itself is pretty awesome."
Goliath facts
Top speed: 72 mph
Tallest drop: 180 feet
Steepest drop angle: 85 degrees
Ride length: 3,100 feet
Duration: One minute, 36 seconds
Source: Six Flags Great America
On the Web: Check out nwherald.com to watch a video of Shaw Media Reporter Joseph Bustos' trip to Goliath at Six Flags Great America.


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Hannover BallettPrivate Company active 8 years, 5 months ago
The Ballet of the Hanover State Opera productions with six stops on the main stage and another ready in Ballhof a versatile game plan for you.
La Piaf embodied the French song like no other and was a legend. The little lady with the big voice of the renowned Italian choreographer Mauro devoted Bigonzetti be commissioned for the Ballet of the Staatsoper Hannover, which was premiered in May 2011.
Alice follows the white rabbit with a pocket watch to his lair, she dashed into the depths, and begins a crazy adventure. Strange animals, grotesque figures and confusing events arouse the curiosity of the girl and make her fearlessness to the test. Jörg Mannes created from the known substance is a wonderland to behold and laughter for the young and adults.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King to come back. In the version of the ballet classics Jörg Mannes excited by the third season, children and adults with strong images, pacing, suspense, humor and fantasy.
Tango stands for passion and longing. Under the guidance of a Dutch, one Austrian and one Canadian choreographers with Chinese roots presents Jörg Mannes' international ensemble's versatility and temperament in Five Tangos by Hans van Manen, Batucada Kinsun of Chan and Strictly Tango by Jörg Mannes.
Dangerous Liaisons fascinate with their intrigue and delight in their pleasure at the game of power and emotions. Jörg Mannes' handling of the famous epistolary novel of the 18th Century since its premiere in 2010, a crowd puller.
Madame Bovary is one of the great figures of world literature. Their dreams to the ambitious young woman far above, but the petty-bourgeois conditions allow them to fail. Jörg Mannes makes wishes and hopes to drive into the center of his ballet, determine our goals, our lives.
Stress – a cross-generational phenomenon – is the theme of a dance theater project by soloists from the Ballet of the Staatsoper with students from Hanover under the direction of choreographer Mathias Brühlmann.
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(Editor's Note: In 2012, Proactive Partners changed its name to Midtown Health. We have kept the name of the company in this story as Proactive Partners since that was the name of the company in 2011 when this story was published.)
Persistence pays off. That is true when it comes to an individual fitness plan and when it comes to business, or so Debra Siena, president of Chicago-based Proactive Partners, has found.
As some fitness management companies struggled during the recession and gave up on pursuing new business, Proactive Partners, the fitness facility management division of TCA Holdings, which also owns 10 Midtown Athletic Clubs, found new opportunities due to Siena's relentless pursuit.
"It's stunning the growth we've had during this recession," Siena says. Although she admits the recession did cause business to come to a screeching halt for a bit, it did not stop her from reaching out to prospects.
"We were doing prospecting and some networking and looking at the opportunities for Proactive Partners as I was putting together the strategic plans, laying a lot of seeds and reaching out to past prospects and past inquiries and local communities and appropriate trade associations within human resources," she says.
The result? Proactive Partners has added eight new clubs and/or clients since October 2009. That brings the company's total number of clients to 19. TCA Holdings' 2010 revenue was $93 million, and Proactive Partners brought in 17 percent of that revenue.
"If you believe in something and are passionate about it, that's terrific, and it's great to be creative and have ideas, but you have to be relentless," she says. "You have to be able to take rejection and have people say no and no and no, and continue to root and root and root, and explore and network and go at it from different angles until you find a way to make it happen. I think persistence is invaluable in accomplishing success."
Siena obviously took her charge to grow Proactive Partners seriously when she was named president of the division two years ago after 23 years with TCA Holdings. Her first step was to develop a business plan to strategically determine the company's growth rather than growing opportunistically as the company often had done in the past. With that plan in place, Siena and her team developed a plan to package and market Proactive Partners, rebranding everything from its website to collateral material.
Siena also began diversifying the company's offerings beyond fitness center management to include health and well-being initiatives for companies without fitness centers. Those health enhancement solutions include a menu of services, such as health risk assessments (online, on the phone and on site), follow-ups on risk stratification and phone coaching that offers individual counseling for employees on where their health level is. The company also offers a series of wellness programs about eating better, stress management and physical activity—all of which can be delivered via the web, over the phone or in person.
During the recession, clients began asking for the ability to offer wellness services in an a la carte menu rather than buying a whole program, Siena says.
"They were looking for us to be more flexible and cost effective with our programming," she says. "The fun thing is because we were evolving this programming, we were able to be responsive and accommodate that."
Siena plans to continue in an aggressive growth mode within hospital and health systems and corporate fitness center management. Those areas of the business are growing because of the rising obesity rate, rising health care costs and changes due to the Affordable Care Act.
"That's a huge momentum changer," Siena says about health care reform. "It brought the word prevention into the news every night, and our industry has been waiting for that since its inception."
Business owners, employees and health systems now realize that however health care reform evolves, they will be affected, she says.
"The best way to get ahead of it is through prevention," Siena says. "And individuals are realizing it's going to affect their pocketbook, so if they can make healthier choices, they'll be in a better position. Employers are going to realize if they have healthier employees, they'll be in a better position. The health care systems realize that the healthier the patient is coming in for a procedure or rehabbing from a procedure, it's going to affect everyone's pocketbook."
Health care reform and these growing realizations are making it easier for Proactive Partners to grow, she says.
"I think it's very good for our industry," Siena says. "It's important that our industry talks that talk when dealing with clients and employers and health systems because they are aware of it, so we need to let them know how we can help facilitate and be part of that process."
Hospitals and health systems are her number one focus right now, she says.
"Proactive Partners is a great match for them because of our club operations expertise," she says.
That expertise includes a retail perspective that most health care systems do not have. Because hospitals target their own employees as potential members at their medical fitness centers, Proactive Partners' corporate facility management experience helps the company take advantage of the trend toward increased outsourcing of the management of these facilities, she says.
Siena cautions other club companies that might want to get involved in facility management.
"Unfortunately, some companies think they can get into this because there's an opportunity, but they don't understand the nuances between owning a club and managing a club," she says.
Fitness management companies need to have strong back office support, seasoned staff, be diversified in their offerings and be flexible to accommodate clients' needs while remembering that they can't be everything to everyone, she says.
Because Siena has worked in both the club side and the facility management side of the business, she has a perspective on how those two businesses are different.
"The big difference in managing a club for a client vs. owning one is you need to understand your client's mission, their values, their ROI expectations, how they want to be presented in the community and then do that for them," Siena says.
The facility management company's brand must take a back seat to the client's brand, too.
"We were very proud of our Midtown brand, and we owned it and could operate it to our standards," she says. "We could make them consistent, and we were proud of that. But that's not necessarily what our clients want. If you work for Kraft Foods or you mange McDonald's corporate headquarters, which we do both of those, they want the McDonald's brand forward, they want the Kraft Foods brand forward. They want the expertise and the stability and the integrity of Midtown behind them, but they want their brand to come forward. And that's why I look at Proactive Partners as actually being a sub brand or a second brand in that we are there to serve our clients and put our client's brand forward."
In the end, taking a back seat creates a win-win scenario. And those types of scenarios are one key to success, Siena says.
"If you are going to be in an industry for a long time and you really care about it, then you want your partner to walk away feeling as good or better than you do," Siena says. "I think that's helped with my growth and my sustainability. It is about networking and partnering, and it's about building relationships and having those relationships to come back to again and again and be someone people respect and trust."
Siena started building those relationships early in life. She began taking dance lessons as a young child, teaching dance and fitness classes starting at the age of 13. As she studied choreography and dance at the University of Illinois and choreographed and performed for the Illinois Dance Theatre, Siena continued teaching fitness classes at various fitness facilities, continuing to do so even after graduating and spending two years as a professional dancer in New York and Chicago. When she realized professional dance would not pay the bills, she decided to dive into a career in the health club industry and ended up at TCA Holdings.
Her first job was as group exercise director at one of the small TCA-managed clubs in downtown Chicago, but her job was much more than that. She worked the front desk, opened the club, cleaned the locker room, folded the towels, supervised the fitness floor as well as put together the aerobics program. About a month after starting, the club's manager resigned, and Siena volunteered to step in.
"I said I can do it," Siena says. "So, Alan Schwartz (the co-founder of TCA) said, 'OK.' And I was like, 'Uh-oh.' Hence started my career in club management."
At the time, she may have been naïve enough to not realize what she was getting into, she says, but she was ready to take on this new role because with all her emphasis on persistence, Siena also is a believer in being prepared.
"There's no substitute for preparation," she says. "It's not just winging it or making it happen. It's not luck or fate. I do think I had good timing, but I don't think my success or the success of TCA is being at the right place at the right time. If it wasn't for being prepared, doing your homework and being persistent, it wouldn't have happened."
When Siena joined TCA in 1986, the fitness industry was experiencing incredible growth, and the 15-year-old Tennis Corporation of America (which is the name TCA Holdings went by at the time), was poised to grow, she says.
Around one year later, when she began overseeing a second small club, Steven Schwartz, the son of co-founder Alan Schwartz, joined the company after several years in hotel development. Siena's operations experience and Steven Schwartz's business acumen made the two a good team.
"I was gung-ho and aggressive and pushing him as hard as I could—and I still do," she says.
The new team soon started acquiring more management contracts and more health clubs, Siena says.
The Schwartzes took Siena onto their management team at a time when fewer women were in the health club management ranks than they are even today. At one point, Siena oversaw about 20 clubs, ranging from 5,000 square feet to 150,000 square feet, with some being small corporate amenity clubs with a dozen employees and others being big, multi-recreational clubs with 250 employees.
As in many industries, it has been difficult for women to attain leadership roles in the fitness industry, she says, but women have come a long way by working harder and being more persistent.
"I think it is challenging for women to grow in management, particularly when their male subordinates might be older or have more experience," she says. "When I was rising in management, I was younger, had less seniority and was shorter than some of the people who worked for me. That can be very intimidating and challenging."
Yet women can bring great strengths to management, she says, including being compassionate, intuitive, having a team mentality, being less ego driven and being more willing to admit mistakes. Women also are able to simplify complex situations, develop a plan of action and get it done, she says. Women often are more encouraging of diversity and seek more input from a variety of people, she adds. Young women who want to move into management should use their natural strengths, which will differentiate them and make them more successful.
Siena's leadership style revolves around trying to help others be better.
"I strive every day to empower those that I have the privilege of working with and do what I can to make them be successful," she says. "It's up to a manager or leader to clarify their expectations and then give them the resources and tools to be successful. Leaders abandon themselves to the strengths of others."
She adds that it is important that everyone understand the company's mission and goal and that they have fun.
Siena does not have plans to leave the industry any time soon. She has continued to educate herself by taking executive training and leadership courses at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University throughout her career.
"I see myself in this industry for the long haul," she says, adding that in 10 years, she would like to still be leading Proactive Partners. She is passionate about the industry because it helps people feel better about themselves, whether it is through coming into the clubs or having programs brought to them.
And as the growth of Proactive Partners and TCA Holdings attests, that passion, along with preparation and, yes, persistence, have served Siena and her company well so far.


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Megan Worthy wants to
In the aftermath of Sandy Hook, 8-year-old Bronte decided to write a letter to President. If you believe in sensible
This Saturday, February 23rd—in response to President Obama's call for action the week of February 18th—Bronte has been invited to speak at: WE THE PEOPLE Rally and March Reed Park (at Lincoln & California) in Santa Monica 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Calling for responsible gun safety regulations 1. Universal Background Checks 2. Limitation on Assault Weapons & Large…
Bronte wishes to thank everybody who has already signed this petition and those of you who might wrangle a few friends to sign in order to reach her goal of 10,000 - we are so close. On Saturday 26th January, Bronte delivered thousands of letters, emails and signatures from around the nation and across the world, to Colin Goddard (Virginia Tech survivor) following the MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR…
dear mr. president obama
thousands of white placards honoring those lost to gun violence
March on Washington for Gun Control
Bronte's wish to visit the White House is granted
Bronte handing her petition over to Colin Goddard in DC


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Tagged News for Penrith
ITU Penrith U23 Oceania Champs.
30/01/07 - También texto en español. Sixty of Oceania's best athletes are set to invade the Olympic precinct of the Sydney International Regatta Centre next Sunday for the annual Penrith ITU U23 Oceania... |Full Story
Results available from Penrith
30/01/06 - Full results and photos from the 2006 ITU Penrith Oceania U23 Triathlon Championships are now available. Click here for full results Click here for event images... |Full Story
Oceania Title for Olympic Venue
18/01/06 - The 2006 ITU Oceania Under 23 Championships will be be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith on the 29th January 2006, set in the pristine Olympic venue built for the Sydney Games of... |Full Story
ITU U23 Oceania Recional Champs
30/01/05 - ITU Oceania U/23 Oceania Regional Championship Penrith, NSW Australia. A strong New Zealand contingent ventured to the Sydney Olympic Rowing Regatta venue for a Tri Tasman tilt at the Oceania... |Full Story


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Birth Name: Mitchell Hoog
Birth Date: March 20, 1999 (21 years old)
Birth Date: March 20, 1999 (21 years old)
Nickname: Unknown
Birthplace: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Birthplace: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Picture Galleries
- General Pictures10 Pictures
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- Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce dies at 20; suffered seizure, family says
- Jacob Sartorius Lays On His Charm in 'By Your Side' Music Video - Watch Here!
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- Thomas Barbusca Reveals What Drew Him To 'The Mick'
- Selena Gomez Hurting Bella Hadid For Dating The Weeknd?
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Amazon workers in Germany are preparing to go on strike once again, in the middle of the busy holiday period, backed by a delegation demonstrating outside Amazon HQ in Seattle.
The Verdi trade union has said that workers would be striking in Amazon's warehouses in Bad Hersfeld, Leipzig and for the first time in Graben, while a group of German workers would also be protesting in the US, supported by some American employees.
"The solidarity among German and American workers is an encouraging sign, and the only correct answer to the globally based U.S. company Amazon," Verdi representative Stefanie Nutzenberger said in a canned statement (translated by Google).
The strike today is the latest in a long line of industrial actions taken by the union in a year-long dispute over pay. It will be followed by workers protesting tomorrow at the Amazon Fulfilment Centre in the town of Werne, north-west Germany.
The union wants Amazon to use the collective bargaining agreements in the mail order and retail industry in the country as the basis for how it pays its workers. But the mega etailer insists that its employees are from the logistics sector and are paid above-average wages for that industry.
Verdi had already threatened to strike during the busy holiday period in an effort to get its demands met, with secretary Heiner Reimann telling Der Spiegel in October that he "would not rely on Amazon's site to be able to meet all customer promises before Christmas". ®
Sponsored: Webcast: Simplify data protection on AWS


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God Squad: My belief in a just afterlife
I'm a hospice nurse, and I often find that my patients of the Jewish faith don't believe in an afterlife. In a recent newspaper article, a rabbi answering the question, "How would you explain death to a preschooler?" made no mention of an afterlife or of meeting God. He said that "at the very worst, death is like a deep, deep sleep." I can understand when my patients question what comes after death (we all know what we have here, but no one knows for sure what comes next), but I find it so sad and hollow when a patient who's lived a whole and good life spends his or her last days thinking he will soon fall into a pit of endless sleep. How do you help to comfort them?
-- --F., Old Bethpage, via email
I know and I teach children and adults that Judaism does believe in an afterlife for our souls. In fact, Christianity got this belief from Judaism.
The Judaism that made the case for heaven was rabbinic Judaism, not biblical Judaism, where the idea of a soul and of heaven is either underdeveloped or nonexistent, depending on the scholarly opinion you endorse. However, after the rabbis encountered Greek philosophy through Aristotle, who was the tutor of Alexander the Great, conqueror of Israel in 333 BCE, the philosophical dualism of matter and form was transposed into the religious duality of body and soul.
This enabled Judaism, and later Christianity, to enthusiastically teach that our souls survive in "the world to come." This is why I recite the prayer at every funeral for the soul of the dearly departed to find rest in "The Garden of Eden." The rabbis taught, "This world is just an entryway to the world to come." They also taught, "One hour of bliss in the world to come is equal to all the bliss of this world." I teach children that the soul of the person they loved is safe and with God.
My belief in the teachings of Judaism that death is not the end of us is not a scientific fact but a core religious belief. It's also a part of my hope that there will be a time and a place where the scales of justice, which are often so askew here and now, will be set right there and then. Heaven, or the world to come, is a precious teaching of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and is, in my view, the greatest source of hope we have to sustain us in the face of our ultimate human finitude.
* * *
My recent column on the origins and various versions of the famous prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep . . . " brought a torrent of loving and helpful comments. D. wrote to me: "This is the prayer I was taught: 'Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray thee Lord for slumber deep,
And may the darkness drive away,
All fears and worries of the day.
Grant me, I pray my daily needs,
And teach me kindly words and deeds.
And guard all those I love.
Amen.' "
R., from Providence, commented: "I will turn 70 in December. This was on a brass plaque above my brother's bed:
'Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
When in the morning light I wake,
Help me the path of love to take,
and keep the same for Thy dear sake. Amen.' "
I received this from G. in West Islip: "We didn't say, 'If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take,' because we knew that Jesus was already right there watching over and protecting us every minute of the day and night, and he would never let go of us. On the other hand, we did need to worry about what we would do tomorrow to be the kind of people he wanted us to be and live the kind of life he wanted us to live in order to thank him for loving us so much, and so that's why we prayed this way:
'Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
In the morning, when I wake,
Make me good for Jesus' sake.' "
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Police Beat - August 20, 2012
Crimes Against Cars
Car vandals and burglars were running amuck last week, causing mayhem, pilferage and general vexation:
• Entry was made to a victim's car in the 14100 block of NE 183rd Street by prying the window and unlocking the door. Once inside, suspects ransacked the car but only took cigarettes and spare change. Chumps …
• Another victim reported his GPS stolen from his unlocked car while parked in his driveway in the 18400 block of 134th Place NE.
• Additional casualties included a brown leather jacket and GPS stolen from an unlocked car in the 12500 block of NE 163rd Street.
• Yet another victim in the 20500 block of 144th Avenue NE reported her car window broken out and the door damaged with her purse being stolen from the passenger seat. Adding insult to injury, three credit card transactions were attempted outside the city.
• On a window breaking roll, a victim in the 17600 block of NE Garden Way reported his car window broken out and sunglasses stolen from inside.
• One thief in the 13300 block of NE 171st Street didn't bother with breaking in and took the whole darned car from the apartment parking lot.
• In a final revolting blow to potential drivers everywhere, a tire was slashed on one of the company's driving school vehicles in the 13300 block of NE 175th Street.
Phishing Expedition
A fraudster has been making phone calls to customers of a business in the 18600 block of Woodinville-Snohomish Road asking for credit card numbers, claiming to be with a collection agency. Alert customers smelled something fishy and notified police of the scam.
At Least One Happy Ending…
While investigating a Hollywood Hill burglary with suspects captured on video, Kenmore Police located the suspect vehicle at a motel in Kenmore with suspected stolen property inside.
Two men were arrested and told the detective about a burglary they had committed in Woodinville earlier that morning.
The home was found to have been burglarized by entry through an open window with a substantial loss of jewelry and a coin collection. Both suspects were booked into the King County Jail on burglary charges with property recovered and returned to the victim.


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The long winter is over, and spring should be arriving any minute, so Albemarle County is brimming with festivals and fairs.
Although rain was an uninvited guest for the fourth year in a row, the burg of Batesville successfully celebrated "Batesville Day" Saturday, May 17. A true community affair, this small-town festival started with a foot race, then climaxed with a parade through the center of town.
The carnival atmosphere abounded, with plenty of games to entertain the kiddies. A group of entrepreneurial students from J.T. Henley Middle School hawked $1 tattoos, while others sold raffle tickets for baked goods such as a Miss Albemarle Barbie cake. Proceeds from Batesville Day go to the Batesville Ruritans and also the Friends Who Care food ministry.
It's nice to see that the volunteer spirit is alive and well so close to home. Batesville truly is a great example of a community pulling together to help those less fortunate.


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Birdwatchers from far and near have been flocking to Plymouth and Gloucester in hopes of adding an extremely rare bird to their life list. Ivory gulls normally stay well above Newfoundland living on artic ice where they follow polar bears to feed on the scraps and carcasses they leave behind after making a kill.The last report of a fully mature ivory gull in Massachusetts occurred in the 1800s. In 1976 an immature bird was spotted in Rockport. Three other immature birds were seen in the 1940s.
Temperatures were in the single digits in Plymouth early Monday morning. At the far end of the boat ramp parking lot, behind East Bay Grille, nearly 20 birdwatchers braved the frigid air as they scanned the bay and the edges of the breakwater with binoculars and spotting scopes.
They were hoping to catch a glimpse of a rare, fully mature ivory gull, which a birdwatcher reported last week. A second ivory gull has been seen at Eastern Point Lighthouse in Gloucester.
The last report of a fully mature ivory gull in Massachusetts occurred in the 1800s. In 1976 an immature bird was spotted in Rockport. Three other immature birds were seen in the 1940s. Ivory gulls normally stay well above Newfoundland living on artic ice where they follow polar bears to feed on the scraps and carcasses they leave behind after making a kill.
Birdwatchers from far and near have been flocking to both locations in hopes of adding the extremely rare bird to their life list. John Fox of Arlington, Va., and his friend Adam D'Onofrio of Petersburg drove more than eight hours on Sunday to see the gull.
"No bird this morning," Fox said with a shake of his head. "We left Virginia at three in the morning yesterday and arrived here 20 minutes too late."
Sunday morning hundreds of people got to observe and photograph the gull as it fed on a chicken carcass someone put out on one of the docks in the parking lot. The bird stayed until 11 a.m. then flew across the harbor. It was not seen again for the rest of the day.
"We arrived at 11:20 and spent the rest of the afternoon in the parking lot, hoping it would return," Fox said.
They spent the night at Pilgrim Sands Motel and arrived at the parking lot early Monday morning for one more chance to see the ivory gull before returning to Virginia. Fox said it was his first time in Massachusetts and if he didn't see the bird, at least he would get to see Plymouth Rock before they left for home.
"That's how it goes sometimes," he said. "We don't always see what we come for, but it's nice to see some of the sights when you travel to a new area in hopes of seeing a rare bird."
Fox said they were trying to figure out when they should leave for home so they could avoid New York traffic. A sudden commotion caught his attention as one of the birders pointed toward the sky and said with a shout, "There it is."
The pure white gull was flying toward the parking lot, silhouetted against a bright blue sky. Someone in the crowd announced for the record the gull had arrived at 7:45 a.m.
The bird flew in circles overhead, then landed on a snow bank in the middle of the parking lot. Cameras clicked and the birders "oohed and ahhhed" each time the ivory gull switched positions.
"Look how white it is," someone said. "It's got black feet, black eyes and a grayish-black beak," said another.
The gull eyeballed the chicken carcass, still there from the day before, but it didn't eat. Instead, it flew to the railing along the edge of the boat ramp and perched with a group of sea gulls. The photographers followed, changing positions to take advantage of the best lighting.
Fox stood with the group, talking with other birdwatchers, as the gull sat peacefully on the railing observing all the people gathered around it. Was it worth the long drive up from Virginia?
"It sure was," Fox said with a smile.


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By Ruth Ellen Gruber
(This post also appears on my En Route blog for the Los Angeles Jewish Journal)
I had the pleasure and privilege Sunday of giving a presentation about the Jewish Heritage Europe web site project in Florence, in one of the city's most prestigious and spectacular venues -- the Salone dei Cinquecento of the Palazzo Vecchio, the city hall of Florence, a massive building with a distinctive tower that was originally built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries.
|Me & Pope Leo X. (Photo: Angelo Pontecorboli)
I was part of a five-person panel speaking on various aspects of "Developing Jewish Cultural Heritage in Europe." Our round-table was part of a huge, weeklong biennale on Cultural and "Landscape" Heritage sponsored by the Fondazione Florens. Other people on the panel included Giuseppe Burschtein, an IT specialist and Jewish heritage activist in Florence; Renzo Funaro, an architect who heads the "Opera del Tempio" project of restoration and promotion of Jewish heritage in Florence and elsewhere in Tuscany; Dora Liscia Bemporad, the director of the Jewish Museum in Florence; and Annie Sacerdoti, a pioneer of Jewish heritage documentation and activism in Italy and one of the spearheads of the European Day of Jewish Culture.
The moderator of our panel was the journalist Wlodek Goldkorn -- who pointed out at the start of the event that this session was probably the first time that a Jewish program (other than a commemorative event) had taken place in the magnificent hall, a grandly huge space dating from 1494, richly decorated with a gorgeous painted ceiling, sculptures and paintings from the 16th century.
|The view from the podium
We had a pretty good crowd -- and nobody left in the middle! Given the mix of people on our panel, presentations included both local and Europe-wide issues -- and none of us had more than 10 minutes or so to speak.
For my talk, I had an internet connection projected on two immense screens. I presented Jewish Heritage Europe as a tool that is already functional, attracting 4,000-5,000 people a month. I took the audience on a tour of the site, describing both the static content for 48 countries -- and also the dynamic content -- the newsfeed, calendar, and the In Focus section.
I had wanted to highlight some other web sites that bring Jewish heritage online -- such as Judaica Europeana and Virtual Shtetl. But, alas, there wasn't time.
You will just have to go to all those web sites and explore!
|(Photo: Angelo Pontecorboli)


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Proceeds from the ads below will be donated to the Bob Wuesthoff scholarship fund.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Pickoff Moves, Bedtime Edition
Front Office Moves
- The Dodgers' hemorrhaging continues with Glenn Hoffman moving to the Padres as their third base coach.
- Steve reawakens with a kickass commentary about who should be the next Dodgers GM:
Hire. Kim. Ng. Why is this difficult? Why wasn't this announced, like, when you fired DePodesta? Like there were other candidates?Hell, yeah!
Gerry Hunsicker just went to be the number 2 guy...at Tampa Bay! Tampa Bay! The #2 guy behind another 28-year-old. That's this guy.
Get with it. This is the 21st Century. This is Los Angeles. Let's see what she can do. And if she sucks, she too can have the high honor of having a "Fire" blog named after her. Because that, my friends, is the G__ D____ American Way.
Update: Ask and ye shall receive. Kim Ng will interview today, according to the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
- Mike Veeck and Bill Murray (yes, that Bill Murray) have offered the GM chair of the Canadian-American League Broxton Rox to Theo Epstein. "It's assumed that Epstein is looking for a greater challenge," the team said. But I assume they're higher on Theo's list than the Dodgers...
Roster Moves
- Roberto Alomar unretired? Seriously?
- The Pads traded Brian Lawrence for Vinny Castilla and cash. Joe Randa, the third baseman San Diego had acquired in a midseason trade with the Reds, filed for free agency and is not expected to return.
Reds SoldControlling interest in the Cincinnati Reds was sold to a group led by Robert H. Castellini. The old partners were expected to stay on in a minority capacity.
Evans? Discredited? He had a plan and he stuck to it, and largely, it was the same plan DePodesta had, and if whoever comes in as the Dodgers GM is smart, it'll be the same plan they use: build up the farm and wait.
Kim Ng, unfortunately, is only being interviewed to fulfill the MLB minority requirement in interviewing.
Also, the McStupids can not afford to let her leave before they can actually scrape up a GM because SOMEBODY has to run the sinking ship (LaSordid has proved that he can not).
I fell sorry for Ng, Logan White and all true Dodgers fans.
Also, the McStupids can not afford to let her leave before they can actually scrape up a GM because SOMEBODY has to run the sinking ship (LaSordid has proved that he can not).
I fell sorry for Ng, Logan White and all true Dodgers fans.
What about Logan White for general manager? If I'm not mistaken, alot of gm's have come from the player development side of baseball operations.
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text: by Djuliet For years and years now, African art and African artwork happen maintained and honored for its unique depictions of the nature. Most of these depend on personal expressions and emotions. However, perhaps not everything you see in African crafts is a depiction of truth. The majority of it […] African Art is a Rhythmic mixture of the Real plus ...26 Dec, 2014 in African Art tagged african / Anselm Kiefer / Art Basel / contemporary art / Denver / George Condo / George Segal / Jean Michel Basquiat / Martin Margulies / Miami / mixture / Museum of Modern Art / Plus / Real / Rhythmic / unreal by Manuel Marino


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Dr. Marvin Scott, a Butler University sociology professor, will speak in Hays Hall, Room 104, at 4 p.m. Friday.
Scott, who was defeated by Sen. Evan Bayh in the 2004 general election, is a professor of Education, Adjunct Professor of Sociology and Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies in Butler's College of Education.
He had run unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives before his failed Senate bid. He lost in 2000 to Indianapolis Democrat Julia Carson. He was a speaker at the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Scott was president of Marvin Scott Associates, Inc., a management-consulting firm for nine years. During that time he served one semester as the Distinguished Visiting Instructor of Psychology at Quincy College in Quincy, Mass. Dr. Scott served as President of Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Va., in the late 1980s and prior to that he was Special Assistant to the Chancellor of the Board of Regents of Higher Education in Massachusetts.
He is active in fundraising for Martin University, the Indiana Academy for Social Sciences and on the board of the Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Dr. Scott's appearance is sponsored by The Commentary.


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Chorizo-Polenta Hash with Collards
Even though I'm not going to include the sausage recipe, Ima call this a recipe post since you could easily make this with storebought chorizo and polenta. Just fry up the collards first with some garlic, then add in chopped vegan chorizo and polenta slices. Bam. You can also easily make polenta from scratch, as I describe below.
I finally got around to making some of the sausages in the Vegan Brunch cookbook. Cuh ray zay... so this is why one buys vital wheat gluten in a box instead of washing one's flour (how it was done back in Appleton, WI, seriously). This was really easy, and felt like nothing short of a miracle. The texture, I think, is as much like melted cheese as it is like sausage (as it steams, it gets firmer)... but maybe I am not sure what I am talking about.
Gluten is not the enemy! (Well, for almost all of us). It's one of the healthiest, simplest sources of protein around, and when isolated from the other parts of flour (starch and fiber), as here, it has nearly magical properties.
Anyway, I made the chorizo recipe. I thought the lemon zest was particularly odd (it also had sage, oregano, smoked paprika, tomato paste...), but it ended up being a killer flavor, though perhaps a bit too dominant. The sausage looks absolutely disgusting up until the end, but (as was the case with this ravioli filling), I suppose real sausage would be far grosser.
Finally, after steaming for almost an hour, these really resembled sausages! I also made some fast polenta by combining 1/3 c cornmeal to 1 c boiling water (though I think a bit less water would have been better), along with 1 TB earth balance and some salt. Left in a bowl in the fridge, this happened:
After this, there was nothing left to be done but fry up a sausage (the recipe made 4 large ones) with the polenta (chopped up), and stir in some leftover sauteed collards. Unfortunately, the polenta sort of, er, melted, but it nevertheless mellowed out the incredibly spicy-salty-sour sausage, and the overall flavor was fantastic. After I left the other polentas I had made uncovered in the fridge for a day, they were much drier and firmer.
I also recently remade my old standby of Marinated Broccoli Lentil Salad, adding garlic and olives this time. It reminds me of a fantastical forest full of pebbles and jewels. Or maybe a riverbed.


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Lil Duval - Nigga Please Episode 2 [R. Kelly Interview Parody][Comedy]
LIL DUVAL NIGGA PLEASE SKIT. Episode #2. Shout out to Gabriel
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From the OGS' e-Announce comes news that Sarah Newitt has been appointed as the Assistant Executive Director.
Congratulations, Sarah!
September 24, 2010
Congratulations, Sarah!
September 24, 2010
Assistant Executive Director Appointed
The Board of the Ontario Genealogical Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah Newitt as Assistant Executive Director. She will become Executive Director next April, on the retirement of the current Executive Director, Dr. Fraser Dunford
Sarah, age 28, has been the Society's Librarian for the past year. She holds a BA in German from Queen's and a MLIS from McGill. She has worked in a number of libraries in Ontario and in Montreal. She has had a life-long association with Girl Guides. A native of Mount Albert Ontario, she has lived in Japan, India and Germany.
She inherited family history projects from her father's father and her mother's mother (a project that requires fluency in German). One of her ambitions is to prove a suspected UEL link.


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These sexy 15 denier stockings have luxurious lace at the top. Wear these stockings with suspenders. • Returns: for reasons of hygiene, only unopened and sealed returns are accepted • 15 denier • 15 denier stockings with lace band • 1 pair • Comfortable • Hosiery
66% Polyamide / 34% Elastane
Shipping costs The shipping cost is £6 per order. Delivery Orders are delivered within 3-4 working days.- UPS Acces Point standard- UPS Home delivery standard
Return policy Hunkemoller.com/enYou can return ordered items to us free of charge within 14 days. Use the return form and hand the parcel in with return sticker at your post office. The amount will be credited to the payment method used.
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Beautiful sexy lace and guipure detail suspender belt. Hook and eye closure detail on back of garment. • Adjustable straps • Accessories • Item in Hunkemöller's standard range
The thong is made from semi-transparent lace with a floral motif and is finished on the front with a small bow. Combine this thong with a matching bra for a complete set. • Leaves your bottom bare • Regular fit • Lace • Bow • Limited edition • Stretch fabric • Comfortable fit
These Brazilian knickers feature a combination of semi-transparent lace and shiny fabric. The small bow on the front adds a pretty finishing touch. Combine with the matching bra for a complete set. • Back covers top half of your bottom • Regular fit • Semi-transparent • Lace • Bow • Limited edition
This padded and underwired bra is finished with pretty floral-patterned lace. The push-up effect makes your breasts look one cup size larger. Combine with matching knickers for a complete look. • Push-up effect • Padded • Rear hook fastening (3 x 2 hooks) • Non-removable shoulder straps • Non-removable padding in cups • Makes your breasts look one cup size larger


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Chicken Mango Rice Salad
Thursday, July 30, 2009
1-1/2 cups rice (before cooking)
3 cups water
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 avocado, peeled and diced (we usually use two avocados)
1 mango, peeled and diced (we usually use two mangoes)
3/4 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
1-1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. pepper
3-1/2 Tbs. lime juice (~the juice of 2 limes)
1/3 cup olive oil
Cook rice as directed on package. Set aside.


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On Monday morning, February 13, 60 armed agents from the Thailand Department of National Parks and the Thai paramilitary Border Patrol Police raided non-profit wildlife rescue facility Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand in Petchaburi about three hours southwest of Bangkok. According to accounts by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, Jansaeng Sangnanork, wife of founder Edwin Wiek, was arrested and escorted by 30 armed agents from the facility after failure to produce requested legal documentation.
The Bangkok Post reports that 450 documents proving legal licensing of the center's animals were requested to be produced in a three-hour period. When Sangnanork was unable to gather all the paperwork in that timeframe, she was taken into custody.
The Elephant Nature Park, an elephant rescue sanctuary in the Chiang Mai Province of northern Thailand was stormed on February 8, 2012, by about 100 agents.
Officials raided the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand after they received complaints that Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand had custody of undocumented wildlife and that animals were being held in inhumane conditions. This is not the first time Edwin Wiek and his team have been targeted by such accusations. The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand states on their website that they think that they are being raided in retaliation for drawing attention to recent elephant poaching. In an exposé for The Nation on January 24th, Wiek specifically mentioned corruption by politicians, government officials and businessmen tied to elephant camps and the cover-up of baby elephant smuggling to "safe houses" near Thailand's borders and, on February 12, was quoted in The Guardian about a tiger trafficking bust allegedly in connection with several private zoos in Thailand. (See The Guardian and The Nation)
Officials have thus far confiscated more than 100 animals from Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, including Asian elephants, gibbons, leopard cats, civets, and macaques that were being rehabilitated and otherwise sheltered there.
While reporting on an unrelated project, CAT in WATER, last December, Joanna Nasar and I visited Wiek at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. We saw firsthand how much this center is helping to save abused wildlife, and spoke with Wiek about the legal challenges he's faced while trying to give these animals a second chance.
Sign the petition to help Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand before its too late for the animals there.
Disturbing Video of civet being confiscated.
Morgan (Mo) Heim is a Colorado-based multimedia journalist specializing in sharing the stories of science and environmental issues. An accredited zoologist turned science communicator; she splits her time working with non-profits, research institutes and magazines to help engage the public in wanting to understand our planet. Morgan subscribes to the belief that if you show people how amazing and interwoven the world is, they'll care more about what happens to it. In addition to being an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, her work appears in such outlets as Smithsonian, High Country News, the Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife, and the WILD Foundation.
Morgan has recently returned from Thailand where she was working on her CAT in WATER project.
The views expressed in this guest blog post are those of the International League of Conservation Photographers and not necessarily those of the National Geographic Society. Readers are welcome to exchange ideas or comments, but National Geographic reserves the right to edit or delete abusive or objectionable content.


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Frequently Asked Questions
Whatever your query we hope you will find the answer here.
1) Will my product look exactly like the preview?
It is very difficult to reproduce the quality of our products online. Your preview is as close as possible to the finished item, the real product can look more realistic. Each product is finished to a high standard using state of the art printing equipment and a specialist design team.
2) What size will my football gift be?
For full details on products including sizes and detailed descriptions please see respective product pages.
3) If I order today when will I get my football gift?
Items are dispatched Monday – Friday only (excluding UK/England bank holidays).
2nd Class - £2.99 Dispatched by Royal Mail. Please allow 3 – 7 working days.
1st Class - £3.99 Dispatched by Royal Mail. Usually arrives within 1 - 3 working days after dispatch.
Next Day Delivery - £7.50 Dispatched by Royal Mail Special Delivery. Order by 2pm and receive the following working day. Orders placed before 2pm on Friday will arrive on Saturday, orders placed after this time will be dispatched on Monday for delivery on Tuesday. Not available on Bank Holidays. Only available in the UK (please allow 1 extra day for deliveries in Northern Ireland). Will require a signature upon receipt.
International Delivery - £8.50 We dispatch our products all over the World. Dependent on which country you choose, delivery will take between 3 and 14 working days.
Personalised Football Gifts does everything possible to ensure your item arrives safely and within the quoted time - we guarantee to dispatch everything in the time we say. Unfortunately we cannot account for extenuating circumstances such as Industrial Action on the part of Royal Mail or other factors which would influence their delivery i.e. adverse weather conditions.
We will deliver the products ordered to the address provided for delivery when the order was placed. If any of the details provided in the delivery address are incorrect or insufficient, we are not liable for any items which have not been received.
Delivery addresses provided must be accurate and include a full postcode, in accordance with Royal Mail addressing regulations. If an order is delayed or lost in the post due to an incorrect or incomplete address/postcode being provided by the customer, an additional fee will occur for re-dispatch of the order (minimum of £5.00).
4) How much is the P&P?
Please see above.
5) Can I get my football gift for tomorrow/Next Day Delivery?
Yes - you need to order before 2pm and tick the Next Day option in your Basket. If you order after 2pm the order will leave the following day. All Next Day orders must be signed for and this option is only available in the UK (including Ireland with BT postcodes). There is an additional cost for Next Day deliveries. Please note that certain products cannot be despatched the same day and have longer despatch times - these include phone covers, some engraved items and notebooks. If a product takes longer than our standard despatch time, this information is displayed on the product page.
6) Can I get my football gift delivered somewhere else?
Yes, this is no problem. You will be given the chance to input an alternative delivery name and address while ordering.
7) If I use the 1st Class service for my order will I get it tomorrow?
1st Class gives you the opportunity to speed up the dispatch time of your order. Instead of waiting the standard 3 working days for us to process and dispatch your order, Express is your queue jump. It is important to remember that Express only guarantees dispatch time and we will send your item out by first class post which may still take up to 3 working days, still 4 days faster than the standard delivery time without using the Express option.
8) Will I have to sign for my football gift when it arrives?
No, not unless you have taken Next Day delivery. However, your item is very unlikely to fit through your letter box. We recommend getting it delivered to a work address or somewhere where someone is in most days. If you are out when it is delivered a card will be left for you (as per standard Royal Mail procedure) and you can contact your local sorting office to arrange redelivery. If you fail to collect the product from Royal Mail it will be returned to us after 14 days. In such cases you will not be entitled to a refund.
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Your football gift is packaged in a custom made cardboard box for maximum protection.
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As with your usual post if you are out your postman will pop a "Sorry You Were Out" card through your door. At this point you can contact your local sorting office and arrange redelivery or collection. If you fail to collect the product from Royal Mail it will be returned to us after 14 days. In such cases you will not be entitled to a refund.
11) I want to get this delivered directly to the recipient, will an invoice be included?
No, we never include an invoice with your gift. We do sometimes include a letter and/or leaflets informing the recipient of various promotions.
12) Is the company logo/address printed on the packaging?
Yes, we do have to include our name and address on the outside of the packing for tracking and returns purposes.
13) Can you make my photograph better quality?
No we cannot. If the image you send us is poor, low resolution or blurred then this is how it will appear on the product. If you send a good quality image we can guarantee to produce a superb product. For those products needing a photograph you need to send a good quality, preferably digital image. It should be "Passport" like with the person featured facing the camera. You can have your photograph assessed free of charge by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com


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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Federal safety regulators say they've proposed more than $61,000 in fines against an Omaha beef processor for several violations.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Nebraska Beef Ltd. with eight safety violations, including one the agency said was a repeat of a violation. OSHA says Nebraska Beef has been inspected 12 times since 1998, resulting in several citations. The company can pay the proposed penalties and comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. A company representative didn't immediately return a call Monday from The Associated Press.


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For breakfast, there's the hip Cool Moose Café (2708 Park St., 381-4242), a laid-back spot serving inexpensive coffee, breakfast sandwiches (opt for the scrambled egg, apple chutney and melted cheese on croissant), omelets, eggs Benedict, pancakes and two-for-one mimosas on Sundays. When the weather's just right, grab one of several outdoor tables.
Nearby, you'll stumble upon Whiteway Delicatessen (1237 King St., 389-0355), a long-standing weekday breakfast and lunch locale. Owner Sam Salem likely will commit your name and order to memory if you become a regular. The no-frills spot has been around since 1927, earning it the honor of being Jacksonville's oldest deli. The menu, crowded with quirky sandwich names, is posted on individually printed sheets of paper hung on the wall. Some are named for area professionals (Dr. Stone, Dr. Long, Tom Bishop and Anne Beard). The rider sandwiches, with the fillings spilling out of a pita, are a popular choice. Try the Late Bloomer: a pressed pita stuffed with shaved turkey, provolone, tabouli, avocado spread, banana peppers and crispy bacon. It's named after Bloomers, a legendary lingerie store at Park and King streets. The honor system governs the Whiteway coffers: Pay at the register when you leave, and Sam will eagerly snap your picture and upload it to the deli's Facebook page. Before the popularity of digital cameras, he'd snap your picture, develop it and post it on the wall or add it to one of many shoebox archives full of regulars.
Newbie neighbor Sweet Theory Baking Co. (1243 King St., 387-1001) creates organic and vegan — no eggs or dairy — baked treats that are also soy- and peanut-free. There are warm doughnuts in drool-worthy flavors like salted caramel, chai, strawberry, pineapple and root beer. Hand-crafted whoopie pies, cookies, frosted cupcakes, biscuits, Brooklyn egg cream sodas and local Bold Bean coffee are also on the menu.
Food Network's Guy Fieri gave 13 Gypsies (887 Stockton St., 389-0330) the "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" stamp of approval as the "it" spot for tapas and a glass of Spanish wine or sangria. You'll need a reservation for this extremely small dining room. The risotto of the day is a must: creamy, rich, perfectly cooked aborio rice flavored with the chef's daily inspiration. The jibneh arabueh (pan-seared cheese with scallion oil and roasted red pepper coulis) and roman gnocchi (flat pieces of semolina and parmesan dough served with a mushroom sauce) are also attention-grabbers. For dessert, order the tres leches cake, made with evaporated milk, condensed milk and whole milk.
Nearby brick coffeehouse Bold Bean Coffee Roasters (869 Stockton St., 855-1181) is perfect for a post-meal latte (all syrups are made in-house, and coffee is roasted and ground onsite) or pour-over coffee and conversation. Java not your jive? Bold Bean also offers tea, wine and several brews on draft. On weekend nights, you'll often hear live music wafting out its doors.
Back at Park and King, you'll find Pele's Wood Fire (2665 Park St., 232-8545), which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. Pele's dishes up lunch and dinner daily and brunch on weekends, in the former home of Carter's Pharmacy. Pele's sleek, remodeled bar offers 50 beers on tap. The wood fire ovens lend a smoky, rustic flavor to pizzas, lemoncello wings and bread. Try the creamy lavender goat cheese fonduta topped with a tomato jam and olive oil swirl or crispy artichoke hearts with pesto mayo, basil and freshly grated parmesan. Pele's signature pizzas are cooked in the wood-fire oven at 800 degrees in less than two minutes. If you feel like splurging, Executive Chef Micah Windham makes a cast-iron lasagna with rich homemade meat sauce, sweet caramelized onions, hand-pulled mozzarella, goat cheese and provolone that's hard to pass up. And with desserts like peanut butter tiramisu and zeppoles with a trio of dipping sauces, you <> want to factor in a sugary confection.
The Salty Fig (901 King St., 337-0146) is a lively newcomer at the corner of King and College streets. Brothers Jeff and John Stanford opened the Southern-style gastropub in late 2012 after debuting as a food truck. John created the cocktail menu. Try the watermelon jalapeño margarita or a Dark Moon, a gingery moonshine concoction served in a Mason jar. The Mad Oysters appetizer won me over: fried plump oysters atop a creamy corn puree. A cup of spicy gumbo topped with rice and scallions is a thrilling prelude to a bowl of New Orleans-style shrimp and goat cheese grits with Creole trinity spices. There's also a pork belly and fried oyster "BLT" that debuted, sans oysters, on the food truck and quickly gained popularity.


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- Description
DetailsSlimline small size fitovers with superior TAC (Tri-Acetate Cellulose) polarised lenses for perfect optical quality plus they're less susceptible to de-lamination and shrinkage, a very important consideration for larger sunglasses such as over glasses. Polarised sunglasses cut glare from reflective surfaces such as water, snow and roads and increase the contrast and sharpness in your vision. With the reduction of glare all objects become more distinct and colours more vibrant. These top quality fit over sunglasses with smoke lenses lenses perform best in bright sunny conditions. They're considered neutral because they don't enhance contrast nor distort colours.
Will fit over most spectacles up to 133 mm wide across the temples by 38 mm maximum height, small sized slimline fit. This sleeker design is best suited for close fitting low profile spectacles such as rimless or non-angular frames.
Click here to download the Over-Glasses easy fitting and size guide.
The correct fit is the model that is slightly larger than your spectacles including the frame and temple fittings.
Frame: very tough and durable polycarbonate; five-point hinges minimise the risk of breakage; flexible slim-line arm ends ease fitting; built in robust side lenses give a wider field of vision; deep temples provide superior peripheral protection.
Lenses: grey-green smoke - gives a uniform absorption of colours throughout the spectrum allowing colours to be seen exactly as they are; 0.8mm TAC lenses - infused with polarising filters that permeate the layers thus eliminating the delamination issues commonly associated with cheap polarised lenses; clear, distortion free vision under all sunlight conditions; UV400 protection; scratch resistant.
Labelling: Over-Glasses standards compliance tag; CE mark on inside arm; removable polarized lens sticker.
Accessories: Comes with a FREE rigid zipper case to protect your glasses, a microfibre soft cleaning pouch and an adjustable neck cord worth £10.91.
Warranty: 12 months warranty from date of purchase against faulty materials and workmanship, excludes scratched lenses.
These fit over sunglasses comply with the latest European Standard EN 1836:2005 and block 100% UVA and UVB rays meeting ANSI Z80.3 UV General Purpose Protection Standards. UV filter category 3 suitable for bright sunlight, driving and general purpose wear.
Not to be used for direct viewing of the sun or in a solarium.
- Additional Information
Additional Information
We have three options for deliveries within the UK:
Our SUPER SAVER service is FREE by Second Class Royal Mail for order values over £15 or charged at £1.99 for orders below £15. The estimated delivery time is 3-14 days.
Our EXPEDITED service by First Class Royal Mail is £2.99 per order and the expected delivery time is 2-5 days.
Our PRIORITY next day service by Royal Mail Special Delivery is from £8.99 per order. A tracking number will be sent to you by email when dispatched and the delivery time is next working day by 1pm for orders received before 2pm.
INTERNATIONAL orders for delivery outside the UK are sent by Royal Mail International Signed For or International Airsure depending on your country. The charge is from £8.99 per order within the EU and from £10.99 per order to the rest of the world. A tracking number will be sent to you by email when dispatched and the expected delivery time is 5-14 days.
We aim to dispatch all orders placed by 2pm GMT on the same working day.
- Reviews
Customer Reviews 3 item(s)
- thank you
I got my order for Fit over sunglasses on Saturday and wanted to thank you for first class service. I had lost a previous pair and these replacements are excellent and i was impressed by your very speedy delivery.
Description Value Delivery
- thanks
received order sat ,crackin pair of shades will pass on details to mates maybe order another pair for myself
Description Value Delivery
- will be recommend your over glasses to all of my friends
Could not believe how different they were to the tacky ones I ordered years ago from a magazine. Was a wee bit unsure about the small writing that says over glasses on the top of one of the lens but not much of a problem. Great to find these after spending money on clip on ones and flip up ones which looked awful. Thank you again .
Description Value Delivery